by Richard Prior
Staff Writer
Jacksonville has everything going for it except the instant name recognition that would prompt people around the country to hop on a plane and come on down.
That’s going to change, particularly for military and government organizations, said Laura Cagan, the new senior sales manager for the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
“There are so many meetings out there being held for the military and the government, that Jacksonville is just starting to get on the radar screen,” said Cagan. “That’s going to be my job — to go after them and make sure we’re more than a blip. We’re a stop.”
Cagan had been the hotel’s regional director of advertising and community relations since September 2002.
Since coming to the Adam’s Mark in 2000, she has handled individual corporate travel and was responsible for bringing military, education and government groups to the hotel.
“I’m kind of going back,” said Cagan. “But this actually is different. Before, I had the smaller market. I’m going after the larger conferences now.”
She started her new job Jan. 2.
Cagan knows that both of her focal groups are dollar conscious, which is why she’s confident that they and the hotel can help each other.
Government groups book their conferences based on prevailing per diem rates. At $77, the Adam’s Mark’s rate is among the lowest on a nationwide comparison.
“I’m looking to get the name of Jacksonville out there as a meeting destination that is affordable,” said Cagan. “And I think Jacksonville has a huge potential to be a great government destination because of its affordability.
“We also have a lot (of amenities) to offer customers before and after conferences. When they’re on their own time and their own dollar, they find it attractive, too.”
Making sure the military is even more aware of Jacksonville should lead to a win-win situation for both sides, she said.
“The military presence here is so vital to the city,” said Cagan. “But this is also a city that really supports the military.
“There are so many support units here to assist with conferences. Why not support the city that supports the military?”
National Guard representatives stayed at the Adam’s Mark last December for their Recruitment and Sustainment meeting. They’re coming back in February.
“It’s affordable to them, and we get great national exposure since they’re representatives of National Guard offices throughout the United States,” said Cagan. “I just feel like there are a lot of military functions that might as well come to this city. Because this is a city supports the military in every way.”
Cagan and the Adam’s Mark will be taking their message on the road next week to New Orleans as they host a dinner for the American Correctional Association. The dinner will be for key administrators in ACA and others attending the meeting.
They include presidents and executives of organizations such as probation and parole, community corrections and criminal justice.
“We’ll be pitching Jacksonville and hoping that they look at us,” said Cagan.
The Adam’s Mark will also pitch its suitability to accommodate participants and visitors to the Group of Eight (G8) Summit scheduled for Sea Island in June.
Thousands of government officials, diplomats and journalists are expected to attend the summit and generate more than $200 million for Georgia’s economy.
Though Savannah is being promoted as a prime place for visitors to stay, “Jacksonville is closer to Sea Island than Savannah is,” Cagan pointed out.
Cagan will also talk to officials at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Ga., about holding training sessions, conferences and seminars in Jacksonville.
The FLETC is an interagency law enforcement training organization working with Homeland Security. And Glynco is near Brunswick, halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville.
“Jacksonville is surrounded by government and the military,” said Cagan. “It’s time for Jacksonville to start capturing more of that market.”