Convention South Announces 2014 List of “20 Group-Friendly Gems” – Small Markets With Surprising Attributes For Meetings & Events
ConventionSouth‘s editorial research team announced their list of “20 Group-Friendly Gems,” which they say are small, third-tier markets that many meeting planners may have not heard of, yet are especially well suited for small- and/or mid-sized meetings.
This surprising list of small-sized cities gives meeting planners the opportunity to get to know some of the most unique destinations in the South–all of which offer:
- an active tourism bureau with event planning services and trained personnel,
- one or more dedicated meeting facility, and/or
- hotels with on-site meeting spaces,
- provide a “big fish in a small pond” experience,
- offer more personalized attention,
- welcome groups with open arms,
- charge and tax less for services, and
- provide a location where logistics are more easily managed.
“We’re very proud to have our peers at Convention South recognize Pearland as a unique destination,” according to Kim Sinistore, Executive Director, Pearland Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Pearland is placed within close proximity to Houston and Hobby Airport and offers planners personalized service , unique venues, and access to shopping, dining and area attractions while visiting.”
The entire list of cities in alphabetical order includes:
- Brenham, Texas
- Columbia, Missouri
- Conway, Arkansas
- Enterprise, Alabama
- Florence, Alabama
- Florence, South Carolina
- Helen, Georgia
- Houma, Louisiana
- Jackson, Tennessee
- Mooresville, North Carolina
- Mount Sterling, Kentucky
- Ocala, Florida
- Parkersburg, West Virginia
- Pearland, Texas
- Salisbury, Maryland
- Shenandoah, Texas
- Victoria, Texas
- Woodward, Oklahoma
- Wytheville, Virginia
- Yazoo City, Mississippi