The cruise industry has become a significant component of the US economy, and Port Canaveral has become the second largest cruise port in the country. This study focuses on the special considerations that must be taken into account in measuring the direct spending of the cruise industry, and uses a regional input–output model to estimate the total economic impact. The impacts are based on survey data for the following three groups: cruise line spending; cruise passenger spending; and ships' crew spending.

This study examines the economic impact of conventions on cities, using the MSA of Orlando, Florida, as a case study. The study uses local convention characteristics to adjust national and state data on two types of spending: that which arises from attending and holding a convention and that done by delegates before and after a convention. The impact of both types of spending is estimated from a 494-sector input/output model of the Orlando regional economy. Direct effects, multipliers, and total effects are measured in terms of wages, employment, and output, both within and outside of the convention industry.According to the International Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus (IACVB), convention activity in U.S. cities increased by 10% from 1986 to 1988. The IACVB estimates that the value of conventions in 1988 was more than $38 billion. However, this value of conventions is underestimated for two reasons. First, estimates reported by Meetings & Conventions (1988) are that nearly 70% of convention travelers combine business and family leisure. Therefore, the total impact of convention activity is much larger than the spending associated with holding and attending a convention. Second, each dollar of convention-related spending initiates a broad set of economic interactions that produces additional spending in other sectors of a region's economy.According to the IACVB, in 1990 the number of conventions grew by 10.1 % and the number of delegates increased by 13.8% over 1989. Because of this growth, competition among convention locations is stronger than ever. State and local tourism officials must therefore understand the nature and value of their convention trade when designing marketing strategy and allocating funds.This study describes a process for adjusting readily available national and state information for local analysis. In addition, the multipliers and industry linkages estimated in this study should prove quite useful for convention cities. However, the results must be generalized with caution because multipliers depend in part on the location of sources that satisfy local demands. In the Orlando region, the convention industry relies heavily on locally produced goods and services. Therefore, the convention spending multipliers estimated in this study will be more similar to convention sites where most goods and services are provided by local sources.

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