GWCC loses money for third year, but less than anticipated

By Leon Stafford

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Georgia World Congress Center lost money in fiscal 2010, which ended June 30, but the loss wasn't as big as anticipated.

The nation's fourth largest convention facility ended the year with a $2.3 million deficit, which is less than half the $5.6 million loss leaders projected when putting together the budget last year.

The smaller shortfall is a result of better attendance at conventions and the center's own cost-cutting efforts, which included layoffs in February and freezing many positions

Bob Prather, chairman of the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, praised new GWCCA executive director Frank Poe -- who has been in the position since April -- and the facilities' former head, Dan Graveline, with reducing the losses.

"It's not often that you brag about losing $2.3 million, but I really think we owe thanks to Dan and Frank and all our key people," Prather said at authority's monthly meeting Tuesday. "I think they did a great job this year. This is probably the toughest year we've had around here."

Still, it is the second consecutive year the convention behemoth has ended in the red. Early projections suggest fiscal 2011 could also end with a loss, although leaders think adding the recently announced meeting for Duluth-based Primerica to the calendar could change that.

The insurer announced in June that it will bring 55,000 people to Atlanta next June.

Tuesday's authority meeting also sought to assure board members that the Georgia Dome was following food preparation safety guidelines, one day after an ESPN report looked at violations at sports arenas across the country, including the Dome, Philips Arena and Turner Field.

"The violations that we have been presented with have all been addressed," Poe said, adding the ESPN report painted food safety issues with a broad brush. "Most of them have been minor. They were a few that we needed to spend a little bit more time and energy on."

Michael Plutino, regional director of operations for Levy Restaurants, which oversees Dome food and beverage operations, hit back at ESPN. He said it's unrealistic to think that every inspection would end with a perfect 100 score, but insists that the company's rigid standards make its food safe.

"Are we perfect every single day, absolutely not," he said. "Do we believe you can eat off the floors of the Dome's concession stands right now today, we absolutely do."