Supplied by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie… Sault Ste. Marie, ON (May 18, 2016) – Around 2,800 visitors will be in Sault Ste. Marie this summer for a major conference. Taking place July 6 to 10 at the Essar Centre, the 2016 Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention will generate more than 11,000 visitor days and inject over $1.6 million of direct visitor spending into the local economy, along with millions more in indirect economic activity. The event announcement was made at Monday’s City Council meeting.

The city last hosted this conference some 20 years ago. Tourism Sault Ste. Marie has been working – and continues to work – with the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, local Jehovah’s Witnesses members and its industry partners on securing and coordinating the 2016 event.

“The Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses Convention will be a significant visitor draw for our community,” said Ian McMillan, Executive Director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie. “We thank the event organizers, our accommodations partners and the City’s Community Services Department for their efforts, and we look forward to welcome the visiting delegates this summer.”