Salt Lake City (July 2022) — Visit Salt Lake is pleased to announce 47 meetings, athletic events, and conventions were booked during the second quarter of 2022.  These events will collectively attract nearly 184,000 attendees who’ll occupy approximately 299,000 hotel room nights and spend $178 million while in our community. The most notable of these bookings include:

Association for Talent Development is a Virginia-based trade organization that empowers professionals to develop talent in the workplace. Their members include trainers, talent development managers, instructional designers, and performance consultants. Salt Lake competed against Denver, Las Vegas, Miami and Indianapolis to secure ATD’s International Conference & Expo in May 2031. The conference will attract approximately 12,000 attendees who will occupy over 36,000 hotel room nights and spend $11.7 million while in Salt Lake. Elke Opsahl managed this project for Visit Salt Lake.

USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for the sport. They selected Salt Lake over other large western cities to host their U.S. Classic competition in July 2022. Of the 8,000 athletes, parents, coaches, and officials who will attend, 2,000 of them will originate from out of state. Those visitors will convene in the Maverick Center and occupy approximately 3,400 hotel room nights and spend $1.9 million while in our community.  Working with the Utah Sports Commission, Clay Partain and Evan Bauerle managed this project for Sports Salt Lake, a division of Visit Salt Lake.   

TESOL International Association is an Alexandria, Virginia-based trade organization for educators who teach English to speakers of other languages. They selected Salt Lake over Columbus, Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Minneapolis to host their International Convention & English Language Expo which will attract nearly 6,700 attendees in March 2026. Those visitors will spend $6.5 million during their stay. Elke Opsahl managed this project for Visit Salt Lake.

The American Cornhole League selected Salt Lake over numerous western cities to host their Open / Pro Shootout which occurred in May of this year. 1,200 competitors, fans, and family members gathered in the Mountain America Expo Center for the event, which was aired on ESPN 2. Working with the South Valley Chamber, Chris Robinson handled this project for Sports Salt Lake, a division of Visit Salt Lake.       

The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will return to the Salt Palace Convention Center in February 2024. The Expo attracts attendees and exhibitors from across the country and around the globe. Attendance has increased every year since the Expo began in 2006 and after 16 events, 2022 played host to 49,000 attendees; 34 percent of whom originated beyond Salt Lake. The out of area visitors will occupy approximately 32,000 hotel room nights and spend $16 million while in our community. Todd Ness handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.   

Associated Food Stores will return to Salt Lake with its 2023 Tradeshow & Annual Meeting. It’s anticipated that 3,500 people will gather in the Salt Palace Convention Center for the event and while town, will occupy 3,100 hotel room nights. Diane Utley handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.

3M Health Information Systems selected Salt Lake over a dozen other large western cities to host their Client Experience Summit. 1,200 people will attend this meeting in The Grand America hotel during July 2022. Diane Utley handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.

USA Taekwondo is the Colorado-based national governing body for the sport. After considering numerous other large western cities, they selected Salt Lake to host the 2022 National Championships.  This event will be held in the Salt Palace Convention Center in July 2022. It’s expected to attract 10,000 competitors, coaches, officials, and family members. Sports Salt Lake has pursued USA Taekwondo since 2013. Clay Partain worked with the Utah Sports Commission to secure this booking for Sports Salt Lake, a division of Visit Salt Lake.            

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers raises awareness, provides access and prepares Hispanic students and professionals to become leaders in the STEM fields. Salt Lake edged out Phoenix, Dallas, Indianapolis and Louisville to secure their 2027 and 2030 National Conventions. Both events which occur in October will attract nearly 7,800 attendees who will spend over $7.5 million during each of the two visits. Chris Peterson handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.

American Society for Surgery of the Hand is a Chicago-based medical society which considered Denver, Nashville and Baltimore before selecting Salt Lake to host its 2028 Annual Meeting. The event will attract approximately 3,600 practitioners, administrators and exhibitors to the Salt Palace Convention Center in September of that year. Sally O’Neill and Chicago-based Jeff Gassaway handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.

Melaleuca, The Wellness Company will return to Salt Lake with their National Convention in May 2024. Melaleuca is an Idaho Fall-based company that produces and sells beauty and health care products. Their annual event will attract over 4,000 attendees to our community who will spend approximately $3.9 million while here.  Todd Ness handled this project for Visit Salt Lake.  

USA Rugby is the Boulder Colorado-based national governing body for the sport. After numerous other western destinations were considered, Salt Lake was selected to host the 2022 North American Invitational 7s Youth Tournament. Over 4,000 athletes, coaches and family members will gather for competition at the Regional Athletic Complex this July. Working with the Utah Sports Commission, Clay Partain booked this event for Sports Salt Lake, a division of Visit Salt Lake.  

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