Conference Center Advisory Services

PKF Consulting is unique in the experience it brings to serving this very specialized segment of the hospitality industry. PKFC has been in the forefront of conference center advisory services for more than twenty years. The firm was instrumental in the establishment of the International Association of Conference Centers and remains active in the organization. This long-standing relationship gives us special knowledge of the needs and goals of the participants in this dynamic industry.

Our clients include developers, lenders, management companies, corporations, colleges and universities, and public agencies. Our involvement ranges from initial planning through detailed feasibility studies and operational review, management consultation, and asset management.

Conference center owners also turn to PKFC for property performance reviews, special troubleshooting assignments, and development of multi-year performance plans. In addition, we assist centers with associated entities such as golf courses, country clubs, office parks, and resorts.

PKFC's involvement ranges from initial planning through detailed feasibility studies and then operational reviews, management consultation, and asset management. A description of this work follows:

• Preliminary Consultation - Typically this involves discussion of the basic facility concept, the initial business plan, preliminary market strategies, financial plans and the resources of the development team.
• Market Overview - We conduct market overviews to test potential market support for selected elements of the plan.
• Corporate Meeting Demand Analysis - We evaluate the total meeting activity of corporations and universities to assess the need for a single-user facility and to assist in better programming of existing meetings and conferences.
• Market Demand Study - This is the traditional market demand study involving primary research of potential user groups and extensive research into the performance of comparable or competitive facilities.
• Financial Feasibility - We combine our market findings with development cost estimates and debt and equity assumptions to perform a financial feasibility analysis. We also provide appraisal services.
• Management and Operational Consulting - This includes compensation and benefit studies, operations reviews, review of operating budgets, reviews of management contracts and guidance in establishing criteria for selecting a management company.
• Asset Management - This service is primarily used by institutional owners or partners and includes scheduled reviews of property performance, special troubleshooting assignments and development of multi-year performance plans.
• Related Services - As experienced hospitality and real estate consultants, we also assist clients with uses that are frequently associated with conference centers such as golf courses and country clubs, office parks and resorts.

Representative Projects

UNIVERSITY CONFERENCE CENTERS

Seton Hall University
Market demand study and financial feasibility analysis.

American College
Management consultation and operations review.

Pennsylvania State University
Market demand study and financial feasibility analysis, management company selection.

St. Johns University
Management consultation.

Aspen Institute, Wye River Conference Center
Market study to determine expansion potential.

University of California San Francisco
Management contract consulting.

CORPORATE CONFERENCE CENTERS

Chase Manhattan Bank
Outsourcing evaluation, development of RFP for vendors, evaluation of vendors.

Andersen Center for Professional Education (Q Center)
Demand potential for outside users, financial analysis and sales and marketing review.

Cleveland Clinic
Strategic plan for hotel accommodations and conference facilities

Pitney Bowes - Aberdeen Woods Conference Center
Operational consulting.

United States Army, Kransberg, Germany
Market demand analysis and financial feasibility study for the conversion of Kransberg Castle to a conference center.

EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTERS

National Park Service - The Presidio
Development consulting.

Desmond Great Valley Hotel and Conference Center
Market demand study, financial feasibility analysis, appraisal and asset management services.

Scanticon-Princeton/The Forrestal
Management consultation and appraisal.

Evergreen Conference Center and Resort
Market demand study and financial feasibility analysis.

Airlie House
Business planning and management review.

RESORT CONFERENCE CENTERS

Lansdowne Conference Resort
Market demand study, financial feasibility analysis and operations review.

Dolce International
Strategic market planning.

Killeen Castle, Ireland
Market demand study and financial feasibility analysis

The Palm Springs Classic
Development consulting.

Bristol Harbor Resort - Rochester, New York
Market repositioning analysis.

Dripping Springs Conference Resort
Market demand study and financial feasibility study.

APPRAISAL ASSIGNMENTS

Scottsdale Conference Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona

Skamania Lodge
Stevenson, Washington

Tarrytown House
Tarrytown, New York

The Forrestal Conference Center
Princeton, New Jersey

Lansdowne Resort & Conference Center
Louden County, Virginia