In a year like no other that has forced the postponement or cancellation of most conferences and sports events, the Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau has executed a robust agenda of actions to keep Connecticut front and center in the minds of meeting planners and sports promoters.

HIGHLIGHTS of our 2020 Sales & Marketing Initiatives include:

Outreach to Planners via Industry Partners & Organizations:

May: ConferenceDirect Virtual Partner Meeting with planner appointments.

June: CTCSB was one of the first CVBs to produce and host a Virtual FAM Tour for planners and industry media across U.S. 

July: Northeast CVB representatives hosted a Virtual Destination Update; our Connecticut was one of five featured destinations.

July: SportsBIZ XChange virtual networking tradeshow with planner appointments.

August: CTCSB was a panelist at the Meeting Planners International's CT River Valley chapter's (MPI CRV) Monthly Virtual Education: Why you should use a CVB. The panel featured Connecticut, Newport and Springfield, Mass. representatives.

October: Reconvening for Recovery: Live! Hybrid Conference presented by Northstar Meetings Group and Mohegan Sun attended by CTCSB President Bob Murdock.

October: TEAMS Conference & Expo networking event.

e-Marketing & Online Visibility:

  • CTCSB REIMAGINED our website and launched it to planners, media, industry partners.
  • MPI Pulse Magazine - Drive Market Connecticut feature in August issue.
  • Enhancing Connecticut's profile on the CVENT platform - designing Source Safely Microsite, new Destination Guide and winter promotion Small Meetings: Made in Connecticut.
  • Digital Advertising: Cvent Geotargeting (Aug.-Oct.); MPI Programmatic retargeting AD; Society of Association Executives' (SAE) New England chapter e-news, New York & Indiana chapters website ADs; and Professional Convention Management Association's (PCMA), Greater Midwest chapter homepage banner. 

Ongoing Media Relations:

Communication with Connecticut news outlets and all Meetings and Hospitality trade media. Proactive outreach and rapid response to issues and questions about the State's latest COVID-19 status.