Select Tour 2011: Recipe for Promoting Greater Omaha
June 16 – 18, 2011
Ingredients:
12 professional site selection consultants
3 trade publication journalists
Over 50 dedicated Omaha volunteers
7 area mayors
4 regional Economic Development Partnership chairs
Partnership and Greater Omaha Chamber staff
Combine all ingredients for enough time that all are well introduced. Mix in the vibrancy of area young professionals.
Carefully separate into interest groups for tours: data center/IT; shared services; manufacturing/warehouse distribution.
Bring all back together for information sessions about life in Omaha, why they should invest in Omaha, cost advantages of doing business in Omaha, Nebraska’s business incentives and general information tours of the metropolitan area.
Knead in a mixture of Gallup, Riverfront Place Tower II, Union Pacific’s Heritage Passenger Train.
Roll through north Omaha, south Omaha, Midtown Crossing, Aksarben Village, Village Pointe and Southport among many others.
Cooking instructions:
Over three days, mix, marinate and baste. Infuse with the area’s regional approach and private-public partnerships. Allow time for resting.
Top with zest from the opening of the NCAA Men’s College World Series in the sparkling new $131 million TD Ameritrade Park Omaha.
Yield:
A couple business development projects in the works with a couple more new prospects on the horizon.
Reviews of those who sampled the confection:
“I enjoyed meeting you and your associates and learning more about Omaha. I had a great time and enjoyed the tours and presentations. The new stadium is spectacular and top-notch. I was also so impressed with the hospitality of everyone I met while there…” Trade publication journalist
“I had a great time and felt the community information was well presented and very useful. The data center tours were absolutely perfect given my current project in your market and I plan on taking the information I learned while there right back to my client for further consideration.” Site selection consultant
“Impressed not only with our community, but also how wonderfully they were treated on the entire Select Tour. Whether it was being next to a local businessperson at a meal, or seeing the staff work to keep the entire tour moving on time.” Compilation of just a few comments received by Partnership staff members.
