PENTICTON – The Penticton Trade and Convention Centre would like to host a Federation of Canadian Municipalities board meeting in 2018, but it comes with an over $28,000 price tag for the city.

The Convention Centre's director of sales Paul O’Beirn says the city has an opportunity to bid for one of two board meetings held annually by the federation, involving 150 attendees attending three to four days of meetings.

There submission requirements for the bid that include an endorsement from council and a commitment from the city to pay for some of the meeting costs.

Those costs include $2,700 for computer equipment with Internet and IT support, along with a cocktail and dinner event for up to $18,000 that typically takes place off site. Transportation costs of $7,350 would also be expected to be picked up by the city.

O’Beirn says they are looking at the bid would look at the March meeting.

He says the event could have an economic impact of $200,000 to the city, in addition to providing a “great opportunity for Penticton as a host municipality to help integrate local realities into discussions at a national level” and showcasing the city to the board members who come from across the country.

Council supported the bid application and its financial implications in a unanimous vote.

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