Nuances abound in how we share our story with those who are curious about our community’s journey. Our Meet Minneapolis team, as stewards of our destination brand, has spent the last several years educating our customers on the realities of Minneapolis that the media may not have accurately portrayed.

In the spirit of “taking back the mic,” Meet Minneapolis hosted a major client event for Chicago-area customers at the newly opened Obama Presidential Center. Meet Minneapolis was the first destination marketing organization (outside of our counterpart Choose Chicago) to host a client event at our nation's newest presidential landmark. It was a unique opportunity to bring together our Chicagoland clients and supporters while strengthening relationships in one of our key sales markets. We had nearly 150 customers in attendance.

The idea came from our Chicago-based Associate Director of Business Development, Roz Dixon, who recognized an opportunity to create a truly memorable experience in one of our most important sales markets. Chicagoland remains one of our top two national markets for future business development.

The staff was joined by several Meet Minneapolis board members, Minneapolis Tourism Improvement District Governance Committee members and community partners who helped to make this event a reality.

We chose the theme, The Power of Place: Minneapolis Shapes the Story. And rather than simply hosting another client reception, we created an experience that reflects the same values we share with meeting planners: The right place can inspire new ideas, strengthen connections and leave a lasting impression.

Our event emcee was Andrea Mokros. She serves as Meet Minneapolis Board Secretary-Treasurer and is Interim President & CEO of Hennepin Arts. Andrea was uniquely qualified to bring the venue and our program together, having served in a senior White House role for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from 2011-2015.

Andrea moderated a conversation with individuals who know Minneapolis from different perspectives. Our featured storytellers included:

• Reuben Kitto Stately, a Dakhóta from the Santee Sioux Nation and a tribal member of Red Lake Nation. He is a performer who shares authentic stories of Indigenous people through music.
• Diane Moua, Chef/Owner of the award-winning restaurant Diane's Place in Northeast Minneapolis. She shared the importance of true hospitality within her Hmong American culture.
• Jamie Martin, Director of Conference and Events Services for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and a member of our Meet Minneapolis Customer Advisory Board. Having recently planned a major conference in Minneapolis, Jamie was able to speak from firsthand experience of how events come together.
• Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey joined us, as well. He spoke honestly about resilience in the face of challenges and how love prevailed among neighbors and friends. The mayor invited our guests to come to Minneapolis to experience that same sense of love and belonging for themselves and their attendees.

Our goal was to ensure guests left with stronger relationships with our team. We know that business is built on trust, and trust is built through shared experiences.

Based on the initial feedback, we succeeded and helped our customers see Minneapolis through the people and authentic experiences that define our city.