Bring it to GR” is an Experience Grand Rapids program asking local residents to help bring meetings and conferences to our area. If you belong to an organization or association that holds regional or national gatherings requiring overnight stays, we want to hear about it.

We’ll use the information you share with us as the basis for reaching out to your group and inviting it to consider Grand Rapids as a meeting site. If the group does end up meeting here, we’ll recognize you as an official Grand Host of Grand Rapids/Kent County.

That’s not the only benefit that can accrue to you when you help us Bring it to GR. Just ask local glass artisans Matt Kolenda and Maria Orr.

Kolenda, owner of Kolenda Art Glass, and Orr, a glass artisan and graphic designer, are both involved with the American Glass Guild (AGG), a Pennsylvania-based organization that promotes the creation, conservation and history of stained, leaded and decorative glass. Kolenda serves as Conference Chair and Orr as Marketing Chair.

They duo was instrumental in helping EXGR bring AGG’s annual conference to Grand Rapids in July 2024. In this case, EXGR approached Kolenda and Orr rather than the other way around. (EXGR is always researching local connections to regional and national groups – it’s just easier if you contact us with your information.)

Matt Kolenda, owner of Kolenda Art Glass, and Maria Orr, glass artisan and graphic designer, talk about bringing the American Glass Guild conference to Grand Rapids

EXGR Makes it Easy

“We met with Experience Grand Rapids and had a discussion, and it was just great,” recalls Orr. “They said, ‘We’ll fly people here if we need to fly people here, put them up in a hotel and show them what Grand Rapids is all about.’” That helped give Kolenda and Orr the confidence to pitch Grand Rapids to the rest of the AGG Board.

Kolenda’s pitch got the board to visit. “When everyone first came to Grand Rapids, many of them had never heard of Grand Rapids and were instantly surprised by the size of the city,” says Kolenda. “The art we have to offer, how clean it was, the trees. I’ve just heard a variety of reactions to how great it is.”

Orr says the board was also “blown away” by the help they were going to get from Experience Grand Rapids. “We’re a somewhat small non-profit organization,” she explains, so being able to rely on EXGR to do much of the legwork – from getting hotel estimates to identifying bus tour options to connecting AGG with the Grand Rapids Art Museum to install a juried art exhibition – was “overwhelmingly great.”

“They were willing to help us every step of the way. I can’t recommend them more.”

Kolenda echoes that sentiment: “When I started planning for the conference, I had no idea what I was doing,” he says. “Experience Grand Rapids was so valuable to guide me through the process and they really made me look good, made me look like I knew what I was doing. I can't imagine having gone through this process without their support.”

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"Experience Grand Rapids was so valuable to guide me through the process and they really made me look good, made me look like I knew what I was doing.”
- Matt Kolenda

A Show of Civic Pride

In addition to hosting a successful conference, Kolenda and Orr enjoyed showing off Grand Rapids to artisans from around the world.

“I was kind of worried because I’m from Grand Rapids and I’m really proud of Grand Rapids,” says Orr. But “everybody was loving the vibe” of the city. She reports that attendees “were just in awe” of the city’s walkable downtown filled with things to see, do, dine and drink.

“I've always wondered what it would be like to have an American Glass Guild conference here in Grand Rapids,” says Kolenda. “And everything has been very surreal. Some of the glass artists I've idolized my whole career are right here in my hometown. And I’m meeting these people from abroad who I've followed my whole career. Everyone that's in attendance seemed to be having a great time. It makes me proud because I’ve been a resident my whole life.”

An Economic Windfall

Bringing a meeting or convention to Grand Rapids isn’t just a matter of pride. There’s also a real bottom-line benefit for the community, as attendees spend money in local hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses, boosting our economy.

Visitors also pay hotel taxes, which help fund local venues like the new Acrisure Amphitheater, downtown soccer stadium and other arenas and sports complexes, all of which benefit local residents.

Help Experience Grand Rapids bring a meeting or convention to town and you too will enhance your reputation in the organization or association you belong to, enjoy the satisfaction of sharing the special appeal of your home city and make a real contribution to the area’s economic vitality.

Visit BringItToGR.com to tell us a little bit about you and your group. We look forward to helping you shine!

Do you belong to an organization or association that holds regional or national meetings? We'd like to work with you to bring your next event to Grand Rapids.