8 That kind of get-it-done commitment to eye-popping client service was what sold the Alzheimer’s Association on Philadelphia says Mendola. Because the association had been in a tough time-crunch. Big conferences are usually scheduled at least two years in advance, but the Alzheimer’s Association had just thirteen months to plan its 2024 gathering (a previously selected site fell through). By the time organizers began looking for a new site, most cities were long booked. By sheer luck, the PHLCVB was able to make it happen during the exact time the conference needed it. Better yet, they learned, the PHLCVB had a fantasic resource at its disposal — the bureau’s dedicated Life Sciences Division, the first and only such entity among all of the country’s CVBs. It harnesses the influence of the 1200-plus life-science organizations of Greater Philadelphia to attract and support convention business. Members of its dynamic advisory board represent the region’s world- class research institutions, health systems, inventors of breakthrough medical treatments and technology, 85 percent of all biopharmaceutical companies, national leaders in clinical trials, and pioneers of cell and gene therapies. When it comes to the research and treatment of disease, there’s a lot of overlap in these disciplines. So when a group like the Alzheimer’s Association books a conference in Philadelphia, the Life Sciences Division helps organizers leverage the region’s rich assets — connecting the association with potential speakers, for example, or promoting the conference to the division’s broad network of potential attendees — to make the conference a success. As for the city’s convention center itself, its size ticked a critical box for the Alzheimer’s Association. It was large enough to accommodate not just AAIC24’s science needs, but the list of offerings that round out the conference experience for everyone. It’s a long list. • Attendee and social media lounges. A parents’ room for infant care, a daycare spot for older kids. An area for first-time attendees to learn and network. • Areas for lost-and-found, luggage- checking, and press. Charging stations for electronic devices. A speaker-ready room to upload and rehearse presentations. A student-and-postdoc lounge for refreshments, networking, and the taking of free professional resume headshots. • A “wellness zone,” offering aromatherapy, chair massages, and nutritional info. A “zen den” for guided meditation and sound-bath experiences. “These are things we like to offer,” says Maria Carrillo, the association’s chief science officer. “When we don’t have the space, we have to make choices about what to let go of — and we don’t like doing that. But Philadelphia’s convention space is so big and well-organized we’d be able to offer everything, without people feeling like they were too spread out.” These aren’t just “nice to have” conference offerings, adds Mendola. They’re a vital support to those who are advancing the science, research, and care of those impacted by Alzheimer’s and dementia. We may be the world’s largest Alzheimer’s organization,” he says, “but we never want to take our position for granted. We want the conference to be the best show in the world for attendees, for them to leave with an understanding of the science — and also a great feeling about the city we chose to host it.” The more Mendola and his team spoke with reps from the PHLCVB about potentially bringing the AAIC to Philly, the more obvious it was that the bureau had everything the association needed to make the conference a home run at every level. Even on the shortened timeline. “Not to blow smoke at Maria,” says Mendola, smiling at Grasso, “but we knew she would get things done.” “When we don’t have the space, we have to make choices about what to let go of — and we don’t like doing that. But Philadelphia’s convention space is so big and well-organized we’d be able to offer everything, without people feeling like they were too spread out.”
.png?v=1714509996499){kind=logo}
