Press Release - Book Meetings in Kissimmee for Quality, Knowledgeable Assistance

     KISSIMMEE, FL (Summer 2009) – With the ongoing addition of high-end and flexible meeting space and updates to existing meeting venues throughout Kissimmee, meeting planners see the popular Central Florida destination in a whole new light.
     Shining brightly for meeting planners is the discovery of what has always been great about Kissimmee: a wide range of accommodations and meeting space from which to choose, as well as exciting add-on options at area attractions and natural adventures. Best of all, they’re discovering the friendly, creative and helpful staff at the Kissimmee Convention & Visitors Bureau, who work to make even the busiest meeting planner’s job easier.
     Kissimmee’s sales and services manager Debby Rivera, CMP, and her destination services team have enhanced the bureau’s existing services to best respond to the growing and unique needs of groups booking in one of the area’s venues.
     “We recognize that as new development is opened, and the size and the type of convention properties are more diverse, a new clientele with new needs is arriving in Kissimmee,” said Rivera, a certified meeting planner. “If we give meeting planners all they need to be successful and ensure they have a positive experience from booking to completion of the event, they will want to continue booking meetings in Kissimmee.”
     The Kissimmee CVB offers traditional services meeting planners have come to expect from a convention and visitors bureau but the CVB’s staff also has extended help in ways that are rare among other bureaus.
     These include using unique and proactive ways to create awareness among the client’s key constituents in order to increase attendance, for example creating and helping to disseminate a news release announcing the conference. The aim was to increase attendance at the conferences by announcing it was to be held in the popular destination.
     Over time, Kissimmee will see even more space added to an already impressive inventory that ranges from more than 400,000 square feet to more intimate venues and very unique spaces that are sure to please. Also, many of its longstanding properties – in hotels and attractions -- have updated their meeting space to appeal to modern meeting planners and their clients.

Fueling that growth is great meeting space:

• Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center. The award-winning property, with more than 400,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space along with 1,406 guest rooms, is one of Kissimmee’s premier meeting properties. The resort also recently launched a comprehensive Green program and a new up-front pricing program for 2009-2010 events.

• Omni Resort at ChampionsGate. A 730-room golf-adjacent resort features more than 70,000 square feet of meeting space, a 25,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, a 20,000-square-foot Junior Ballroom, 11,000 square feet of pre-function space, more than 16,000 square feet of outdoor function space, 27 meeting rooms and areas to accommodate groups of up to 2,000 delegates.

• Osceola Heritage Park. This 120-acre multi-purpose facility is another venue that satisfies the demand of meeting planners and attendees visiting Kissimmee. It features, among other things, an 89,500-square-foot Exhibition Building with divisible, column-free exhibit space, flexible meeting space and pre-function space.

• Reunion Resort. A 4,700-square-foot Heritage Ballroom is available in the Heritage Crossing section of the sprawling golf resort. Reunion Grande also offers 12,000 square feet of meeting space, including a divisible ballroom and three breakout rooms. The resort also offers planners a water park and pristine riding stables to inspire a planner’s imagination to create a highly memorable meeting.

• Ramada Orlando Celebration Resort. A longtime Kissimmee favorite property in a prime location near Interstate 4 fills a need among meeting planners already familiar with the property and those who will soon discover it. A 919-room resort with 28 suites, the hotel was once known as the Hyatt Orlando and has 60,000 square feet of meeting space. With a new and contemporary tropical look and offers four pools, numerous breakout rooms and a Latin-flavor dance club.

• Holiday Inn Main Gate East: The world’s largest Travelodge has re-emerged after a $10 million renovation project as the Holiday Inn Main Gate East, Kissimmee’s newest hotel on the U.S. 192 corridor. The 444 beautifully appointed sleeping rooms compliment perfectly the hotel’s colorful new lobby and 3,571-sq.-ft. flexible meeting space.

• Radisson Resort Orlando Celebration. This 718-sleeping-room property has warm and inviting meeting space that includes 6,270 square feet of meeting space among eight meeting rooms. It is ideal for small meetings, incentives banquets or trade shows.

     Kissimmee is conveniently located within a half-hour of Orlando International Airport and has small to large facilities that appeal to all meeting professionals. To request a Meeting Facilities Guide or for help planning an event in Kissimmee, Call 800-831-1844 or visit www.meetings.FloridaKiss.com.

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