Meeting Testimonials

"The success of our 2019 Collie Club of America National Specialty Dog Show cannot be talked about without mentioning the contributions of our real Hosts; the City of Peoria, the Peoria Civic Center, the Marriott Pere Marquette & the Courtyard by Marriott, and the Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. They were all an absolute joy to work with! They took our "Collie Invasion" in stride and worked with us every step of the way to accommodate our every need."

Jean Framke
Collie Club of America
Show Co-Chair

"Holding the Illinois Music Education Conference in Peoria has worked for ILMEA for over 30 years due, in no small part, to the amazing work of the Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau!  No question or concern has been too great or too small, and the staff is always available to assist us with creative and workable solutions.  ILMEA could not produce our event without the Peoria CVB!"

Darcy A. Nendza, CMP
Illinois Music Education Association
Executive Director

“Our group recently needed the assistance of the PACVB while prepping our bid to host the 2019 Collie Club of America National Specialty Dog Show at the Peoria Civic Center. We were amazed when they outlined all aspects of what they could do for us.

The PACVB provided us with an array of needed information on the Peoria area, proposals from area hotels, airport information, and they worked closely with the PCC to apply for and secure funding for our group. Additionally, as we were short on time at that point, did so in an extremely timely and courteous manner! They then went above and beyond, in our opinion, by compiling all the info into an exceptional “Packet” that they allowed us to customize by including any other documents we desired. The end result of their hard work gave us an outstanding, professional addition to our bid.  They were so easy to work with and BOY! did they make us look good!  We needed to beat out a competing bid by impressing 52 Board members!

I believe part of our amazement at the service we received was due to our strained dealing with another venue in the Chicago/Northern Illinois area and total lack of assistance from their CVB.  WOW what a difference! Laura, Cory & Kim at the PACVB made us feel welcome from the very start!  And when we came down for a visit we were further impressed by their hospitality! We not only toured the PCC and Marriott hotels, but Laura & Kim surprised us and drove us around town too!  We could ask them anything and received friendly, prompt, detailed, if we don’t know – we’ll find out, “we are in this together” responses!  Their seamless relationship with the PCC was also refreshing. We absolutely know they have our backs and with their help we know we can and will make our event ‘One of a Kind’!!”  

Jean Franke and Kelly Montgomery
2019 Host Co-Chairs
Collie Club of America

"On behalf of the College of Medicine, we would like to thank you for the gift baskets you guys provided us! We had a successful event with over 50 students and about 30 doctors, including a large group who took a bus from Rockford! The prizes were a great added touch that I think shows Peoria rolls out the red carpet to welcome our guests as well as to those students we hope to keep here as they train and eventually practice medicine. Again, thank you for your contributions!"

Dave Haney
Director of Strategic Communications
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria

"Thank you Peoria Civic Center, Savor & PACVB! 

I appreciate your time and willingness to work to improve and address the few issues we discussed yesterday.

I have worked with only a few cities in my 20 years of Association event planning and want you all to know that you are serious when it comes to client service, event detailing, focus on success and making us look good to our members.  You all have a high score in my mind and I greatly value your individual roles with the IAFPD Conference!

Kudos to each one of you!"

Cheri Breneman
Illinois Association of Fire Protection Districts
Association Administrator

"Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Thank you for hosting such a wonderful and successful international conference. The quality and diversity of speakers was excellent, the lunches and social events provided outstanding food and atmosphere for conference members to interact and network. It was a pleasure attending a conference in community that cares about the Illinois River and its resources."

Matt O'Hara
IDNR-Fisheries
Aquatic Nuisance Species and Aquaculture Program
Natural Resources Advanced Specialist
Asian Carp Project Leader

"By all accounts and feedbacks, the Midwest Pediatric Cardiology Society and Midwest Sonographer Conferences were overwhelmingly successful.   Many have said this is the best Midwest conference in over 10 years!   When projects like these go well, it is always a TEAM effort.  I want to thank all of you for the hard work and the extra hours to make these events memorable for all who attended. I personally am so very grateful.  I feel truly honored to be associated with all of you."

David Chan, M.D.
Division Head
OSF Saint Francis Pediatric Cardiology

“I would like to thank you and your staff – Joni Staley, Cory Hatfield and Kim McKune, for their outstanding attention provided to the Illinois Association of Public Procurement Officials and the 2016 Spring Training and Suppliers Expo. Our group will be booking the same venue for the 2017 Spring Training! Thank you again.”

Jim Smith
IAPPO President