From Jeff Gassaway
Director of Convention Sales – Midwest Region at Visit Salt Lake

Virtual can be fun, but the real experience is better.

First and foremost, I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy while adhering to the guidelines to stay indoors to slow down the COVID-19 pandemic.  Like you, I am anxious for our industry to come back stronger than before.

You know what I have been missing the most about our industry….the site inspection.  I have to admit since COVID-19, I have grown tired of virtual visits to museums, aquariums and virtual rides on the roller coasters with the kids.  I crave and want to experience the real thing!  A virtual site inspection does not replace the in-person experience.

The most important ingredient in a successful site inspection is to showcase and experience, with your five senses, what is unique about your destination.  We need to keep in mind that each of us have hotels, convention/conference centers, and restaurants.  However, what would make your site inspection stand out?

Our excitement and simplistic approach in Salt Lake during a site inspection is more time for the customer to experience the uniqueness of the destination.  My most successful site inspection, that led to business booked, was having my clients make memories beyond the convention center and hotel sites.  We experienced Utah’s incredible outdoor recreation by day and ending the day seeing Maroon 5 in concert.  That lasting impression is what worked for us and those customers still talk about the experience to this day.

Be Creative, Be Unique, Be Real.