NORTHEAST
Photo Credit: Go Providence
Providence, R.I., a classic New England destination with big city vibes, is most ably represented by the team at GoProvidence, aka the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. This dedicated sales and services staff knows best how to leverage Providence’s flexible resources and creative energy in a way that allows meeting planners to be innovative in curating their event experiences.
Planners working with this CVB get the information they need about important area venues like the Rhode Island Convention Center, with its 200,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, and the 14,000-seat Amica Mutual Pavilion, as well as major meeting properties like the 564-room Omni Providence Hotel, connected to the convention facility but with its own 22,000 square feet of meeting space. The bureau also can recommend local restaurants, entertainment choices and the best ways to travel to and around the city.
The official sales and marketing organization for the most populous city in Maryland, Visit Baltimore is committed to promoting its home turf as a premier, affordable and accessible destination for meetings and events. In 2024 and early 2025, the bureau demonstrated its focus on innovation and community engagement through initiatives that brought the city’s spirit directly to planners and visitors. One such effort was “Smalltimore,” a mobile visitor pop-up that appeared at major industry events like PCMA, IMEX and ASAE. The presentation told the city’s story through local art projects that built authentic connections between planners and the city’s community of makers, entrepreneurs and creatives.
With an unwavering commitment to connect local business partners with visitors, meeting planners and attendees, the Ocean City, Md., Convention & Visitors Bureau launched two major initiatives in 2024, helping to reshape how the city’s 200+ CVB members promote their services, reach attendees and directly benefit from meetings and events held in town. OC Central gives partners 24/7 access to marketing assets, co-branded materials, analytics and the ability to submit deals and updates seen by planners and guests alike. The Visit OC MD app puts these businesses in the palm of the visitor’s hand, offering geo-targeted content and itinerary planning to drive real-time engagement.
SOUTHEAST
Photo Credit: New Orleans & Company
For decades, New Orleans & Company has helped the city remain a top 25 U.S. destination by promoting what sets it apart — the people, culture, cuisine, music, history and unmatched hospitality. Through strategic marketing and sales, the bureau recently has helped the Big Easy host major events like Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, Super Bowl LIX (the city’s 11th such contest), Mardi Gras and various national conventions. In 2024, the sales team booked 1.5 million hotel room nights, helping to contribute over $10 billion in direct spending annually.
From large-scale conventions to executive retreats and everything in between, the team at NO&Co. offers strategic, no-cost assistance at every stage of planning, including hotel and venue sourcing. With the bureau’s help, planners can access helpful details about the city’s 26,000 hotel rooms in close proximity to the heart of town, 800+ eateries and nearly 100 attractions within distance of downtown hotels, plus some 4 million square feet of event space and more.
Whether a planner is organizing a board retreat or a citywide convention, the staff at Visit Tamps Bay is at the ready to offer information and incentives to help make the event make the most of this colorful city on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Among the bureau’s offerings are a comprehensive facilities search engine (including hotel rooms, meeting space and more), special savings and access to event suppliers, plus a convention sales department to help make larger events as hassle-free as possible.
Dedicated to bringing dream meetings to life, Visit Orlando’s long-standing tradition of partnering with planners helps ensure meaningful experiences for attendees. Many members of the bureau’s Destination Experience team hold the Certified Meeting Professionals credential and are experts in handling the complexities of events of all sizes. Whether coordinating venues, recommending any of the notable new restaurants emerging here every year (as well as the area’s classic eateries) or suggesting entertainment options, Visit Orlando offers deep expertise on the destination, becoming true partners in planning.
MIDWEST
Photo Credit: Visit Indy
In the 102-year history of Visit Indy, all major tourism metrics hit record highs in 2024, including the most hotel rooms booked in a single year. Major events such as the NBA All-Star Game, the solar eclipse and Taylor Swift’s sold-out Eras concerts drove unprecedented visitation. In addition, progress on the Indiana Convention Center’s sixth expansion and the rising 38-story Signia by Hilton helped secure more than $1 billion in future convention business. With $3 billion in tourism-related development underway, Visit Indy’s 58-person team continues to fuel the city’s momentum with strategic, high-impact wins.
In 2024 alone: VisitIndy.com drew a record 5.56 million sessions, surpassing the previous high of 4 million. Annual citywide conventions like Gen Con, NFL Combine and the Fire Department Instructors Conference all achieved record-setting attendance. In addition, the bureau secured a record 3.94 million future hotel room nights tied to conventions, signaling strong momentum for 2025 and beyond.
With much to promote, Visit Milwaukee continues to position its city as a premier, versatile meeting destination. This bore fruit in 2024 when the Baird Center completed an expansion that gives the LEED Gold-certified convention facility a total of 1.3 million square feet, including 300,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space and the rooftop Baird Ballroom with stunning panoramic views. Also in 2024, Visit Milwaukee became the first DMO in the Midwest to join the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, a globally recognized initiative that enhances travel accessibility by helping individuals with nonvisible disabilities discreetly obtain additional support in public venues.
Working hand-in-hand with planners from booking to execution, Destination Ann Arbor in Michigan offers support with site selection, logistics, vendors, attendee services, accessibility and sustainability. The bureau’s team has partnered with seven local communities, universities, businesses, governments and nonprofits to elevate meeting outcomes by providing access to renowned speakers, subject-matter experts and iconic campus venues. Along with promoting the city’s virtues, the DMO actively fosters a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for every meeting and every guest.
The 15th largest city in the U.S., Columbus, Ohio, routinely hosts meetings that transform into citywide experiences that are personalized, purposeful and unforgettable, thanks in large part to the team at Experience Columbus, who turn planners into partners and attendees into passionate fans of both the city and their own industries. The DMO routinely fosters collaboration across sectors to elevate events, bringing together civic leaders, CEOs, educators and entrepreneurs to support visiting groups. Planners also are supported via a robust toolkit that includes promotional assets, attendance boosters and exclusive perks.
SOUTHWEST
Photo Credit: Visit Irving
In Irving, Texas, Visit Irving has emerged as a standout in the Southwest, setting the bar for high-touch, high-impact meeting experiences. The DMO collaborates with planners to create events that reflect the city’s unique energy, and the team’s orchestrated immersive site visits are legendary: A recent such event featured a reception with live cowboy greeters and statues, plus a show-stopping Champagne Diva. Another group was treated to a Golf & Spa Day, a high-energy Family Feud-style game night, a VIP Meghan Trainor concert at the Toyota Music Factory and a police-escorted arrival at a private suite at a Dallas Cowboys game.
These adventures are more than perks. They’re part of a broader strategy to build emotional connections between planners, attendees and the destination. Whether it’s the first site visit or the closing event, Visit Irving provides expert guidance at every stage. In 2024, the sales team achieved 122 percent of its group room-night goal — proof that their approach delivers results.
The Mile High City offers an inspiring and world-class destination for meetings of every size, and the staff at Visit Denver helps to bring all the business home. The team is intimately involved with promoting the recently expanded Colorado Convention Center, which now offers 2 million square feet of flexible meeting space within walking distance of 452 downtown hotels, as well as the nearby revitalized 16th Street, which spans one mile and links Denver Union Station to Civic center Park, showcasing a string of vibrant restaurants, new green spaces and enhanced walkability.
On a yearly average, Visit El Paso welcomes over 1,000 guests for meetings, conferences and events. With site visits, familiarizations tours, conventions, board meetings and the like, the DMO’s team is accustomed to working with planners and their guests for superior results. With a history of gatherings ranging from the Texas Democratic Convention and m&i Americas to the Outdoor Writers Association of America and the anticipated international WireTech Expo, Visit El Paso hosts events and year-round conferences welcoming guests from across the nation and beyond.
FAR WEST
Photo Credit: Meet Long Beach
Founded by local business people in 1982 as a nonprofit corporation, Meet Long Beach sells and markets the City of Long Beach, Calif., as a destination for conventions, meetings and events. The DMO employs a team of seasoned sales professionals placed in key markets throughout the United States, as well as administrative and support staff, helping to create an estimated $1.8 billion in economic impact for the city each year.
The sales team also pursues major convention business for the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, with its more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibit space within walking distance to nearby hotels and amenities, with the goal of generating overnight stays. The bureau’s website includes a venue finder featuring dozens of unique meeting spaces.
Greater Ontario is Southern California’s fastest-growing destination, driving $110 million in economic impact this past year alone. As the hub of the Inland Empire’s dynamic hospitality scene, GOCAL supports 180,000+ jobs and has elevated the region’s profile as a premier meetings and events destination. At the heart of the DMO’s offerings is the Ontario Convention Center, which is undergoing a transformative expansion to nearly 470,000 square feet by 2027, including a 50,000-square-foot outdoor plaza. This, plus over 6,700 hotel rooms nearby, are part of a toolkit that helps GOCAL offer convenience and flexibility for events of all sizes.
Helping planners and attendees find the best of the Bay Area, the San Francisco Peninsula is the namesake DMO representing a diverse area with over 30 convenient hotels, most offering complimentary airport shuttle service, and over 15,000 sleeping rooms in 140 properties in all. In addition, the bureau publicizes numerous unique venues, giving planners plenty of options for events, all amid natural beauty and cultural richness. From redwood forests to coastal trails, charming historic downtowns and family farms, the peninsula is a fascinating destination with a robust DMO to help
attract meetings business.
Surrounded by four picturesque mountain ranges, Greater Palm Springs is a storied oasis in Southern California, encompassing nine cities including Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells and Coachella, each offering its own blend of experiences as expertly promoted by Visit Greater Palm Springs. The DMO helps organize breakout sessions against a backdrop of awe-inspiring mountains, receptions unfolding beneath swaying palm trees, wildlife meet-and-greets at attractions like The Living Desert and more.
A DMO that marches to its own unique beat, Explore Seattle Southside offers a Business Development Scholarship that unites representatives of local venues to promote the region and help planners and their groups have the best experiences possible. The scholarships enable the reps to attend conferences and events nationwide, allowing them to meet more prospective clients face-to-face without relying on their own budgets. The bureau trains and coordinates all travel for these ambassadors, making them effective partners in the drive to bring meetings business to this vibrant destination.
INTERNATIONAL AND U.S. TERRITORIES
Photo Credit: Business Events Montréal (Tourisme Montréal)
There is always the feeling that something special is about to happen in Montréal — a characteristic celebrated by Business Events Montréal, whose innovative initiatives exemplify the creativity of the bureau and the city it serves. Whether it’s co-founding North America’s first tourism incubator or partnering with Cirque de Soleil and C2 Montréal (an annual immersive event that a celebrates creativity in business) to create unique group experiences, BEM operates well beyond the traditional role of a DMO.
Among other initiatives, the agency currently is participating in the development of Impact AIQ, a groundbreaking AI-powered project that aims to enable strategic planning and analysis of the societal impact of business events, embedding it directly into event design. It’s a Montréal-led project with the ambition of inspiring global transformation across the events industry.
Operating in partnership with the city of Toronto and the tourism and hospitality community, Destination Toronto promotes the city to attract visitors and major meetings and events while supporting local businesses to maximize the opportunities of the visitor economy. The bureau’s Destination Services team is the link between a client's vision and the city's resources, connecting planners to the city’s best and most sought-after assets and individuals for hosting meetings, conferences and events, and in the process making introductions, sharing local knowledge and providing access to the great resources available around town.
A private nonprofit foundation in charge of promoting Colombia’s city of Medellín and the larger district of Antioquia in which it exists, the Greater Medellín Convention & Visitors Bureau represents more than 200 member hotels, venues, DMCs and service providers to ensure each event held in both the city and district reflects the destinations’ warmth and professionalism. From public–private coordination and brand licensing to digital management and community impact, the GMCVB delivers a seamless experience highlighting the destination at its best.
In Northwestern Costa Rica, the province of Guanacaste is known for its white-sand beaches, luxury resorts, excellent surfing and diving opportunities — and a DMO devoted to promoting the region as a premier destination for meetings, incentive, conferences and exhibitions. The bureau has partnered with local hotels, DMCs and others to develop unified strategies that attract high-value incentive groups and corporate events. Whether offering tailored site inspection itineraries, curated cultural experiences or logistical expertise, the Guanacaste DMO always operates with an emphasis on the unique identity of its home base.
Offering a strong commitment to personalized service and deep integration with local partners, the Los Cabos Tourism Board uses a holistic and strategic approach to ensure every planner and group has the resources and partnerships needed to deliver exceptional experiences and collaboration with this colorful Mexican resort area’s local community. The board offers personalized event support, giving meeting professionals direct access to the destination’s infrastructure, supplier network and unique experiences.
A division of the Singapore Tourism Board, the Singapore Exhibition and Convention Bureau offers personalized event support to help planners make the most of this storied destination. The SECB is a pioneer in advancing sustainable business events, helping to develop internationally recognized sustainability standards, as well as promoting a seamless integration of technology to enhance meeting planning and execution. The bureau also supports planners via structured guidance and practical resources in service of leaving a lasting and positive legacy in Singapore.