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One year after its opening, the much anticipated, Branson Convention Centercelebrates its anniversary by announcing that it has both surpassed performance goals and augmented the reputation of the family-friendly, country music & entertainment showcase, Branson, Missouri with that of a meetings and convention destination.

Since the state-of-the-art facility opened late summer 2008, more than 240 event days have been booked, significantly more than center executives had forecast. The growth in meetings, conventions and trade shows in 2008 as well as in the near future has revitalized the city with 12 months of activity.

"Before the Convention Center was built, Branson was primarily a tourist destination, and traditionally the winter months of January, February and March were slower than the summer months," said Bill Derbins, General Manager, Branson Convention Center. "But now that we are booking events during the winter months, we’re witnessing the creation of a year-round economy here in Branson."

In May 2009, the Branson Airport, first privately financed commercial airport in the country is due to open. The airport is expected to dramatically increase the number of visitors—tourists and meeting guests—to the Branson area and further enhance its appeal as a convention destination.

Hilton Hotels  manages and markets the Branson Convention Center for the City of Branson, the Convention Center’s owner. The Branson Convention Center offers guests 220,000 gross square feet of flexible, high-tech meeting space. The facility includes two exhibit halls totaling 47,000 square feet, and additional meeting rooms on the second floor. With the capacity to accommodate up to 4,500 attendees at a time, the Branson Convention Center is an exciting and powerful addition to an area that already attracts more than seven million visitors a year.  

According to Bill Tirone, CMP, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Branson Convention Center, some of the organizations that utilized the new convention center in 2008 included include Edward Jones, the Arkansas Bankers Associationand the Missouri School Boards Association. "Feedback from trade shows and conventions has been extremely positive, with many groups booking repeat events for future years," said Tirone. "It was a very successful year."