With Orlando rapidly becoming the NBAA Annual Meeting and Convention’s unofficial home, the area is banking on the event–currently ranked as the nation’s fifth largest tradeshow–to provide a boost to the local economy. According to statistics from the Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, NBAA Convention attendees could leave nearly $40 million behind in the hands of the area’s hotels, restaurants and car rental agencies if this year’s attendance numbers equal those of last year’s. However, 2008’s show may have set a record that will be hard to surpass in the current economy.
Less clear is how much revenue the event will generate for the local FBOs that describe the NBAA Convention as business aviation’s Super Bowl. “During the week we should get 700 to 900 aircraft that are not part of the static display,” said Kevin McNamara, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority’s (GOAA) director of general aviation. “With four local airports, we have more than enough aviation facilities to meet today’s demand as well as growth demands for NBAA and the exhibitors.”
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