Conventional Wisdom: Events center learns to cope with the ‘new normal’

The hospitality and travel industry has been hit hard across the board during the pandemic. From hotels, to tourist spots, to airlines and cruise ships, these businesses have been hurt by government-mandated constraints, skittish customers, canceled events and travel restrictions.

The result? A whole sector scrambling to figure out ways to survive.

Things have been looking up lately, though. Restrictions have eased and more travelers are on the move.

Some businesses, like the cruise industry, for example, report an increase in bookings as more people decide to see destinations in person rather than through via a computer screen.

Locally, event venues like the Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center and Holiday Inn, have had to absorb the blows.

“We were looking at our biggest year yet here at the convention center when we went into 2020,” said Amber Ferguson, director of sales and marketing. “Then COVID happened and our calendar effectively was cut in half. We’ve been fortunate to be able to reschedule some of the events, but some were just lost, like weddings, one-shots, and some events that only come along every three or four years.”

The Convention Center’s calendar was not completely void of dates, however. The Fouke Monster Festival found a home at this location, and recently Murphy’s Gun Show drew a sizable audience.

“Fans of those events had no problem attending and neither did vendors,” she said. “With each event, organizers have to work with us and the state for a plan to host the show safely and we do so. And the attendees come.”

While COVID-19 has had a nationwide effect on the hospitality industry, Ferguson says there are signs the worst is behind them.

“Five-star hotels, huge brands have been reeling, she said. “Corporate staffs have had big cuts.”

Ferguson says the Holiday Inn has recently had an uptick in guest occupancy and more travelers are coming through.

“Our convention center is able to accommodate 100 guests with social distancing safely under current restrictions,” she said. “At our present level of restriction, we do not have to have our event plans approved by state officials, though we still set them up according to state restrictions.”

People are venturing from home, attending events.

“They’ve had time with family and it has given them some life perspective,” Ferguson said. “They are seemingly ready to get out of the house and do things.”

Ferguson says support from the owners of the convention center have been a big part of what has enabled their facility to get through this.

“They give us great support,” she said. “Our ownership is locally based and care very much about what is happening here, as well as in the local area in general.”

(Texarkana Arkansas Convention Center and Holiday Inn is located at 5200 Convention Plaza Drive, Texarkana, Arkansas. Phone: 870-216-2000.)