Oil Show to Impact Local Economy for Years to Come

The Ector County Coliseum is cleared out after an amazing week at the oil show. Although the show is over, looks like Odessa and the surrounding communities will feel the economic impact for years to come.

Doug Chisum, Odessa Chamber of Commerce chairman, says 50,000 plus came in for this year's oil show.  Far too large of an amount for Odessa to accommodate on their own, thousands overflowed into surrounding communities. Hotels were totally booked in Midland, Big Spring, Andrews McCamey, Crane and more months before the show.

Keith Dial, general manager of the Midland Hilton Plaza, says they were full all three nights of the show and had the chance to accommodate guests from all over the world including New Zealand, China and Europe.

Local hotels, including the Midland Hilton, made profits on more than the unusually high number of guests. "The demand period allowed properties to maximize their rates, and I think every hotel that I've spoken with had a slight increase for the days of the show," says Dial.

Business was also booming for local restaurants.

"When the oil show comes into town, it's great for the whole community and it's great for Rosa's. I think we benefited an 8 to 10 % increase in sales. It's a great thing for all of us," says Cecil Barriga, general manager of Rosa's in Odessa.

But the tourists spent money on a lot more than just food and a place to sleep.

"Everything from the taxi drivers to the gas stations, grocery stores and all types of small businesses are directly impacted by the oil show," says Chisum.

And although the oil show vendors have packed up and left, Chisum says the Basin will continue to feel economic impact years to come.

A study done by the Odessa Chamber anticipates the show brought in roughly $3.75 million for Odessa's economy over the last three days. Of course, we won't know for sure until we get a final report from the comptroller's office later this year.