The massive political tides have come and gone. Although the RNC and DNC are now officially over, the conversations around each event have not faded, and many are still weighing in on the relative successes of each convention, as well as the impact they have made in their host cities. “Convention tourism” is a big business, and the national political conventions are its most sought-after jewels. Will the expectations set pre-festivities hold true?
Leading up to the conventions, news channels reported many different estimates of the economic impact of each event, which ranged in levels of optimism both before and after the events: from boisterous celebrations (RNC and DNC) to unfiltered skepticism (RNC and DNC). While there are still official numbers being crunched to see the full impact of these events on their host cities, we have already been flooded with varying analyses. Let’s break down what we know thus far about the effect the conventions had on their respective cities: RNC in Cleveland and DNC in Philadelphia, as well as highlight those conversations about the importance of hosting major events in a growing city.
Republican National Convention
- 5,000 hotel rooms requested in downtown Cleveland
- 16,000 hotel rooms requested in northeast Ohio
- 50,000 visitors
- 2,472 delegates
- $50 million in federal grants
- 50 hotels and/or waterparks hosting convention delegates
- 1,200 convention-related events
Total Spending: $180 million spent by visitors – 10% less than projected
The Commentary
- The winners – hotels saw record high rates and occupancy levels
- And the losers – but small businesses saw a decline in business during the week
- Painting a positive image of Cleveland – the convention helped brighten the perception of the city
- False promises – the city’s restaurants prepared for heavy crowds to find few hungry visitors coming in
- The post-convention effect – Cleveland is hoping to continue to see floods of tourists coming through even if the convention has come to a close
Democratic National Convention
- 18,000 volunteers
- 50,000 visitors
- $60 million for total convention costs
- 4,769 delegates
- $50 million in federal grants
- 90 contracted hotels for delegates, more than 13,000 rooms
- 500-700 convention-related events
Total spending: $180 million by visitors
The Commentary
- Philly businesses that made it big – Museums, bars, hotels, and more were booked during the convention
- Not another Popeapolcalypse – restaurants saw the gains they hoped for, unlike the major visit from Pope Francis in September
- Who got the most buzz? – Coffee shops seemed to get the most DNC action
- “I could live there” – visitors overall were impressed by the city
- Mixed reviews – The convention ‘report card’ showed a range of success as well as highlighting missteps by the city and DNC organizers
- Keeping the momentum – Philly businesses hope the convention surge can outlast the convention
Are these large-scale events worth it?
- When Mega-Events Make Sense – breaking down the opportunities and headaches major events bring to their host city
- The high cost of conventions for host cities like Philly – is it worth the uncertainty of economic return?
- One Way (of Many) to be a World-Class City – hosting large-scale events are a necessary part of being an important city
Lauren Bauman is a Marketing Assistant at Econsult Solutions, Inc. (ESI) and a student at Drexel University studying Global Studies with a focus in International Business and Economics.