CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The city of Charleston is seeing an upswing in interest from convention groups after receiving national exposure through the World's Strongest Man contest.

Patty Pitrolo, the interim president and CEO of the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city is taking advantage of the exposure brought by the filming and broadcast of the 2008 World's Strongest Man contest to bring other groups to the area.

"We had the opportunity to showcase Charleston at its very best, with the World's Strongest Man contest," Pitrolo said. "It allowed us to promote Charleston as a wonderful city in which to hold sporting events, be they local, statewide or national events."

More than 26 conventions already have signed on to bring their groups to Charleston in 2009, bringing more than 27,000 people to the area. The bureau estimates the meetings will have an economic impact of more than $15.8 million, with the possibility of more coming in.

Rod Blackstone, assistant to Charleston Mayor Danny Jones, said the city is encouraged by the groups' efforts to come to Charleston at a time when hosting conventions or meetings is increasingly difficult.

"I think it's very encouraging, especially when you consider that the economic outlook for the nation is still a little up in the air," Blackstone said. "We've gotten some feedback that some groups aren't charging up the hill in doing the same level of convention as they have before because of uncertainty in the nation's economy."

Pitrolo said new conventions are showing interest in Charleston this year, including more sports-related and faith-based groups. She said the World's Strongest Man contest, which had its television debut Christmas Day, got the attention of some sporting event organizers who would normally overlook Charleston and the state entirely.

As a direct result of World's Strongest Man, Pitrolo said, the bureau was able to book the 2009 Toyota Sea-Doo Governor's Cup. The event, which will bring extreme watercraft racers from the United States and Canada, will be one of the two largest on the East Coast.

That convention is expected to bring more than 4,250 visitors to the area the first weekend in August, and will have an estimated economic impact of more than $1.04 million, bureau officials said. 

The largest group that will spend time in the city in 2009 will take part in the national Youth Soccer Association East Regional Tournament, which is taking place in Barboursville and Huntington. However, the tournament has booked hotel rooms from Ashland, Ky., to Charleston, Pitrolo said.

The soccer tournament is expected to bring more than 5,000 people to Charleston during its six-day run, with an economic impact of $3.45 million.

Blackstone noted that Jones has been a strong advocate for bringing tourism to the city as a way of economic growth.

"The mayor has said on several occasions that by attracting visitors to Charleston we are doing everything we can to impact the economy in the most effective way possible," Blackstone said. "Attracting outside money to come into the community adds to the local economy, so it's crucial."

Another large market for Pitrolo to attract is faith-based organizations. The Jehovah's Witness Annual Meeting will be in town June 19-21.

"The interesting thing about this is that the meeting will be the only Jehovah's Witness meeting in the country geared toward a Spanish-speaking meeting," Pitrolo said. "We'll be getting people from all over the country attending this meeting, where normally it would only be regional people attending the meeting."

The convention is expected to attract 400, but bring in more than $2.3 million to the area.

Charleston is attractive to faith-based groups and other meetings with children because it offers a very family-friendly environment, Pitrolo said. One thing she and her staff use when competing with other cities for conventions is the fact that Charleston is very safe, as opposed to some larger cities that might initially seem more attractive.

"Charleston provides not only venues in which to hold events, but it's a very safe city," Pitrolo said. "Groups want to bring their young people. Everything is so close, convenient, you feel comfortable allowing your young people to walk around the community, go to the mall.

"It was something that really attracted faith-based groups. Now we're seeing it in sporting events."

City residents also have a large effect on groups and whether they decide to return. Pitrolo said officials from the World's Strongest Man contest repeatedly said Charleston was one of the friendliest cities they had visited. Little things, like residents smiling, saying hello or helping someone who looks lost, makes Charleston stand out, Pitrolo said.

"That does more to attract people back to our city than anything else," she said. "It's one thing for us to attract a meeting or convention to our city, but we need to bring them back. It changes everything, and makes a world of difference."

Contact writer Cara Bailey at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 304-348-4834.

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