Round Up Of Great News

“We’ll be proud to show off Abilene to such a community-minded group. This was a competitive process, and we worked hard to win their confidence,” said ACVB Executive Director Nanci Liles. “Taylor County Commissioner Chuck Statler will be president of the state association in 2020, and we look forward to hosting this prestigious conference in the Storybook Capital of America.”

Convention Sales Manager Dawn Meadows and Abilene Convention Center Manager Molly Moser traveled to the Woodlands earlier this month and presented a case for Abilene to the association’s selection committee, who were choosing from three Texas locations. The convention is projected to bring $292,500 direct economic impact to Abilene businesses.

Abilene hosted 349 groups during its 2017/18 fiscal year, bringing more than 90,565 guests and $25.7 in direct economic impact the city.

Abilene Qualifies for AAU Event: The city scored a win last week when the national Amateur Athletic Union decided to invite 1,330 out-of-town guests back to Abilene for its annual Track & Field Junior Olympic National Qualifier.

“This annual AAU event typically rotates around Texas, but officials enjoyed such a successful meet this summer they’ve decided to return,” said Debi Schultz, ACVB Director of Sales, “They’ll require hundreds of hotel rooms and the entire city will see the economic impact when participants and families dine, shop and enjoy Abilene businesses.”

AAU-member boys and girls ages 9 to18 will compete for four days in decathlon, heptathlon, pentathlon, triathlon, steeplechase, javelin, pole vault, running and field events. The action will take place June 27 to June 30, 2019, at Abilene Christian University and will bring a direct impact of $622,440 to the local economy.

Wild About Heritage & Horses: Abilene will host the Western Horseman Stock Horse World Championship this weekend at the Taylor County Expo Center. The equine action will take place at the Taylor County Expo Center Oct. 26-Oct. 28 and bring more than 500 out-of-town competitors and fans to town. Seven age divisions will compete, using skills that include cow work, reining, stock horse trailing and stock horse pleasure. Free admittance.

Magazine touts Abilene Tops for Meetings: The publishers and editors of ConventionSouth, a national media resource for planning events in the South, have lauded the ACVB for “service, professionalism and creativity.”

“Readers and fans voted to decide the best meeting sites in the South, and it is no surprise to us that Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau has been selected to receive our annual Readers’ Choice Award,” said Publisher J. Talty O’Connor in an Oct. 15 announcement. “The value in receiving this prestigious recognition is that it comes from the top meeting professionals.”

Throughout the year, meeting pros nominate sites they believe provide exemplary service for group events. The nominated communities are then compiled onto an online ballot where meeting professionals and fans are asked to vote for the best of the best. Since its creation in 2001, this is the fifth time that Abilene Convention & Visitors Bureau has received the award.