Citing costs, Hollywood Show convention leaves Burbank Airport Marriott after 8 years

The Hollywood Show -- a popular movie and TV memorabilia convention that features appearances by stars from years gone by -- is itself gone. From Burbank, that is.

Faced with the increasing costs of keeping the event at the Burbank Airport Marriott and the inability to secure discounted reservations for convention patrons after the contracted deadline, organizers say they have no choice but to move to another space in Los Angeles.

“We’re not happy to have to leave, but it was sort of forced upon us,” said David Elkouby, the event’s promoter.

The convention’s departure means a drop of up to $3,600 in vendor fees for the city for each show, Elkouby said, adding that four shows are held annually.

It will also result in lost hotel taxes, restaurant revenues and retail sales, which were fueled by the average 4,000-plus people who attend the Hollywood Show.

The convention, started in 1979, has been held at the Marriott in Burbank for about eight years, Elkouby said.

The new home for the show, which will be held Jan. 11-13, will be the Westin at the Los Angeles International Airport.

Bob Hope Airport spokesman Victor Gill said it’s difficult to evaluate the impact of the show’s departure because of the volume of passengers that use the airfield each year.

Still, he acknowledged that when an event like the Hollywood Show goes away, “it is something to take into account.”

Reginald McDowell, the Marriott’s general manager, said that while he is disappointed to see the Hollywood Show leave, he felt the hotel’s offer was fair.

“We feel we offered a fair economic package for [their] convention” McDowell said. “We hope that they will reconsider and come back.”

Besides an increase in fees, Elkouby said the hotel would no longer offer discounted rooms for convention patrons after the deadline listed in the contract.

The show sometimes books celebrities at the last minute, but fans who wanted to see their favorite stars were having to pay full price for a room more often during the past few years, Elkouby said.

“In the past, they used to work with us,” he said.

-- Mark Kellam, Times Community News

Follow Mark Kellam on Twitter: @LAMarkKellam