WASHINGTON: The Blair County Convention Center’s revenue for 2016 came in just slightly less than $2 million, a praiseworthy figure, convention center authority members agreed. But it’s also a figure unlikely to increase substantially without more on-site lodging, convention center CEO Barry Kumpf said. “We can’t grow until we get another (on-site) hotel,” Kumpf said. “All the business we lose, it’s because we need another 60 to 80 hotel rooms.” It’s been 3¢ years since the convention center and sports facilities authority took over management of the convention center, bringing an end in mid-2013 to contracting with Explore Altoona to manage the facility. In the 2014, 2015 and 2016 fiscal years, fiscal records provided to the authority show the convention center generating and/or receiving annual revenue of $1.9 million, $1.84 million and $1.98 million, respectively. That’s been enough to pay the expenses and have money left over for capital improvements.
In 2016, those capital expenses included new carpeting, a state-of-the-art message sign, kitchen equipment and electronic equipment. The authority also allocated a $20,000 donation toward improvements at Peoples Natural Gas Field, formerly known as Blair County Ballpark. Authority Chairman Richard Karcher said he was pleased to see another “very fine” report of the center’s operations. Financial consultant Steve Koval, who compiles the figures, offered congratulations to Kumpf and staff for another successful year. But the option of trying to increase the convention center’s revenue isn’t out of the question. Kumpf said he thinks $3 million sounds like a nice figure, but achieving that kind of goal will require adding an on-site hotel. The authority has long been interested in working with a party interested in building an on-site hotel because it has been identified as the key factor in attracting new business. In mid-2015, the authority advertised its desire and drew no immediate response. Kumpf said he talked Tuesday with a contact who has expressed interest. But with no commitment so far, Kumpf declined to release the name or any potential party related to that interest.
Meanwhile, the neighboring Courtyard by Marriott continues to guarantee 30 rooms to groups and organizations planning multi-day events at the convention center. And last May, the Holiday Inn Express opened a 99-room facility in Convention Center Commons, the development across the road. Those options are expected to help the facility attract and accommodate a variety of public and private events in 2017 much like the ones hosted in 2016. Financial reports show the convention center’s revenue spiking in December to $335,000 due to meetings and company holiday parties. The next three best months for revenue were January at $237,000, April at $208,000 and October at $202,000. The months with the lowest revenue were March at $80,600 and February at $102,000. Authority member Jamie VanBuren offered his praise for 2016’s financial reports, along with a committee recommendation that a budgeted $40,000 in staff salary bonus payments be distributed. The authority agreed and designate half the bonus money be paid to Kumpf. The remainder is to be distributed to convention center employees at Kumpf’s direction.
