Los Angeles Convention Center
Top winners at Intel ISEF 2011. | Photo: Intel ISEF
"May 2011 was the first of a 3-year rotation in Los Angeles for Intel ISEF. Now that the event has wrapped and we've received feedback from our attendees, volunteers, and sponsors, I can say unequivocally that we had a most successful year. From an operational perspective, the Los Angeles Convention Center staff was terrific to work with and really helped us through some of the challenges that are unique to our group, which is a competition and not a trade show. Everyone from the general manager, to our CSM, to the head electrician and set-up crews were eager to understand our event and to ensure that everything went without a hitch. They entertained many pre-planning meetings, which really paid off in the end, especially because we planned this event in just over a year."
"Aramark was great too. The quality of the food was high and the portions were generous throughout our 10-day stay in the Convention Center. We had food functions for 30-3,200 people and the quality never wavered. The staff was a pleasure to work with. The chef was especially accommodating in helping us keep our menus fresh and different day-to-day, and also helped us navigate the food restrictions that so many of our attendees have."
Jurassic Park at Universal Studios Hollywood. | Photo by prayitno via Flickr
"We had events outside the Convention Center at L.A. LIVE and Universal Studios Hollywood. Both of those experiences received very high marks from our attendees. Each one was exceptionally well-run and executed. The food was great and the atmosphere was fun. Again, the staff and sales people at those attractions really went the extra mile to ensure that our attendees had a memorable experience."
"LA INC. was also an amazing asset for us. They provided an extremely high level of support, especially considering our need to find so many volunteers in the area. They planned and executed at least 10 site visits for us and really put us in touch with many key people within the community. I was impressed that even if they didn't already have the answer, they found it. They also provided support on site, especially with in conjunction with our events. They were a critical component to our success and were great advocates for us when we needed them."
"Overall our attendees, staff, and sponsors were very impressed with the Downtown LA area. ...Our group loved the diversity of diversions that Los Angeles has to offer. For many of our attendees, this trip was maybe the first outside their state or country, so the impact of the city was impressive especially to them."
"Our hotel partners were also strong. The new JW Marriott is great and a much-needed addition to the block. We held a very large reception there and also a substantial ICW, both of which were very well run. The food was delicious and the staff was responsive. The best news is that our pick-up exceeded our next best year by 1,000 room nights. While the number of student competitors is usually a constant, the number of adults varies. Obviously, LA was a draw that brought more of them than ever before."
"I would highly recommend Los Angeles to other groups. If you should have specific questions or need further information, I would be happy to discuss further."
For another testimonial from an enthusiastic meeting professional, please visit Testimonial: OFC/NFOEC 2011.
