Ann Arbor plays host to 2,000 at weeklong annual trade convention this week
A sign welcomes visitors for the United Association convention at The M Den on State Street.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
The training program will be conducting classes at Washtenaw Community College, where the program has been held for 22 years, from Sunday through Friday.
There is also a Main Street block party for the convention on Monday in downtown Ann Arbor from 6-10 p.m.
“The block party will feature the music of Saline Fiddlers and a display of classic, hot rod and muscle cars along with outdoor dining at Main Street restaurants,” according to a release.
With visitors filling Washtenaw County hotel rooms and supporting businesses in the area, the event boosts the economy at a slow period in August following the Ann Arbor Art Fair.
“This event couldn’t come at a better time,” said Dan Welch, the United Association program administrator for Washtenaw Community College.
“It impacts the whole southeast Michigan area, and since they started coming here in 1990 we’ve probably had $55 million or more contributed to the local economy.”
Mary Kerr, president and CEO of the Ann Arbor Convention & Visitors Bureau, said that the visitors for the event book approximately 10,600 room nights in local hotels.
In past years, the convention has also created daylong crowds downtown Ann Arbor and filled local restaurants and businesses with customers.
Mike Kabat, co-owner of Haab’s Restaurant in Ypsilanti, said there is no doubt that the week of the United Association convention is the restaurant’s busiest week of the year.
“Throughout the week, we probably serve more than 80 percent of the people at the convention at some point or another,” he said.
“The convention coming here has made a dramatic change over the last 20 years in the amount of business at Washtenaw County hotels and restaurants.”
Lizzy Alfs is a business reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at 734-623-2584 or email her at lizzyalfs@annarbor.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lizzyalfs.
Comments
sh1
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 1:19 a.m.
I like having a reason to turn a block of Main Street into a pedestrian walkway for a night. The restaurants were hopping and people everywhere seemed to be having a good time. It's nice to see your city thriving.
Sofia Toti
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:08 p.m.
Changing the subject entirely...What's the swizzle stick this year?
Tom Teague
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 9:05 p.m.
My cocktail napkin is a little soggy and the numbers have all run together, but the math agreed with EyeHeart, especially if you subtract the tuition amount that ERMG mentioned from the $5MM estimate. And for those who say that the tuition doesn't translate to local spending, wouldn't a fair amount of it enter the economy in the form of salaries for IT and AV support, custodial services, instructors, etc that are engaged for this week? Also, I travel a lot for my work as well and have noticed that experienced, frequent travelers are frugal and try to save some of the per diem and lodging expense money - in many cases they can pocket what they don't spend (and still take all the little bottles of shampoo and conditioner home). But conference and training attendees -- who often are not seasoned business travelers -- are in my experience less frugal. I don't know whether the UA folks are frequent travelers, just making that observation. As far as doubling up on rooms: I never ever see room sharing if the sponsoring organization pays for separate accommodations; 10,6000 room nights doesn't sound completely implausible for 2000 people over five days given that airline schedules will force some to come a day early and some to stay a day late. Some support staff may overlap by three or four days at either end.
eastsidemom
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:22 p.m.
Welcome UA to Ypsilanti too! And regarding rudeness and ogling...well servers know union people tip better always! Regarding the "high standard" of service in A2...HAHA. I am always amazed when I go somewhere out of our area and receive much better service. While there are many outstanding servers in the area there is certainly no high standard of service overall. And I think that the rude UA people are an exception to the rule.
Sallyxyz
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:14 p.m.
I agree that the supposedly "high standard" of service in A2 is largely myth. There are occasionally excellent servers in restaurants in A2, but they are the exception, not the rule, in my experience. Too many students take these service jobs and don't have a clue about how to actually provide professional level service in a restaurant. One of the downsides of living in a college town.
Mike Martin
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:03 p.m.
My own "cocktail napkin math" would look like this- I travel constantly for work (50% of the year). Usually to cities that are more expensive than Ann Arbor. I never spend $2,500 locally and I travel on what I would consider an average budget, not extravagant, not frugal. Even factoring in the fee paid at WC, I doubt these guys are spending that sort of money. Just my opinion. The DDA tends to overestimate this sort of thing pretty significantly I think.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 3:18 p.m.
"I never spend $2,500 locally" In a day, week, month? How much IS your hotel room? What do YOU spend on meals/day? What do YOU travel for?
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.
To all you doubters - lets do some coctail napkin math: 10600 room-nights * 125/night = 1,325,000 $100/day for food *2000 people * 5 days = 1,000,000 $750 tuition * 2000 people = 1,500,000 $60 for gas * 2000 people = $120,000 The above gets you to almost 4 million Taxis, rental cars, tips at the 'Vu, souvenirs - yep, I believe. If you don't, please show your work. Thanks.
jcj
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:59 p.m.
There is no way a good percentage won't be doubling up. And I see numerous rooms for under $100 a night. But go ahead use whatever figure you feel comfortable with. Anyone that has been around this town for more than 30 days knows that numbers are always inflated when it come to estimating revenue!
Craig Lounsbury
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 6:23 p.m.
I question the 10600 room nights in general. That suggests none of these guys are doubling up if we use a standard travel industry definition. I would think some of them are doubling up. I question your $100 a day for food. A top end breakfast is 10 bucks a a very good lunch is 15 bucks thats 75 bucks for dinner. I doubt these guys are spending that for 5 straight days. Tuition goes to WCC so its not really pumped in to the economy. I'm sure WCC finds an inhouse use for the money.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:06 p.m.
UA pays WCC for the use of its facilities, equipment, and personnel. Pet my post above, as I recall, it is somewhere near $2 million. Good Night and Good Luck
Mike Martin
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:58 p.m.
Tuition goes into the local economy? Or that goes to the organization giving this seminar? That's 40% of your figure. Please clarify.
Mike Martin
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
$5,000,000 to the local economy for 2,000 visitors? That's $2,500 per person. I highly doubt that figure. It sounds suspiciously like propaganda directly from the DDA. Happy to welcome these guys. But, spending $2,5000 in Ann Arbor in a week - I'd be VERY surprised.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:50 p.m.
I suspect that much of that is what the UA pays to WCC to use its facilities--roughly $2 million as I recall. Good Night and Good Luck
Will Warner
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:46 p.m.
That's over 20 years.
EyeHeartA2
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:33 p.m.
Speaking of ogling - I susupect the 'Vu is going to see quite an uptick in business. Too back Pub 13 and BW3 are gone now for the pre-game warm up.
xmo
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:31 p.m.
Its too bad Ann Arbor doesn't have a Hotel and Convention Center Downtown?
YpsiLivin
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:36 p.m.
The "UA" isn't a convention. The instructor training program is held at WCC because the UA requires classroom facilities to conduct their training program. No convention center would (or could) meet the facilities requirements for this event.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 2:24 p.m.
So that it can sit empty the other 51 weeks a year (- 8 football weekends)? Good Night and Good Luck
kay
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:27 p.m.
Sadly, again, a woman gets harassed and it is her fault. How disgusting---how about these men showing some class and respect. They are most likely married, as I work where a lot of them are staying and 99% of them are married, and they behave unfaithfully there also.
Blanch DuBois
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 2:25 p.m.
I've been a server in a local establishment for a decade now and it seems to me that disrespectful behavior by men is usually the result of a "pack" mentality. Union, non-union, liberal, conservative, educated, uneducated, old, young, local, out-of-town; none of that matters.
stunhsif
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
Thank you Kay, I was hoping someone would comment about Ace's comments. I am suprised A2.com let them stay in play ? My comments had nothing to do with politics as EMRG suggested. Ignorance and disgusting behavior comes in both liberal and conservative.
Gee
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:12 p.m.
Woah - Ace, why should a waitperson have to tolerate rude comments?!?!?!?! This is acceptable in your world? Waitpeople, particularly in "top shelf" restaurants are professionals (or fortunate part timers!) and their job is to take care of their guests and make their dining experience enjoyable. For some reason there is a segment of the population that thinks it's ok to make rude comments, ogle and yes, even *touch* wait persons... no doubt this is partly due to the fact that alcohol is often involved in the customer's dining experience, which cloud's a person's judgement. Poor service probably did NOT factor into this incident - the restaurants in Ann Arbor have relatively high standards for their servers, and employees who don't meet the standards are dismissed. Even suggesting that someone should quit and find another job due to improper behavior from their customer is outrageous!
stunhsif
Tue, Aug 16, 2011 : 1:10 a.m.
Thank you Gee, you are 100% correct !
actionjackson
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:23 p.m.
Still believe this could have been a matter of perception. If someone is being served that already has had "too much" that is the responsibility of the establishment to politely explain "no more for you or you will have to leave". High End establishments do not put up with outlandish behavior when it is overboard.
Ace Ventura
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:04 p.m.
Ironic that anti union people who whine about the pay and benefits of union workers have no problem taking money them. Also no one is making anyone work at a top shelf restaurant. If someone doesn't like being being olged they can quit and go work somewhere else. The rude comments are probably a reaction to poor job performance by the wait staff.
Will Warner
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:07 p.m.
The Saline Fiddlers perform tonight (Monday) from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. You can enjoy the show from an outdoor table at any of the restaurants on Main street between Liberty and William, especially Gratzi and Conor O'neills
stunhsif
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
My wife works at a top shelf restuarant in Ann Arbor and seated about 40 of these guys yesterday. There was ogling and rude comments galor thrown my wife's way. We are happy to have their money but they can keep their rude (plumbers) cracks to themselves !
actionjackson
Fri, Aug 19, 2011 : 3:10 p.m.
Stun is also so clever as to spell a backward obviously rude handle for himself.
Edward R Murrow's Ghost
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 1:48 p.m.
Stun has a long record of bashing unions in the A2.com discussions, so of course he'd peg it to the UA folks. Because everyone knows that people who don't belong to unions are the most polite people on the planet and would never make sexist or off-color comments about an allegedly good looking waitress. Good Night and Good Luck.
actionjackson
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:59 p.m.
Perception, perception, Out of 40 some trades people you say there was ogling galore. Hmmm. Comments that were perceived to be rude, Hmmm. Now if you were to say they left no tip, grabbed or touched that would be innapropriate. Be glad that she has a job in a "High End" joint and get on with whatever it is that puts food on your table. Waiting tables, bartending, and dealing with the public in general is not always easy. That's why they call it Work!
johnnya2
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:34 p.m.
Yes, because we all know there are never rude customers who are locals or from the Art Fair, football games or any other convention.. Ogling and rude comments are part of the JOB in a restaurant. If it crosses into touching or groping then it is criminal.
jcj
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 12:21 p.m.
I agree. I don't care who you are or if you bring $5 million or $5 to the local economy if you can't be civil take your cracks elswhere! I was a consruction worker for over 30 years and never felt I needed to remark about women that might happen by.
jcj
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:27 a.m.
This is a welcome site for the local economy. But "contributing over $5 million to the local economy." Seems as though this estimate was provided by the same experts that predicted how much single stream recycling would bring. Would be interesting to see some kind of breakdown on where this "$5 million to the local economy." is generated.
Steve Pepple
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 11:12 a.m.
A typo in the story has been fixed.
a2grateful
Mon, Aug 15, 2011 : 10:57 a.m.
Welcome, United Association. Thank you for choosing our area for your gathering. Enjoy! Note to a2 mayor and DDA: Conventions happen. Rooms are available. Local economy benefits. Conventioneers return. All this, without the Hieftje Hotel and Conference Center . . . and taxpayer subsidy. Please, let's keep it this way.