JRC leads an initiative to market Jamestown as a hub for boutique meetings, events, and conferences.
Jamestown, NY – A newly restructured Jamestown Renaissance Corporation (JRC) invites proposals for a Destination Sales and Marketing Consultant to create a promotional campaign and establish a local meetings and conferences market over the next three years.
The Jamestown Meetings and Conferences Initiative is a multi-year collaboration with leaders from the City of Jamestown, Chautauqua County, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, Gebbie Foundation, and Jamestown area attractions and hotels. With the goal of making Jamestown a destination for boutique meetings and conferences, the group hopes to generate substantial economic, cultural, and social dividends for the city and county—increasing community pride, diversifying revenue streams, showcasing the city’s unique assets, and sustainably boosting the economy. In partnership with the National Comedy Center, Roger Tory Peterson Institute, and Robert H. Jackson Center, the program will also position Jamestown as a center for thought leadership and innovation.
In 2025, the group engaged Destination Services, LLC to conduct a feasibility study and analysis of the hotel market demand. Through survey responses from meeting planners and local stakeholders, leaders, and residents, Destination Services found that Jamestown’s authentic small town feel and unique venues complemented by its beautiful landscape, additional lakeside meeting spaces, and nearby wine country, meet the parameters of what today’s meeting planners are searching for. The analysis also determined that Jamestown has a core base of hotel and attraction products that can support a small meeting and conference marketing effort.
With the launch of this RFP, the newly reorganized Jamestown Renaissance Corporation becomes the lead organization in promoting Jamestown as an attractive and viable destination for boutique meetings and conferences. Once established, JRC expects to increase local revenue from this market steadily each year while working with the city and county to develop the infrastructure to become a regular destination for high-end boutique meetings. With time, the annual direct economic impact is expected to support hundreds of jobs and generate several million dollars in annual tax revenue for Chautauqua County and the City of Jamestown.
JRC is a public-private partnership established in 2006 to implement the Jamestown Urban Design Plan and become a catalyst for downtown revitalization. In 2025, the JRC Board made the strategic decision to reevaluate the organization in response to evolving economic conditions, demographic shifts, and changing community priorities. This forward-looking transition is intended to position Jamestown’s revitalization efforts for long-term sustainability and continued impact.
Candidates interested in submitting proposals can download the full RFP [here].