I was reading an article in Smart Meetings Magazine that small events are growing. Apparently, companies are no longer sending as many employees to out-of-town meetings to save on travel costs, therefore opening the doors for smaller destinations to host meetings that previously may not have fit the needs.
This is great news for High Point, as a smaller market meeting destination. With meeting planners seeking new ideas for where to meet, along with more intimate and unique venues across the state, the question becomes the popular “What can you do for me?” One of the great things about being a smaller destination is we are able to take the time to really hone in on what a group needs. We take the time to listen so the meeting planner never feels like they are just a number.
It’s really a matter of going back to the basic fundamentals of service. The High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau will walk hand-in-hand with a group from the beginning to the end to ensure that they have a positive experience while in High Point.
Our Sales Team works one-on-one with a meeting planner, listening to what their needs are, and from there finds the perfect fit with a venue to meet and sleep. Depending on the group, there may even be an Event Booking Incentive (EBI) available, providing assistance with the costs associated with producing events in High Point facilities.
Once the meeting planner has booked with a property, they work closely with the Group Services Team at the High Point CVB to ensure a positive experience for their attendees. The High Point CVB has always gone above and beyond when it comes to servicing a group. We’ve helped with everything from the general day-to-day activities like registration and providing welcome bags and VIP gifts for speakers, to the extraordinary services of transportation for groups, the unexpected shopping trip to the store to retrieve Tylenol for attendees, and also chasing down a gong to use at an annual pageant – at the frantic request of a meeting planner. You don’t find service like this in other cities.
Following up with a meeting planner after their visit is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle, because it keeps us connected for future meeting opportunities and it offers the meeting planner an opportunity to discuss the meeting, so that we can better service the group in the future. A high percentage of our bookings each year are repeat clients that return to High Point. They have made themselves at home and have come to expect the extraordinary service they know we will provide.
High Point caters to all groups including the following markets: Corporate, SMERF (Social, Military, Education, Religious, Fraternal), Association and Sports. Please contact us at the HPCVB so we can help plan your next meeting or event.