SAN DIEGO
The San Diego CVB will take over the booking of trade shows at the Convention Center that are at least 18 months away, following approval by both the City Council and Convention Center Board of Directors.
Joe Terzi, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego CVB, said the center is very well run, but sales could improve.
"The booking patterns have been stagnating in the past couple of years," Terzi told council members.
The plan was strongly opposed by area organized labor leaders. Lorena Gonzalez, head of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, called it a "blatant quid pro quo" for hoteliers who will, via increased room taxes, provide the bulk of funding for the Convention Center's financing.
