Smoking Ban Costs Meeting Business

Rochester, Minn., recently saw some event business go up in smoke when its no-smoking ordinance caused American Veterans to move its 2005 convention from Rochester to Kansas City. The Rochester Area Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the change will cost 5,000 hotel room nights and $1.1 million in economic impact, according to Meeting News. The smoking ban—which prohibits smoking in restaurants that earn more than half their revenue from food sales, but doesn't affect bars or private clubs—is less strict than New York's current restrictions.

Posted 07.30.03

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