With job cuts and cost-saving measures the watchword of the day, cities like Orlando and Las Vegas are fighting their fun-loving image to attract serious-minded conventioneers.
A predicted 11% shortfall in business travelers has Orlando officials concerned. Rumors abound that a blacklist is circulating throughout the government of cities like Orlando that aren't appropriate for conventions.
"Orlando's convention-and-meetings business has been reeling for months from corporate cutbacks and negative publicity that followed the federal government's bailout of large financial-service companies last fall.
Industry leaders have complained that news reports of troubled companies continuing to spend heavily on conferences and retreats - notably insurance giant American International Group, which hosted a lavish junket for employees after receiving billions of dollars in federal aid - have put a chill on all kinds of corporate travel."
Read the full story: Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size Is Orlando too much fun for government conventions?
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