Downtown Convention Screw-Up

[TheArtist]

   Was talking to a friend today and he mentioned a convention he went to this week downtown in the Hyatt, Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians.  Last few years they have had it at the Rennaissance in South Tulsa in the fall and in the spring they have it in OKC.  This year they decided to have it downtown. There are some 300 plus doctors that go to this convention from all over the state and some from out of state.

 Before the convention even started there were some complaints about having the convention downtown "where the parking would not be as easy"... and sure enough, though there was a parking garage available, the street was blocked off because of the Route 66 Marathon, so many couldn't get into the garage.  Remember, many are out of town people already not familiar with downtown.  Then those that did get in early enough before the run, couldn't get out of the garage because the card readers often did not work well.  Many had to pay twice to get out of the garage, the Williams Parking Garage.  Neither of those things, the run blocking off the street before a convention meeting where people were supposed to be at a certain place at a certain time, and then the hassle of the parking garage ticket system, left a good impression to say the least.

Someone needs to check these things before they block off streets downtown.

Another small annoyance that was mentioned, the coffee shop in the Hyatt did not open till 9 after many of the meetings had already started at 8.  

Others mentioned that in OKC, and other cities, when you left the hotels there were signs that told you where to go to find places to eat.  They do not have that here and many people ended up going to places like Cherry Street.  Lots of people again complained that there were "lots of places to eat around the Rennaissance, but nothing here in downtown".  Unless your a native familiar with downtown and know where the things are.  

These are many of the same people who go to a similar convention in Kansas City.  I have been told that they have a far easier time finding places downtown there.  There are skybridges and signage that send you to certain "areas" filled with restaurants.  

Just wanted to put this out there as to what I was hearing as an fyi.  

[heironymouspasparagus]

  Was talking to a friend today and he mentioned a convention he went to this week downtown in the Hyatt, Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians.  Last few years they have had it at the Rennaissance in South Tulsa in the fall and in the spring they have it in OKC.  This year they decided to have it downtown. There are some 300 plus doctors that go to this convention from all over the state and some from out of state.

 Before the convention even started there were some complaints about having the convention downtown "where the parking would not be as easy"... and sure enough, though there was a parking garage available, the street was blocked off because of the Route 66 Marathon, so many couldn't get into the garage.  Remember, many are out of town people already not familiar with downtown.  Then those that did get in early enough before the run, couldn't get out of the garage because the card readers often did not work well.  Many had to pay twice to get out of the garage, the Williams Parking Garage.  Neither of those things, the run blocking off the street before a convention meeting where people were supposed to be at a certain place at a certain time, and then the hassle of the parking garage ticket system, left a good impression to say the least.

Someone needs to check these things before they block off streets downtown.

Another small annoyance that was mentioned, the coffee shop in the Hyatt did not open till 9 after many of the meetings had already started at 8.  

Others mentioned that in OKC, and other cities, when you left the hotels there were signs that told you where to go to find places to eat.  They do not have that here and many people ended up going to places like Cherry Street.  Lots of people again complained that there were "lots of places to eat around the Rennaissance, but nothing here in downtown".  Unless your a native familiar with downtown and know where the things are.  

These are many of the same people who go to a similar convention in Kansas City.  I have been told that they have a far easier time finding places downtown there.  There are skybridges and signage that send you to certain "areas" filled with restaurants.  

Just wanted to put this out there as to what I was hearing as an fyi.  

We need a semi-official delegation to go to conventions nationwide, talk to convention planners in other states, and get some training.  I am available as a consultant at reasonable rates.  Professional conference/convention attendee.


To your point about information for attendees;
I get to attend at least one or two a year in far flung places form here.  Was at one in Anaheim Convention Center that was very well planned and executed.  The entire process just flowed smoothly.  While there, I traveled over to Long Beach (to visit West Coast Choppers) and ran into a Toyota sponsored Indy car road race that was going on near the aquarium.

In spite of the millions of people in the area (within 20 miles), and the normal crowds for attractions like the aquarium, it was well marked and directed and I had good results getting where I was going.  Of course, the LA area has plenty of experience with a wide variety of activities scaled to their situation.  We should certainly be able to learn appropriate techniques for our size situation.

Last year, went to Anaheim for another one, and earlier, San Diego (smaller venue in smaller town).  Both, again, well done, organized, planned, and executed.  No traffic problems.  Found great places to eat.

Wanna bet on whether the Optometrists will be back anytime soon??

[Teatownclown]

Proof we are not a convention town....unless it's religulous.

[TheArtist]

  One problem seemed to be with the layout of the Hyatt itself.  I was told that when they had a break to eat, they gathered at the front entrance to meet and decide where to go.  My friend who is a local and relaying this to me was of course wanting everyone to have a good impression of Tulsa and downtown.  But he said, there they were on 2nd street at the front entrance and the street was ugly as the dickens, plain, boring and not much to see other than parking garages and large blank walls.  Again, not exactly a stunning impression.  He told a group of them that he knew where there was a place to eat on Boston Ave.  So they walked down 2nd, then around the PAC (around which you get to see a nice sea of very impressive parking lots) then down to Boston Ave to Elote's.   

I asked why they didn't just go out the back/side entrance facing the Williams Green to get to Elote's?  He said that everyone had already decided to meet at the "logical" place, the front entrance.  Plus, if you were not from around here and even if you know about the "back" exit, looking out from there you don't really know whats down what street other than your looking down a lot of steps and out onto a park.   

Another day he took them to the Blue Dome District and they ate at Back Alley Blues.

[carltonplace]

Isnt this "failure" owned more by the Hyatt and their ability to host events then it is as a failure of the City of Tulsa? Did the Hyatt notify the COT that they were hosting an event and check the calendar for other events in their area? Did the Hyatt provide adequate signage and tavel instruction, parking tips etc? Did the Hyatt provide a list of things to do in downtown? Places to eat in downtown or did they expect all of these people to eat in the hotel?

If this event were in the convention center and had these types of troubles then certainly the COT and SMB would be culpable, but I don't think they are for this event.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Don't we have convention liaisons with the city?  All the noise we here from the Mayor and Council about bringing 'stuff' to town - yeah, the city has an obligation to at the very least be aware of what's going on!

And every Hyatt I stay at has some kind of "local link" to the place where it is located.  Dallas, Anaheim, San Diego, Chicago, Atlanta....and while I am not that big a fan of Hyatt (it is after all, just another hotel), they do seem to be very consumer service oriented.  I bet if Tulsa had someone to notify, the Hyatt would have notified and coordinated with.

[carltonplace]

Contact Us

Planning and Economic Development Department
City of Tulsa
175 East 2nd Street
Tulsa, OK 74103
(918) 576-5568

[heironymouspasparagus]

Contact Us

Planning and Economic Development Department
City of Tulsa
175 East 2nd Street
Tulsa, OK 74103
(918) 576-5568

Now, how cool is that... ask and you shall receive...

I presume there is some kind of proactive 'outreach' program to local entities associated with all that?

Looking at the Demographics on your web site, I like the list of rankings.  I'm sure you ponder the same question I do - with all that northeast OK has going for it, why do we seem to not grow any better/faster/bigger?  And then I look around at what IS going on and it is pretty impressive, too.  We are doing ok - but would like to do better.  There must be some kind of natural ebb and flow going on that I certainly don't understand.

[AquaMan]

But how do you explain a marathon passing in front of the convention parking garage, keeping it blocked for long periods of time? This is my pet peeve. That for the sake of avid runners (for good causes no doubt) much of the city's neighborhoods are more than inconvenienced, we're practically locked in as the routes go through major outlets. The city surely knew the convention was coming and the Marathon has been planned awhile too. Doesn't take formal notification to consider that the two could possibly conflict.

[Conan71]

But how do you explain a marathon passing in front of the convention parking garage, keeping it blocked for long periods of time? This is my pet peeve. That for the sake of avid runners (for good causes no doubt) much of the city's neighborhoods are more than inconvenienced, we're practically locked in as the routes go through major outlets. The city surely knew the convention was coming and the Marathon has been planned awhile too. Doesn't take formal notification to consider that the two could possibly conflict.

Not to minimize the type of convention, but a 300 attendee convention would barely be of notice to the city.  I agree with Carlton, if anything, it was up to the Hyatt to know the Rte 66 marathon was going on and plan accordingly. The marathon would have been the bigger of the two events and it's pretty well publicized months in advance.

All convention and sporting event business is good for the city.  I hate that the conventioneers were left with a bad taste in their mouth, but you really can't blame the city or the R66 organizers for this one.

[carltonplace]

Now, how cool is that... ask and you shall receive...

I presume there is some kind of proactive 'outreach' program to local entities associated with all that?

Of course not, that is quite a presumption. The mayors office won't even speak to the city council; why would they reach out to local businesses?

[carltonplace]

Not to minimize the type of convention, but a 300 attendee convention would barely be of notice to the city.  I agree with Carlton, if anything, it was up to the Hyatt to know the Rte 66 marathon was going on and plan accordingly. The marathon would have been the bigger of the two events and it's pretty well publicized months in advance.

All convention and sporting event business is good for the city.  I hate that the conventioneers were left with a bad taste in their mouth, but you really can't blame the city or the R66 organizers for this one.

It sucks that Downtown Tulsa gets the black eye for a SNAFU on the hotel's part.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Of course not, that is quite a presumption. The mayors office won't even speak to the city council; why would they reach out to local businesses?

Yeah,... I guess I kind of didn't think that one through.  That would make too much sense to actually be implemented.  Well, there we go again - being trained in science and technology makes one think in logical, analytical, problem solving patterns of thought.  Which is directly opposite the political world.

[dbacks fan]

It sucks that Downtown Tulsa gets the black eye for a SNAFU on the hotel's part.

Remember the armored truck waived in front of the leaders by the TPD during the Tulsa Run while being broadcast live on CBS?

[Red Arrow]

Well, there we go again - being trained in science and technology makes one think in logical, analytical, problem solving patterns of thought. 

Well, normally. What happened to you?

(Sorry, had to do it.)