Salt Palace Convention Center.

• Position: Around Utah - Brief article

Salt Lake City--Approximately 22,000 outdoor enthusiasts and more than 1,000 exhibitors attended the 2008 summer Outdoor Retailers Market at the SALT PALACE CONVENTION CENTER.

The packed event allowed new companies to showcase their products, as well as attracted core companies like Teva and Wenzel to the state. But the event brought more than outdoor enthusiasts and gear to Salt Lake--it raked in an estimated $19 million, according to the University of Utah's Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR). That's because exhibitors and attendees spent their dollars on hotels, restaurants, local attractions, etc. In fact, according to the BEBR, the average Salt Lake convention delegate spends approximately $889 during an average three-day stay.

The event has been held in Utah since 1996, and according to Kenji Haroutunian, show director for Outdoor Retailer, it's not going anywhere else. "We love Salt Lake City," he said. "Utah is the...