New sales efforts showcase Columbus
Experience Columbus’ Convention Sales and Tourism teams are creatively expanding their sales efforts to customers – and quickly seeing results.
D.C. Luncheon program
The Convention Sales team’s new D.C. Luncheon program has proven an immediate success. Resulting from the April 30 inaugural event were several site inspections and two bookings, including the Seventh-day Adventist Church Youth Prayer Conference representing 3,200 room nights in April 2010.
At its second D.C. Luncheon on Oct. 28, Experience Columbus hosted 10 clients, including three from national association management firms and two from the Marriott International’s national sales team. Only one of the 10 clients had ever been to Columbus.
Franklin County Commissioner Paula Brooks was the featured speaker in October, praising Columbus as an ideal and affordable host city for conventions and meetings.
Bruce Springsteen concert
The Convention Sales team entertained 11 clients at the Bruce Springsteen concert Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. As with the Oct. 28 luncheon, only one of the clients had previously visited Columbus.
“We’re introducing brand new customers to Columbus,” said Marco Bloemendaal, director of convention sales. “Their response is typical of people who haven’t heard of Columbus – they can’t believe that Columbus has so much to offer. Events like this build relationships with our customers.”
Resulting from the concert, Experience Columbus gained an appointment with SmithBucklin, one of the largest association management firms in the United States. The firm represents more than 300 clients.
Heartland Travel Showcase
More than 150 tour operators are expected to visit Columbus during Feb. 18-21 for Heartland Travel Showcase, the Midwest’s biggest group tour show.
Experience Columbus’ Tourism team will have multiple occasions during Heartland to showcase the city. Several tour operators will take a post-event tour of Columbus’ new experiential activities, along with going on sightseeing outings during the show.
Tour operators got a look at what awaits them in Columbus at Heartland last February in Pittsburgh. During the show, Experience Columbus launched its first-ever group tour video, promoting many of the experiential activities available in Columbus.
Experience Columbus is the official travel and tourism resource for Columbus, Ohio
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