Convention Bureau News

Syracuse CVB named one
of the best in the United States

2009 marks seventh consecutive year SCVB’s awarded prestigious Pinnacle Award as
selected by meeting planners nationwide

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that for the seventh year in a row, the bureau has been awarded a 2009 Successful Meetings Pinnacle Award — the most credible and prestigious symbol of excellence among meeting planners and meeting destinations.

The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau is the only CVB in New York State to receive the coveted award this year.

The Pinnacle Award recognizes cities that have done an outstanding job servicing their meetings, incentive travel programs, trade shows and conventions during the previous year – and is actually voted on by Successful Meetings magazine readers who are meeting planners, themselves.

"Congratulations to the Syracuse Convention & Visitor’s Bureau for receiving their seventh straight Successful Meetings Pinnacle Award,” said Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.  “This is an impressive achievement and keeps Syracuse and Onondaga County among the top locations for meeting and convention business."

Readers of Successful Meetings magazine — corporate and association executives with meeting planning responsibilities – registered to become Pinnacle Reviewers via online ballots and gave feedback based on their professional experiences worldwide. Reviews are based on a scale of 1-10 (10 being best) across the following four categories: (1) Area Group Amenities, (2) Quality/Availability of Information, (3) Quality/Variety of Services & Facilities, (4) Service/Responsiveness of Staff.

“With all of the hospitality choices that meeting and event planners have these days, any property that wins a Pinnacle Award is obviously in the highest tier of quality in the hospitality field," said Vince Alonzo, Successful Meetings' Editorial Director. "And the best part is that it is planners themselves who are making this distinction, thus giving a credible stamp of approval that others can use when deciding where to host a meeting, incentive, convention, or trade show."  

“Tourism, which includes meetings and conventions, is big business in Onondaga County,” said Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau President David Holder. “Seven consecutive years of earning a Pinnacle Award is a true testament to the superior services provided by the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau. When coupled with superior Central New York hospitality provided by our partners and residents in the Syracuse area, the customer experience truly does reach a pinnacle.”

Year to date, in 2009, the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau booked 34,265 room nights, resulting in an estimated economic impacts of over $40 million and counting.  Plus, convention delegates spend approximately $266 a day for lodging, food, gas, shopping, and entertainment.

The Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau is working harder than ever to bring in more convention business, to keep this valuable economic engine going.  Groups have plenty of choices of cities to hold their conventions, and it is a testament to the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau that they continue to choose Syracuse!

The 2009 Pinnacle Award Winners were listed in the August Pinnacle Registry in print and online at www.successfulmeetings.com/pinnacle.

The mission of the Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau is to strengthen the positive awareness of the City of Syracuse and Onondaga County as a convention and visitor destination, to increase revenues and stimulate economic development and growth for the community. For more information, visit www.VisitSyracuse.org.

The award-winning Successful Meetings magazine has long been respected for industry innovation and authoritative discussion of meeting, special event, incentive, convention and trade show planning and execution.  With the largest industry audience, Successful Meetings reaches corporate/sales/marketing executives who plan meetings, meeting professionals and event planners, trade show directors, and association executives who are involved with planning conventions and meetings. For more information on Successful Meetings, please visit www.successfulmeetings.com.  Successful Meetings is owned by Nielsen Business Media, a division of The Nielsen Company.