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Planner's Perspective

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Jennifer Miller
Events Manager
Utah Association of Realtors
Salt Lake City

Describe your event.

It was the annual Utah Association of Realtors convention that we’ve held there the last three years. We typically get 450 to 500 attendees, and in September 2006 it was at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Why did you decide to host the meeting in San Diego?
I’ve only worked with the association for two-and-a-half years and they’d had it there the year before. They really liked it; the hotel was fabulous to work with.

What surprised you the most about San Diego?
There was nothing that surprised me—the hotel just exceeded our expectations.

What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
What they loved most about the Hyatt was their customer service. As for the city, they just loved that (we’re from Utah) it’s nice and warm, and it’s San Diego for heaven’s sake!

Was anybody particularly helpful?
Brady Closson was my sales contact and he was excellent. And this year Kathy Mata was my customer service rep and she was always thinking ahead of what I might need.

Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand?
No, there really weren’t any surprises.

What would you have done differently?
I don’t know whether there is anything I would have done differently in retrospect.

What other types of groups would fit well with the property?
They can host huge groups. We were kind of a smaller group for them, and yet they did not make us feel that way.

What were some of the unique off-site venues that you used for events?
We used La Costa Resort and Spa for a golf tournament.

Did you incorporate any interesting excursions or activities into the agenda?
We did a cruise on the bay and used Hornblower Cruises.

How does San Diego compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings?
San Diego is just fabulous. It’s a great location.

Would you return?
We are going back in 2007 but not in 2008; we’ll be at a Dolce International property in Midway, Utah.

Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to San Diego?
The only advice I would have would be to check the references or get a referral for companies transporting you around the city. If they’re going to do any mass transportation for the group, make sure they have a good referral.