Omaha, tourism officials say expanded convention center will bring in more visitors, dollars [Video]

Last year, the sales team with the Omaha visitors bureau was able to book $46 million worth of future convention business in the city.

But there was $73 million worth of additional convention opportunities the city missed out on either because the city’s convention center was not available or simply too small.

“It’s hard to leave $73 million worth of business on the table,” said Deborah Ward, executive director of Visit Omaha.

That’s also just what a proposed $200 million addition and renovation of the CHI Health Center convention center is intended to address, Ward and city officials said Tuesday.

The plan would add 25 additional meeting rooms and more than 90,000 square feet of total meeting space to the facility. Advocates say that would allow Omaha to attract more convention visitors and the millions they spend annually in local hotels and restaurants.

The Omaha City Council held a hearing …