Tourism Richmond’s Engaging Presence

During Ottawa Meet Week (February 24-28), Tourism Richmond stood out at both the Destination Direct hosted buyer program and the Tête-à-Tête tradeshow. Our representatives, Lori Lopez and Christy Dominic, engaged extensively with event planners, enhancing Richmond’s reputation as a meeting and event destination.  

Destination Direct Insights:  

Lori Lopez brought back glowing reviews from Destination Direct, highly praised as one of the top hosted buyer programs nationwide. “It is a standout program where we truly connect with planners and explore new possibilities for hosting events in Richmond,” Lori shared. These connections went beyond formal meetings, extending into relaxed lunches, dinners, and socials that allowed deeper relationships to form with event planners.  

During these interactions, our team highlighted Richmond’s versatile venue options. For example, after learning one planner’s group had a strong interest in steel, we suggested one of our local Jet Hangars as a unique event space. Another planner, initially worried about accommodating a large tradeshow, left considering new, creative uses for our spaces. These discussions are a testament to our dedication to finding innovative and functional solutions for event challenges. 

Creative Engagement Strategies: 
What makes Destination Direct truly special is the opportunity to dive deep into what planners really need. Knowing we had whisky lovers in the group, we introduced them to the Cask Whisky Bar at Versante Hotel for a private tasting event. Similarly, craft beer fans were excited to hear about Britannia Brewing Company’s beer flights. Tailoring experiences to fit our guests’ tastes is what we do best. 

Tourism Richmond at Tête-à-Tête:

During Ottawa Meet Week, Tourism Richmond made a memorable appearance at the Tête-à-Tête tradeshow. Our booth, prominently located near the main entrance and at the start of the Experience BC aisle, was decked out with Pacific Authentic branding and a lively bubble tea activation. This prime positioning allowed Lori and Christy to effectively engage with planners interested in Western Canada. 

Our booth featured popular beverages like brown sugar milk tea and mango green tea, customizable with toppings and enhancements such as Prosecco or Baileys, attracting a steady stream of delegates. The booth’s eco-friendly balloon decorations and vibrant signage created a welcoming and engaging atmosphere. Additionally, we offered a special gift basket, which included complimentary stays at The Westin Wall Centre, Vancouver Airport, River Rock Casino Resort, and Radisson Hotel Vancouver Airport, along with assorted Tourism Richmond branded items, drawing considerable attention and excitement from the attendees. 

The Big Picture: 
Throughout both events, it was clear we are not just promoting Richmond’s venues—we are creating memorable, customized experiences that planners and their attendees will love. Our innovative booth setups and the dynamic interactions they fostered helped plant seeds for future events in Richmond. 

Let’s Plan Something Together: 
Thinking about hosting your next event in Richmond? Lori, Christy, and the rest of our Business Development team are just a call or click away. We are here to help with your event planning, discuss our incentive programs, or schedule your next FAM tour. Reach out to us today!