Lions International bringing big convention, parade to Seattle

It will be like the opening procession of the Olympics, with delegations representing 118 countries marching in their traditional garb with floats and music.

The Ohio State School for the Blind marching band — the only high-school marching band in the nation made up of blind students — will lead the way.

Altogether, some 12,000 members of the Lions Club — known best for its programs that help the blind and improving eye care around the world — will march from Seattle Center to downtown Tuesday morning. Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau believes it will be the largest parade in city history, said David Blandford, bureau spokesman.

It's all part of the Lions Club 94th International Convention coming to Seattle next week.

As many as 20,000 Lions members and their families will attend the convention, which runs Monday through Friday, creating an economic impact of $40 million, Blandford said.

Lions Club International spokesman Dane La Joye said Friday that more than 12,000 Lions had already registered for the convention and another 2,500 are likely to sign in after registration reopens Monday.

The parade and convention will have a big impact on traffic, too, with some 20 bus routes to be rerouted to make way for the marchers on Tuesday. There will be 90 private buses shuttling conventioneers around the city throughout the convention.

"If you work in the center of downtown Seattle, check with your usual parking garage with in and out accessibility," Blandford said.

Seattle worked hard to win the convention of the world's largest service organization, spending the past nine years trying to secure it and then preparing for it, according to the visitors bureau.

Included in the preparation: an assessment of Seattle's July weather and a statistical comparison to other cities, which included Seattle's walkability. Seattle beat out Honolulu for the convention. Last year Sydney, Australia, hosted the world event.

"With nearly 650 clubs and nearly 18,000 Lions in Washington, Oregon and parts of Idaho and British Columbia, Seattle represents a strong hub of volunteerism in the Pacific Northwest," said Jeanine Dellinger, spokeswoman for the Lions convention. "Because of this, it is one of the many reasons that Seattle was selected to host the ... convention."

Seattle businesses say they are ready for the onslaught of visitors. Top Pot created a commemorative Lions Doughnut, draped in white icing and topped with blue and yellow sprinkles, the Lions colors. It will only be available at the Fifth Avenue store.

"We're excited about it," said Cole Palen, manager at Top Pot Doughnuts. "I think it will be fine. We're fully prepared for it."

Cyrena Stefano, manager at Seattle Glassblowing Studio at Fifth Avenue and Bell Street said she, too, is excited about the parade and convention. "They'll stop and shop, hopefully," she said. "... This is great exposure for us and the fact they selected Seattle when it could have been any city, makes us proud."

El Gaucho restaurant is flying a Lions flag and on Sunday, the Lions Club president will throw out the first pitch at the Mariners game.

Nearly 40 hotels will be used by the visitors, generating more than 28,000 hotel-room nights, Blandford said.

It will be the third-largest convention in the city in the past 21 years. The largest was the Alcoholics Anonymous convention in 1990, which drew 48,000 people. The American Dental Academy in 1991 brought in 25,000 delegates.

Blandford said the economic impact of the Alcoholics Anonymous Convention was $40.5 million and while little alcohol was consumed, the city ran short on soda and coffee. The dental convention brought in $31 million, Blandford said.

For this convention, the convention bureau expects the city will earn about $17 million for lodging and other incidentals, $10 million for food and beverages — particularly since evening meals are not included as part of the convention, and visitors will need to eat at area restaurants. The bureau also expects $4 million from retail sales, $4 million for transportation and $1.3 million for entertainment.

Many of those at the convention will be over 50 and Blandford said the convention center is working with Seattle health agencies "to make sure we're prepared for anything that can come."

Added Blandford: "We think the return on the investment is well worth it. This is one of the premier conventions.

"This is one of the pre-eminent convention groups," Blandford said. "We've always felt a city like Seattle, dedicated to service and philanthropy, would be a really good fit.

Seattle has a long history of welcoming the world and we felt the city was more than capable of doing so, Seattle would be a city that could host this well."

Susan Gilmore: 206-464-2054 or sgilmore@seattletimes.com. Seattle Times staff reporter Keith Ervin contributed to this report.