Saint Charles Convention Center exceeds budget in 2011

Global Spectrum, managers of the Saint Charles Convention Center, has exceeded its 2011 budget by $318,181. This is the seventh consecutive year since opening in 2005 that Global Spectrum has surpassed budget expectations at the facility. It is the second time that the facility has operated in the black, operating at a net profit of $173,858 an all-time high since opening the venue.

Global Spectrum hosted 311 events at the facility in 2011, attracted more than 271,000 visitors, and generated a record high $5.6 million in gross revenue. The feasibility study conducted in 2004 expected 216 events, 217,000 in attendance, and a little over $2 million in revenue.

Additionally, Global Spectrum was able to secure 19,527 room nights in 2011 in local hotels as a result of business at the facility. This resulted in a total estimated economic impact of approximately $7.1 million. Large conventions in 2011 that contributed to this include Pioneer Network, Veterans Canteen Service, Solution Tree, The World Taxidermy Championships, and Midwest Grape and Wine Conference.

A number of facility records were also broken in 2011. ‘Highest grossing revenue month’ was broken twice, once in February with $634,000, and then again in November with $713,000. ‘Highest grossing event” was set in May with Veteran’s Canteen Service generating more than $204,000 in gross revenues. Finally, Global Spectrum set the highest ‘net operating performance’ for the facility, operating in the black by $173,853.

“Last year was an unprecedented year for us,” said Shura Garnett, Global Spectrum’s general manager and regional vice president at the facility. “I am extremely excited to have been able to surpass our budget expectations for another consecutive year, and more importantly, to have been able to operate the facility at a net profit, despite a fairly challenging economic climate. We attribute our continued success to our experienced, dedicated, and hard working staff that is committed to exceptional customer service, our loyal customers who host and attend great events at our facility, and our great partnership with the St. Charles Convention and Sports Facilities Authority and the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

”In 2007, Trade Show Executive said that if the St. Charles Convention Center was a race horse, handicappers would be duly impressed with our lightning-fast start. Five years later, I think those same handicappers would compare us to Secretariat during his Triple Crown campaign and they would still be cashing in our unprecedented record of performance,” Garnett said.

“Thanks to the efforts of Global Spectrum and the cooperation of the city of St. Charles and St. Charles County Convention and Sports Facilities Authority, we are pleased to announce this record performance of the convention center,” said Tom Wapelhorst, authority member and chairman of the Convention Center Oversight Committee. “Many thanks go to Shura (Garnett) and her staff for exceeding expectations once again.”