Ranking CVB Services

Do you get destination information from convention and visitor bureaus/destination marketing organizations? If so, you’re in good company. Almost three quarters (72 percent) of the 149 planners who were polled by M&C in March always or sometimes go to CVBs for assistance when arranging meetings.

Planners find CVBs most helpful in destinations where they’ve never held a meeting before, according to 81 percent of the sample. Still, 55 percent contact the CVB in places they’ve already met, and 21 percent make the call for meetings in international destinations.

Among the most popular services used by planners: obtaining brochures, and maps (68 percent); getting facility information (60 percent); assistance with site inspections (48 percent); help with requests for proposal (45 percent); supplier coordination (41 percent); assistance on special events (40 percent), and promotional assistance (36 percent).

More than a third of the sample (38 percent) said CVBs work as a local advocate for their meetings, and 34 percent said bureaus offer an excellent suite of services. Almost a quarter cited economic advantages: 24 percent said the CVB staff secures price breaks on hotels, food and beverage, and/or supplier costs.

Planners who do not use CVBs believe that going through the destination’s offices adds extra steps (31 percent). Other reasons planners bypass the bureau: They can find information themselves (26 percent) or their meetings are too small to need the CVB’s support (24 percent).

CVB websites draw plenty of users. Among the respondents, 22 percent always go online when they plan their meetings, and 46 percent do so sometimes.