Debbie Pavletich
International President; InPlant Printing and Mailing Association (IPMA); Kearney, Mo.
Describe your event. IPMA’s National Conference is a networking and educational event for internal print and mailing operations. The event was held at the Woodcliff Hotel & Spa, and approximately 175 members and vendors attended.
Why did you decide to host the meeting in Rochester? It’s a technology center for digital printing. Xerox and Kodak are headquartered in Rochester. Also, it’s a nice area of the country with lots of attractions.
What surprised you the most about Rochester? Its proximity to Canada and beautiful rolling hills.
Was anybody particularly helpful? Margaret Swift at the Woodcliff and her entire staff went above and beyond to make every aspect of the event perfect. They assisted with making contacts prior to the conference and made sure everything went off without a hitch. On one occasion, the banquet manager actually went home to bring back her computer because we needed assistance on one of the presentations.
Is there anything you wish you had known beforehand? No. Visit Rochester and the Woodcliff did a fantastic job of making sure we had everything we needed for a successful event.
What would you have done differently in retrospect? I would have waited until the pool was completed at the Woodcliff to visit this beautiful hotel.
What other types of groups would fit well with the property? Associations or companies that hold small breakout meetings in conjunction with their event—maximum attendees 150—would fit well.
Did you incorporate any interesting excursions or activities into the agenda? Yes, we had dinner at the George Eastman House, golfed at the Woodcliff, attended Kodak Oscar Awards night and enjoyed trips to Niagara Falls and Casa Larga Winery. We also toured both Kodak’s and Xerox’s headquarters.
What local suppliers did you utilize? We utilized Hale Northeastern Expo Services, Rochester Shuttle Express and Tasteful Connection catering.
How does Rochester compare to other places where you have hosted meetings? There was less to do within walking distance of the facility, but we planned a lot of activities to keep attendees busy. Not as many direct flights are available into the airport as some other cities.
Would you return? Yes.
Do you have any advice for other planners who might bring a meeting to Rochester? It is a beautiful area of the country with friendly, professional people who strive to make every aspect of your visit a perfect experience.