The Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau booked more than 76 meetings in 2012 that brought $28 million into the local economy.

“These meetings inject a stream of new revenue into our city,” said Dana Markel, executive director of the Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau. “In fact, these 76 meetings generated more than $3.4 million in local and state tax revenue.”

The dollar amounts generated by business booked by the Convention and Visitor Bureau are bolstered by additional revenue produced by meetings confirmed directly with hotels, the convention center and other meeting facilities.

This meeting industry revenue is in addition to the economic impact created by last year's high profile events such as NCAA Basketball Tournament games, the U.S. Olympic Swim Trials, the College World Series and Berkshire Hathaway’s Annual Shareholders meeting.

Recent economic impact research shows that tourism, which includes corporate and leisure travelers, saves each Douglas County household $680 per year in taxes.