The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) won the ILEA Best Catered Event Award for its 2017 Annual Luncheon!

In October of last year, the VFTCB hosted its largest-ever Annual Luncheon in the organization’s 50-year-history, and first sold-out event, with more than 450 attendees.

The theme was “experiential” to celebrate the VFTCB’s more than 500 members and the ways visitors and locals alike can experience Montco. The event was held in a completely transformed gymnasium at Montgomery County Community College’s brand-new Health and Sciences Center.

The caterer for the event, La Prima Catering Philadelphia created a full kitchen in a covered tent outside the MCCC gym to prepare meals. In the past four years, the event has gone from 275 people to 475.

“This is so big for us, and I’m just so proud of our entire team for their efforts from our Director of Events, Membership, and Services, Megan Tomlinson, and her creativity, work ethic, and passion, to our whole marking team, and of course, our great members,” said Mike Bowman, President & CEO of the VFTCB.

Other partners who made the award-winning and first-class event possible were: Synergetic, Steel City Displays, A to Z Party Rental, General Exposition Services, and Karley’s Rentals.

Attendees included association members, visitors, residents, elected officials, travel and tourism professionals, hospitality partners, hoteliers, restaurateurs, and attraction employees.

Keynote speaker, Legendary Eagles Quarterback Ron Jaworski, tied in that theme to his remarks where he discussed how his experience as a professional athlete helped him in business world. He also donated his speaking fee to breast cancer awareness and encouraged attendees to wear pink in support of the cause.

The purpose was for the organization to communicate results from the year to members, partners, and government officials, as well as introduce new content to the press/media, and public.

The VFTCB introduced a new brand to promote the arts and culture, and more than 200 venues, as well as announce a major event coming to the area: Cirque du Soleil’s VOLTA show. The organization also released new marketing campaigns for 2018, a promotional video to promote meetings, a toolbox to entice meeting and event planners, a winter hotel package, and partnerships with SEPTA, the BMW Championship, and the LPGA Symetra Tour.

This year’s Annual Luncheon will be held on Oct. 26 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, which is going through renovations, and hosting Cirque du Soleil for the first time ever. The theme will be “Reimagine,” and the event will also feature a special keynote speaker to be announced at a later date.

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