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In the Homestretch

With less than a month left in the calendar year, many of us are asking where 2018 went. So much has occurred in our industry that makes us proud, in addition to that little football game in February that the Eagles won. Back in 2014, we dubbed that year the Best. Year. Ever. Since then, we have continued, as an industry, to overachieve and we may end up saying that again for 2018 – and it looks as if we may be repeating that phrase, again, this time next year.

But before we launch into 2019, we must still finish this year strong. I am happy to report that the Meet Minneapolis team is on target to achieve its key performance indicators (KPIs) for the year. To remind you, our four KPIs and our percentage of achievement year-to-date through October 31 are:

Group room nights	90%
Leisure Leads	76%
Private Revenue generation	99%
Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) revenue	105%

Our team can only achieve these goals with the ongoing support from our partners and stakeholders. From hotels and transportation companies to florists, restaurants and attractions, the vital services and goods you provide shape the visitor experience.

We are pleased that the prognostications for 2019 are looking better and better. Many of our hotels are reporting that their booking paces are exceeding expectations and some of them are downright bullish. We will have another year of significant and interesting groups including:

January	United Rentals, Inc. 2019 Meeting and Supplier Show
March	Midwest Poultry Federation, Inc. Annual Convention
April	National Collegiate Athletic Association – Men’s Final Four
May	American Industrial Hygiene Association Annual Conference & Expo
June	Americans for the Arts
June	USA Taekwondo National Championships
July	The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod-2019 Youth Gathering
August	ESPN 2019 Summer X Games
September	Railway Interchange
October	National Indian Education Association

We thank you again for being such great supporters of marketing and selling our community. It gives us confidence in our vision of becoming the Destination of Choice.