Conference brings 2,600 Jehovah's Witnesses to town

NEWS RELEASE

TOURISM SAULT STE MARIE

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Around 2,800 visitors will be in Sault Ste. Marie this summer for a major conference.

Taking place July 6 to 10 at the Essar Centre, the 2016 Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention will generate more than 11,000 visitor days and inject over $1.6 million of direct visitor spending into the local economy, along with millions more in indirect economic activity.

The event announcement was made at Monday’s City Council meeting.

The city last hosted this conference some 20 years ago. Tourism Sault Ste. Marie has been working – and continues to work – with the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, local Jehovah's Witnesses members and its industry partners on securing and coordinating the 2016 event.

“The Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention will be a significant visitor draw for our community,” said Ian McMillan, Executive Director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie. “We thank the event organizers, our accommodations partners and the City’s Community Services Department for their efforts, and we look forward to welcome the visiting delegates this summer.”

About Tourism Sault Ste. Marie

Tourism Sault Ste. Marie works to draw visitors by securing major conferences, sports tournaments and special events, selling vacation packages, marketing area attractions and festivals, developing tourism products and infrastructure, and attracting cruise ships, motor coach tours and other group excursions.

Between 2010 and 2015, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie activity generated 197,231 visitor days, $28.8 million of direct visitor spending, and million more in indirect and induced economic activity for the community. For more information, visit www.saulttourism.com. Also online: www.sault-canada.com.

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