April 2009
Did You Know?
Bakersfield is home to the largest carrot-producing operations in the world, Grimmway Farms and Bolthouse Farms. The baby carrot was also first produced in Bakersfield.Did You Know?
Bakersfield was the host city for the first PGA Nationwide Tour event.Fun Fact
Until 2007 Bakersfield was home to the Bakersfield Business Conference. Starting in 1985, the conference drew notable speakers including: Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Neil Armstrong, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell, Mike Wallace, Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw, Rush Limbaugh and Paul Harvey.
The Bakersfield CVB is excited to announce it is less than one week away from launching the redesigned VisitBakersfield.com. As development of the new site progressed, CVB staff worked to ensure the meeting planner would be the biggest benefactor of the improved content and resources. The meeting planners section offers new and in-depth information on hotel properties, meeting venues, and transportation. In addition meeting planners will be able to upload an RFP directly to our sales team and search our vast database of meeting-friendly hotels and unique venues.
For attendees, the site offers many new features, showcasing all the great restaurants and entertainment options available while attending a meeting or convention in Bakersfield.
Be sure to check back soon to see the new VisitBakersfield.com!
The tough economic times have made meeting planners very cost-aware, always on the lookout for that perfect combination of ample meeting space and value. Organizations and corporations like yours are now trying to fit a normal size meeting into a smaller budget.
In response, the Bakersfield CVB has created a new incentive program to help you plan a meeting in Bakersfield for less! The CVB will award stimulus payments to groups based on the total number of room nights consumed before Jan. 1, 2011*.
Room Nights Booked Stimulus Payment
200-299 $500
300-999 $1000
1000-1499 $2000
1500-2999 $3000
If your group needs a little stimulus money for meeting space, a reception or an off site trip, be sure to give Sales Manager Penny Rafferty at call at (661) 852-7237 or e-mail her: prafferty@visitbakersfield.com
On March 20th California Interscholastic Federation officials announced Bakersfield will be the host city for the CIF State Basketball Tournament scheduled for March 26 and 27, 2010 at Rabobank Arena. The two-day event is estimated to have an economic impact of over $500,000 to the city. The announcement came two weeks after CIF announced Rabobank Arena would be the venue for the 2010 to 2012 State Wrestling Championships.
Why Bakersfield? The combination of first-class facilities, central location and a large inventory of hotel rooms with rates averaging 40 percent lower than the state average made it the logical choice.
Bakersfield was chosen by CIF over other cities including Anaheim, Oakland, Fresno, and Stockton.
If you have a large event, sports or not, give our sales team a call to see how we can accommodate your group!
1-866-425-7353
