CONVENTION PLANNERS TRADE SHOW TO BE HELD; BUREAU HEARS FINANCING PROPOSALS

The Convention and Visitors Bureau is planning a special convention planners trade show this fall.

"We haven't established a date for the show but we're looking at late August or early September," said bureau staff member Laurel Adkisson. "The basic theme of the workshop will be `How to Plan a Convention.' We want to tell people what's available here."

Plans for the trade show were revealed by Adkisson during the regular meeting of the bureau Advisory board meeting at City Hall Wednesday.

Following the regular meeting, the advisory board held a special session to discuss two proposals for possible tourism fund financing: a proposed recreation facility at Kingshighway and Mount Auburn and Shawnee Park improvements that would include a softball and soccer complex.

Other proposals still under consideration are plans for a national and local historic museum and Civil War interpretive center at St. Vincent's Seminary; a plan to build a west-side convention and visitors center; and annual funding for advertising for the SEMO District Fair.

No formal action was taken at the meeting. Staff reports were presented during the regular meeting Wednesday.

Bureau Director Lyn Muzzy presented advisory board members with "funding requests" procedures utilized by the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"This is something the board could look to in the future," said Muzzy.

All requests for funding at Springfield must be in by April of each fiscal year, and organizations requesting funds must be nonprofit. All requests must have a direct relationship to the promotion of tourism, conventions or other related activities that bring increased revenue to the city of Springfield from outside sources.

It was reported that the bureau provided shuttle hosts and hostesses for Riverfest last weekend.

"We also printed cards, which were used in the brochure racks, listing the times and events for Riverfest," said Muzzy. "These were much requested items during the final two weeks prior to the celebration."

Total visitor inquiries for 1992 are running well ahead of those of the past two years.

"During 1991, we had a total of 2,350 inquiries," said Muzzy. "This year we've already had 2,157 inquiries through Wednesday of last week."

Motorcoach trips are also up. The bureau has serviced 23 groups with overnight activities, which include bingo, city tours, train rides and other activities, and 19 day-trip groups with tours and activities.

"We've worked with groups from Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Michigan, Kentucky and Missouri," said Cathy Crites, staff member.