Hey There Stranger!

I was always taught not to talk to strangers, but in the case of this blog, I am encouraging everyone to ignore the rule. Yes, it has been a while, but I have a really good excuse! At the end of January, Grand Rapids hosted the largest conference for meeting planners of religious events – the Religious Conference Management Association’s 2009 World Conference and Exposition. This conference flexed all of our CVB and Convention Services muscle, and even developed more!

Now that the event is over, the wrap up is about wrapped up, and I have caught up on my sleep, I am ready to keep going on this adventure of a blog! For the next few postings, I plan on sharing different parts of the conference and how it can relate to your own planning.

First Topic: On Another Level...

For a preview of this, check out the video below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6-2AOxrsKc

See you on April 1st (no fooling)!

'Tis The Season

One thing I love about the Midwest is that we get to experience every season in full force. With that, optimism becomes a key part of any Mid-Westerners life – and GR is no exception. With the change in weather, you always want to look back and appreciate what is leaving (“But I just got comfortable!”). So, we find things to look forward to! Yes, my flip flops have been stored away, but walking past Rosa Parks Circle today, I realized the ice skates can come out for our city-center outdoor skating rink. The days may get dark faster, but that is great for GR, because the lights are up on the trees that line the streets for a beautiful scene. My favorite moment in the transition of fall to winter is the first snow. It’s a beautiful sight falling from the air, and then it disappears the moment it hits our heated sidewalks – a perfect combination for this outdoors-challenged girl. In GR, it seems like every season “Tis The Season” to look forward to something new!





Photo by: Balthazar Korab

You've Got Mail!!

I had something new on my checklist the other day – picking up the Mayor’s dry cleaning. Never thought that task would make it to my list, but when GR’s Mayor Heartwell agreed to do a Welcome Video to a very special group coming to GR this January (The Religious Conference Management Association), we needed to get him a blue shirt with our logo on it! The only shirts he had from us were green – which wouldn’t work out too well when filming in front of a Green Screen (think about the days when the weather forecaster has a little bit of green in their tie and you can see right through them – now imagine the whole shirt!).

One of the new, cutting edge things we offer is a Streaming Video. This is a great way to do Attendance Building by sending out a video welcome to conference attendees that arrives in their e-mail. Its so new, everyone opens it us to see what it is! Usually the conference president or host films the video, inviting everyone to attend. Check out the video sent to RCMA members: www.meetgrandrapids.com/rcmainvite.php

Can you imagine a better way to boost registration then showing attendees a video of GR?

Playing Dress Up

With Halloween approaching, I was thinking of different costumes that can surface this year. Since my giant pumpkin costume (worn ages 1-3) is packed away, I wondered what suggestions I might get for this years Halloween. Then I thought, what would someone wear if they dressed up like GR in the Fall? Here are some ideas:

1. Tree - cover yourself in Red, Orange, and Yellow Leaves, just like the tree lined roads people flock here to see.
2. Zombie – to fit right in with the Zombie Walk (it's exactly as it sounds; attendees dress up like Zombies and walk) at Rosa Parks Circle on 10/30
3. Couples Outfit Idea: A Doughnut and Cup of Apple Cider – cider made locally at Robinettes Apple Haus!
4. Pillow Case – For the early fall pillow fight in Calder Plaza that made national news!
5. Lion – We have new additions to our Zoo (open in the winter too)
6. Giant Crane Operator– The Medical Mile is constantly expanding with new education and research facilities, hospitals, hotels and a new Condo building
7. Tourist – someone has to take pictures of these things!

Things are always happening in Grand Rapids, which is part of the charm that entices so many to visit each year. You never know what great things you will experience, but I find it is safe to go with the motto of, "If you can't beat 'em, Join 'em!" – just remember your pillow case and face paint.

Soaring to New Heights

Have you checked, double checked, and checked again? In this case, my answer would be an overwhelming YES!


When deciding if a full sized Ferris wheel would fit inside DeVos Place Convention Center, we used several tools to find the answer. At the end of the day, to be absolutely sure, it came down to a tape measure and a High-Low machine. Kristy, the brave DeVos Place staffer, faced her fears and rode it all the way to the top of the building - over 60 feet! We tried a few different locations to weigh our options, Kristy riding up and down each time.

When we were done, we had to wait for the measurements from the Ferris wheel company. I was strolling along the sidewalks of GR when I got the call – It Fit! Kristy was happy – while she checked, even double checked, I don’t think she will ever want to check again!