Experience Grand Rapids adds staff to welcome visitors pouring into our city

So, what’s going on?

“Oh, you know we've got to find a way. To bring some understanding here today.”

Thanks Marvin Gaye, but when you are looking to visit Grand Rapids or book a convention downtown and want to know “what’s going on,” the people you really need to meet with are from Experience Grand Rapids (EXGR), the city’s official destination marketing organization.  

Because, if you are making a decision to spend millions of dollars on a convention, bringing hundreds (or thousands) of people from out of town, you need a whole lot of interesting things going on. 

The good news is that we have that covered. Our city has become a true destination for national conventions and conferences. The demand has increased to the point  that Experience Grand Rapids has just announced the addition of Larissa Karimwabo (event coordinator) and Maria Liddil (events specialist) to its events.

Karimwabo brings an extensive background in events and logistics. She previously worked with the West Michigan Sports Commission, assisting with the State Games of Michigan (winter and summer) as well as several ancillary events. She has also worked on planning the annual symposium for the National Congress of State Games. 
 
In her position at EXGR, Liddil manages small events, promotional purchasing, and projects for larger events. She is a graduate of Grand Valley State University and has previously worked in data management roles. She is also an accomplished local artist whose work has been on display at Wealthy Street Bakery, The Electric Cheetah, and charitable events. 

Kim Rangel, EXGR Director of Events, say her team handles more than 75 events annually and explains that although her job is by no means easy (event marketing is very competitive), selling Grand Rapids is not all that hard. “It is cool to show off all the different experiences we have in Grand Rapids and everything they can do here while visiting. Of course we are Beer City, but we have history, art, education, museums, hotels, restaurants. It’s really just a matter of asking what do they want to see, and we show it to them.”

Rangel says that the sales cycle in her industry is unique and a long-term process, ranging from three months to three years -- so having a talented team that can build long term relationships with clients is critical. Looking forward, Rangel says 2017 is right on track, with several large conferences in the books. “We have a number of great conventions booked in 2017, including Bruhan Maharashtra Mandal of North America with an estimated 3,400 attendees and the National Environmental Health Association with an estimated 1,000 attendees. These groups represent a combined direct spending of $6 million.”

To learn more about ExperienceGR, you can visit their site here.

Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor