When the Natchez convention center opens its doors in spring 2002, it will be the newest facility in the state. In 1998, Hattiesburg could boast the same thing, and one year before that, Vicksburg held the title. So what can Natchez learn from the successes and mistakes of the convention centers that until now have served as models but will soon be competition?

When planning for the Natchez convention center, officials researched and toured several facilities throughout the Southeast, including Columbus, Tupelo, Mobile, Ala., Kenner and Alexandria.

But within the state, Vicksburg and Hattiesburg most closely resemble the size market Natchez wishes to emulate, said Walter Tipton, Natchez tourism director. Also, unlike casino-operated facilities, both are owned by the city.

But the comparisons may end there. Since opening in August 1997, Vicksburg’s $12 million center has fallen well short of revenue projections, while Hattiesburg, which spent $17 million on their facility, is performing well.

Patrick Bell, assistant director for the Hattiesburg Convention and Visitors Bureau and Convention Center, said that CVB’s lakeside facility brought in $6 million in new money in its first year of operation and $8.5 million last year.

Contributing to Hattiesburg’s success was the centralized location of the center, at the intersection of U.S. Highways 49 and 59 and within 90 minutes of 80 percent of the state’s population, Bell said.

Also, Bell said Hattiesburg planners were intent on waiting until the center was ready for business before opening its doors, a mistake made by Vicksburg well-known within the business.

Bell echoed the thoughts of Natchez Mayor F.L. &uot;Hank&uot; Smith that first impressions are invaluable in a convention center’s success.

&uot;You have one time to make a good first impression,&uot; Bell said.

And perhaps most important, Bell said the way a facility is marketed can either make or break it right from the start.

&uot;The building is nice, but if you don’t tell anybody about it, you have an empty building,&uot; Bell said.

Lenore Barkley, Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, said marketing is one area where Vicksburg &uot;missed the mark&uot; with their convention center.

Although the city had set aside ample funds for promoting the center, that money went unused under management that has since been replaced, Barkley said.

Tipton said the Natchez CVB staff has already begun planning a marketing strategy for the convention center.

In November, the state Department of Tourism awarded the city a $5,000 matching grant specifically for promoting convention centers to groups.

And just this week, a link about the convention center was added to the CVB Web site and official stationary for future press releases was approved, Tipton said.

Natchez is hoping to attract a &uot;two-phase market&uot; of groups and associations and trade shows, Tipton said, and the tourism staff is now compiling a list of 300 associations that will be targeted for business, with a goal of booking between 15 and 20 of those groups for 2002.

Lisa Nosser, Vicksburg director of sales and marketing, said identifying a target market is one of the first steps to successfully marketing a convention center.

And when seeking out overnight crowds, convenient accommodations can mean the difference between a group choosing your convention center over another.

Nosser said most conventioneers prefer hotels to be under the same roof as the convention hall, but accommodations within walking distance are also acceptable.

Natchez officials hope to draw a hotel development to a parcel of city-owned land across the street from the convention center site.

Nosser said Natchez would do well to follow through with the plan, which would allow them to attract &uot;higher end&uot; conventioneers who would spend new tax dollars in the local economy.

Vicksburg relies on nearby Harrah’s casino and hotel to accommodate many of its conventioneers, but competing with the gambling crowd sometimes leaves the city scrambling for hotel rooms, Nosser said.

The problem has led Vicksburg to consider bringing in a hotel to complement their convention center, an idea Hattiesburg finds attractive, too.

Bell said the city owns a parcel of undeveloped land adjacent to the convention center that has been discussed as a site for a hotel, but he does not like to hear Natchez has similar plans.

&uot;Personally, I think it’s a bad idea, because it would take business away from us,&uot; he said.

Because they will be vying for the same market, Bell views Natchez as competition, but Nosser in Vicksburg believes another convention center will be beneficial for the state. She envisions a kind of rotation of state associations between the various facilities.

&uot;If we don’t get it this year, we’ll get it next year,&uot; she said.