The Hawai'i Convention Center got some bites as a result of a recent promotion: two new bookings and 13 additional leads.

The joint promotion titled "Pot of Gold," by SMG Hawai'i/Hawai'i Convention Center and the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau, was conducted in concert with the launch of the new joint online resource, www.BusinessAloha.com.

The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) booked for 2014, and the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in 2011, according to Joe Davis, SMG general manager of the Hawai'i Convention Center. And he said the center hopes to finalize additional bookings based on the leads received by the end of the year.

The APMA will be here twice.

"We are anticipating our 2008 meeting will be a huge success, and in anticipation of our tremendous faith in Hawai'i's ability to deliver, we are pleased to announce we will meet in Hawai'i again in 2014," said Anne R. Martinez, meeting administrator, American Podiatric Medical Association.

She said the promotion provided an incentive to rebook their meeting far in advance.

The center has been averaging lower-than-expected bookings for some years, especially for next year.

The center forecasts this economic impact from the conventions: APMA's meeting will attract more than 3,500 delegates, resulting in an estimated statewide spending of $12.4 million and a state tax revenue of $1.6 million; and the APS meeting is expected to attract more than 1,200 delegates, resulting in an estimated statewide spending of $4.3 million and a state tax revenue of $550,000.