Adapting to Rapid Change
Short-Term Sales Incentives
During the COVID-19 pandemic , travel slowed to a halt and meetings turned virtual ; but our team found new ways to stay connected with clients and still promote business during a time when groups were forced to reschedule or cancel altogether . In order to ease the financial burden of our partners , our sales team coordinated a 10 % “ Rebuilding Our Industry ” rebate to customers booking in 2020 . Hotels also offered flexible performance clauses and no attrition for events held by Dec . 31 , 2021 .
Visit Baltimore connected with our top 500 accounts who all expressed interest in this offer . The team also amplified this effort by connecting with more than 2,000 third-party associates from groups like ConferenceDirect , Experient and Helmsbriscoe .
Virtual Programs
Typically , prospective clients and meeting planners come to town to see what Baltimore has to offer in person , but with travel restrictions and safety protocol a top priority , our team looked for new , virtual ways to keep Baltimore top-of-mind . That ’ s how “ Baltimore Breaks ” were created . In May and June , we offered a series of events hosted online by local tastemakers , performers and professionals . Conducted via Zoom , the programs were fun and engaging , such as lunch with Joey the South American yellow-footed tortoise at the National Aquarium and a Cinco de Mayo cocktail-making class with Drinkable Genius ’ s Chelsea Gregoire .
The response from the group of nearly 100 select clients was very enthusiastic . One group that had to transition their event at the convention center into an onlineonly meeting ended up hiring one of the Baltimore professionals as a result of this programming . Hilton Carter , known by many as the “ plant doctor ” and author of the books “ Wild Interiors ” and “ Wild at Home ,” taught a plant care class that Fetch dvm360 ® Conference loved so much they asked him to do another for their attendees .
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