News release from Visit Fort Wayne:
Religious Meeting Planners Find a Slice of Heaven in Fort Wayne
(November 13, 2013) – In the summer of 2013, four religious groups held their annual conventions in Fort Wayne and several others have planned future conferences – showcasing the “City of Churches” as a hotspot recently for large and prestigious religious meetings.
The four groups – ELCA Indiana-Kentucky Synod Assembly, Missionary Church, Fellowship of Evangelical Churches and United Brethren – brought their prominent conventions to Fort Wayne in a matter of eight weeks, highlighting a busy summer meetings season in our city.
Three of the four conventions took place at the 225,000 sq. ft. Grand Wayne Convention Center, which is the cornerstone of Fort Wayne’s downtown meeting package that includes two adjoined hotels, ample parking and several entertainment selections and dining options within a two-block radius of the convention center.
Aside from a strong downtown meeting package, religious meetings planners enjoy Fort Wayne’s prime Midwest location, affordable rates, first-rate venues and strong faith based community. Great customer service or “Hoosier Hospitality” is also another reason why religious planners love Fort Wayne.
“One of the biggest reasons why we come back to Fort Wayne is the great customer service we have with the Grand Wayne and the hotels we’ve used year after year,” said Pastor Heather Apel of ELCA Indiana-Kentucky. “If we have a question, we know who to go to, and they take care of it with professional curiosity and quick service. It makes it easy for us to come back year after year.”
These four summer religious conventions alone brought in an estimated 2,500 visitors and $1.6 million dollars in direct spending to Fort Wayne.
Visit Fort Wayne and city meeting venues recently attracted two more future major religious conventions, with 2015 Great Lakes Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and 2016 Lifeway Christian Resources Women’s Conference signing future commitments in October.
With over 360 places of worship, Fort Wayne has garnered the nickname “City of Churches” for respecting and accepting different religious groups in one community.
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