Estimate Of Economic Impact Of World Meeting Of Families Grows
By Pat Loeb
FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. (CBS) - The president of the World Meeting of Families spoke to the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce Wednesday with just two months left until the huge event he's in charge of.
Bob Ciaruffoli told the group the economic impact will be even higher than originally projected. He says the initial study by his organization, done a little more than a year ago, projected an economic impact to the region of 418-Million dollars:
"That was at a time when we expected that we were going to be utilizing only the hotels in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties."
Since then, he says, the World Meeting has negotiated hotel rooms from Atlantic City to the Poconos, found homestays and campgrounds, and now anticipates even more visitor spending:
"I can tell you that number is outdated. I believe the number is well in excess of $500-million."
Ciaruffoli says planning is right on schedule, and is even ahead of schedule in some areas.
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