Courtesy Tyler CVB
Central location sells
Accessibility and central location have made regional meetings dominant in Tyler. “We are right in the middle of the triangle of Dallas; Houston; and Shreveport, La.,” said Rickman. And “with a church on every corner here,” faith-based business is also strong.
“The perfect-size meeting for us is between 250 and 300,” she said. “That is our sweet spot.”
The city’s three hospitals, its university and its two colleges also draw meeting business.
While most of Tyler’s meetings are regional, it does host national and even international meetings. One such meeting was for an international motorcycle police officer group.
“We brought in 1,000 people from around the world in July to meet in Tyler,” said Eddie Lee of Jacksonville, Texas, who planned the meeting. “Our group was the host chapter.”
Lee credited the meeting’s success to the city and its tourism industry, from the convention and visitors bureau and chamber of commerce to hotels and transportation services.
“If it hadn’t been for their help, this international meeting would have been really hard to put together,” he said. “Shari Rickman went to Montana with us to help us get the conference in Tyler. Because of her, Tyler beat out two larger Texas cities.”
The group used almost every hotel in town.
“International participants rented their motorcycles in Dallas or Tyler, but domestic participants rode their motorcycles here,” said Lee. The group met at the convention center but also rode their motorcycles throughout the Piney Woods of east Texas.
“The people in Tyler go out of their way to work with you,” said Lee. “Even the mayor and chief of police got involved.
“Everyone showed their Texas hospitality, and we heard back from people about how much they enjoyed it. What else could you ask for?”
Tyler CVB
www.tylertexas.com
