Four City-Wide Business Events Expected to Generate an Estimated $18.7M in Direct Visitor Spend

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh should prepare for an onslaught of eager business travelers this summer, as four VisitPITTSBURGH-booked, city-wide business events slated for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center are expected to produce an estimated $18.7 million in direct visitor spend for Allegheny County.

Combined, these events – standouts in a schedule that includes 15 VisitPITTSBURGH-booked business events between April and August – could bring more than 14,000 visitors into the region. On deck for Pittsburgh this summer are:

American Public Transportation Association 2023 Rail Conference
o June 11-14
o Estimated Attendance: 1,500
o Estimated Room Nights: 4,630

Unitarian Universalist Association 2023 UUA General Assembly
o June 21-25
o Estimated Attendance: 2,000
o Estimated Room Nights: 7,650

Anthrocon 2023 Annual Convention
o June 29-July 2
o Estimated Attendance: 9,702
o Estimated Room Nights: 8,917

International Association of Venue Managers 2023 VenueConnect
o July 31 – Aug. 3
o Estimated Attendance: 1,500
o Estimated Room Nights: 4,897

Though the four events are unique in their own ways, they have one thing in common – they mean big business for the Pittsburgh region.

“There is incredible energy around Pittsburgh right now,” VisitPITTSBURGH Chief Sales Officer Andrew Ortale said. “We’ve staked our claim as a major business events destination, and that’s evident by the caliber of distinct events that will call Pittsburgh ‘home’ this summer.

“Pittsburgh has so much to offer today’s business traveler – convenience, walkability, world-class hotels, exceptional cultural offerings, exciting culinary options and much more. Couple these contributions with the well-tracked advantages of hosting an event at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and it’s easy to see why Pittsburgh appeals to such a diverse and wide audience.”

As recently shared at VisitPITTSBURGH’s 2023 Annual Meeting, positive momentum continues to grow for Allegheny County’s travel and tourism community. VisitPITTSBURGH’s Business Events Sales team and SportsPITTSBURGH booked 223 events in 2022, generating 319,000 hotel room nights and an expected record high of $266 million in direct visitor spend. For the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, VisitPITTSBURGH’s Business Events Sales team and SportsPITTSBURGH booked 74 events for 2022 and beyond, a 54% increase over 2019 bookings, resulting in an expected $159 million in direct spending for more than 188,000 hotel room nights.

There were 163 VisitPITTSBURGH and SportsPITTSBURGH-generated events that took place in 2022, generating $164 million in direct spend and more than 153,000 hotel room nights.