Convention and
Visitors Bureaus
Making the most of your relationships with CVBs
Joe Bedsole, CTA
PlannerOn.com
It’s Time to Plan
Your Conference!
Objectives
• CVB Overview
• Dispel Misconceptions about CVBs
• Learn to utilize CVBs in order to:
Save You Time
Save Your Organization Money
CVB: What is it?
• CVB = DMO (Destination Marketing
Organization)
Offers unbiased information about
service and facilities
Saves visitor’s time and energy as
one-stop shop for tourism info
Most services provided at NO COST
CVB: How do they
make money?
• Most Services provided to visitors,
business travelers, and meeting
planners at no charge!
• Funded through a combination of
occupancy taxes, membership dues,
improvement districts, and government
resources.
CVB: Importance of
Tourism & Meetings
• Travel and Tourism is the 3rd Largest
Retail Sales Sector in the U.S.
Employs many people in the
community.
Generates over $599 billion
annually to the nation’s economy.*
•* 2004 Figures from the Travel Industry Association
CVB: Importance of
Tourism & Meetings
• Enhances quality of life for local
community
Provides job opportunities
Provides tax revenue for improved
city services and infrastructure
Attracts new business to city
CVBs are here to help!
CVBs Save You Time
• Bid Management for your Conference
• Acts as liaison between association and
hotel
• Coordination of site visits
• Coordination of rooming lists
• Assistance in securing overflow hotels
CVBs Save You Time
• Preparing the local community for your
convention
• Help with street closures, parades, fun
runs, ceremonies.
• Assistance with hiring temporary
convention staff.
CVBs Save You Time
•
•
•
Welcome Letters, Speeches from the
City’s Mayor and other city officials.
Knowledge of citywide
groups/conventions, events taking place
in the city.
Knowledge of national association
meetings as well as competitive
organizations already booked in the city.
CVBs Save You Time
• Coordinating off site events at local
attractions, dinners, golf tournaments,
etc.
• Quick access to your local CVB contact.
• Providing venue/city logos, photos, and
historical information
• New hotel and venue options opened
since the association’s last meeting in
city
Bite Into CVB
$avings!
CVBs Save You Money
• CVB Destination Promotional Email
Updates and Mailers
• Attendance Boosters to promote the
conference
• Micro sites on the web dedicated to
your event
CVBs Save You Money
• More competitive bids from member
hotels
• CVB sponsored incentives and rebates
• Provide CVB Staff and Booth at
conference to promote next year’s
meeting
• Discounts from area merchants
(shopping, golf, tours, theme parks,
etc.)
CVBs Save You Money
• Welcome signs and staff at airport and
throughout the city
• Welcome bags, visitor guides and
brochures
• Onsite, staffed information center at
your conference
• Press Releases and Media Contacts to
promote your event
CVBs Save You
Money
• Exhibit move in/move outs
• Convention Hotel Room counts and
meeting space reports/statistics
• Coordinate event with other
conventions and meetings to avoid
conflicts and space shortages
• Free local transportation (trolley, etc.)
Great Ideas for
You to Use
CVB DMO
Myth Busters!
Common
Misconceptions
• “CVBs don’t want my business because
they are only interested in huge citywide groups.”
• “CVBs will send my meeting information
to ALL of the hotels in their databases
and will only help me if I source through
them.”
Common
Misconceptions
• “I work with national hotel brand
NSO/Chain representatives who live in
Austin, so I don’t need to use a CVB for
site searches and hotel arrangements,
etc.”
• “I get everything I need through CVent
and Starcite - that’s all I need.”
Bonus Tips
• Identify and validate third party
websites for your event. Beware of
copycat sites!
• Advantages of city-run convention
centers.
http://www.PlannerOn.com
Thank You!