Shannon Gustafson
Director of Strategic Projects; American Coalition for Ethanol; Sioux Falls, S.D.
Describe your event. The 21st Ethanol Conference & Trade Show drew over 1,200 attendees and was held at the Qwest Center in Omaha. The purpose of the event is to bring members of the ethanol industry together for updates on policy, market development and technology.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Omaha? The majority of our members and operating ethanol plants are located in the Midwest, and Omaha is a very easy city to travel in and out of.
What surprised you the most about Omaha? The most surprising thing about Omaha is affordability. The resources available to meeting planners are both time- and cost-saving, and prices are low from the start.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the most? Our attendees enjoyed receiving important industry updates in the heart of the Midwest, where ethanol was born. They enjoyed Omaha’s high-class entertainment and services.
Was anybody particularly helpful? I worked with Susan McCulloch and Gina Licari at the Qwest Center, and Kyle Steenson at the Hilton Omaha, and truly enjoyed working with all of them. No question I asked went unanswered, and any emergencies were handled immediately and calmly, which made my job so much easier.
What other types of groups would fit well with the hotel or convention center? The Hilton Omaha has a wonderful selection of meeting and ballroom space for smaller meetings and events. The Qwest Center is ideal for events of any size.
What were some of the unique off-site venues that you used? We did not use any off-site venues, but the Qwest Center is located a block from the Old Market area, which has many unique shopping and dining options.
Did you incorporate any interesting activities into the agenda? We included a golf tournament at the Shadow Ridge Country Club.
What local suppliers did you utilize? We used Levy Catering, the on-site caterer at the Qwest Center. The staff was extremely helpful, and the food was fantastic—better than any other convention food I’ve experienced. We used J&S Audio Visual (also on-site), and they are by far the most competent A/V staff I’ve worked with in the last four years.
How does Omaha compare to other cities where you have hosted meetings? The high-class facilities are equal to or better than many facilities that we have toured and are much more affordable.
Would you return? Absolutely.
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Omaha? I would highly recommend planners consider Omaha for their events. There are few locations where you will find staff as helpful and friendly, facilities as well-maintained, or prices as affordable as Omaha.
