Annual Report FY26

EVENT PLANNERS GUIDE

THE PURPOSE Provide meeting and event planners with a comprehensive resource that simplifies the planning proces s and showcases the hotels, venues, services, and experiences available throughout Greater Portland. The guide serves as a gateway to the destination, helping planners efficiently evaluate options and confidently select Greater Portland for their events. OUR STRATEGY Continually evolve the Event Planner’s Guide to reflect changing planner expectations and industry trends. The 2025 redesign embraced a digital-first approach, simplified navigation, and prioritized the information planners use most , creating a more effective tool for destination selection and event planning.

OVERVIEW The Event Planners Guide was fully reimagined to better serve today’s planners. Based on direct feedback and observed behavior, the guide removes excess “fluff” and focuses on concise, useful information. A digital first approach reflects planner preferences, with limited print copies available as needed. Content organization was overhauled to create a more intuitive user experience, making it easier to find relevant venues, services, and planning details quickly. ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS • Digital-First Experience: Designed primarily for digital use, aligning with planner preferences for mobile and desktop access while reducing reliance on print. Limited copies remain available as needed. • Smarter Venue Organization: “Facilities + Restaurants” was restructured into a dedicated Venues section with clearer groupings, helping planners quickly distinguish between traditional meeting spaces and unique options like museums or waterfront locations. • More Relevant Planning Information: Information grids were refined to prioritize the details planners use most—such as capacity and flexibility— while removing unnecessary content. • Stronger Event Services Organization: Reorganized into clearer categories, making it easier to find trusted partners for needs like catering, rentals, and production support. • User-Centered Design: Updates were driven by planner feedback, resulting in a more intuitive, efficient guide that supports faster decision-making.

94