Salt Lake Sees Demand for Meetings of all Sizes
March 23, 2021
A financial incentive program created by the Utah Office of Tourism paid off with the booking of 30 events to be held in Salt Lake City in 2021. Visit Salt Lake projects that the events will fill 28,000 room nights, a remarkable feat as the country battles through the pandemic.
The bookings include myriad meetings and events among all sectors of the industry. While quite a few are sports competitions, including returning clients like USA Fencing and USA Weightlifting, there are also large expos, association meetings and medical/pharmaceutical gatherings on the books.
“I was surprised we had significant interest from large groups, because there has been so much uncertainty related to laws, and how people will feel about traveling,” said Tyson Lybbert, managing director of sales for Visit Salt Lake. “There is still demand for meetings of all sizes but planners are facing challenges unlike they have ever experienced before.”
Feedback from planners indicated tight budgets and general uncertainty were holdups in contracting new business. The statewide initiative, dubbed Meet in Utah, sought to incentive groups to set dates in destinations with a convention center.
“The promotion allowed planners to get money now and have the needed flexibility so they could book business,” said Lybbert.
Salt Lake, home of the 2002 Winter Olympics, is a popular destination for group business due to its amenities and overall community safety. A testament to the region is that the CVB booked nearly 750,000 future room nights amid the pandemic in 2020, the third-highest total in the organization’s history.
Lybbert has found sports organizations are having an easier time putting together events due to their regional nature and because they don’t face the same restrictions as associations and corporate groups when it comes to in-person gathering. Nevertheless, the CVB is expecting a fair amount of its out-of-town attendees to fly, especially when the country is farther along with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Meanwhile, the destination is already making plans for large-scale events that will blend in-person attendees with remote audiences. A media center has been installed at the Salt Palace Convention Center to serve as a broadcast studio to create live or prerecorded content. The convention center is among the many to be GBAC Star accredited.
Just as the venues and the CVB are working to make it easier to host events, Lybbert said the same is true for planners. The spirit of cooperation is vital to successfully holding in-person meetings and events across the board, and not just in Utah.
“It has been refreshing to see more flexibility and collaboration between planners and suppliers who are genuinely trying to resurrect an entire industry,” Lybbert said.
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact
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