Meeting expected to pump $100M into state economy
November 13, 2009 By The Associated Press
Quick Summary
Jehovah's Witnesses convention expected to pump $100M into Hawaii's economy
HONOLULU - HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii Tourism Authority calculates delegates to the Jehovah's Witnesses convention at the Hawaii Convention Center to spend about $100 million.
HTA Vice President David Uchiyama says the projection is based, in part, on 161,000 hotel room nights. He says the spending figure includes nearly $10 million in tax revenue.
Organizers expect more than 30,000 delegates to attend the convention. That includes as many as 8,000 from Hawaii.
Spokesman David Fitzgerald says the convention's two sessions are scheduled to run Nov. 19-22 and Nov. 26-29.
Delegates are coming from around the world, including Australia, Canada, Denmark, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Switzerland and Taiwan.
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