The Convention & Visitors Bureau is organizing the trip to impress upon regular clients just how important their meeting business is to San Francisco and to give both new and existing clients a variety of reasons to keep coming back.

Guests at the two luncheons - scheduled in Chicago on April 1 at the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower and in Washington DC on April 2 at the Fairmont Washington, D.C. - will be treated to the consummate San Francisco meal: “North Beach” antipasti or “California” salad, fresh steamed Dungeness crab in the shell, and celebrated Northern California wines.  Aprons adorned with a crab will be distributed to keep the melted butter away from attendees’ business attire.   The receptions  start at 11:30 am and lunches  begin at noon. 

SFCVB President John Marks will present an update on San Francisco’s meeting industry, including Moscone West, the 300,000 square foot expansion of Moscone Convention Center that opens this year.

Mayor Brown’s presentation will cover a variety of topics including the many new developments coming to San Francisco in the very near future.  His remarks at each function will be followed by a question and answer period during which the assembled planners will have an opportunity to address questions directly to the mayor.  As Mayor Brown’s term ends this year, this will be his final “Crab Feast” with these convention planners.

“These clients are very important to San Francisco’s economy so it’s appropriate that we take the Mayor, our very best salesperson, out to thank them for their business and share the great news about upcoming developments in San Francisco,” said Mark Theis, vice president of conventions for the SFCVB.  “The opening of Moscone West, in particular, will be of special interest to these customers, who can begin planning now to utilize this state-of-the-art facility.”
 

Tourism is the largest revenue-generating industry in San Francisco, generating $6.5 billion each year and supporting 61,000 jobs.