The Nuts & Bolts of the Bureau
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Upcoming Events in the Hershey Harrisburg Region
Central Pennsylvania’s ONLY Casino and Race Course
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Meet the staff who take the Meetings & Conventions Market from good to great!
Sharon S. Altland, Director of Sales
Sharon has 21 years of sales experience and brings to the meeting & convention and expo sales arena a vast knowledge of clients, shows, events and customer service. When you ask her what area of her job is the most important part of what she does on a daily basis, she answers without hesitation, customer service. “I feel customer service is the foundation of everything our sales department does, “ Sharon explained. “ It doesn’t matter if you are helping a meeting planner set up a session for 25 people or 2000, the focus always needs to be on making it the most memorable and successful meeting they have ever hosted. That’s where customer service comes in and it is the bureau’s job to make the planning and execution of the event a seamless process, “she noted.
J. Scott Hammonds, Meeting & Convention Sales Manager
Scott has most recently tackled the position of Director of Affiliate Relations for Radio PA Network s with WITF Enterprises for seven years. His background is decidedly tourism and boasts a degree in Hotel Administration from Penn State University. For nearly 16 years he worked under the Hershey umbrella in various sales capacities. Scott also assisted in opening the Penn State Scanticon Conference Center, now called the Penn Stater Hotel, serving as a Senior Sales Manager from an office in Harrisburg. “This position fits me like a glove,” Hammonds stated. “Representing our area in markets important to future success and positive economic growth is truly an honor for me,” he said.
Experience Hershey Harrisburg and SEE for yourself why this region is spectacular!
The Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau proudly produced a new video highlighting the area and giving meeting planners a glance at the many and varied properties available to host an event here in south-central Pennsylvania. To see the video immediately, visit www.hersheyharrisburg.org/meetings/index.aspx and click on the video to begin playing that segment. The video will give planners and event organizers a sense of what the Hershey Harrisburg region has to offer and how the bureau staff can assist in creating a memorable experience for you.
“A video helps give a healthier prospective of a venue than can be ascertained through just a still image, “ explained Director of Marketing, Robin Scaer. “Since our region is so visually stimulating and boasts scenic water ways and mountain ranges in addition to showcasing our partners in a positive light, the meeting & convention video is a good tool for encouraging interest and setting the stage for our sales staff to assist planners,” she said.
To receive a copy of the video, kindly contact Sharon S. Altland, Director of Sales at Sharon@hersheyharrisburg.org or call 717-231-7788.
Here’s a snapshot of the types of events coming to our area…let us help you add your name to this list!
Ahmadiyya Movement in Islam
June 20, 21 & 22, 2008
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
The bureau’s expects over 10,000 attendees to this first time event at the Farm Show Complex.
“The Moving Wall”
September 19, 20 & 21, 2008
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
The Moving Wall™ is a Service Mark of Vietnam Combat Veterans, Ltd. Since 1984, the traveling half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial honors “THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR. THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND OF THOSE WHO REMAIN MISSING ARE INSCRIBED IN THE ORDER THEY WERE TAKEN FROM US." www.themovingwall.org
“We are deeply moved and honored to bring this emotional experience to the Hershey Harrisburg Region,” said Sharon S. Altland, Director of Sales with HHRVB. “For those individuals who have not been able to travel to Washington, D.C. to view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, this traveling exhibit will allow residents and visitors to witness the power of the Wall and remember our fallen soldiers,” Altland added.
Vietnam Veterans of PA Annual Meeting
September 19, 20 & 21, 2008
Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center
MARK YOUR CALENDARS for the “Speakers Showcase”
September 24, 2008
Hershey Country Club
Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau will co-sponsor this event. Meeting Planners within a 3-hour drive to the region will be invited to attend. A “Speakers Showcase” provides a forum for area meeting planners to listen to professional speakers and then hire them for their own conferences and conventions.
“This event serves several purposes, “ stated Scott Hammonds, Meeting & Convention Sales Manager. “Our bureau partners will have the opportunity to host a table top booth and distribute information to meeting planners which is an added benefit to the planners coming here to learn about potential speakers and then our area in one convenient location.”
A perfect venue for your next meeting, banquet or reception!
Tired of the same old break-out rooms for your meeting? Why not jazz it up by hosting your next event at the Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course and give your attendees a chance to mingle and have fun following your sessions! With over 2,000 slot machines, 10 dining options, year-round Thoroughbred Racing, a Hollywood Memorabilia museum, sports bar and entertainment lounge, your guests will applaud you for hosting your meeting in such a dynamic location.
The 4th floor banquet room offers a spectacular view, no matter what the season, overlooking the horse paddock area and race track. The facility is nestled against the Blue Mountains and provides a scenic backdrop for the races. Delectable menus will meet your every need…and if you don’t see an item that suits your tastes, a pool of talented chefs will work with you to create an unforgettable dish.
With easy access from Interstate 81 to both downtown Harrisburg and the heart of Hershey, your event can be wrapped around several days of activities and take advantage of splendid overnight accommodations. Just ask our sales staff how!
Make certain you stop by our booth at these upcoming shows:
Meet Chicago May 29 & 30, 2008 in Lisle, IL. Meeting & Convention Sales Manager, Scott Hammonds, will be on hand to answer your questions about our destination!
National Association of Consumer Shows (NACS) June 25-27, 2008 in San Diego, CA. Make time to stop by the bureau’s exhibit and strike up a conversation with Sharon S. Altland, Director of Sales.
Affordable Meetings Sep. 10 & 11, 2008 in Washington, DC. Join the bureau’s Director of Sales, Sharon S. Altland, as well as Meeting & Convention Sales Manager, Scott Hammonds, at this annual event.
Meeting Quest November 25, 2008 in Washington, DC. If you missed Scott in the spring in Chicago, make certain you stop by here to talk with him about the possibilities here in South Central PA.
International Assoc. Exhibition Executives (IAEE) December 2008 in Miami, FL. Sharon S. Altland will showcase Hershey Harrisburg in a memorable fashion…Hershey’s candy anyone?
The staff at the Hershey Harrisburg Regional Visitors Bureau (HHRVB) offers outstanding customer service to each and every event planner.
When you make the decision to host your next meeting, convention, event, show or reception in the Hershey Harrisburg region, you are not only wisely selecting an amazing location, but you are also equipping yourself with an arsenal of expertise and top-notch customer service provided by the bureau.
Here’s a sampling of the services provided by HHRVB:
Let the HHRVB sales staff help you navigate your way through the Hershey Harrisburg region and assist in making your event a complete success. The only question you’ll be left with at the conclusion of the meeting is, “When are we coming back?”
