Registration for the SMMC 2015 will begin at noon on Sunday, September 27. The keynote address that evening will be an enthusiastic presentation that delegates won’t want to miss.
The opening reception Sunday night will be sponsored by the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau and will take place on an outdoor pavilion in the nearby River Market District, located along the Arkansas River.
“The opening event will revolve around fun and entertainment and what Little Rock has to offer,” said Alan Sims, a vice president at the CVB. Sims promises an appearance by “Little Rock’s newest celebrity,” as he put it. Kevin Delaney, director of visitor experience at the Museum of Discovery in Little Rock, does wacky, fun and educational science experiments for audiences. He’s appeared several times on NBC’s “Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
Monday morning, breakfast will be served in the Marriott’s grand ballroom followed by an interesting seminar. Then, Marketplace I will begin in the convention center, a few steps from the Marriott. The 200 or so conference attendees will have many opportunities to meet new associates and conduct business.
Meeting planners have scheduled one-on-one appointments to visit travel industry representatives in six-minute intervals. The two sides will develop quick relationships, exchange contact information and begin the process of doing future business. When the bell rings, planners will rotate to their next appointments.
The official luncheon will be held in the Marriott’s ballroom. After that, delegates will enjoy their choice of several two-hour sightseeing tours of Little Rock. The local CVB promises a good time with surprises, without delegates having to sit on a motorcoach to enjoy it.
Monday evening, “Taste of the Rock” will be the theme for a night of food and entertainment at Rock Town Distillery, the first legal distillery in Arkansas since Prohibition days. “We think Little Rock is a big foodie city,” said Sims. “We’ll pull in some of our top restaurants. They’ll put together their specialties.” Visitors will also bottle and label some of the distillery’s spirits on an assembly line and take home a little sample of it as a gift.
Tuesday morning will bring another breakfast in the Marriott ballroom, followed by the second industry seminar. Marketplace II will begin midmorning. The conference will end with the closing luncheon, sponsored by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which will host the Small Market Meetings Conference in September 2016.
