Although winters in Northern Kentucky can be quite cold, the Kona Ice Konvention brought a surge of energy to the region this past February, with over 1,500 franchisees and vendors participating. This marked the ninth consecutive year of this lively event.
The 2024 Konvention was almost three times larger than the inaugural event in 2015, when the company began holding its main gathering at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and the nearby Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter, along with several overflow hotels.
Darren Varnado, Senior Vice President of Operational Support and Development, heads the convention-planning team at Kona Ice. He explains, “We have considered moving the meeting to cities like Nashville, Orlando, or Las Vegas in alternate years, but the value we get from Northern Kentucky is unmatched. Additionally, about half of our attendees can easily drive here.”
Varnado adds, “Our team appreciates the familiarity of NKY’s convention center, hotels, and surrounding areas. Being on-site allows our attendees to focus fully on maximizing their time together.”
Due to the growing size of the Kona Ice Konvention, additional accommodations are booked at overflow hotels, which necessitate shuttle transport for attendees to reach the Northern Kentucky Convention Center (NKYCC). Varnado notes that meetNKY, the local Convention and Visitors Bureau, “organizes shuttle services, and our attendees consistently report a great experience.”
At the NKYCC, Varnado collaborates with the event-services team, production and audiovisual vendors, and other local providers to create a Konvention that both educates and inspires. “We want our attendees to leave with new ideas to grow their businesses, feeling highly motivated,” he emphasizes.
To achieve this, “our on-site partners consistently find ways to make our ideas come to life: Michelle Henry from NKYCC and Prestige AV and Creative Services, the in-house production vendor. We begin planning with them six months in advance, and they go above and beyond to meet our needs.”
This year’s theme for the Kona Ice Konvention was a playful take on the famous phrase “The Greatest Show on Earth,” transforming it to “The Greatest Snow on Earth” in honor of the company’s products. Together, Varnado, Henry, and Prestige crafted a vibrant atmosphere featuring circus-themed elements and entertainers to delight attendees before, during, and after educational sessions, peer discussions, and product demonstrations. Two additional local companies, Accent on Cincinnati and Ambience, contributed props and furnishings that enhanced the enchanting environment.
Furthermore, Varnado shares that the NKCC’s spacious and adaptable layout accommodates nearly all of the Konvention’s social events. “We feature some impressive entertainers,” he notes. “In past years, we’ve had finalists from America’s Got Talent and comedians like Nate Bargatze and Taylor Tomlinson perform for us just before they became stars. The production team at the center is always capable, and the quality of food and beverages truly enhances our group dinners before the shows.”
Ultimately, the strong collaborative relationship that Kona Ice has developed with the NKCC, headquarters hotels, meetNKY, and other local vendors indicates that many more Konventions are likely to be held in Northern Kentucky in the future.
