The State | 08/12/2008 | It’s official: Columbia is ‘Famously Hot’

The State | 08/12/2008 | It’s official: Columbia is ‘Famously Hot’









Columbia is "Famously Hot"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7hfxdySwxM

Promotional video produced by ADCO.

Read the official press release, download the new logo and find out more information about the new campaign at www.famouslyhot.com.

The State | 08/10/2008 | Exclusive: Ad Campaign Promises ‘Hot’ Time in Colatown

The State | 08/10/2008 | Exclusive: Ad Campaign Promises ‘Hot’ Time in Colatown

FAMOUSLY HOT
www.famouslyhot.com

Maximizing Your FAM Experience, by Crystal Morris

Maximizing Your FAM Experience
By Crystal Morris,
Director of Sales, Columbia CVB

The term “FAM” is short for familiarization. This is a commonly used term among professionals in the hospitality industry. FAM Tours are promotional tours designed to showcase (or familiarize) prospective meeting and convention clients with a specific city’s product first-hand.

Participants have a tremendous opportunity not only to learn about the featured destination, its meeting facilities, hotels, and attractions; but also to network and learn new ideas from fellow professionals. In the Convention & Visitor Bureau Business, sales staff are constantly trying new ways to showcase their destination. FAM Tours are one of several tools our CVB sales team uses to sell Columbia, SC.

To maximize your FAM experience you should:

Only attend FAM Tours in cities in which your company will consider holding future meetings.

If you have a future meeting that is open for bids, it’s helpful to give the RFP to the CVB sales team so they can gather proposals for you prior to the FAM.

If the FAM agenda is made available to you prior to the FAM, highlight the facilities you are most interested in and let your CVB representative know which tours seem most valuable to you. Your CVB representative may be able to schedule a few moments for you to meet with the appropriate property staff members to discuss your questions in detail.

Take notes and ask questions about each facility during your tour. The staff is there to help you!

Ask about the dress code. You will most likely want to bring comfortable shoes and clothes for day, but many FAM Tours include at least one business attire function in the evenings.

Please remember to be respectful of the purpose of the FAM. The CVB and host properties are providing this complimentary trip for a reason! Try to attend all events scheduled for you – even if a property does not appeal to you on paper, it may win you over in person.

Are you interested in a FAM Trip to Columbia, SC?

Enter to Win a $50 Visa Gift Card when you complete our FAM survey and email your RFP of 500 room nights or more to mengram@columbiaauthority.com!









Meeting Planners:

Planning is currently underway for the next Meeting Planner FAM Tour to be held in Columbia, South Carolina, and we would like your feedback. Won't you take 5-10 minutes to answer our online survey? Please complete this survey and someone will contact you to let you know if you qualify.

If you would like to be entered into our drawing to win a $50 Visa Gift Card please email your RFP (Request for Proposals) for the meeting in which you are considering Columbia of 500 total room nights or more to mengram@columbiaauthority.com! with "FAM RFP" in the subject line. Participation is easy - simply click on the link at the bottom of this email and you will be directed to the survey. We appreciate your feedback!

Link to survey:

http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB2274Q3T3H45

*Winners are drawn twice per year. Next drawing to be held May 30, 2008 for qualified entrants.

Richard Zimmerman's Columbia, SC FAM Experience

Hello,

My name is Richard Zimmerman and I am a resident of Orangeburg, South Carolina. I am associated with Convention Planning on two levels for the Free and Accepted Ancient York Rite Masons (FAAYM). I am the Convention Planner for the State of South Carolina. The State or Grand Convention is held every October. I am also the assistant to the National Planner. The National Convention is held every July and this Convention is moved from State to State. South Carolina will host our National Convention in 2008.

Even though I live in South Carolina and I am somewhat familiar with Columbia, I was totally blown away with what I experience when I attended the FAM last week. It opened my eyes to so much that I didn’t know.

When we arrive at the Inn at USC, we were greeted with that warm southern hospitality. The representatives from the CVB were just delightful in showing us that southern warmth.

We visited many Hotel Properties and that experienced opened my eyes to options that I didn’t think I had as the State Planner. We were greeted with open arms at every Property that we visited. We really got the sense that everyone really wanted us there.

The dining experience took me by surprise. I have eaten in Columbia many times but I experienced a totally different arena in the Vista. We were so impressed that we went back to the Vista on Friday evening after the FAM had ended. The Convention Center and the Hotels really provided us with excellent cuisine.

The visit to the State Museum and the Children’s Museum was a wonderful experience and it also afforded us ideas for our upcoming Convention.

My partner from Cleveland was so impressed with Columbia; he cancelled our trip to Charleston.

Thank you very much Columbia and the CVB.

Richard Zimmerman