2014 WATKINS STUDY
The Watkins study is conducted every two years and interviews 800 influential meeting planners about their impressions of the top 40 meeting destinations in North America.
In the 2014 study, Denver and the CCC were clearly ranked as one of the top 10 convention destinations in the nation.
Some of the highlights:
- VISIT DENVER ranked as the No. 1 CVB in the nation when meeting planners were asked, “Which CVB stands out relative to all the others?”
- Denver ranked as the 5th best convention destination based on “industry buzz,” when meeting planners were asked, “Which cities are currently providing the most positive overall experience for major conventions?”
Denver scores well in several attributes that meeting planners consider most important in selecting a destination:
- Has superior convention services: Denver ranked 6th
- Has superior convention facilities: Denver ranked 8th
- Has hotels well suited for my largest meeting: Denver ranked 10th
2013 DESTINATIONMAP (MEETINGS ASSESSMENT PROGRAM)
A second study, also conducted every two years, surveys 2,000 corporate and association meeting planners who organize large national meetings for 300 people or more. All rankings are relative to the top largest 40 cities in North America. In the latest 2013 study:
Denver scored well in key areas:
- Good for large trade shows (4th) Up from 6th in 2011, 9th in 2009
- New/expanded convention center (6th) Up from 10th in 2011
- Excellent hotel meeting facilities (10th) Same as 2011
The Colorado Convention Center image ranked extremely strong among center considerations:
The CCC is in the top 5 for:
- Green certified facility (3rd)
- Reasonable facility rental rates (3rd)
- Reasonable exhibit setup and service costs (3rd)
- Labor crew easy to work with (3rd)
- Excellent reputation (4th)
- Near downtown/activity (4th)
- Good banquet facilities (4th)
- Green practices (5th)
- Wireless Internet connections (5th)
- Good food service (5th)
- Walkability of area around convention center (5th)
- Proximity to restaurants (5th)
Other key findings from the 2013 DestinationMAP study:
- On key reputational considerations, Denver scores quite well
- Impressively, Denver is in the top five of all destinations on 12 of 22 convention center considerations
- Denver's marketing efforts are hugely effective with meeting planners
VISIT DENVER’s marketing efforts to meeting planners were again viewed as extremely successful, helping to spread the word and book the center, including:
- Saw trade magazine ads (3rd) Up from 7th in 2009
- Called on by Bureau staff (3rd) Up from 4th in 2009
- Visited destination Facebook page (3rd) new category
- Visited trade show booth (7th) Up from 21st in 2011
- Saw Internet ads (9th)
- Received direct mail (9th)
- Visited destination website (9th)
