on attendees at the 2010 Student and Youth Travel Association annual conference held August 27-31. The professional travel representatives from across the nation and selected international cities consistently commented on the scenic beauty of the city, its cleanliness, impressive array of high quality restaurants within easy walking distance of Sacramento Convention Center and the overall friendliness of residents, both in businesses and on the street. The comments were so plentiful, it almost became embarrassing.
The comments made me take a step back and really evaluate how perfect our city is for meetings and conventions. When you look at the basic infrastructure needs of such a business gathering, Sacramento is a near perfect model based on the following:
-quality airport facility with convenient transcontinental service and close to the city center;
-picturesque river location, tree-lined streets and an abundance of parks making for enjoyable walks, runs and bike rides during breaks in business activities;
-a diverse, modern convention center facility surrounded by a variety of Sacramento area hotels, ranging from high standard full-service hotels to mid-service properties that offer attractive pricing when compared to larger cities;
-an abundance of interesting and low cost attractions;
-a wide range of quality evening entertainment options including pubs, bars, wine lounges, ethnically diverse restaurants and live entertainment;
-friendly, helpful people who are generally glad that visitors are in our city;
Not sure what else a conference organizer or a meeting planner might need to make their events a guaranteed success.
