The Direct Marketing Association Annual Conference apparently won’t be going back to Orlando, FL any time soon. The reasons may vary depending on who you talk to.
The last time the DMA Annual was there was 2003. The group had originally planned to hold its 2007 fall conference there, as well as its 2011 and 2015 events.
“They [the DMA] complained a lot about infrastructure issues,” said Kathie Canning, deputy general manager of the Orlando Convention Center, adding that there were not enough hotel rooms within walking distance of the center.
Canning noted that since 2003, a few new suite hotels have opened near the center and that a Hilton hotel directly adjacent to the center was scheduled to open in 2009-10.
DMA officials did not return calls at deadline.
The dispute with Orlando has been going on for a few years. In 2003, the Orlando Sentinel newspaper published a story, which the DMA board considered “disparaging”. DMA management directed the staff to find other locations for the conventions (Direct Newsline, June 17, 2004).
But to encourage The DMA to return to Orlando for future conventions, the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Hotel Surcharge Committee agreed to return the DMA’s 2003 rental fee of approximately $200,000.
This agreement held for a while but the DMA later decided to change its 2007 conference to Chicago and backed out of contracts for 2011 and 2015, said Canning, who confirmed the DMA has since returned the $200,000.
Orange County could reportedly force the DMA to pay almost $200,000 more if convention center officials are unable to rebook the dates it had been scheduled to use the facility, but Canning thinks she’ll find takers.
She ruled out legal action against the DMA.
“We’ll just try to win them back,” she said, not offering any specifics.
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