When the Sheraton Grand's Margie Starr gazes at her calendar, she sees the bookings.

There's the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in September. In October, the California Medical Association and a national youth organization come to town. That's 8,600 guests in all.

It's a simple formula that brings a smile to a hotelier's face: conventions plus room nights equals cash – an estimated $2.5 million in local impact from the Hispanic chamber alone, organizers estimate.

But in a down economy, convention-supplied smiles – and dollars – are becoming harder to find as associations and corporations scale back travel plans or send fewer delegates out of town.

In Sacramento, convention traffic is so far holding steady, gaining slightly over the last fiscal year, said Steve Hammond, president and chief executive officer of the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

There were nearly 160,000 convention-related hotel stays in 2007-2008, according to the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

That translates into $130 million in direct economic impact, the bureau reported.

But the economy is having an effect.

"We will still be successful, but companies are interested in reducing expenses and will send fewer people. Companies sending delegates that were sending five are now sending two to four," Hammond said.

Fuel costs and corporate belt-tightening are just two factors, said Marie Cicogni, director of sales and marketing at the 306-room Radisson Hotel in Sacramento.

"The cost of airfare, the cost of gas, it's having a noticeable effect," she said. "We're holding meetings, doing business, but in smaller numbers. Over the first three quarters of next year, we're looking at the same thing."

But Hammond and others maintain that Sacramento remains more insulated than places like San Francisco and San Diego.

"Sacramento fares much better because it is a state capital. It doesn't get hit as hard," said Starr, the Sheraton Grand's director of sales and marketing.

There are several reasons, said Mike Testa, a Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman.

Many associations are based here. The state's business is done here. Even with high fuel prices, Sacramento as a driving destination fares better than cities like San Francisco whose business travelers mostly arrive by air.

And, as Testa added, "Most of the large meetings are still planning years out and bringing a lot of members" – as far as five to seven years in some cases.

Take the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Officials on Wednesday formally announced the national convention will be held in Sacramento in September, but Sacramento received the bid in 2004.

Staffers at the 503-room Sheraton, which along with the nearby Hyatt Regency will take in chamber conventioneers, have been planning the event for three years.

The Sheraton has booked 2,500 people at 3,000 room nights for the four-day Hispanic chamber convention.

At the Sheraton Grand in downtown Sacramento, Starr sees a mix. Bookings from state associations seem to be down slightly from past years while national groups' commitments are holding strong. And some corporate groups have canceled or curtailed their events, she said.

Still others are making convention and booking arrangements closer to the event.

"People are being very cautious with their money," Starr said. "They want to be sure they need to do it."

Call The Bee's Darrell Smith, (916) 321-1040.