Conventions as a Promotional Opportunity
By: Mark Forsythe
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Conventions and Trade Shows happen every day throughout the United States.
Some are massive affairs like the Consumer Electronics Convention that occurs
every year in Las Vegas. Some are tiny gatherings, consisting of ten to twenty people
convening in a meeting space at a hotel.
Kansas City's Convention and Visitors Bureau does a fine job of bringing
in all types of conventions to Kansas City. But as with most things, I'm
sure even the leadership at the bureau would agree that we can always do
better.
No convention is too small to pursue. Large groups like Walmart have a
quantifiable economic impact. That's important. But small groups can pay
dividends down the road. Sometimes a small convention grows every year to
enormous proportions. Read the histories of some of these trade shows or
conventions. A great deal of them share the same story. They started small,
then grew every year.
An even greater byproduct of some of these smaller conventions is they
give Kansas City a chance to market itself as a home for industry. Any one
convention could have a decision maker looking to start, or relocate a
business. What better way to pursue these opportunities than by having those
decision makers spend a few days in Kansas City in the relaxed environment of
a convention?
As your councilman I will pursue a "Grow Your Own" strategy. Working with
the Convention and Visitors Bureau I will attempt to identify fledgling conventions
and trade shows and lure them to Kansas City. Something as simple as a phone
call or a handwritten letter from a City Councilman may be enough to lure dozens
of new opportunities to our city. People go where they are wanted, and I intend
to let as many conventioneers as possible know that they are wanted in Kansas City.
Finally, the sales job doesn't end with just getting the conventions to come.
Once our guests have arrived, elected officials need to use the opportunity to
stalk the hallways, shake some hands, make some new friends. Even make themselves
available as guest speakers where appropriate.
Every visitor to Kansas City is a sales opportunity. I love to sell, and I love
my product. Let's work together to not only bring them here, but keep them here.
