Today, we met with Durango TV personnel. The group outlined some work that we can have done for a fee... update DVD, create new footage.
Team agreed that we need to submit Region 10 grant to create a group/event video that we can use as collateral to market small to midsized meetings. It will be professionally produced and include goals, dates and targets (meeting planners, small businesses in GJ or Montrose or Delta or Durango)
Jen is going to start making a mockup of the tri-fold brochure that we could use to market meetings. Concepts include pictures of venues, size, options... suggested the "UnMeeting Meeting" or the "Unconventional Conference".
Still working on the info from the matrix. People working to complete assignments.
Next Meeting, Karen gone, but at the Secret Garden, Wed, Nov 5th, 9:30am
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
October 22 Meeting Minutes
We went over the matrix of properties and added more categories of information that we need to collect.
Susie added a few more indoor venues.
We agreed we would try to start collecting information for each of the venues. Karen made assignments and sent out via email on 10/27.
Thoughts for consideration:
After Parties -- when a group comes to town, we need to have things for them to do... We are going to have to get a plan together there.
When putting things together, we need to collect money for a staff person to help do the planning
We need an event planning checklist. Jennifer said they have one at the VC. She will provide us a format to enhance or use going forward.
Susie added a few more indoor venues.
We agreed we would try to start collecting information for each of the venues. Karen made assignments and sent out via email on 10/27.
Thoughts for consideration:
After Parties -- when a group comes to town, we need to have things for them to do... We are going to have to get a plan together there.
When putting things together, we need to collect money for a staff person to help do the planning
We need an event planning checklist. Jennifer said they have one at the VC. She will provide us a format to enhance or use going forward.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Group Tourism - Oct 6
This was the first meeting on the topic.
We will meet each Wednesday Morning, 9:30am. Tentatively, we will use the Secret Garden as the venue.
Next Meeting: October 15th.
Minutes:
Attendees: Lora, Karen, Joyce, Sara, Tracy, Jennifer, Ralph
Lora discussed her experiences with busses:
Karen mentioned that there is an organization http://www.tourcolorado.com/ that we could join to see if we got more tours. Pricing is around $450 per year it is thought.
SMERFS were discussed. These are groups (Social, Military / Govt, Educators, Religious, Fraternal). The new “advanced SMERF” market now encompasses sports, special interest, ethnic, talent and dance organizations
ONCE CONSIDERED THE DREGS of the meetings market, this highly budget-conscious, will-gladly-meet-on-weekends market has gained a new cachet in recent years: facilities and bureaus around the country are courting SMERF meetings following the drop in deep-pocket corporate meetings and a falloff in attendance at professional and trade association meetings. As one respondent in our survey put it: “SMERF meetings, many of them, are not as heavily driven by business needs but more by social and personal ties, so in that sense these types of meetings are more recession-proof than most.”
We agreed we would fill out the venue section of the plan.
Diverged on how to communicate when groups are in town to take advantage of the customer appreciation concept.
Joyce suggested researching meeting planners international.
Karen suggested researching colorado association of non profits
We need to define what we mean by groups
We need to define who gets appreciation form
We will meet each Wednesday Morning, 9:30am. Tentatively, we will use the Secret Garden as the venue.
Next Meeting: October 15th.
Minutes:
Attendees: Lora, Karen, Joyce, Sara, Tracy, Jennifer, Ralph
Lora discussed her experiences with busses:
- inherited from mother
- very itinerary based
- Elder hostel is biggest and they do ride rails, geology & hiking
- Hot Springs Inn busses referred by Lora
- Her bus business is down, few bookings for Sept 2009
- Very structured tours, "herded"
- Bus people are not big shoppers and are not typically higher income
- Takes a long time to get new itineraries developed (2-3 years)
Karen mentioned that there is an organization http://www.tourcolorado.com/ that we could join to see if we got more tours. Pricing is around $450 per year it is thought.
SMERFS were discussed. These are groups (Social, Military / Govt, Educators, Religious, Fraternal). The new “advanced SMERF” market now encompasses sports, special interest, ethnic, talent and dance organizations
ONCE CONSIDERED THE DREGS of the meetings market, this highly budget-conscious, will-gladly-meet-on-weekends market has gained a new cachet in recent years: facilities and bureaus around the country are courting SMERF meetings following the drop in deep-pocket corporate meetings and a falloff in attendance at professional and trade association meetings. As one respondent in our survey put it: “SMERF meetings, many of them, are not as heavily driven by business needs but more by social and personal ties, so in that sense these types of meetings are more recession-proof than most.”
We agreed we would fill out the venue section of the plan.
Diverged on how to communicate when groups are in town to take advantage of the customer appreciation concept.
Joyce suggested researching meeting planners international.
Karen suggested researching colorado association of non profits
We need to define what we mean by groups
We need to define who gets appreciation form
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