Drums, trumpets and marching heralded the arrival of Small Market Meetings Conference delegates to Little Rock, Ark. The second annual conference on Sept. 26-28 began with the Central High School marching band providing a musical entry to the opening-night reception at the William J. Clinton Presidential Library.
More than 100 meeting planners from 23 states and more than 100 meetings industry representatives attended the conference, which educates planners about meeting venues in second- and third-tier U.S. cities. Attendees at the opening reception toured the Clinton Library’s collection of memorabilia and artifacts before they dined in the library’s ballroom while a jazz band entertained.
The host hotel, the Peabody Little Rock, adjoins the Statehouse Convention Center, where the two marketplaces, three education sessions and breakfasts and lunches were held. The marketplaces are scheduled appointments between meeting planners and industry representatives for networking and future business opportunities.
Attendees also had the opportunity to sightsee in the Arkansas capital and enjoy a reception at the city’s historic Capital Hotel. After Tuesday’s reception and tour of the Capital Hotel, the Hall High School band and drum corps escorted guests to the River Market District for a reception followed by a dinearound in the district.
Jacksonville, Fla., will be the host of the 2012 Small Market Meetings Conference Oct. 28-30. For more information, visit www.smallmarketmeetingsconference.com.
