Convention Insider (Conventions.net)

If you like me are just now beginning to pay attention to college basketball, don’t feel  alone. Many people are just now paying attention as they look at their office pool brackets and wonder if they will win that $50 in the pool.  For others, this time of year means attendance and the folks at Philadelphia CVB are no different.  March Madness hit Philadelphia this last week with a bang.

“We’re thrilled to have March Madness back in Philadelphia, and be in the national sports spotlight yet again,” said Larry Needle, executive director, Philadelphia Sports Congress. “Special thanks to the NCAA, St. Joe’s, and Comcast-Spectacor for their partnership in producing a first-class event.”

In addition to the numbers of people that will be attending the vent, the surrounding area will also benefit just by the fact that others are participating.

According to the Philadelphia Sports Congress, a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, more than 10,000 out-of-town visitors, using more than 5,000 hotel room nights are expected to generate more than $5 million in economic impact for the region. Direct tax revenues to the City of Philadelphia are anticipated to be approximately $300,000, based primarily on Amusement, parking, and hotel taxes.

March Madness means college basketball gets a boost of followers and lots of fans hopping on the bandwagon of their local team or the team with the coolest colors (ask my kids).  For Philadelphia the economy gets a boost in the arm.

via Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tags: Philadelphia March Madness, Basketball, Convention Centers

Working in the online community you can rest assured I have plenty of time spent cleaning out many emails and moderating comments and trackbacks here on this and many of the other blogs my company manages.  The spam monitoring begins as I wake up in the morning and continues on until I lay my head to rest later.  I won’t say I rest my head in the evening because it is often morning when I get to lay my head down for slumber.  Much of the spam that is out there is related to the pharmaceutical  industry.  They continue to try to get you to buy the latest in miracle drugs.  It really is big business.

I would propose that they have a convention or a trade show in order to find a way to be less intrusive in my life.  They could have attendees come and get free stuff like cars and computers, HD-TV’s or many other extravagant gifts.  They spend huge amounts of money on their spamming and “direct marketing” and many of us take offense to the intrusion.  Why not spend that money on giveaways that make my life better and more enjoyable?  I might stick around to find out what that latest miracle drug is and perhaps find out how it may help me lose weight or go to sleep easier.  Better yet I have the best ideas for these companies that want to make my life easier or to make an impact in the world–pay for my healthcare premiums.  I may even wear a hat with your company name and sport your company logo on my car like the guys at NASCAR!

To be fair to the pill manufacturers and other pharma people out there, I should probably mention that there really is a convention that the pharmaceutical industry has and this year it is held in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  The event is managed by Reed Exhibitions, who touts themselves as “The World’s Leading Events Organisers.” The trade show begins today and is called Interphex 2008.  If you hurry you might be able to get in by registering at the door.  Don’t worry though I checked they don’t have a session on spamming.  There are many other conventions and trade shows that cater to the pharmaceutical industry.  Obviously, when there is that much money being spent out there, everyone wants a piece of that pie.