The Convention & Visitors Bureau Sales Department strives to bring a variety of groups and events to the city.

Groups booked recently by the department include Premier Baseball Championships for June 2013 and Missouri Association for Career & Technical Education in July 2014.

In November, the bureau provided convention services for nine groups totalling more that 4,400 delegates and 2,160 room nights.

In January, Dana Maugans, sales director, will represent the bureau at the Professional Convention Management Association Annual Meeting in Orlando and Melissa Evans, sales manager, will represent the city at the Religious Conference Management Association in Minneapolis along with a representative from University Plaza Hotel.

For more information, call 417-881-5300.

Several groups will be in Springfield in the coming months:

January

January 24 - 26, 2013 Missouri Farmers' Market Association, 2013 State Conference

January 25 - 26, 2013 Missouri Dairy Forum, 2013 Heart of America Dairy Expo Attendance: 300

February

February 01, 2013 - May 31, 2013 Greater Ozarks Open Bowling Tournament, 2013 55th Annual Greater Ozarks Open Bowling Tournament Attendance: 11,000

February 07 - 09, 2013 Missouri Organic Association, 2013 MOA annual conference

March

March 02 - 04, 2013 Missouri Winter Games, 2013 Winter Games Attendance: 1,300

March 04 - 08, 2013 Missouri Canoe and Floaters Association, 2013 Annual Meeting March 12 - 16, 2013 American Collegiate Hockey Association, 2013 D3 Men's College Hockey Championship Attendance: 1,560

March 17 - 24, 2013 National Christian Homeschool Championships, 2013 NCHBC Basketball Nationals Attendance: 10,000

March 21 - 24, 2013 Missouri Art Education Association, 2013 MAEA Spring Conference

March 22 - 24, 2013 Lake Country Soccer, 2013 Champions Challenge Attendance: 1,000