NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release March 21, 2013
Williston Basin Petroleum Conference Returns
The Williston Basin Petroleum Conference will return to Bismarck-Mandan, May 20-22, 2014. The 2012 conference was a huge success and the City of Bismarck, Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau, and North Dakota Petroleum Council are pleased to announce their return.
“I am delighted with the news that the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference will return in 2014 and excited that we’ll have the ability to host future conferences of this size. We have a bold vision – an Exhibit Hall expansion that preserves our existing investment and current business, and a Task Force to look to the future,” said Bismarck Mayor John Warford. “It’s vitally important that we retain our current business, build upon our assets, and maintain the economic drivers of our community. We want to keep Bismarck an exciting destination and locale that continues to attract visitors to our City.”
The 2012 Conference wrapped up with a record-breaking attendance of 4,051 people, breaking the record set in 2010 by nearly 1,300 people. Of the 4,051 attendees, 653 were from Bismarck-Mandan. Attendees represented 47 states, seven provinces, and nine countries. The Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates delegates spent over $1.9M in 2012. Some of the attendees stayed outside of Bismarck-Mandan. With the addition of several new hotels the 2014 attendees should find accommodations within Bismarck-Mandan, resulting in a greater financial impact on Bismarck-Mandan.
Ron Ness, North Dakota Petroleum Council President, stated, “We are pleased to announce our return to Bismarck-Mandan for the 2014 Conference. The 2012 Conference was a huge success and we hope to bring 4000 attendees back here, again.” Ness added, “Bismarck is a great location and we received many positive comments from our attendees. We had an overwhelming amount of interest from exhibitors and our exhibit space sold out within 17 minutes in 2012. The proposed exhibit expansion and the addition of more hotels are sure to make our next conference even bigger and better in 2014.”
The conference brings a great deal of attention to Bismarck-Mandan. In 2012, nearly 100 media contacts registered for the conference. Terry Harzinski, Bismarck-Mandan Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director, added, “The 2012 conference garnered more than 200 news stories worldwide. It’s great exposure for Bismarck-Mandan.”
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For More Information:
Sheri Grossman
Director of Sales
Bismarck-Mandan Convention and Visitors Bureau
701-222-4308