VisitPittsburgh has high hopes for ‘18

Pittsburgh will host more 2004. NCAA events than any Speaking at the press conference other city in the country during Thursday was Dan that span. Gilman, Mr. Peduto’s chief

Another significant event of staff; Karl Reid of the National was the initiative to “re-enter Society of Black Engineers, the international market,” which will hold its Mr. Davis said. fourth annual convention in VisitPittsburgh will be Pittsburgh March 21-24 and working with Pittsburgh International about 12,000 registrations Airport, as well have been made; and Joseph as tourism promotion agencies Onderko, commissioner of in Butler and Washington the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, counties and Idea who highlighted the Foundry, a Pittsburgh-based upcoming NCAA events economic development organization planned for the area. for Western Pennsylvania. The VisitPittsburgh annual The group will collaborate report noted that in with international 2017, 498 meetings and conventions public relations and marketing were held, attracting firms to lure business 89,905 attendees. and leisure travelers to Pittsburgh, The top convention, in focusing on cities and terms of direct spending, countries that have direct was the Anthrocon 2017 Annual flights to Pittsburgh. Convention, which

Mr. Davis announced that brought in $7.77 million. Mayor Bill Peduto was VisitPittsburgh, which named this year’scompleted a $500,000 renovation “VisitPittsburgh Bob Imperata of its offices on Fifth Passion for Pittsburgh Avenue last year, received Award” recipient. It is given total revenue and support of annually to a person or $12,667,568 in 2017, up from group that displays exceptional $11,930,629 in 2016 and spent passion for Pittsburgh $12,073,628 in 2017, compared and it is named for Bob with $11,197,126 in 2016. Imperata, who worked for VisitPittsburgh more than 30 years before retiring as executive vice president in