They include everything from weddings on the terrace, small meetings in private rooms and holiday parties in the 18,000 square-foot ballroom.

But, Convention Center President and CEO Steve Camp says they're setting sights on something bigger, "We're looking at state associations and other groups who live and work in a 350-mile radius."

Camp wants to target regional events with 250 to 500 people, "We'll have less and less time for the parties and smaller events, because that's our fundamental purpose: book the larger groups, so they come in and spend the money in the community."

Convention center officials say a key ingredient to ensure it reaches its full potential is a convention center hotel. The plan is to build a 228-room Hilton one block away. Planners hope it will be complete in 2006. Camp says, "Meeting planners and attendees like to stay close to the meeting place as they can, so the convention hotel will offer them that opportunity in a larger number than currently exists."

The hope is enough people hold events here to give Columbia's economy a boost.