Nearly 7,000 attendees of the American Society of Association Executives and the Center for Association Leadership will gather at the San Diego Convention Center, Aug. 16-19, 2008, for the most important convention of the year. San Diego will be “rolling out the red carpet” to impress attendees, key association executives responsible for choosing destinations for their own association meetings. Besides an immediate economic impact of $31.2 million, the event could generate nearly $2.2 billion in future convention and meeting business for San Diego over the next five years.

“It’s an honor to host this prestigious industry event, and the entire destination is preparing to welcome ASAE & The Center with open arms.  Since they were last here in 1999, we’ve doubled our building size and the Gaslamp Quarter has been transformed into a unique urban environment with exciting new hotels, restaurants and a wide array of entertainment options, all just across the street from the Convention Center,” said Carol Wallace, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention Center Corporation.

“Hosting ASAE & The Center solidifies San Diego’s reputation as a premier meetings and leisure travel destination.  Delegates will have the opportunity to experience our near-perfect weather, outstanding beaches and bays, unique neighborhoods, world-class attractions and the hospitality of our incredible tourism community.  San Diego couldn’t be more pleased to welcome ASAE & The Center to our destination,” said David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation, the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau and San Diego’s entire hotel and hospitality community have formed the ASAE 2008 Host Committee to ensure ASAE & The Center enjoys San Diego hospitality at its finest.  Three major events are planned to welcome these important visitors:

• North Embarcadero Park Opening Reception, Saturday, 8/16, 4:30 – 7:30 PM:  Themed “San Diego DiverseCity,” guests will sample San Diego’s diverse communities and cultures, regional cuisines and colorful attractions like Old Town, Little Italy, Mexico and the area’s bays and beaches;
• ASAE Food & Wine Classic, Monday, 8/18, 6 – 10 PM:  The USS Midway Museum, the longest serving aircraft carrier in U.S. Navy history, will be the backdrop for a fund raising event and exciting evening of great food, fine wine, live music and entertainment and a live auction;
• Gaslamp Block Party Closing Reception, Tuesday, 8/19, 7 – 10 PM:  As the convention winds down, delegates will take part in a spectacular block party in downtown’s historic Gaslamp Quarter, where six city blocks lined with restaurants, bars, retail shops and star-studded entertainment on multiple outdoor stages, will provide a dynamic setting for enjoying nightlife San Diego-style.

The San Diego Convention Center Corporation is a public benefit corporation created by the City of San Diego. The Corporation is exclusively responsible for marketing, managing and operating the Convention Center. In its 19-year history, the Center has generated nearly $15.2 billion in economic impact, over $309.8 million in tax revenues and continues to serve as San Diego’s premier gathering place.

The San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau (San Diego CVB) is a private, non-profit, mutual benefit corporation composed of approximately 1,100 member organizations, businesses, local governments, and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. San Diego CVB members include tourism- related entities in such categories as lodging, dining, arts and attractions, shopping and transportation; as a sales and marketing organization, its main objective is to promote and market San Diego County as a meeting and vacation destination worldwide.

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