State lines up future conventions

Vermont Business Magazine, Mar 01, 1998

Many national organizations and groups are finding out that Vermont is a good place to hold a convention.

At the end of February, the World Junior Biathalon brought 600 people to Burlington. A few weeks earlier, the American Legion convention brought 300 people to the Radisson Hotel, and Lancome Cosmetics brought 80 people from their northeast operations, including many from New York City, to the Inn at Essex.

"It was really cold that week, but they had a great time," said Linda Seville, executive director of sales for the Inn. "One of our ladies was giving a tour to someone planning a future meeting, and one of the Lancome women stopped them in the hall and said, 'This is a fabulous place to have a meeting.' We were worried because they were out of their typical element, which was the city."

Here are some upcoming conventions:

The Women's Oriental Shrine is coming in May 2002, bringing 500 people.

* In September, the National Street Rod Association will come for its fifth year, bringing well over 3,000 people; the convention has booked itself into Vermont until the year 2001. The convention is hosted at the Champlain Valley Exposition and utilizes hotel rooms throughout the area.

"You always know when they're here," Seville said. "They have the most beautiful cars, and they're very visible."

* The Sheraton will host the National Press Photographers in June; 250 people are expected. In October, it will host the Association of College and University Housing Officials, which brings in over 300 people.

* The Radisson will play host to many hockey tournaments in March. In April, it hosts a marriage conference seminar called Family Life that will bring in about 600. In May, there will be a conference for librarians who work for the visually handicapped. In the summer, the American Jersey Cattle Association will bring 400 people here. July will bring several hundred guests from the National League of Cities to the Radisson. The hotel also does a continuing stream of conference business with the University of Vermont.

* The Inn at Essex is especially excited about the World Federation of Travel Writers and Journalists' convention in May.

"The executive committee came up for a board meeting last year in May, and since then, I'll bet we've had 10-plus articles written, a couple of radio spots, and some television spots," Seville said. "This group is international. People came from Spain, Panama, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and Brussels. There was one American. For the meeting, a lot of different tourist properties worked together to come up with an itinerary that would give a true flavor of Vermont."

The Inn's bid to hold the conference was chosen over all the other New England states.

"We didn't even have to share them." Seville said. "They thought there was a lot to do just here in Vermont. I've got articles I can't even read, they're in so many different languages. This time they're bringing the whole board -- 30 or 35 people."

* In November 2000, Burlington will host the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. The convention, which will bring over 700 people and approximately $400,000 worth of business, was booked with the help of the Burlington Vermont Convention and Visitors Bureau. It came as the result of a marketing campaign the Bureau started to sell members of national organizations who live in Vermont on the idea of bringing their conventions to the state.

"We did this with Chief of Police of Burlington, Kevin Scully," said Timothy Shea, director of the Bureau. "We were up against Pittsburgh, and we were awarded the contract. It was a tremendous amount of team effort, of local people and law enforcement people working together. It's important to let local people know what a positive impact meetings and conventions have on the state. And they're coming the week after Thanksgiving, a time of year when it's traditionally quiet. It's new money being brought to the area at a slower period."

* The Stratton Mountain Inn just booked the Vermont State Employees Association. This is repeat business; the last time the convention brought in around 130 people. Also at Stratton, the Specialized Vermont Bridge Association and the Vermont Chess Association are coming back. These are unique conventions in that the tournament bridge and chess games are open to the public.