The East End is never more alive than it is in June, when the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival is in full swing.
That's why VisitRochester president Don Jeffries chose this week to escort a group of ten meeting planners who are scouting out a place for their next conference.
"We’re gonna take them to Jazz Fest tonight and when they see the streets just packed and just how fun this city is, and when they see the East End in full swing, we hope that's enough to convince them to come to Rochester,” he said.
Jeffries says he will also demonstrate the advantages Rochester has over some other Upstate locations.
"We're the only Upstate city that has a convention center attached to two hotels. If you're in Buffalo or Syracuse, you have to go outside and walk, which, in February, can be an issue."
The group will also visit the George Eastman House, Casa Larga, and all of the downtown hotels.
Jeffries says the economic impact of meetings and conventions can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the size and interests of the group.
The meeting planners taking this week’s tour of Rochester include representatives of the National Latino Law Enforcement Organization, Gay Christian Network, American Physical Therapy Association, and the National Association of Christian Financial Consultants.
Jeffries says the visitors taking the tour were chosen based on their interest in Rochester as a potential meeting site.
