Part 1 of an exclusive Q&A with San Francisco Travel Association EVP and Chief Sales Officer Nicole Rogers.  

Can you tell us about recent developments at Moscone Center that meeting planners should know about? 

Since WEC was last held in San Francisco in August 2015, Moscone Center completed a $551 million expansion. Unveiled in January 2019, Moscone Center now offers more than 502,000 square feet of contiguous space—almost double the contiguous space previously provided. Usable space in Moscone South, North and West now spans 1,139,775 square feet combined, including lobbies, outdoor terraces, exposition and meeting space, and a 49,776 square foot, column-free ballroom. In addition. Moscone West was updated in December 2019 with new carpeting and LED lighting, plus individual lighting controls were added to allow for greater event customization.

Additionally, the campus-wide Wi-Fi network was upgraded to support clients’ and attendees’ needs during extreme high-density event usage. Additional access points can also be deployed if needed for special situations requiring even more bandwidth. 

Can you tell us about a couple of recent groups that had successful events at Moscone Center?   

Moscone Center is slated to host 35 meetings in 2022 and kicked off this year with two events in January: the American Society for Clinical Oncology annual Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium and SPIE’s Photonics West. A significant focus for event organizers was safety, given the COVID-19 variants. 

At the start of SPIE’s Photonics West, SPIE CEO Kent Rochford said: “While photonics is a major enabler of virtual connections, it is clear to us and our international community that nothing compares to getting together in person for the networking and serendipitous interactions that help move science and innovation forward. We’re taking all required precautions, including proof-of-vaccination and masks for our 11,000-plus attendees, and appreciate all the assistance from Moscone Center staff to help us host a safe meeting.”

In 2021, Moscone Center hosted five successful events after its reopening in September, including the California Dental Association’s “CDA Presents The Art and Science of Dentistry”; Dreamforce 2021; The American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) 76th Annual Meeting; SEMICON West 2021; and the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo.

Salesforce Vice President of Strategic Events Debbie Brewer said: “San Francisco’s vibrant spirit lends itself so well to the sort of magic we love to create in our events, and this year was no different. Events are a team effort, and we’re grateful for the partnership and unbounded creativity that resulted in a truly safe and extraordinary Dreamforce.”

ASSH CEO Mark C. Anderson said: “The city of San Francisco and Moscone Center have rational and strong safety measures, which are designed to protect visitors, convention attendees, residents, and staff. I felt completely safe running a medical meeting in Moscone. From a post-meeting survey, I know that 97% of my attendees felt totally safe coming to San Francisco and meeting in Moscone Center. In addition, the safety measures put in place by restaurants and other public places just validated my comfort in being in San Francisco. I can’t wait to come back.” 

Why should attendees be excited about attending WEC 2022 at Moscone Center?  

In addition to experiencing the newly renovated Moscone Center, attendees will be in one of the most beautiful and walkable cities in the world. San Francisco has an abundance of iconic landmarks, cultural attractions, diverse neighborhoods and a world-class culinary scene. Yerba Buena, Moscone Center’s home, boasts the highest concentration of arts and culture west of the Hudson.

Attendees will meet our new Welcome Ambassadors, who are stationed in the city’s tourism areas and main transit stations to greet convention-goers and tourists and offer wayfinding and general assistance. The Welcome Ambassador program was introduced last fall.

Additionally, WEC is taking place in a sustainable and secure meeting venue. The convention and exhibition center has one of the lowest carbon emissions per delegate compared to other major convention centers in North America. Moscone Center not only has the largest rooftop solar panel array in San Francisco, but it recovers 15 million gallons of groundwater annually for secondary use irrigating parks and for street cleaning. The Moscone expansion was certified LEED Platinum and is one of only a few thousand buildings across the globe to have achieved this status.

Moscone Center is also accredited by Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s 20 GBAC STAR program. It has implemented protocols from ASM Global’s VenueShield to offer the highest levels of safety, security and confidence.

Finally, we are so excited to welcome our meeting planners back to the city by the bay. San Francisco wants to show the world why MPI picked us to celebrate their 50th year anniversary.