Despite convention center's slow summer schedule, general manager says they're busy | News

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Summer is the time where you get to travel, do fun things and participate in events, but it seems the heat and a hotel is putting a bump in plans at the Wilmington Convention Center.

WECT.com recently checked the centers website to see what was going on this summer.

According to the website, the next big public event isn't scheduled until September.

"We know its going to take a while to build up the big convention business," said Wilmington City Council member Kevin O'Grady.

The center's been open for a little more than a year and many still consider it new.

A major problem surrounding the convention center is a hotel. It's been left in limbo on whether not it will get a hotel of its own.

One person WECT.com spoke to said it's a loose end that's a deal breaker to some event planners.

"The requirements is that they have to have a headquarters hotel at the center," said Kim Hufham.

Hufham is the chief executive officer of the Wilmington-Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"They are ready to book," she said. "It's just a matter of having the rooms available and the hotel there."

General manager Susan Eaton said things aren't what they seem when you first glance at the website.

She said her staff keeps busy with private events that aren't publicized on the website. She also said they have some public events going on until September like a local community college graduation. Eaton said the public is invited to attend that.

Eaton added the warmer months tend to be slow for convention centers.

WECT.com explored surrounding convention center websites.

According to convention centers in Greenville and Myrtle Beach, the schedules are stacked for the summer.

Many said it comes down to getting a convention center hotel.

Eaton said the convention center actively tries to find new groups with trade shows, social media and advertising.

The last public event held at the center was in June. It was a bodybuilding convention.

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