SHELBY — A booking snafu is going to benefit Richland County.
After the Professional Photographers of Ohio Conference was double-booked at its venue in Columbus, the organization turned instead to Shelby and the Kehoe Center.
As a result, the weekend-long event will give the county an economic boost of approximately $75,000, Destination Mansfield/Richland County estimated.
Brent Watkins, of Wooster, and a board member of the PPO said the organization will bring 250 to 300 guests to the community. The Photo Blast 2017 Conference will run March 10 through 12.
“We love having groups like this come and showcase the area. They are pro photographers who have the ability to better represent the area visually,” said Kim Miers, Destination Mansfield-Richland County Marketing/meetings director.
The PPO is in its 77th year of operations and unites photographers in the state twice a year for a trade show, photo contest and an educational conference. The PPO is an affiliate of the Professional Photographers of America.
Watkins said the new spot in Shelby is a better location for the photographers because the Kehoe Center is more centrally located to where most of the PPO members live.
Miers said the group’s size will impact the county’s economy because members will be staying in hotels for two days, eating out and shopping.
“We are very glad we got the opportunity to have the PPO host at the Kehoe Center,” she said. “It is great exposure for the center, one of our premier meeting venues in our county.”
