Meeting News - February 16, 2009 - (Page 21)

www.MeetingNews.com Febrary 16, 2009 south do “Weto be expect affected, there’s no question about that. Preemptive Strike: Destination Deals Facing recession, the region’s CVBs roll out marketing campaigns and freebies By Matt Alderton On Jan. 11, some 3,000 meeting planners and convention execu- tives descended upon New Orleans for the 2009 annual meeting of the Professional Con- Visitors to Raleigh can travel around the downtown area gratis. vention Manageearly to tell, but ment Associawe do expect to tion. Hotels were be affected; full and, on closthere’s no quesing night, there tion about that.” was a big party While business at the Louisiana so far remains Superdome. By strong, destinaall appearances, tions throughout the meetings the region are industry was —J. Stephen Perry, president & aggressively strong and the CEO, New Orleans Metro CVB launching proAmerican econgrams and poliomy was in good shape. cies to attract group business. But appearances can be In Columbia, SC, the Columbia deceiving, acknowledged J. Metropolitan Convention Center Stephen Perry, president and has announced a “summer savCEO of the New Orleans Metro- ings” package that has a 25-perpolitan Convention & Visitors cent discount on meeting space Bureau. “Although we’re up 9.6 rentals from June to August. percent this year over last in our In Raleigh, the Greater Raleigh group bookings, the question is, Convention & Visitors Bureau is how much attrition will we face marketing free museums and continued on page 32 because of the economy? It’s too ” Southern Meetings Get More Mileage with Drive-To Access By Matt Alderton Because his business travel budget was recently slashed, when it came time for Randy Miller to register for MeetDifferent 2009, the Feb. 7-10 conference of Meeting Professionals International in Atlanta, he wasn’t sure he was going to go. But then he realized that he could drive there, and became an attendee. “I’m driving to MPI because it’s in Atlanta,” said Miller, vice president of sales at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, prior to the event. “If it was in the West or the Northeast, or way down in South Florida, I wouldn’t be going.” Other Gaylord officials are approaching conference attendance cautiously, too. “I’m carpooling with a couple of other salespeople so that we can all save the airfare,” Miller said. In fact, a growing number of meeting attendees in the Southeast are taking to the roads. Motivated by low gas prices and shrinking corporate travel budgets, they’re turning more to drive-to destinations that are affordable and accessible. continued on page 33 Myrtle Beach’s Marina Inn has pic ked up drive meetings. http://www.MeetingNews.com

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