Pennsylvania Convention Center cuts fees in hopes to lure new business

A decision to cut a controversial fee could mean more conventions will come to Philadelphia. 

The Pennsylvania Convention Center used to charge an eight percent management fee to exhibitors.  It was used to pay the company’s labor supplier for arranging workers to set up conventions.

Jack Ferguson, CEO of the Convention and Visitors Bureau says getting rid of the fee should help his agency sell meetings and conventions.

“The eight percent since it’s inception in 2003 has been a sore point for the customer because they feel it is a cost that that management would incur to manage the process in the building like an operational process,” said Ferguson. “The customer doesn’t see the value that they have to pay that, so this is a big win.”

Ferguson says he has been receiving calls since some people learned of the plan through insider sources.  He says no other major convention center overtly charged such a fee.