Religious Planners Meet in Tampa Bay

I had the pleasure of attending the Religious Conference Management Association’s 39^th Annual World Conference & Exposition. The event was held in beautiful Tampa, Florida.  The sunny skies of Tampa were a welcomed relief to many of the participants who had traveled from some of the nations snow covered cities.

My week started with the Behind-The-Scenes Experience. The Embassy Suites Downtown Tampa gave us a back of the house look at convention services and event planning. The hotel staff was kind enough to show us everything from how hotel rates are determined to intricate napkin folds.  As a meeting planner it was great to see what those on the other side of the desk go through on a daily basis. 

 

After our Behind-The-Scenes experience we were treated to various sightseeing tours highlighting what Tampa has to offer.  I toured the Florida Aquarium which I found out was the largest aquarium in the U.S.

Tuesday night’s opening reception was loads of fun.  The theme was “Fun in the Sun.” Although the sky had opened up and showered the city with rain, the inside of the convention center was cheery and festive.  Participating sponsors and CVB’s developed carnival style games for participants to play.  We were able to do everything from catching virtual fish, to cheering on our favorite live crab in a crab race.  There were also Karaoke performances and booths where you could implant yourself into the latest music video.

The theme for this year’s conference was New Vision. They clearly drove this point home at the opening breakfast when a casket was escorted through the dining room onto the stage.  The performers explained that it symbolized the burying of antiquated ways of doing business and the desire to embrace new ideas and technologies.

All of the tutorial sessions and main lectures were amazing. I can truly say that I took away something from each session that I am able to use in my business.

Tampa Bay & Company did an excellent job at representing their city. The convention staff was so personable. Our excursion to Bush Garden for dinner Wednesday night was expertly planned.  And all of the entertainment that they provided throughout the week was wonderful.  They showed themselves to be a world class city fully capable of hosting any conference or event.

Another highlight of the event for me was the knowledge that my attendance helped RCMA grant a wish to a child through the Make A Wish Foundation.  Some of the proceeds from our conference registration went to furnish a new bedroom for a teenager named Chaz who is suffering from cancer.

Overall this was an incredible event. Hats off to the RCMA team for their planning and to Tampa Bay & Company for being such great hosts!! See you next year in Kansas City!!