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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kimberly Schmitz
Director of Communications & Public Relations
kschmitz@visitTucson.org
520.770.2143
January 8, 2009
THE WORLD'S LARGEST TREASURE HUNT RETURNS
TUCSON WELCOMES 2009 GEM MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOWCASE
Tucson, Ariz., January 8, 2009. Buyers, sellers, collectors, and admirers of all that sparkles and shines will gather in Tucson for the 55th annual Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase January 31-February 15, 2009. This year there are 45 individual shows at 42 different venues throughout the Metropolitan Tucson area. Thousands of individual vendors from all over the world are participating.
Anybody looking for treasure will find it in one of many, many vendor booths at this world-renowned event. Finished jewelry, loose gems, geodes, raw minerals, carvings, baskets, beads, chimes, clothing, furniture, or million year-old fossils will be somebody's best find this season for sure!
CORNERSTONE SHOWS
The two cornerstone shows are the American Gem Trade Association (AGTA) Gem FairTM, which is wholesale only and runs February 4-9, and the Tucson Gem & Mineral Show, which is open to the public and runs February 12-15. Both shows are at the Tucson Convention Center (TCC).
The AGTA GemFairTM Tucson is the world's premier tradeshow for colored gemstones. Featuring the greatest array of colored gemstone and cultured pearl dealers from the US and Canada. The AGTA Gemological Testing Center will be present with a mobile laboratory to provide reports on colored gemstones, the best tool for closing a sale. A selection of seminars focused on industry trends as well as technical programs will also be presented for qualified attendees.
This year's theme of the Tucson Gem & Mineral ShowTM, The Main Show, at the TCC is "Mineral Oddities". The show is run by the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society (TGMS), and started 55 years ago in the parking lot of an elementary school. All other "satellite" shows developed as a result of the popularity and fame of the TGMS show throughout the years. Lectures and seminars are held Thursday through Sunday of the show week in the Crystal and Turquoise Ballrooms at the TCC. They are open to the public and free of charge.
THE IMPACT
The Tucson Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Showcase contributes $100 million to the Tucson area's economy and brings in at least 50,000 out of town visitors.
Economic Impact from Tucson's big events:
- Gem Show - $100 million
- El Tour de Tucson - $20-30 million
- La Fiesta de los Vaqueros - $16 million
- World Golf Championships - Accenture Match Play Championship (EEI is Undetermined)
HOW TO GET THERE
Free shuttles, funded by Park Wise, a self-funded division of the city of Tucson will run 3 different routes (with 26 stops) daily, January 31- February 15, 2009, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (There is a $5.00 fee to park at most hubs, but the shuttle use is unlimited and free.)
Gem Show guides including shuttle maps are available at the Tucson International Airport, the Visitor Center in La Placita Center at 100 S. Church Avenue, and at all shuttle stops by January 31.
The MTCVB is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the Tucson-area as a convention, visitor, and film production destination. It is financially supported by the City of Tucson, Pima County, the Town of Oro Valley and its nearly 800 individual and business members.
Visit the MTCVB website at http://www.visittucson.org/ or call 1.800.638.8350 for further information.
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