A Convention and Visitors Bureau offers valuable information and most importantly, valuable services to a meeting planner. Midwest Meetings spoke with a few CVBs that are stepping up their game and offering just a bit more.
Greater Madison Convention & Visitors Bureau
Janine Wachter, CMP - Director of Convention & Event Services
The Greater Madison CVB is connecting meeting planners, and their attendees, with the CVB’s partners by offering a “bag stuffer” program. Meeting planners are provided “bag stuffer” items (i.e. special premium items, coupons, tchotchkes) for their conferences from CVB partners that have signed up to be on the distribution list.
The Greater Madison CVB also offers a connection to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Speakers Bureau. Faculty and staff with expertise in a variety of disciplines are available to professional groups, free of charge.
Janine Wachter, CMP - Director of Convention & Event Services
The Greater Madison CVB is connecting meeting planners, and their attendees, with the CVB’s partners by offering a “bag stuffer” program. Meeting planners are provided “bag stuffer” items (i.e. special premium items, coupons, tchotchkes) for their conferences from CVB partners that have signed up to be on the distribution list.
The Greater Madison CVB also offers a connection to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Speakers Bureau. Faculty and staff with expertise in a variety of disciplines are available to professional groups, free of charge.
Springfield (MO) Convention & Visitors Bureau
Susan Wade - Public Relations Manager
Sammie Springfield, the "spokesmonkey" for Springfield, Missouri, is a sock monkey used in a direct mail campaign. The CVB mailed a high-quality book featuring Sammie enjoying Springfield's amenities to meeting planners and a few weeks later, followed up with a mailing of a sock monkey with a Springfield, Missouri, logo on its chest. Sammie was a hit with the meeting planners and the CVB will continue the campaign in the coming months. Check out Sammie's website at www.SammieSpringfield.com.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Tourism recently recognized the Springfield CVB for the efforts, presenting them with the Marketing Campaign Award. Since launching the campaign, 20 groups representing approximately 46,000 meeting attendees and more than 18,700 room nights have booked meetings in Springfield.
Susan Wade - Public Relations Manager
Sammie Springfield, the "spokesmonkey" for Springfield, Missouri, is a sock monkey used in a direct mail campaign. The CVB mailed a high-quality book featuring Sammie enjoying Springfield's amenities to meeting planners and a few weeks later, followed up with a mailing of a sock monkey with a Springfield, Missouri, logo on its chest. Sammie was a hit with the meeting planners and the CVB will continue the campaign in the coming months. Check out Sammie's website at www.SammieSpringfield.com.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Division of Tourism recently recognized the Springfield CVB for the efforts, presenting them with the Marketing Campaign Award. Since launching the campaign, 20 groups representing approximately 46,000 meeting attendees and more than 18,700 room nights have booked meetings in Springfield.
Waterloo Convention & Visitors Bureau
Erin Schmitz, CMP - Director of Convention Sales
Waterloo is the perfect location for your next meeting or convention! The city will warmly welcome attendees and will provide a memorable experience for all. Take part in a FAM Tour to truly discover all that Waterloo has to offer. Here’s what two participants had to say:
“I was truly amazed by the variety of unique meeting facilities and the breadth of restaurants and other entertainment opportunities!” - HelmsBriscoe Manager
“I had a great time on the FAM Tour. I was so impressed with the Waterloo area and how much unique meeting space that is available. I had no idea there were so many options.” - DuPont Pioneer Manager
Erin Schmitz, CMP - Director of Convention Sales
Waterloo is the perfect location for your next meeting or convention! The city will warmly welcome attendees and will provide a memorable experience for all. Take part in a FAM Tour to truly discover all that Waterloo has to offer. Here’s what two participants had to say:
“I was truly amazed by the variety of unique meeting facilities and the breadth of restaurants and other entertainment opportunities!” - HelmsBriscoe Manager
“I had a great time on the FAM Tour. I was so impressed with the Waterloo area and how much unique meeting space that is available. I had no idea there were so many options.” - DuPont Pioneer Manager
Overland Park Convention & Visitors Bureau
Liron BenDor - Vice President of Marketing
Meeting and event mobile apps are extremely popular but planners are often deterred by the cost of purchasing and implementing them. The Overland Park VISIT OP destination app is designed to provide a password-protected area just for groups and can be customized with the event agenda, speaker information, photo galleries, maps to offsite events, survey links and more! Our world is increasingly digital and Smartphones are often the best way to communicate information to attendees while they’re on site. Visit OP is thrilled to offer this free service to planners and enhance engagement and awareness at their conventions, meetings and events. To view a demo page of what a group page can look like, visit www.visitoverlandpark.com/appdemo.
Liron BenDor - Vice President of Marketing
Meeting and event mobile apps are extremely popular but planners are often deterred by the cost of purchasing and implementing them. The Overland Park VISIT OP destination app is designed to provide a password-protected area just for groups and can be customized with the event agenda, speaker information, photo galleries, maps to offsite events, survey links and more! Our world is increasingly digital and Smartphones are often the best way to communicate information to attendees while they’re on site. Visit OP is thrilled to offer this free service to planners and enhance engagement and awareness at their conventions, meetings and events. To view a demo page of what a group page can look like, visit www.visitoverlandpark.com/appdemo.
Sioux Falls Convention & Visitors Bureau
Krista Orsack - Director of Marketing
The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a new meeting, convention and event web based app that can be customized for groups who book their event in Sioux Falls. Customization includes the event/company logo, colors, agenda, speakers, notes, attendees, around town, maps, event updates, social and FAQ.
Planners are consistently looking for the ways a CVB can make their job easier especially in the ever-changing digital arena, while also providing attendees with the best experience possible. When a CVB can offer a complimentary service to planners, it also provides a competitive advantage during the bidding process.
Krista Orsack - Director of Marketing
The Sioux Falls Convention and Visitors Bureau has launched a new meeting, convention and event web based app that can be customized for groups who book their event in Sioux Falls. Customization includes the event/company logo, colors, agenda, speakers, notes, attendees, around town, maps, event updates, social and FAQ.
Planners are consistently looking for the ways a CVB can make their job easier especially in the ever-changing digital arena, while also providing attendees with the best experience possible. When a CVB can offer a complimentary service to planners, it also provides a competitive advantage during the bidding process.