Major diving expo returns to Houston for 3-show rotation

HOUSTON, Texas – The Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) opened its 2004 convention Wednesday at the George R. Brown Convention Center, returning to Houston for the first time in 13 years.

DEMA executive director Tom Ingram and board president Bob Hollis, with assistance from noted diver and actress Zale Parry (of TV’s Sea Hunt fame), cut the ribbon at 10 a.m. to open the show to a throng expected to top out at 15,000. Prior to the ribbon-cutting, October 13-16 was declared DEMA Week in Houston by proclamation from Houston Mayor Bill White.

DEMA, which last convened in Houston in 1991, won’t wait so long before returning next time. It is scheduled to come back in 2007 and 2010 as part of its annual rotation.

“New hotels … a beautiful convention center and great people have contributed to making this a terrific venue,” Ingram was quoted in Space City Connection, the George R. Brown Convention Center newsletter. “Another desirable aspect is that Houston is a hub for travel into some of the best diving areas of the Caribbean and Mexico.”

DEMA’s space requirements call for the use of four exhibit halls on the ground floor and dozens of meeting rooms on the upper levels of the downtown facility, all easily accommodated after the completion of a major expansion project in late 2003.

“Attracting shows like DEMA is the reason we under went expansion,” said GRBCC director Dawn Ullrich. “This is an exciting time in the life of our convention center.”

The $165 million expansion project nearly doubled the size of the center. At 1.85 gross square feet, the GRBCC now ranks among the 10 largest convention centers in America. The building features 1.2 million square feet of exhibition, meeting and registration space, including seven exhibit halls and more than 100 meeting rooms.

Contact:

Pete Radowick
713-853-8077
peter.radowick@cityofhouston.net