Florida’s capitol city, Tallahassee, has long been known for its promises and its politicians but not so much for its meeting and convention business. But that is changing.
“We had a 48% increase in meeting and convention visitors last year,†said Sharon Liggett, president and CEO of the Tallahassee Convention and Visitors Bureau. Meetings last year drew 227,336, she added.
She attributed the growth to several factors, including an increased emphasis on going after meeting groups. Area attractions include the state government, a major university, and health care facilities that help attract pharmaceutical-related meetings.
“We just weren’t going after meeting, and now we are,†Ms Liggett told MeetingNews.
The Tallahassee Civic Center can accommodate 500 people. The 243-room Doubletree Tallahassee has 6,000 feet of meeting space and the 119-Park Plaza has 5,200 feet.
“Our offerings for conventions have grown with the opening this past February of the 100-room Sheraton Four Points, which has a conference room that can seat 50, and some smaller properties that collectively offer another 200 rooms,†Ms Liggett said.
Report by David Wilkening
