CONTACT:
Molly Belmont, Director of Marketing
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
Phone: 518-434-1217 x 203
Email: mbelmont@albany.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2018


NCAA Women’s Regional brings big bucks back to Albany
Visiting athletes pump $1.1 Million into Albany economy

ALBANY, NY –This week, Discover Albany welcomes nearly 5,000 visitors to Albany as part of the 2018 Women’s Regional Basketball Tournaments, held March 22-26. These college athletes, coaches, and their families, will bring more than $1.1 million in direct spending to the area.

The basketball players will compete on the floor of the Times Union Center Arena this week, bringing many families to Albany hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and attractions. This event generates over 1500 contracted room nights at the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hampton Inn & Suites, Hilton Albany, and Hilton Garden Inn – Albany Medical Center, and filling other hotels with families and fans.

According to the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) Event Impact Calculator, a tool that measures the economic value of an event and calculates its return to local taxes, the basketball tournament will account for:

  • 1,512 total room nights at area hotels throughout Albany County
  • $1,145,691 in direct spending at hotels, the Times Union Center, etc.
  • $681,502 in indirect spending at gas stations, restaurants, etc.
  • $87,092 in local tax revenue for Albany County
     

“This week demonstrates an ongoing commitment on the part of the bureau to book sporting business,” says Michele Vennard, President/CEO of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “With the completion of the Albany Capital Center, and the renovations to the Times Union Center, and our strong college facilities, we offer a competitive destination for sporting events and tournaments, and that means big business for Albany.” 

Throughout the year, the Albany area will welcome more than 20 different sporting events and meetings to hotels and conference centers, including MAAC Basketball Championships, Northstar Capital City Lacrosse Tournament, CrossFit Games, and the 2018 Special Olympics Summer Games.

About Discover Albany:
The Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc. was established in 1976 to promote the civic and commercial progress of the community through increased development of conventions and tourism. Today, we’re known as Discover Albany and represent more than 300 member-businesses. Each year, we assist in hundreds of regional meetings. Discover Albany also operates the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center, Henry Hudson Planetarium, and the Albany International Airport Information Center. For more information, call 518-434-1217 or 800-258-3582 or visit www.albany.org.