February 6, 2009 – Schenectady, N.Y. – Metroplex today joined with the Chamber of Schenectady County to announce that an effort to recruit more meetings and conferences to downtown Schenectady is working as 14 events will be held here during the next few months.

Metroplex Chair Ray Gillen said, “Meeting planners are looking for new venues and we have them in Schenectady. The GE Theater, the Main stage at Proctors and great hotels — all offering something different than the traditional meeting venues in this area. From small groups to conferences that need room for almost 500 attendees, we have the facilities that meeting planners need right here in Schenectady County.”

Charles Steiner, President of the Chamber of Schenectady County said, “Schenectady offers over 75,000 square feet of meeting space, 800 hotel rooms, numerous attractions and great restaurants. The Chamber provides a central point of information for meeting planners looking to hold a meeting in Schenectady providing planners assistance finding appropriate space, hotel rooms, and services for their Schenectady meetings.”

Last year, Metroplex provided $45,000 to the Chamber to help support efforts to attract more conference and meeting business to Schenectady County. According to the National Convention and Visitors Bureau, meeting visitors contribute about $200 per day to the local economy. The joint Metroplex – Chamber effort is designed to create additional economic activity for County restaurants and hotels while at the same time increasing sales tax and “bed tax” revenue for the County.

“Meetings and conferences are very important to Schenectady. Hosting these events brings more people to Schenectady everyday to see and experience all of the City’s great offerings. We have some kind of meeting at the Holiday Inn almost every day.” noted Greg Schahet of Schahet Hotels. “And both the Holiday Inn and the Hampton Inn have booked some great meetings, conferences and banquets this month and through spring of this year. Most of these groups are not from the immediate area so we’re seeing a real good diversity in the groups staying with us.”

The Chamber has created a spot on its webpage (www.sayschenectady.org) which includes information for meeting planners on Schenectady County facilities. The Chamber also meets regularly with representatives of all of the hotels and meeting sites to coordinate response to meeting RFQ’s and prepare packages for groups considering Schenectady for upcoming conferences.

The following meetings and conferences are planned for the next five months:

Take Shape for Life
Holiday Inn
2/11
75 attendees

Theta Phi Alpha Weekend Meeting and Retreat
Holiday Inn
2/20-22
100 attendees

Capital Region Wine Festival
Proctors
2/28
1,500 attendees

Underground Railroad Public History Conference
Union College –College Park Hall
2/27 – 3/1
300 attendees

NYS Farmers Market Association
Stockade Inn
3/4 – 3/6
100 attendees
Guests staying at Stockade Inn and Holiday Inn

Empire State Passenger Association
Holiday Inn
3/7
65 attendees

Christian Expo
Proctors
6/13
700 attendees

Antarctica Conference
Proctors
4/25-4/26
200 attendees

Knights of St. Johns
Holiday Inn
5/2
100 attendees

Voice Coaches National Conference
Proctors
5/2
200 attendees. Guests will stay at Hampton inn, Parker Inn, Holiday Inn

Union Reunion
Holiday Inn
5/29-5/31
100 attendees, 150 overnight rooms for Reunion @ Union College

NYS Alzheimer’s Association
Proctors
5/15
350 attendees

NYS Geospatial Summit
Proctors
5/20-5/21
100-150 attendees
Guests will stay at Hampton Inn, Parker Inn and Stockade Inn – Catering by River Stone Manor