Corporate meetings are a familiar topic to the Group Scoop. We haven’t delved into the topic for some time now. We rectify that today.
First, we should cover the bad news. Hotel occupancy in the top meetings and conventions markets continues at record levels. No significant increase in hotel rooms is expected in most markets until at least 2008. It’s so busy that Groople is hearing outside complaints from meeting planners about hotels turning away their meeting business for more lucrative prospects.
The biggest problem cities are the most popular ones: Chicago, Las Vegas, Washington DC, Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco, Nashville, San Diego, and New Orleans.
Now, some good news. Avoid the rooming crunch and consider a so-called 2nd or 3rd tier city. We’ve said this before, but it’s as true today as ever. Move out of the seller’s market of Las Vegas and into a buyer’s market in a place like Denver.
Fall is here. I’d like to introduce three very attractive top market alternatives for you to hold your corporate meeting during this time of year.
Denver – Fall in Denver is one of the nicest times of the year to be in Colorado for weather and scenery. Denver is rapidly transforming itself from a slow-paced cowboy town to a fast-paced metropolitan area reminiscent of the east coast. You know about the Rocky Mountains, but you may be surprised at the explosion in art and nightlife Denver has to offer these days. New facilities gearing up for the Democratic National Convention are already online and waiting for your business.
Austin – Austin is the perfect fall meeting location. A safe, vibrant city, filled with music and art. It’s the quintessential little big city, the benefits of first class accommodations and facilities without the burden of high prices and congested traffic. Fall is the perfect time to take the team for a tour into Texas Hill Country to experience an explosive burst of changing colors.
Santa Rosa – Santa Rosa is the largest city in the famous California Sonoma valley wine country. Fall is a terrific time to host your meeting in wine country, the climate is cool enough not to feel hot and warm enough not to feel cold. By the numbers: 200 wineries, 16 golf courses, 55 miles north of San Francisco. Sonoma valley facilities are well reviewed and are more than up to any challenge you may present.
It may not be your first choice, but fall is an excellent time to hold your next meeting.
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