Meetings Are Back Live! | October 2021

1.     What events and city wides are on the horizon for your area?

October 2021- North American Chinese Invitational and SynBioBeta Jan 2022.

2.     What challenges is your destination still facing, especially with the rise of Delta and other variants; and the general uncertainty around how things will unfold?  

Most of our challenges have been in moving to future dates. The good news is that our meetings are not canceling but rather moving it , to capture a wider audience. 

3.     What responses from your Conference Planners & Attendees are you seeing with the recent requirements (i.e. masks, vaccination proofs, negative COVID tests)? Has it been more positive/negative?

Mostly positive; we work hand in hand with our partners stressing our Safety protocol . They appreciate how we are in constant communication to keep them informed on the requirements.

4.     What changes has your destination and/or Hotels made that you’ll continue to implement beyond the restrictions? 

I believe our elevated cleaning standards at the Hotel and Airport are here to stay . Many of our Hotels are now offering indoor / outdoor options. I look at this as a positive. Our climate caters to outdoor events and meetings and brings a different element of discovery that has not been done in the past. 

5.     What is your outlook for 2022 and beyond? How do you think our business has changed given all we’ve learned over the last year and a half? 

Our local market and State Market are critical . Most of our meeting planners want to stay closer to offer a unique Destination or venue home but still. I feel 2022 will slowly bring back those meetings that have historically chosen out of State Meeting Planners see the value of impacting their local economy.

1.     What events and/or large events are on the horizon for your area

As a destination known for its vibrant, multicultural food scene and abundant outdoor recreation, Concord has welcomed back business and recreational travelers. Some of our hotels are reporting future bookings for business and collegiate conferences, as well as sports and community food, wine, and holiday events. Big- name live concerts have returned to the Concord Pavilion amphitheater, drawing in people from all over the Bay Area and beyond. Concord also has a new cultural arts program currently in development that’s set to debut in the summer of 2022 that’s expected to attract both artists and fans. 

2.     What challenges is your destination still facing, especially with the rise of Delta and other variants and the general uncertainty around how things will unfold?

Like every place else, the Covid-19 Delta variant has created some new challenges for our hotels and local businesses.  There have been reports of cancellations or postponement of scheduled events by some of the hotels, and most businesses have expressed issues with workforce development and staffing shortages. Visit Concord has stepped up along with Contra Costa County, the City of Concord and the Concord Chamber of Commerce, to provide programs and services to help with these areas. In the meantime, the hotels and businesses are adapting and finding ways to keep their businesses running smoothly as they work through it.

Most importantly, our hotels have continued to maintain their strict Clean & Safe protocols to prevent the spread of infection and keep consumer confidence high. Visit Concord’s job is to spread the message that we are open for business and our highest priority is keeping our residents and visitors safe. 

3.     What responses from your conference planners & attendees are you experiencing with the recent requirements (i.e. masks, vaccination proof, negative covid tests, etc.)? 

With the recent implementation of the new heightened safety measures, the response from the meeting & event planners and attendees we work with has been overwhelmingly professional and positive. They want to keep everyone safe and protected as much as we do and have been among the biggest proponents of good safety behavior. Their advance planning and communication strategies have made it easier for all to adhere changing protocols.

All Concord hotels still strictly follow CHLA protocols and Contra Costa County health orders for public safety including masks and proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test in some situations.

4.     What changes has your destination and/or hotels made that you’ll continue to implement beyond the restrictions?

I think we have all learned so much about the way infectious disease spreads these past two years and it only makes sense to maintain some of these practices even after Covid is gone. The hotels will continue with their Clean & Safe sanitation protocols as we move forward. Visit Concord will continue to stay on top of future changes and provide current public health and safety information for residents and visitors alike. We will also maintain enhanced marketing efforts and clean & safe messaging for some time.

5.     What is your outlook on 2022 and beyond? How do you think our business has changed given all we’ve learned over the last year and a half?

As travel priorities shift with lingering safety concerns, Concord will continue to emphasize our abundance of outdoor recreational assets including Mount Diablo State Park, East Bay Regional Parks, city parks, hiking and biking trails and nature reserves. We are family and pet friendly with plenty of beer, wine and al fresco dining available throughout the city. Concord is conveniently located near popular Northern California attractions in every direction and the ideal place for a weekend or weekday adventure.

I would like to add that while this past year has certainly had its share of challenges, it has also provided us with an opportunity to connect with our community, stakeholders and industry partners on a deeper, more appreciative level. More than ever, we believe in sustainable acts of kindness, collaboration, and building a better community together as we move forward.