Meeting Planner
California Association of Realtors
Los Angeles
Describe your event.
We held our annual Business Meeting and Installation in Monterey Jan.15-20 with 1,200 realtors at the Monterey Marriott, the Hotel Pacific, the Portola Plaza Hotel at Monterey Bay, and the Monterey Conference Center.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Monterey?
Monterey is a very conducive location for our group—great meeting space, hotels and plenty of restaurants and shopping close by. Monterey Peninsula Airport is easily accessible, and San Jose International Airport is a short hour-and-a-half ride away.
What surprised you the most about Monterey?
Monterey has a small-town feeling but feels like a big city, with high-quality service and attentiveness that is crucial to larger groups.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most?
Our group is full of seasoned travelers, and they truly appreciate the variety of restaurants and shopping as well as ease and accessibility.
Was anybody particularly helpful?
Dayna Swanson at the conference center, Donna Bauer at the Marriott and Amy Gibson at the Portola Plaza provided five-star service no matter how small or how big the need was. We hosted a 900-person banquet at the Monterey Conference Center catered by the Monterey Marriott. Within three hours, we had to change the ballroom at the center from a meeting setting into the room for the banquet. Meanwhile, over at the Portola we were setting up a reception for 600 people. The manner in which all three properties worked together was poetry in motion.
Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand?
My partner Marc Berkowitz and I went up to Monterey and met with the team a week prior to the event to review banquet event orders, site the contracted suites and handle last-minute items of concern before we arrived. The Meeting Connection team was very open to the new process, and the effort was well worth it because once we came back on-site a week later all of the normal last-minute pop-up issues that we’d normally deal with were almost nonexistent.
What were some of the unique off-site venues that you used?
Our local association, the Monterey County Association of Realtors, has used the Monterey Bay Aquarium on several occasions for large receptions. The ambience was exceptional, and the service and food quality were outstanding!
How does Monterey compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings?
We held this particular program in various locations up and down the state and have found Monterey to be one of the most appealing locations. Some planners might find it difficult to work with three different properties, but the Monterey Meeting Connection has perfected a great process with all the properties working together and putting the client first to ensure the success of the program.
Would you return?
Absolutely!
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Monterey? Always, always work with the Monterey Meeting Connection. They are true professionals and a tremendous asset to the overall planning process.