A feasibility study is underway regarding the expansion of the Branson Convention Center. To provide more information on the Convention Center, its operation and economic benefit to Branson, we (BG) interviewed Angie Teel (AT), CMP, the General Manager of the Branson Convention Center. We presented Part 1 of that interview last week. Part 2, in a Q & A format, follows below:
BG: Why is the convention center’s expansion a good idea now?
AT: With the occupancy number being pretty close to being fully occupied… you really want to start talking about an expansion because there’s only so many days in the calendar and the way that you can increase the opportunity for people to come to the building. As you add more space because you can add more days into the calendar [income producing events] … with the cost of things going up, the buildings age, about 20 years old, repair, maintenance and all that increases the operating side of the budget line. The only way to impact the bottom line is to either cut expenses or raise revenues.
BG: How many events did the Convention Center lose because of lack of availability or meeting space?
AT: From 2019 to 2023, we have lost over 45 events due to the lack of meeting space and space availability… which is the second highest reason for losing business at the venue. Nearly 60% of the lost sporting event business was due to the amount of space and space availability.
BG: How’s that going to change with building an expansion?
AT: We’re going to have more space to sell. We will be able to bring in new and bigger events and allow existing events to grow and attract more people over the same time frame.
BG: Can you give us an example of the new events an expansion might help bring in?
A: It could bring in more regional and national sporting events in the winter months.
BG: Besides lack of space causing problems, what is another major challenge the Branson Convention Center faces regarding getting events?
AT: We have less connected hotel rooms and walkable hotels compared to our competitors.
BG: What is your favorite part about being the manager of the Branson Convention Center?
AT: It’s not just the building but the people, the tourism community, the hotel community. Everybody’s just been so welcoming… It’s not like that in a lot of cities. They see the convention center as a loss leader, and it kind of just sits over there, and they just have to figure out how to fund it… but with this property, you can really feel the community support behind it.
BG: What advice would you give someone looking to enter Venue Management?
AT: Take it one step at a time because if you jump in with both feet, it could be very overwhelming if you’re not used to it, but it can be manageable. Historically, our industry has done a bad job of maintaining a work-life balance. I tried to get away from that narrative and I want people to be able to spend time with family. I have two kids at home and an amazing husband. I love my family, and I want to be there as much as I can.
I jumped in with both feet when I first got into the industry, and it was very overwhelming. I missed the time with my husband and with my kids. Then, as I got older and wiser, I realized that what’s important is spending time with my family, not necessarily the work I do. There’s always somebody that can replace me at work, but there’s no one that can replace me at home. So, make sure that you understand that balance and fight for what it means to you. [This writer knows this has nothing to do with insights to the operation of the convention center, but it has everything to do with life and a challenge that most of us have had to resolve. Just couldn’t leave it out.]
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