Aug. 3, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored Experience Sioux Falls.

Experience Sioux Falls has a dynamic new video to include in its toolbox as the organization markets the city to prospective meeting and event planners around the country.

Produced in partnership with Kickturn Studio and narrated by community influencer Vaney Hariri, the video aims to showcase why there’s so much more to Sioux Falls beyond the first glance.

“We’ve learned in this industry that capturing the attention of professional planners is very competitive, so we wanted to put together an engaging yet short video that encapsulates the spirit of Sioux Falls and why it’s a great destination for events,” said Krista Orsack, director of marketing for Experience Sioux Falls, or ESF.

While the video might not necessarily showcase the appropriate needs or exact venue size for a particular group, the goal is to spark enough intrigue to lead the planner to inquire about learning more about Sioux Falls.

When approached about possibly narrating the video, Hariri was more than happy to volunteer.

“I have a deep passion for my city, so anytime I can help get the word out about Sioux Falls on the national stage, I’m all for it,” Hariri said.

ESF will be hitting the road over the coming weeks to promote the city to professional planners at two shows.

The American Society of Association Executives Annual Meeting and Exposition will bring together thousands of association professionals and destination representatives Aug. 5-8 in Atlanta. At trade show-style formats like ASAE, the show provides the opportunity for attendees to visit exhibitors from each destination to learn more about hosting a convention or meeting in that city.

Toward the end of August, ESF will travel to Minneapolis for Connect Marketplace, where destinations meet one-on-one in an appointment-based trade show with thousands of meeting and event professionals.

“ASAE and Connect Marketplace are two of the biggest shows in the meetings and conventions industry, so it’s a great opportunity for us to highlight the best of Sioux Falls and discuss the benefits of hosting an event in our city,” said Anna Derry, ESF director of sales. “We have seen interest in Sioux Falls grow year after year, so that’s certainly good for our community.”

While the meetings and conventions industry as a whole is still trying to catch up to its pre-pandemic activity levels, it has increased steadily in the past two years, and business looks promising for the future, Derry said.