Attendees at the American Society of Hematology
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From the CEO: Maximizing Space for Major Conventions

The Ripple Effect Logo with photo of Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe, CVE (Certified Venue Executive)

December may be a time when many businesses take time off, but your team here at the San Diego Convention Center is having one of its busiest months to close out 2018

One of the largest medical meetings of the year, the American Society of Hematology, or ASH, brought nearly 30,000 attendees to San Diego at the start of December. In addition, their event generated new business for the San Diego International Airport, resulting in a first-time Air France direct flight from Paris to San Diego. There were so many international guests that a flight was contracted out to get those doctors and researchers to San Diego for this year's meeting.

Here are some other fun facts about the event:

  • ASH 2018 set an all-time attendance record this year in San Diego
  • A total of 84 hotels were used in the hotel block
  • International attendance was over 50 percent
  • The meeting generated an estimated regional impact of $82.5 million

ASH has been a returning customer since 1997 and this year they had to utilize some "out-of-the-box" design options, according to their Chief Events Strategy Officer Bill Reed. They opted to construct a "sprung structure" that consisted of 45,000 square feet of meetings room space behind the Convention Center, complete with carpet, doors, heating and cooling.

There are four citywide conventions in December that will produce an estimated overall $110 million this month alone. 

Our latest video below showcases business in December at your San Diego Convention Center. ASH is scheduled to come back to the San Diego Convention Center in 2020.

Authored by Barbara Moreno

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