No Flood Damage Equaled A June Worth $180,000 To Paducah McCracken County

The Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center seen on the far right of the photo is protected from rising flood waters. There was no damage to the complex during this historic event.

The historic flood came and went in late April and early May and certainly had an impact on operations at the Paducah Expo Center and the Julian M. Carroll Convention Center. The Convention Center Complex closed Easter Sunday and remained closed through the first three weeks of May. The closure displaced eight events of the 16 planned for late April and May, including the American Quilters Society Show and Contest. While this was an inconvenience and certainly a disruption to the momentum we have built over the last year, the end result was positive. No water entered the buildings and the facilities sustained no damage as a result of the hard work of our local government partners.

Of the eight events that were affected – two were rescheduled, one was relocated and the others were canceled and will likely rebook at a later time. Unfortunately, this would have been one of the busiest months for the Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center. Last year, in May, the facilities saw a total of four events – as we mentioned this year we would have hosted 16 events. That is certainly a trend we hope to see
continue.

Luckily, the flood just barely slowed us down. June ended up being just as busy as May would have been, with 13 events over the course of the month. Those 13 events represented more than 6,500 guests in a 30-day period and nearly 900 hotel room nights. According to the Kentucky Department of Tourism a single hotel room night has a $200 economic impact to Paducah McCracken County. In other words, in the last 30 days, the Julian Carroll Convention Center and Paducah Expo Center have contributed about $180,000 in economic impact to our area.

We are proud to have had such a successful month and we look forward to many more successes as we move into our second full year of active management without the hotel.

You can be part of our success! Consider hosting your next business meeting, corporate training session or dinner with us. Rates for less than 50 guests start as low as $500 per day. Contact J. Patrick Kerr at 270.408.1346 or info@PaducahConventions.com for more information.

Too Soon To Think
About The Holidays?
Not if you're in charge
of the party!

Holiday parties can be beasts! And, what makes matters worse is the event planner is the hardest working and gets to enjoy the party the least. That's not the case if you book your holiday event in the Julian Carroll Convention Center at the Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center Complex. But, you better call sooner rather than later; only a few November and December dates remain.

The Julian Carroll Convention Center boasts a more than 20,000 square foot ballroom and can seat up to 1,500 guests for a dinner or reception. And, the best part, you only pay for the space you use. In other words, if you just have 100 partygoers, you will only be charged for that amount of space – not the full 20,000 square feet. What that means to you, is that the Center is surprising affordable. Prices for events with fewer than 50 guests start as low as $500.

Of course, rental rates include everything you need for your event - all the tables, all the chairs, set up before and clean up after the event, plus the Center's dedicated staff to help with everything from unloading your car to putting out centerpieces. Not that you would even need centerpieces! The entire facility will be decked out for the holidays, and if last year is any indication, the Center will pull out all the stops again this year.

Unlike the days when the Convention Center Complex was operated by the attached hotel, you are not locked into one particular food choice. The Center works with dozens of local caterers, so you can choose what's best for you and your guests. Is it a formal dinner or just a light reception? It is entirely up to you. And, because it is up to you, you control the food and beverage budget.

This year for the holidays, the Paducah McCracken County Convention & Expo Center isoffering a special Holiday Package. In addition to the Center's great rates, event planners who book during July and August will be allowed in the function space the day before at no extra charge. That means those last minute pre-party touches don't have to be last minute. Plus, the Center will provide a small room across the hall from the River Ballroom for storage and organization – also at no charge.

The newly renovated Julian Carroll Convention Center is beautiful and even more so during the holiday season. Just two years ago the Center underwent a nearly $5 million face-lift and last year, when the demolition of the attached hotel necessitated a refurbishment, the facility added a second atrium lobby and balconies with river views.

If you haven't been to the Convention Center Complex in a while, take a few minutes, drop by and look around. Even if you're not planning a holiday event, the facility is tailor made for other functions. The Convention Center is perfect for a small meeting of 25 guests up to that 1,500-person dinner.

For more information or to set up an appointment, visit the Paducah McCracken County onvention & Expo Center's website at PaducahConventions.com or simply call 270.408.1346.