Saint Paul Rivercentre Convention and Visitors Authority

Marketing serves to elevate awareness of Saint Paul as a premier Convention and leisure destination through effective public relations and comprehensive advertising/marketing efforts. The department coordinates advertising, promotions, publications, website, social media, and public and media relations programs for all departments. Marketing accomplished the following in 2023: ran a digital campaign over the summer focusing on driving traffic to local festivals and events, resulting in over 4.1 million impressions, 20,500 clicks, 2,500 leads and 1,000 email subscriptions. Piloted an event marketing grant program to support non-profit festivals and events focusing on cultural corridors. Over 17 events were supported resulting in over 2000 new images, 1.3 million billboard impressions, 150k boosted social reach and 3000 clicks, 70,000 clicks to visitsaintpaul.com and 28,000 referral clicks to festival websites. Executed a video shoot in partnership with youthlens 360 and created 3 new videos to marketing Saint Paul as an ideal meeting destination. Worked on a digital campaign in collaboration with the Saint Paul downtown alliance to battle perceptions of safety in downtown resulting in over 2.2 million impressions, 3,000 clicks to visitsaintpaul.com and 430 actionable leads. Launched the Saint paulidays digital campaign to brand Saint Paul as the perfect destination to spend the holiday season resulting in over 1.7 million impressions, 25,000 clicks to visitsaintpaul.com and over 600 new go list email sign ups. Distributed 3 consumer marketing emails and grew subscriber list by 6%. Maintained visit Saint pauls website, social media and insider's blog. Yoy website traffic increased 20%. Produced a new visitor guide for distribution in 2024.

Membership is responsible for providing member value to partner businesses by facilitating connections with Visitors to Saint Paul for meetings, events and leisure travel, in addition to providing industry-wide networking and events. Membership accomplished the following in 2023 planned 13 member events serving 1255 attendees, including bi-monthly myvsp meetings, member orientation, 5 national travel & tourism week events, a welcome reception for our new president & ceo and taste of Saint Paul. Paying dues members was over 200 (no change from 2022). Strategic marketing efforts for member inclusion in marketing materials such as blog content, website, e-mail marketing social media communications, and more. Launched a patio passport including 20 local businesses and onboarding over 1,200 pass users generating over 240 check-ins at patios. Launched a hockey passport with over 30 iconic hockey destinations, onboarding over 400 pass users and more than 60 check-ins.

In 2023, Rivercentre continued to host annual meetings, conferences and tradeshows including: Minnesota dental star of the north meeting, allen d. leman swine conference , northstar fashion exhibitors, northwest shoe travelers buying market, leading age Minnesota institute & expo, continuing legal education family law institute and employment law institute, mn petroleum marketers association Convention & tradeshow, international natural food retailers association and the national veterinary scholars symposium. Many banquets, galas and benefits hosted their events in Rivercentre including: Minnesota chamber of commerce session priorities dinner, sanneh foundation gala4goals, guiding star wakota grow with us gala, friends of the st Paul public library opus & olives gala, blue nite & blue honor galas, federated challenge supporting big brothers big sisters, noche de colores, black out business gala, meda fundraising gala, Saint Paul athena awards, fraser festival for autism, crescent cove home plate gala, fresh energys benefit breakfast, high school soccer tournament banquets, Minnesota state high school volleyball, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, basketball and gymnastics banquet, hunt electric holiday party, and winter carnival coronation. We also enjoyed working with our annual public events: land o' lakes kennel club dog show, st. Paul rv super show, saintly city cat show, high tech kids Minnesota first tech challenge & first lego league challenge state championships, twin cities bridal show, let's play hockey expo, donnie smith bike show & swap meet, Minnesota bridal & wedding expo, show me reptile show, modest premium automotive showcase, the Minnesota state science & engineering fair, twin cities in motion health & fitness expo, american craft made, hmong new year, and the Saint Paul ice fishing and winter sports show. In addition, we hosted Minnesota roller derby bouts & practices, various dance competitions and nine us district court naturalization ceremonies.

The Convention sales department works with national, regional and local meetings and event planners to bring events to the Saint Paul rivercentre/xcel energy center and hotel community. The department's goal is to bring new dollars into the local business community measured by estimated economic impact. Some examples of clients we worked with in 2023 are the Minnesota dental association, imagetrend, Minnesota petroleum marketers association, leading age of Minnesota and the Minnesota state high school league state tournaments which are annual pieces of business that have returned after covid. In addition, we hosted several new groups such as the international natural food retailers association and us youth soccer association.