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Article: Meeting Expectations; New Convention Center Has Its Hardest Work Ahead of It -- Staying Successful
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- March 29, 2004
- Author:
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In its first year of operations, the $834 million Washington
Convention Center at Mount Vernon Square got a handful of large shows
that would have been too big for the smaller, older convention center
across the street. That helped boost the occupancy at nearby hotels
and sales at area restaurants that had suffered from the recession
and the impact of war.
But now the convention center's real work is about to begin, as it
ages and competes with centers in other cities. To keep it successful
over the next decade and beyond, say experts and convention center
officials, will take nearly another half-billion-dollar public
investment and a sustained sales effort to keep groups coming to the ...