BILLINGS, MONTANA--May 22, 2000---Meeting planners can rely on the Billings Convention & Visitors Council's assistance to ensure successful gatherings in Billings, Montana. The Billings CVC is willing go the extra mile to help build attendance for meetings and conventions by arranging site visits, providing promotional materials, offering itinerary suggestions, assisting with web site promotion of the event and guiding planners to appropriate contacts at the local level. If that's not enough for your special group, the Billings CVC will roll out the red carpet with a VIP welcome including airport greeters, on-site concierge service and a registration service.

"The Billings CVC works hard to accommodate meeting and convention planners," says John Brewer, Director of the Billings CVC. "Successful, highly attended gatherings benefit our community as much as they benefit the planning organization."

An excellent example of the Billings CVC's extraordinary service is their assistance in planning the Gold Wing Road Riders Association (GWRRA) annual Wing Ding convention in 1997. The Billings CVC assistance with Wing Ding planners was instrumental in making the 1997 attendance a record high. Also, together with the Downtown Billings Association, the Billings CVC arranged for the first ever Downtown Welcome Party especially for the event. This event was so successful that GWRRA has now made the downtown welcome party mandatory for cities wishing to hold the annual convention.

Due to the success of Wing Ding 1997 and the continued interest in Montana, Wing Ding will again be held in Billings July 4-7, 2000. The Billings CVC and community partners are not only planning another downtown welcome party, large fireworks display, concert and post-event party, the CVC has also developed a section of their web site specifically for the Wing Ding convention. This special Wing Ding section offers GWRRA members information on hotels, attractions and events taking place during their visit.

The CVC will also help to provide information on the city of Billings to convention attendees prior to their arrival. If your group distributes a newsletter or magazine, the CVC will provide slides and editorial content to editors of the publications. This information is used to increase interest in the city for attendance building, as well as to help attendees in arranging their visit to the area.

The Billings CVC will work personally with each meeting planner to arrange for the specific needs of the group. Whether it be pre-convention promotional kits, a special welcome sign at the airport, unique dining options, evening entertainment possibilities or ideas for pre, post or spouse tours, the Billings CVC is ready to do what it takes to make your gathering successful.

For more information on the services provided by the Billings Convention and Visitors Council contact Rhonda Harms, Director, at 406-245-4111/800-711-2630 or visit the web site at http://billingscvb.visitmt.com.
.