"For groups of a certain size,” he contin- ued, “we can even set up a welcome table staffed by one of our employees who, being a local resident, can assist attendees in finding anything they might want or need while they are staying in the Lehigh Valley."
He said that a lot of SMERF groups morph into motorcoach tours, as well. For exam- ple, the 175th Military Police Officers recently came into the Lehigh Valley. “They arrived separately from all over the country, but while they were here they wanted to travel together and participate in activities as a group,” said Kaminetsky. “They used a local motorcoach company who arranged for their transport."
The Delaware Tourism Office works very closely with meeting planners, state ven- ues and partners to simplify event plan- ning and to ensure the right fit, noted Blair. “Groups get the personal attention they need to streamline venue selection, secure appropriate accommodations, and obtain the required services.
The Delaware Tourism Office also qualifies the
event upfront to identify the most suitable venue, and can coordinate the needs associated with particularly large group events."
The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau provides a range of services to help with planning, as well. “Our services include: site inspections of properties and attrac- tions; familiarization tours of the area; complimentary welcome bags for guests; planning assistance with guest speakers, attractions, restaurants, spousal programs, theme parties and children’s activities; local vendor and transportation service coordination and referrals; photos and videos for promotional assistance; media contacts and promotional assistance; on site registration support; staffed hospitality table; and post-meeting surveys," said Oakley.
Wise noted that the Ocean City, Maryland Convention and Visitors Bureau can serve as a single point of contact to the planner and simplify the process by acting as a liaison between them and all the services and venues needed for their meeting,
event or outing. "Ocean City is a great place to host groups anywhere of six or 12,000. The island is just 900 yards wide and 11 miles long, so it is very easy to get around town."
When it comes to association meetings business in Ocean City, Wise said that he considers four basic elements: housing of the group; facilities necessary to host the function - including meeting rooms, ball- rooms, etc.; how the meeting pays for itself - meaning exhibits, education, speak- er sessions; and the recreational or ameni- ty side of the event, which may include team building, spousal activities, recre- ation and other activities.
"The size of the association doesn't really matter with regard to these elements,” noted Wise, “it's just a matter of finding the right sized venues and services needed to fit the group coming in."
Wise said that Ocean City, Maryland is home to a wonderfully diverse collection of accommodations that include bou- tique hotels, luxury resort hotels and bed-
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