The June 2014 issue of The Meeting Professional features a good story about convention centers and the creative things they’re doing to help keep their spaces filled. The issue also features IAVM member Rémy Crégut, general manager of the Montreux Music & Convention Centre in Switzerland, on the cover (that’s him in the photo above).
Crégut said that one way his venue worked to fill space during the recent economic downturn was by diversifying the client base.
“We hosted more local cultural events, more national congresses and more local assemblies,” he told author Peter Gorman. “Anything that didn’t require the expense of travel.”
He also suggested long-term agreements and guaranteed rates for repeat clients and international bookings.
“Now, even though we are back to regular business here, we are ready for the next crisis and prepared to react immediately,” he said. “That’s something we learned this time.”
Crégut wasn’t the only IAVM member featured in the story—Maura Gast, FCDME, executive director of the Irving CVB, also weighed in.
“Weddings and amateur sporting events are recession proof,” Gast said. “And while we didn’t envision being in the market for those sorts of things, well, they’re now staples for us. We’ve had large weddings, judo events, and gymnastics competitions. We recently had a wheelchair motocross event. We aim to build weekend demand for our hotels and restaurants.”
Please read the rest of the article for more ideas, and let us know in the comments section some new ways you’re helping to keep your venues filled.
(Image: Studio Bôregard)
