For the period of between January and June 2009, Bakersfield's Rabobank Arena was the number 74 ticket selling venue worldwide. The 90,965 tickets sold during the time period put Rabobank Arena only 11 slots below the Staples Center in Los Angeles. 

The current economic downturn has hit many organizations hard. A drop in membership, sponsorships and cuts in budgets can put a strain on meeting planners trying to satisfy the needs and wants of attendees.

A simple and often overlooked way to save your group money is to call up the convention & visitors bureau in prospective host cities. The CVB can assist in securing room rates from multiple hotel properties at different price points, negotiate venue rental fees and may even sponsor a reception for your group.

One of the many goals of CVBs is to provide complimentary services to help make planning your next meeting or event more efficient. By choosing to work with a CVB you harness the knowledge of local representatives working on behalf of your organization to make your event the best it can be.

Now more than ever CVBs realize the importance of providing great service and finding the best rates for groups. As organizations face financial issues it become more important to find host cities that provide the necessary amenities and value. With average room rates 40 percent lower than the state average, Bakersfield is positioned perfectly to host statewide events. No more than four hours from 90 percent of California's population, Bakersfield offers over 200,000 square feet of city wide meeting space. The Rabobank Convention Center includes a 30,000 square foot exhibit hall with a 3,000 seat theater.

With incentive packages for groups of all sizes, a meeting planner can be a hero when you book a meeting in Bakersfield!