Sponsors Offer Many Ideas
Several travel organizations sponsored meals during the conference and offered many ideas for planners to consider. Two Western sites made presentations. Jim Walter of Visit Cheyenne [Wyoming], host city for the 2021 Small Market Meetings Conference, addressed the group.
“I’ve heard many people say they’d love to visit Cheyenne, and now this conference will be a great opportunity to come see us,” he said.
Visit Billings was on stage, too. “Montana hospitality is the No. 1 reason to bring groups to our state,” said the CVB’s Stefen Cattarin. “It’s also our regional position between three national parks. Billings is the largest city in Montana and gives you many amenities and resources for venues and off-site activities.”
Eric Barstow of Visit Fort Collins promoted his area. “We’re Colorado’s top craft beer provider,” he said. “For a city of 150,000, we have 21 craft breweries. You can’t go 500 yards without running into one. Many groups take tours. We’re a biking community, too, with a live musical-venue area.”
Bree Brostko of Kindred Resorts and Hotels in Richmond, Virginia, has many sites for meeting planners. “Our collection has 63 properties in 24 states,” she said. “They’re the perfect locations, with boutique meeting venues, amenities and services to make everyone’s experiences unforgettable.”
MSC Cruises is trying to gain market share in North America. “Quite frankly, you have many cruise choices,” said MSC’s Wayne Peyreau. “We believe there’s a slot in North America for another cruise line. But we’re not just any cruise line. We offer truly authentic, immersive cultural experiences.”
Speakers Teach and Inspire
Conference delegates are not likely to forget the talk given by John Howell. The Charlotte, North Carolina, financial expert is often in New York City serving business clients. That’s where he was on January15, 2009, the day his U.S. Airways jetliner, piloted by Captain Chesley Sullenberger, made a forced water landing on the Hudson River after encountering severe engine trouble. All 155 people on board survived in what has been described as the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Howell, tearful at times, recounted in exact detail how he and fellow passengers and crew members survived.
The harrowing experience caused Howell to closely examine his life and whether he was living it in the best possible way. He shared his insights. “Was I happy with how I spent my time? You’ve got to be focused,” said Howell. “Did I give all I could give? As you get older, you realize that your best days weren’t when you were getting something, but when you were giving something. Finally, was I all in, or was I multitasking through my life and accomplishing nothing?”
Tech expert James Spellos returned to the conference, this time presenting 30 apps that he thinks meeting planners and travel professionals could use. “Time savings is the best reason to consider these apps,” said Spellos. “They allow us to do things on a device we’re always carrying with us. You don’t need to go back to the office and a laptop computer. They’re shortcuts and better facilitate communication.”
After-Hours Fun
The University of Notre Dame let delegates sample the spirit of the Fighting Irish, offering tours of the football field. “It was a dream come true,” said a gushing Albert Herrera of Visit Las Cruces. “I’ve loved Notre Dame since I was a kid. To walk on campus and have that feeling of such a prestigious university, and then to walk into the football stadium and to the 50-yard line and to throw footballs around so we can say we ‘played’ in that stadium was cool.” Then delegates went high above the stadium to a massive ballroom for a fabulous buffet dinner and a visit from the Notre Dame cheerleaders.
The night before, attendees enjoyed a dinner outside on Island Park Pavilion, near the St. Joseph River, with its waterfall, man-made rapids and colorful light show. “The entertainment was absolutely enjoyable,” said Dawn Rickenbach of the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. “It was well rounded. I liked the throwback band that nailed the hits from Chicago and other groups. The food was wonderful, with a fabulous round of fireworks after.”
Next Time
The Small Market Meetings Conference heads west in 2018 to Ontario, California, 35 miles east of Los Angeles. “Professional meeting planners who attend will see we’re an explosive and dynamic market,” said Larry Kaufman of the Greater Ontario California Convention and Visitors Bureau. “They’ll help bring more business to Southern California. They’ll find that in one hour, anyone can travel from Ontario to the Pacific Ocean, the mountains or the desert.”
To read one meeting planner’s thoughts on the conference click here.
