Visit Portland Marketing Meeting Recap

September 18, 2024

Thank you to those who were able to join us at our Sales & Marketing Meeting September 18th at The Saltwater Grille.  Once again, a BIG thank you to Amy Lewis and the Saltwater Grille team for hosting us- your breakfast spread was amazing, and meeting on the water was a treat!  Another BIG thank you to Abbie McGilvery for sharing a presentation with us from From The Nest.      

Please enjoy these meeting minutes, as well as a presentation deck from From The Nest. 

From the Nest | Abbie McGilvery | abbiemcgilvery@gmail.com | 207-650-8825

---

How It Went

Meeting Agenda

9:00AM Light refreshments

9:30AM Welcome and Introductions:

Amy Lewis, Events Manager,
The Saltwater Grille

• The bright Spinnaker Room features cathedral-style ceilings and large windows, elevating the room and creating an elegant ambience.

• For larger gatherings, the Seawatch Room is available. This event space is connected to a small outdoor balcony. A full-service bar is also featured in the space for a seamless reception experience.

9:45AM Presentation by From The Nest
Abbie McGilvery, Founder, From The Nest

10:15 AM Group Sales Review
• Upcoming Conference in Greater Portland Alert:

• Urban + Regional Information Systems Association (URISA) is hosting their annual conference October 4-11, 2024 at the Holiday Inn By the Bay.  They expect 400+ attendees, 80% from outside of New England.  They predict most attendees to explore the area and stay to play after the conference based on previous attendance!
• If you would like to market directly to these attendees, you can find the planner information on the Convention Calendar.

---

Round Table Discussion

STAFF UPDATES

• Lauren Peters, Visit Portland– Don’t forget to upload your Packages + Deals and events to our Events Calendar.  If you have any questions on how to do so, please reach out to Lauren at lauren@visitportland.com .
• Caroline Zambernardi, Visit Portland-Caroline invites partners who are interested in reviewing their benefits to reach out to schedule a full benefits breakdown meeting at any time; caroline@visitportland.com .
• Kirstie Archambault, Visit Portland– We are happy to announce flyte new media as Visit Portland’s new web developer. In the upcoming months we will be updating our meetings and weddings pages.  If you are interested in learning about how you can participate more with digital marketing, please reach out to Kirstie at kirstie@visitportland.com.

TOURISM/HOSPITALITY UPDATES

• Heidi Campbell + Lucretia Russel, The Westin Portland Harborview– Heidi and Lucretia are looking for partnerships with tour operators, offsite reception venues, and small business owners who are open to collaborations within the corporate market.  They are excited to announce the Top of The East will host a Piano Bar Wednesday + Thursdays year-round as well as a new raw bar!
• Dylan Suhr + Kim Gregg, Maine Tour Company – Casco Bay Custom Charters and SeaPortland will remain in operation through October before closing for the season.  Maine Brews Cruise, however, will remain in operation year-round offering tours on the weekends and for private events.
• Ashley Flowers, Ashley Flowers Yoga – Ashley is happy to showcase a unique menu of yoga classes such as, goat yoga, fresh air yoga, horse yoga, and private or on demand yoga for corporate groups and meetings.  Reward you staff with a group outing to goat yoga today!
• Stacy Faivre + Tori Kleinbort, The Ecology School at River Bend Farm – The Ecology School is celebrating their 25 Year Anniversary of sharing agroecology and educational sciences through their innovative campus along the Saco River.  The property can host retreats, educational seminars, conference collaborations, and more!
• Kathryn Horrigan, Maine Mariners – The Mariners are happy to introduce Kathryn Horrigan as their new Director of Marketing.  Kathryn is excited to create collaborative partnerships with the Visit Portland community, so don’t hesitate to reach out!  Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming Mariner’s Season and the Mariner Mayhem Block Party October 19^th!
• Ashley Joyner, Spare Time Entertainment – Spare Time Entertainment can accommodate corporate and social events for up to 300 people and offers a unique and fun experience for all ages.  Ashley is available to collaborate with any industry partners and is offering special promotions for hotel management groups, so reach out!
• Ariel Taschereau, Nonantum Resort –  The Nonantum’s annual Fire + Ice Event tickets are on sale now! The party takes place December 13 from 6pm-10pm and is a 21+ event with ice sculptures and a performance by Motor Booty Affair!  
• Katie Mahoney, Uncommon Hospitality – Longfellow Hotel is happy to announce a daily Happy Hour special in their hotel bar, Five of Clubs.  The new hotel’s is ideal for executive retreats and small gatherings with a board room that seats 14 comfortably.
• Jordan Nugent + Eliza Bedard, Experience Maine + Experience Maine Culinary – Experience Maine and Experience Maine Culinary are always open to unique venue and partner collaborations.  Their sister businesses offer planners, social and corporate, unique experiences and luxury planning services.

---

What’s Coming-Up

REGESTER FOR THE NEXT MARKETING MEETING

Wednesday November 6, 2024 The Portland Regency Hotel + Spa Portland, ME 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Have interest in hosting or presenting at an upcoming Marketing Meeting? Please reach out to Abby Traver at abby@visitportland.com.