GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – The Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau is bringing a huge business-building event to Green Bay this week.
The Small Market Meetings Conference is coming to the KI Convention Center.
CVB President Brad Toll says they usually attend, but hosting gives them a whole new world of opportunities.
“It gives us an opportunity to introduce them to all of our meeting spaces and show them what it is like to have a convention in our community.”
100 Professional meeting planners will be meeting with small city representatives looking to host future conventions.
“It is a huge economic impact for our community depending on how many are willing to book, and we hope to book at least 10 percent of those for future conventions.”
Toll says they come from all over the United States and Green Bay will be the focal point.
In past years, Green Bay has gotten a brief window to show what the city is all about, but it was only able to be done in pictures and video.
“The difference is that we are hosting the convention, so instead of six minutes with each meeting planner, we get six days.”
Toll says the week also includes some tours different parts of Green Bay.
This is the first time Green Bay has hosted.
Toll says the person in charge of the convention each year was in Green Bay when the plans were made for an expansion of the KI Center and made a promise to Toll.
“I will bring my convention to Green Bay in 2019 if you build it.”
Future conventions being held in Green Bay can boost the economy in a big way.
“What makes this one so special is that the people that attend the convention can book their convention here.”
The convention begins on Tuesday.
