The Hosts to the Most

In the fierce contest for big-buck conventions, every major city is adding exhibition space, hotel rooms and other facilities. Though these are the meat and taters of convention planning, other factors have to be considered. Among them: accessibility, ambience, restaurants, night life, theaters, museums, shopping, sightseeing, sports and the degree of local cooperation. Thus New York City and Chicago perennially head the Top Ten convention cities in numbers of conventioneers and dollars spent, but the jostling runners-up reflect demographic change and civic ambition. The field:

New York is still the Big Apple, with a 1978 record of 875 conventions, 3.75 million delegates, $600 million revenues. Attractions: 100,000 hotel rooms, 360,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space at the Coliseum, with 750,000 more planned at a new center; culture, cuisine, communications and superstores.

Chicago, the Second City, is about neck and neck with New York: 1,203 conventions and trade shows, 2.4 million delegates, $515 million revenues. Attractions: 44,000 hotel rooms, 1.1 million sq. ft. of exhibition space at McCormick Place, plus 370,000 elsewhere; opera, theater, museums, restaurants, shopping and a rowdy night life.

Dallas, coming up fast, with 1,189 conventions, 1.6 million delegates, spending $363 million. Attractions: climate, sports, howdy hospitality.

San Francisco, Everyman's El Dorado, brought in 905 conventions, 804,000 delegates, $296 million. Attractions: 25,000 hotel rooms, 541,000 sq. ft. exhibition space; museums, opera, symphony, theater, restaurants, cable cars, atmosphere, views, the wine country.

Atlanta, fifth biggest convention capital thanks to two-year-old Georgia World Congress Center, lured 775 gatherings, 800,000 delegates, $212 million. Attractions: 28,000 hotel rooms, more than 1 million sq. ft. exhibition space, a cordial citizenry, historic sites.

Washington, the serious man's convention site, brought in 850 meetings, 750,000 delegates, $247.5 million. Attractions: 35,000 hotel rooms, 250,000 sq. ft. exhibition space; museums, monuments, performing arts, political contacts, capital glamour.

Houston, rising Sunbelt center, registered 340 conventions, 630,000 delegates, $166 million. Attractions: 30,000 hotel rooms, 1.3 million sq. ft. exhibition space, Astrodome, shopping.

Kansas City, heartland magnet, lured 525 conventions, 618,000 delegates, $133 million. Attractions: 17,000 hotel rooms, 186,000 sq. ft. exhibition space, steakhouses, symphony, shopping.

Las Vegas, tinsel Gomorrha, held its own with 400 conventions, 600,000 delegates, $225 million. Attractions: 42,620 hotel rooms, 550,000 sq. ft. exhibition space, shows and gambling, what else?

New Orleans, the ageless dowager, hosted 770 conventions, 535,000 delegates, $139 million. Attractions: 20,000 hotel rooms, 330,000 sq. ft. exhibition space; superb cuisine, Ol' Man River, night life, Superdome, magnolia charm.

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