PRO convention continues as planned after Scottsdale flood

Despite the unavailability of the primary hotel, The Photographic Research Organization (PRO) buying group 60th annual convention continues as planned Oct. 1-4 in Scottsdale, Ariz. A record flood on Aug. 11 damaged the original venue, the Talking Stick Resort, causing the PRO management to seek alternatives. Meeting space was secured at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown, with three nearby hotels secured for members.

PRO CEO Mark Leonard adds the convention programming will go on as planned, with all speakers and vendors making the move: “Show will go on. [Once it became evident Talking Stick Resort was not going to be available] we made it an imperative to keep the dates the same and to stay in the same city.”

Leonard adds the buying group is coming off its strongest year, in 2017, and is tracking well for a record 2018. “Our focus has been on improving Promaster brand product quality and maintaining community among independent dealers,” he adds.