 The Vermont Convention Bureau celebrated its 20th anniversary at the annual meeting of the organization held in December at an event that included annual awards, an exhibit floor, a dynamic opening session and testimonies from meeting planners. “We hold an annual meeting in Vermont each year and we utilize the services of the Vermont Convention Bureau because it streamlines the site selection process,” said Julie E. Sweeney, Director of Administrative Services, Housing Partnership Network.
Echoing a famous VCB tagline, Sweeney thanked the bureau for “for making it easy to Meet in Vermont!"
The Vermont Convention Bureau has more than 120 state wide members—including meeting venues and  product/service providers. The Vermont Convention Bureau’s mission is to sell the state as the preferred meeting, convention and event destination. According to the VCB, member properties have booked more than 260,000 room nights with an economic impact of $76 million in the last 10 years.
The annual meeting of VCB members also served as its 20th Birthday Party and—in addition to a cake—the event featured a topical key note session that related to current meeting industry economic concerns—“Tough Times Don’t Last, Tough People Do,” given by Donna Wikstrand, Vice President of Conference Hotels Unlimited, a New England-based meetings resource and consulting firm.
The event, hosted by the The Inn at Essex in Essex Junction (just outside of Burlington), was attended by more than 100 hospitality industry professionals and meeting planners included a trade show exhibit by meeting products & services  providers and the annual Vermont Convention Bureau Awards Banquet. (The hand blown glass awards were made by Simon Pearce.)
Award recipients included: The Member of the Year Award, which was given to Jim Glanville, Vice President & General Manager of the Inn at Essex, recognizing his unprecedented two terms as chair of the Vermont Convention Bureau.
The Woodstock Inn & Resort was presented with the Vermont Convention Bureau’s Southern Vermont Sales Team of the Year. The award was accepted by Bettina  McCrady, Director of Sales and Julie Zee, Conference Sales Manager. Other sales team members include Leighann Bendall, Conference Sales Manager, Maggie Hoffman, SMERF Sales and Wedding Coordinator, Joelle Rosenkrantz and Amy Berlepsch, Conference Coordinators and Debby Estey and Kathleen North who provide the sales team with administrative support.
The Doubletree Hotel in Burlington received the Northern Vermont Sales Team of the year which was accepted by Merrilee Phelps, Director of Sales and Sarah Hammitt, Sales Manager. Other sales team members include Pat Middlebrook, Catering Sales Manager and Jen Bober, Sales Assistant.
But the highlight of the 20th anniversary of the Vermont Convention Bureau where the accolades—many of which were published in the organization’s newsletter—praising the meeting venues and services available in The Green Mountain State.
"Working with the Vermont Convention Bureau to find a site for our board meeting saved us valuable time and energy. Thank you for your expertise and assistance," said Janice Queenan, Chief Operating Officer, New England Board of Higher Education.
 "Our members look forward to association meetings in Vermont,” said Pat Hyland, Executive Director, Northeast Public Power Association. “Beautiful scenery, comfortable accommodations and friendly hosts. An authentic New England experience."
The Vermont Convention Bureau, whose mission is to sell the state as a meeting, convention and event destination, works on a fiscal year, which begins on October 1st. The 20th anniversary was also based on a fiscal year calendar, which means the organization is now into its 21st year.
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