Spartanburg, South Carolina - BMW of North America, Inc. has opened a conference center at the new BMW Performance Center here, providing a unique and memorable setting for training seminars, corporate conferences or business meetings.

BMW's Performance Center, home of the BMW Performance Driving School, opened last year to expand the unique automotive experience BMW offers in upstate South Carolina. At one location, a visitor can tour a $1.3 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, browse the Zentrum museum showcasing more than 75 years of BMW automotive and motorcycle history, and enroll in one of several driving instruction programs. 

The staff of the BMW Performance Center can assist with the traditional aspects of meeting planning, including conference logistics, arrangements for accommodations and visits to nearby attractions. In addition, they can incorporate team-building exercises and driving programs into the program.  

"The combination of a driving school and conference center promotes unforgettable meetings that both educate and invigorate the participants," notes Tom Troy, BMW Performance Center Manager. 

The award-winning BMW Performance Center has the flexibility to host a variety of group sizes, ranging from just a few people to as many as 300. The meeting rooms were designed with the business audience in mind. Each conference room has multiple power outlets and modem plugs, facilitating quick and easy laptop setup, and there are T1 lines for fast Internet access. Groups interested in multi-day programs can choose from several nearby hotels. 

When it comes time to "refuel," however, conference guests have no reason to leave the property. The BMW Performance Center has on-site catering facilities and a staff capable of creating and serving meals ranging from buffets to five-star banquets. Clients have the option of either eating indoors in the spacious, airy dining area or outdoors on the patio.

Several major corporations have already run successful meetings at the BMW Performance Center. "Our experience at the BMW Performance Center couldn't have been better," says Debi Bova, Business Development Manager, Xerox Caribbean Region. "We held a week-long sales meeting in Greenville for our Caribbean dealers. The day we spent doing team building exercises at the BMW Performance Center was listed as one of the highlights on the evaluations at the end of the week."  

(May 25, 2000)