The Denver Post
March 4, 1993

Amendment 2's effect grows sharply in 6 weeks

By Michael Booth, Staff Writer

Denver has lost $33.8 million in convention business because of Amendment 2, up 
sharply from only six weeks ago, and groups worth nearly $53 million more are 
reconsidering their bookings, officials said yesterday.

The losses now represent about 1 percent of Denver's expected $3 billion in 
convention business over the next six years, but could quickly rise to as high 
as 5 percent if the cancellations continue, said Rich Grant, spokesman for the 
Denver Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

At least 23 convention groups with solid contracts or commitments to Denver 
have canceled because of the anti-gay rights amendment, representing $33.8 
million in losses.  That is a 72 percent jump from Jan. 15, when the city 
announced it had lost $19.7 million.

Moreover, cancellations from tentative groups--those that had Denver on their 
short lists and had reserved space here--rose to $24 million, up from $6.6 
million six weeks ago, Grant said.

"We lose tentatives all the time for a number of reasons, but these are all 
because of Amendment 2," he said.  

An additional 12 groups worth $52.7 million have "inquired or expressed 
concern" about Amendment 2, and have put the city on notice they may reconsider 
their bookings, Grant said.

Grant and other toursim officials said they are even more concerned about 
groups that have no bookings in Denver, but simply write the city off their 
lists because they don't want to get involved in the controversy.

Ten major convention groups have told Denver they will not consider the city 
for future gatherings because of Amendment 2, Grant said.

"These are 10 that have said, 'Don't even bother talking to us.'"

Grant said he did ot know of any groups that have booked meetings in Denver 
because they support Amendment 2.

Boycott promoters said the numbers prove their contention that Amendment 2, 
currently on hold due to a Denver court injunction, is bad for the state.

"I would imagine a lot of people in Colorado will be surprised" by the numbers, 
said Jan Williams, spokesman for Boycott Colorado.  "My question is, how big 
will the numbers have to get before people wake up and realize they made a 
mistake?"

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the most recent major 
cancellation.  Its 1993 meeting would have brought up to 1,500 people.


Impact on Denver
*	$33.8 million lost when conventions booked for Denver canceled their 
	plans.

*	$24 million in potential refenue lost when groups dropped Denver from 
	their short, or 'tentative,' bookings lists.

*	$52.7 million hanging in the balance from groups with confirmed Denver 
	bookings who have notified the city they may reconsider because of the 
	amendment.