Promotionally Challenged

Dear Saidie,
I am helping my company pitch Tulsa to our national organization as our 2010 convention site. How can I sell Tulsa to them?

Signed,
Promotionally Challenged

Dear Promo,
Saidie knows your pain. There are many nice things to say about Tulsa! We all ought to have a few selling points we can draw upon - whether we are event planning or simply chatting with our seatmate on an airplane. Here are a few of my favorites:
• Tulsa is an affordable city - the fifth most affordable in the U.S.
• Our cost of living is 10 percent below the average of 381 metro areas.
• Cost of doing business is 8 percent below the average.
• Along with its central location, this makes it an exceptionally affordable location for conventions. In fact AAA named Tulsa the 2008 Most Affordable Destination.
• We are facility rich - the new BOK arena, which will be joined by the upgraded Tulsa Convention Center in 2010; the Spirit Bank Event Center in Bixby; the Mabee Center; and facilities at The University of Tulsa, plus a growing number of hotels to house guests.
• We have great attractions - art museums, Art Deco, an award-winning aquarium, America's Favorite Zoo, unique local fine dining and upscale shopping, and places to party after hours.

And that's just the short list.

A great source for detailed information is the Tulsa Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.tulsachamber.com. They can arm you with even more stats and help you in other ways.

Saidie