Meeting Planner Reference Guide

This guide is a comprehensive resource for Meeting & Event Planners. It will help steer you through the planning process; offering advice, checklists, budgeting considerations, definitions of meeting room types, and more.

Client Services Provided by the Bloomington CVB

We are dedicated to making your experience in Bloomington a success. When planning your meeting, the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau can provide services that make your job easier.

Terms To Know

This resource provides a comprehensive list of terms used in the meeting planning industry. Don’t be left scratching your head wondering what Lanyard, Mutual Indemnification or Router mean. Check out this term list for everything you’ll want to know.

Case Study: Accessible on All Levels

This Bloomington, Minnesota Case Study featured in MeetingsROI shows how easy airport access and cooperation have brought Closing the Gap to Bloomington for more than a quarter of a century.

Daniel S. O’Neill, Vice President of Strategy and Sales

Dan has over 15 years experience in travel and hospitality and heads up day to day strategy and sales for the Bloomington Convention Bureau. Dan develops “win-win” strategies and partnerships, often with major entertainment, travel and sports properties. His background includes hotel strategic planning, brand marketing and market research covering business-to-consumer and business-to-business. Dan has consulted with Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Country Inns & Suites, Caribou Coffee, Northwest Airlines, Delta, American Airlines and National Rental.

Dan’s free-time is spent hanging out with his clan (the Irish People), wife Ginnie, son Shea and daughter Molly.

Send Dan an email or call: 952-278-8504

Julie Giorgio, Sales Manager – Corporate Market

Julie has been in the hospitality industry for 25 years with experience working in sales & marketing in hotels, resorts and Convention & Visitors Bureaus. Her primary focus throughout her successful career has been within the Corporate market. Currently, she is a member of Meeting Professionals International, National Business Travel Association and ACTE. Julie has partnered with many Convention & Visitors Bureaus to promote Destination Bloomington.

Julie’s free time is spent with her husband and two beautiful golden retrievers named Walter and Ollie.

Send Julie an email or call: 952-278-8510

Rose Dudycha, Sales Manager – National Associations & Government

Rose has over 24 years of experience in the meeting and hospitality industry consisting of various hotel sales positions in the Bloomington area. She also has 11 valuable years of travel agency experience. Rose is a current member of (MPI) Meeting Professionals International, (MSAE) Midwest Society of Association Executives, ASAE and is on her second board member term with (SGMP) Society Government Meeting Professionals. She has also contributed dedicated involvement with MSAE and MPI as a past Community Relations Co-Chair. You will find Rose extremely dedicated and professional within the hospitality and meetings industry.

Rose loves spending time with her two grandchildren and riding her motorcycle.

Send Rose an email or call: 952-278-8511

Matt Meunier, Sales Manager – Sports Market & National Associations

Under Matt’s leadership, Bloomington has grown into one of the region’s premier sports destinations. He was instrumental in coordinating the RNC room block and helps coordinate many large association groups and events.

Matt joined the BCVB in February 2005. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of St. Thomas in Marketing and Business Law. While at UST he had the opportunity to study abroad in Paris, France for three months. Matt also was a four-year starter for the St. Thomas Football Team. While finishing up his education he completed an internship at the Mall of America Tourism Department.

Matt is a volunteer with the Big Brother program. During his free time he enjoys working out, spending time with family & friends and cheering for his two favorite teams, the Minnesota Vikings and whichever team is playing the Green Bay Packers.

Send Matt an email or call: 952-278-8513

Keith S. Otzen, CHME, Sales Manager – Religious Market, Fraternal Market, Military & Family Reunions

Keith has been with the BCVB since December 2002. He earned his CHME (Certified Hotel Marketing Executive) through HSMAI (Hotel Sales & Marketing Association International) and is designated as the first CHME in Minnesota. Keith has been a Hotel Sales & Marketing Executive in convention hotels located in Bloomington, Minneapolis, Chicago, and Wisconsin beginning his career as a management trainee with a major hotel chain. Throughout his career, he has promoted and sold major hotel convention meeting facilities and has worked extensively with local Convention Bureaus in promoting and selling the Twin Cities. Keith has participated in many city-wide sales missions and Trade Shows in other U.S. cities and Canada promoting Bloomington, MN for all market segments, and assisted clients with meeting planning and follow through.

Send Keith an email or call: 952-278-8518

Caroline Abts, Sales Assistant

Caroline Abts started at the Bloomington Convention & Visitors Bureau in April 2008 as the Sales Assistant acting as the intermediary for the bureau's CRM program and its hotel users. She is also responsible for creating Occupancy, ADR and many vital reports for the Sales Department. Currently, Caroline is assisting with the Tour Market and promoting Bloomington to both domestic and international tour groups.

Send Caroline an email or call: 952-278-8515.

Susan Breen, Convention Services Coordinator

Susan Breen has extensive experience as the Client Services Coordinator at the Bloomington CVB. She has won several “Excellence MINT Awards” by diligently submitting meeting history to the MINT database. Susan is an active member of Destination Marketing Association International as the Meeting Information Network Coordinator. She also participates in the Association for Convention Operations Management, which is the only industry association geared specifically to the unique needs of Convention Services Managers. Additionally, Susan maintains our bi-annual Meetings and Group Calendar.

Send Susan an email or call: 952-278-8517