What particular challenges face the marketers of convention centres (as opposed to marketing direct to consumers)?

An aggressive, international integrated marketing campaign culminated in 2005 in the grand opening of the US $415m Puerto Rico Convention Centre. The marketing plan was created and implemented by the Convention Bureau, a non-profit, partially government-funded body, with an association of members from the hotel, property and tourism services industries. Its mandate was to promote and package the huge convention centre in conjunction with the resort facilities of Puerto Rico as a world class business tourism destination.
Gloribel Wachtel, Marketing Director for the Convention Bureau, deems printed brochures her best marketing tool and the Bureau spends much time, money and creative thought on its leaflets, annual fiscal reports, presentation material, ads and promotional postcards. Tactics over the past three years have included a dedicated website (www.meetpuertorico.com), direct mail, e-marketing, trade shows, site inspections, sales calls, special events including golf tournaments, client functions, orientations and reviews, publications, e-newsletters as well as printed news bulletins, media relations and catalogues.