Q&A with Timothy Schneider
President & CEO // Schneider Publishing Company
Why did you select Atlantic City as host destination for the TEAMS ’16 Conference & Expo?
There were many contributing factors, including the city’s rich history as a resort and convention destination. And while new meeting facilities—such as the recently opened Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center—were certainly a draw for us, venues alone do not attract groups to a destination. Like many meeting planners, we rotate our events geographically, and in this case, the work of Meet AC and the Atlantic City Sports Commission convinced us that Atlantic City would be perfect for our event.
How was overall participant feedback for the event?
TEAMS ’16 in Atlantic City was headquartered at Harrah’s Resort and its beautiful new connected Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center. Our attendees loved the venue’s convenient footprint. The venue and host city helped TEAMS ’16 score an attendee approval rating of more than 98 percent. In fact, in our post-show survey, attendees used phrases like “exceeded expectations,” “fabulous,” “excellent,” “fantastic” and “flawlessly executed” to describe their experiences. The fact that TEAMS ’16 scored above 98 percent—not only in its overall rating but also in the specific areas of conference organization and conference affordability—is evidence of Atlantic City’s ability to host very successful events that really wow attendees.
How would you describe the overall environment in Atlantic City for meetings and events?
Thanks to the work of Meet AC, Atlantic City is undergoing a significant transformation, which we experienced during the planning process of TEAMS ’16 and at the conference itself. In the last year alone, Atlantic City has hosted a diverse array of conventions and a growing number of sporting events. We are thrilled to be part of this remarkable transformation, and for anyone seeking a Northeast destination eager to work with groups and offering affordable room rates, Atlantic City should be on their short list.