NECA

National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)



History

The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) is the voice of the $130 billion industry responsible for bringing electrical power, lighting, and communications to buildings and communities across the United States.  NECA’s national office in Bethesda, Md., four regional offices, and 119 local chapters across the country support the electrical contracting industry through advocacy, education, research, and standards development.


NECA is the gold-standard of associations.  The members are committed and profoundly loyal to the organization.  They are family-oriented and adventurous, hard-working and generous.  We are very proud of our long-standing partnership with NECA’s Western Tri-District Chapter, for whom we design and execute their annual meeting. Creative Travel Planners has been privileged to serve members of the National Electrical Contractors Association – Western Region – since 1989. If we’re counting correctly – that’s 22 years! So many memories from so many extraordinary programs.


These events are so much more than conferences or sales meetings, though.  Taking place the last weekend of June, these long weekends are designed to be as much fun as function – and families are an important part of the mix.  Alternating each year with domestic and international destinations, we design the meetings to pack a punch of excitement for everyone involved.  Our NECA meetings are also our largest events each year, with an average attendee figure of 200.  But there is no formality here.  Over the years, we’ve shared so many extraordinary experiences and connections, that we’ve come to know many of the members, and we look forward to the annual meetings to reconnect with our old friends.


Highights

  • Hawaii 1990.  We hired a hula teacher to work with NECA kids on a couple of afternoons.  At our final night event, the kids came onstage to perform – girls in their flowers and hula skirts, and little warriors in their loincloths with charcoal smeared on their faces … to the thunderous applause of their parents.  Favorite moment: when one of the boys (Christopher Willson – now a strapping, 6-ft+ college student!) was struggling as he danced to keep his “britches” from falling down!
  • Iguassu, Brazil 1992.  We planned a Gaucho BBQ at a private ranch – miles from civilization, featuring horses to ride, a rodeo with the rancher’s prized animals, dancing and musical entertainment. But the biggest surprise was there on our arrival – dozens and dozens of residents from surrounding ranches and towns had been invited by the owner to “party with the Americans.” It was a glorious night – I couldn’t get people to leave! Another unforgettable connection with strangers who quickly became friends.
  • Florence, Italy 2005.  A late afternoon thunderstorm had cleared the air and the sky was studded with stars during our final night dinner in the gardens of a private palazzo.  When a tenor sang Andrea Boccelli’s “Con Te Partiro” (Time To Say Goodbye) – you could have heard a pin drop.  We noticed that couples kept inching closer and closer to each other as the concert progressed – romance was definitely in the air!  I still get chills thinking about the moment!  Powerful connection!

  • NYC 2010.  Welcome dinner at the Boathouse and evening gondola rides in Central Park; gorgeous guestrooms and suites at Parker Meridien hotel.  Private luxury boxes for a game at the new Yankee Stadium Yankees game (and scoreboard shout outs during the game), and a private 4th of July dinner aboard a chartered yachtcruise around Manhattan, where we danced on-board, amidst a truly magnificent fireworks display. Magic!

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Client Comments

Here are a few of the comments we received from travelers on NECA Tri-District annual meetings.