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“The latest figures from Meetings and Conventions PEI show an almost three-fold increase in convention bookings for 2014 compared to 2013,” said Minister Henderson. “That goes to show the amount of anticipation that’s building ahead of the sesquicentennial. It also shows that the new Prince Edward Island Convention Centre is beginning to attract conventions that the Island would not have been able to host before now.”

Minister Henderson was also quick to praise the hard work of Meetings and Conventions PEI in its efforts to promote the Island as an ideal location for large-scale meetings and conventions.

The province provides $286,000 a year in core funding for Meetings and Conventions PEI.

“We’re seeing solid numbers in 2013 and particularly in 2014. This is partly due to the excitement building around the 2014 celebrations,” said Zubair Siddiqi, Chair of Meetings and Conventions PEI. “The trend we’re seeing in relation to the Prince Edward Island Convention Centre is an increase in the number of delegates per event. We’re working to capitalize on the 2014 buzz by bringing large events but also filling the gaps with smaller groups that either fill open dates or can be hosted in smaller venues all over the Island.”

The meetings and conventions sector on Prince Edward Island contributes about $20 million a year to the provincial economy. That number is expected to grow over the coming years as more and more convention organizers begin to recognize Prince Edward Island as a top convention destination with facilities to host just about any type of meeting.