The Vicksburg Convention Center and Auditorium’s current fiscal year is off to a “great” start, Larry Gawronski, executive director of the company that manages the city-owned facilities, told the advisory board Wednesday.

“At the convention center, for this first quarter, we are performing 42 percent better than budget in income and 3 percent under budget in expenses,” Gawronski, an employee of VenuWorks, said during the quarterly meeting. “At the auditorium, we are 1 percent ahead of the budgeted income for the quarter. We are 2 percent over budget in expenses for the quarter. The auditorium was the slower performer this quarter.”

The convention center pulled in $115,091 in revenue over the $81,132 budgeted, while managing to stay about $7,015 below the expense budget of $267,506. The largest factors affecting revenue at the convention center were space and equipment rentals, Gawronski said.

Events at the center included the V105.5 Annual Christmas Caroling Contest, which moved from the auditorium this year, and Bowmar Church Carnival, which moved from its gymnasium, as well as the “Biggest Loser” pre-finale featuring contestant Patrick House, which drew more than 400 people.

While the auditorium did not show the same performance, it was not too far from staying within budget, Gawronski said. “What we found this past quarter is that events that had been booking at the auditorium weren’t booking, such as funeral repass,” he said. “We can’t budget on how many folks are going to pass and how many of those functions are going to be there. There were fewer wedding receptions. If weddings are down, so are the receptions. But we’re holding our own on these steady pieces of businesses. It’s a lot, but in the scheme of things in a quarter, it’s not. We still have three more quarters to go.”

Lodging tax revenue, which comes from a 2 percent tax charged on all hotel, motel and bed and breakfast stays in the city, was 16 percent higher at $107,258 than the $92,213 budgeted. “Lodging tax seems to be making a recovery as travelers seem to be back on the road,” Gawronski said. “This may very well be a sign that we are beginning to weather the economic storm.”

Also performing better than budgeted was the net operating deficit, which is what the City of Vicksburg subsidizes. The convention center came in 59 percent under a budgeted $94,000 after the lodging tax is factored. The auditorium performed 3 percent over the net operating deficit.

Attendance was up 54 percent with 17,404 attendees compared with the same quarter last fiscal year. From October to December, the two facilities hosted 49 events ranging from banquets and receptions to meetings, concerts, theatrical events, educational programs and trade shows.

Marketing Manager Erin Powell said the facilities will work to offer more entertainment like the Broadway musical “All Shook Up,” that was at Vicksburg Auditorium Friday night.

Gawronski said the show drew about 400 paid guests, about 200 fewer than needed to break even. Negotiations are continuing for a fall performance date for veteran rock musician Bryan Adams, who is known for such hits as “Heaven,” “Summer of 69” and Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?,” he added.

In other business, VenuWorks released a five-year strategic plan based on survey information from patrons and users of both facilities. “The strategic plan is a long-term blueprint, and each year our business plan reflects how we met that, how we adjust to it and what modifications we make to that,” Gawronski said.

Also Wednesday, the board said the convention center has been recognized by Convention South Magazine, an industry magazine focused on destination profiles and meeting information. For the seventh consecutive year, the facility was listed as one of the South’s World-Class Meeting Sites.

Also recognized by the magazine were Gawronski and operations and events coordinator Lisa Sanders as Meeting Professionals to Watch in 2011. Their profiles were featured in the magazine’s December issue.