VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, TO HOST MORE THAN 3,200 CONVENTION DELEGATES DURING JUNE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2010
For more information:
Krista Hildebrand
503-467-4686
khildebrand@frause.com

VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON, TO HOST MORE THAN 3,200
CONVENTION DELEGATES DURING JUNE
The Southwest Washington city is site of three major statewide conventions 
VANCOUVER, Wash.  - Local hotels, restaurants and meeting facilities will be bursting at the 
seams next month when three major statewide organizations hold their annual conventions in 
Vancouver.  Both the Washington State Democratic and Republican conventions as well as the 
Association of Washington Cities Annual Conference will all be held during the month of June 
bringing more than 3,200 delegates to southwest Washington. 
"These prestigious conventions are proof that Vancouver is truly one of the premier meeting 
destinations in the State of Washington and on the West Coast," said Kim Bennett, president 
and CEO of Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office. "The economic impact that these three 
conventions will have on the local community will be tremendous."  Bennett estimates that the 
total economic impact on local businesses will exceed $2 million.
The Republican Convention is expected to draw as many 1,600 delegates and alternates from 
June 10 to 12, while later in the month, the Democratic Convention is anticipated to attract more 
than 1,200 attendees for its two-day convention on June 25 and 26.  Sandwiched between the 
two state political party conventions will be the Association of Washington Cities Annual 
Conference, which will bring another 450 visitors to Vancouver.
The host locations for all three conventions are the Hilton Vancouver Washington and the 
Vancouver Convention Center, both located in the heart of the city.  However, the majority of hotels throughout Clark County will be providing overnight accommodations for convention 
attendees. And, a number of the area's unique meeting venues will be used for off-site meetings 
and receptions. The Democratic party will be holding its primary meeting at the Clark County 
Event Center, just a few miles north of downtown Vancouver.  Additionally, Esther Short Park 
and the historic Pearson Air Museum will be the venues for both special receptions and 
community events hosted by the Washington State Republican Party (WSRP). 
"Vancouver's proposal was a community effort with the Tourism Office representing not just the 
event center or the convention center, but all of the assets of Clark County, which is reflected in 
the program we have put together," said Phil Bevis, the chair of the site selection committee for 
the WSRP.  
The Vancouver area has a total of 36 lodging properties offering more than 2,600 affordable and 
conveniently located guest rooms. In addition to the Hilton, the area offers several unique 
meeting facilities, including:
Red Lion at the Quay, the only hotel in the region located on the banks of the Columbia 
River;
Heathman Lodge, a tranquil mountain-like retreat brimming with Northwest ambiance 
and located just minutes away from downtown Vancouver.
  
About Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office
Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office (formerly Southwest Washington Convention & Visitors Bureau) 
is an economic development organization responsible for competitively marketing Vancouver and the 
surrounding area as a destination for meetings, conventions, and group and leisure travelers. The 
organization's mission is to promote Vancouver and Clark County by increasing convention and visitor 
business. For more information call 360-750-1553, or log on to www.VisitVancouverUSA.com .