Meeting planners are well aware of the cost advantages of midsized cities vs. first-tier meeting destinations. It’s just that affordability often took a back seat to the allure and amenities of larger metropolitan areas. That may be changing, however. More than 80% of meeting planners and industry…
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A lunch break is a great opportunity to explore the culinary scene in downtown Grand Rapids – especially because so many lunch options are located within a casual stroll of our convention center. We’ve compiled a list of eateries located a half mile or less from the intersection of Monroe Avenue and…
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One of the joys of meeting in a new city is the opportunity to explore local shops and discover items you won’t find at home. With more than 100 retail destinations in our compact downtown, Grand Rapids makes it easy to slip away on a lunch break or after the meeting day to browse for everything…
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One of the many advantages of Grand Rapids’ downtown convention neighborhood is that it’s so compact – and every square inch of it is packed with fun things to see and do. Get some shopping in during a meeting break. Grab a quick lunch before you head back to the convention floor. Spend the evening…
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Meeting planners know that the closing speaker is not the end of the experience. With great content delivered strategically, you can extend the reach of your event for weeks, months or even to the following year’s meeting. Cvent, an industry-leading meetings, events and hospitality technology…
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You know the drill. There's a meeting, there's a budget, and you need to find the most effective venue to deliver the message. One of your first decisions is whether to take part of the meeting offsite from the host hotel or conference base. There are lots of advantages to doing so, says Amy Young…
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With more than 160 years of combined meetings industry experience, our sales and service staffers are skilled at every aspect of the trade. They can assist you with venue selection, hotel accommodations, off-site events, vendor sourcing, logistics and more. They work closely with meeting partners…
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Social media has changed the way we communicate, and when used effectively, it can be a tremendous tool for meeting and event planners to enhance the on-site experience. One of the biggest benefits of using social media at a conference is that it gives you a direct connection with your attendees…
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Off-site meetings can be game-changers, and, if you get creative with the location, they can be combined with a lot of effective team building – or just plain fun. Ever tried your hand at target ax throwing with your coworkers? Or ridden a funicular to get to your meeting site? How about…
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Hybrid events—live, in-person gatherings that are streamed out to virtual audiences in some way—have been part of the meetings and events industry for years with varying degrees of success and comfort levels. Covid-era meeting restrictions and remote-work arrangements prompted more organizations to…
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