MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 16

/$10

.00

TRANSPORTATIONTime for high-speed rail? p. 22

TECHNOLOGY‘Fast’ scheduling software p. 24

INCENTIVE REPORTEscaping NYC—while in NYC p. 32

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com September 22, 2008

Hotels & Resorts

GAYLORD ENTERTAINMENTLOOKS TO RAISE IN ARIZONA

Land purchase in Mesa pavesway for development of a resortand convention hotel.

see page 12

DISNEYLAND MAKES ITEASIER FOR CUSTOMERS

California theme park addsPasskey online reservations forplanners and attendees.

see page 12

GEORGIA INT’L CENTER:HQ HOTEL IS A MARRIOTT

Marriott, plus a SpringHill Suites,will give five-year-old venue on-site accommodations.

see page 16

BOSTON’S HYNES CENTERGETS OK FOR F&B UPDATE

Construction on two newrestaurant areas has begun.

see page 16

TAMPA BAY & COMPANYEYES 2009 OFF-SEASON

Bureau wants to muscle up onJune-through-August bookings.

see page 19

COPENHAGEN BLENDSOLD WORLD FLAIR & NEW

Danish capital has plenty ofmodern or renaissance optionsfor incentives and meetings.

see page 20

SAN FRANCISCO

Bently Reserve Conference Center, Cavallo Point Lodge, &Villa Florence feature high-tech,green elements; new museumfunded by Gap clothing creatorcan’t find a home.

see page 28

NEW ENGLAND

Skybridge between Dunkin’Donuts Center and RhodeIsland Convention Center linksProvidence to citywide market;upscale Stowe Mountain Lodgeis anything but rustic .

see page 34

BERMUDA

Island officials cite U.S. double-whammy of a slogged economyand an election year as reasonfor meetings slide, but its twoFairmont resorts are doing well.

see page 38

CVBs

Convention Centers

Bringing Justice to F&B: William Justusmakes his mark

at Callaway Gardens.

page 8

CHEF TALK

International

By Terri Hardinand Rayna KatzIf you ask meeting planners (as wedid) if they have ever scheduledmeetings over a religious or signif-icant secular holiday, the majoritywould say “never.” But does thatreally mean never? Or does itmean “never—if I can help it”?

More than 300 of our readersweighed in on this topic, which—as America seeks consensus with-in diversity—is more importantthan ever.

Two-thirds of all planners (67%)responding to MeetingNews saidthey have never scheduled a meet-ing over a religious or secular holi-day, with corporate planners andplanners aged 51 or more beingslightly more vehement (71%).Meanwhile, 27 percent of all plan-ners said they have “occasionally”scheduled a meeting over a reli-gious or secular holiday, of whichthe largest subgroup, 42 percent,was twentysomething planners.

The vast majority of meeting

Thy Neighbor’s PlannerDo meeting planners make it easy for attendees to celebrate their various beliefs?

Destination Insider

By Corrie DoshThree years and three days after HurricaneKatrina overcame the levees of NewOrleans, causing billions in damage andmore than 1,800 deaths, Hurricane Gustavbarreled into the Big Easy as a fearsomeCategory 3 storm on Sept. 1. The cityimplemented its new-and-improved disas-ter plan, and 1.9 million people fled inanticipation of what Mayor Ray Nagincalled “the mother of all storms,” in thelargest such evacuation in U.S. history.

Thankfully, rebuilt levees withstood the

onslaught, and the city was largely spared arepeat of the Katrina disaster. Virtually nodisruption to the city’s meetings calendar isexpected, and area hotels, theconvention center, and theSuperdome emerged with justminor damage, said the NewOrleans Metropolitan Con-vention and Visitors Bureau.

The evacuation “wentexceptionally well and almostflawlessly followed the emer-

continued on page 40

Active Hurricane Season Clouds Destinations

Meet ingNewsExc lus iveResearch

Occasionally27.2%

Never67.0%

Never63.3%

5.2%

6.2%

Sometimes3.6%

Sometimes

Frequently 0.6%

0.8% Frequently

Never70.5%

Occasionally25.9%

Occasionally29.7%

Total Planners

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

continued on page 26Source: 345 of MeetingNews survey respondents

Sometimes

How often have you scheduled meetingsover a religious or secular holiday?

MN_32_16_1,26,40-41-lay 9/12/08 7:41 PM Page 1

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 3/

$10.

00

By Robert CareyLas Vegas—On Jan. 25, the 3,213-roomMonte Carlo Resort & Casino caughtfire on its facade from floors 27 to 32,sending one group that was on propertyscrambling from its meeting room andshutting down part of the Strip.

According to Monte Carlo’s website,all individual and group/meeting reser-vations through Feb. 6 were to have beenhonored at parent firm MGM Mirage’sother nine Las Vegas properties. Theburned facade along Monte Carlo’s roofmust be removed or secured before theproperty can reopen, the Clark County

chief building inspector said on Jan. 26.The resort’s facade is made of a foam

material that “melted off the side of thebuilding and started a few fires below,”according to Clark County Fire ChiefSteve Smith. The foam is highly flamma-ble, requiring an outer coating such asstucco to prevent it from burning. Sev-eral other resorts in Las Vegas use sheetsor blocks of the dense foam to give theappearance of heavier stone and brick.

Thirteen people were treated forsmoke inhalation, but the fire caused nomajor injuries. Gordon Absher, an

Inferno Chases AttendeesFrom Monte Carlo Resort

BCEC Swipes AwayConvention from Ailing Javits CenterBy Sari KriegerNew York—The American Federationof State, County, and MunicipalEmployees union recently announced itwill hold its 39th international conven-tion at the Boston Convention & Exhi-bition Center in summer 2010, pullingthe event from the Jacob K. Javits Con-vention Center on Manhattan’s WestSide. The group moved the biannualevent after the Javits’ initial, ambitiousexpansion plan fell through.

“Obviously, with the expansion notmoving ahead as planned, there is goingto be some lost business coming out ofit,” admitted Chris Heywood, directorof tourism public relations for NYC &Company, New York City’s conventionand visitors authority.“That’s an unfor-tunate circumstance, but that’s now areality.”

The original Javits expansion plancalled for doubling the convention cen-ter’s space by 2010, but state officials

IINNSSIIDDEE TTHHEE IINNDDUUSSTTRRYYPCMA out on an eco-drive p. 10

TTRRAANNSSPPOORRTTAATTIIOONN && SSVVCCSSGEP raises risk management p. 19

FFIIRREE AATT FFOOXXWWOOOODDSS Three hotel floors shuttered p. 40

continued on page 41

continued on page 40

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com February 11, 2008

InternationalHotels/Resorts

FAIRMONT TO LOWERCARBON FOOTPRINTTeams with WWF to lay smackdownon emissions through sustainableenergy and conservation moves.

see page 13

MARRIOTT, SCHRAEGERUNVEIL BOUTIQUE NAME First edition of “Edition”-brandhotel is set for Paris; Miami, DC,and Los Angeles to follow.

see page 13

MEETINGS AT KIMPTON EQUAL A GOOD CAUSE “Great Meetings, Great Causes”program lets planners choose fromfive green rewards. see page 13

PORTLAND PUTS ITSBEST FOOT FORWARDHires a branding agency to make overits website; other changes to beunveiled later this year. see page 18

BERMUDA’S NEW HIRE DRAWS CONTROVERSY Tourism department staffers pannew acting head for North America,who was handpicked by nation’stourism minister. see page 18

CVBs

Meet ingNewsExc lus ive Research

Source: MeetingNews survey of 257meeting planners

On average, per-night hotel room costsare projected to rise in 2008. Have younoticed or experienced this?

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

38.2%

55.1%

6.6%

14.0%

29.8%

56.2%

Yes

Yes

Not yet,but I expect

to in 2008

Not yet, but Iexpect to in 2008

No

No

Benchmark Hospitality’s Burt Cabanasrecognized as

influential Hispanic

business leader page 12

NNEEWWSSMMAAKKEERR

By William NgPlanners are already dealingwith higher hotel room costspredicted for this year. Whatbudget-type moves are they making to cope? see page 25

The Rising Tide

GERMANY SHOWS ITSDEDICATION TO GROUPS More than 50 new meetings hotelswill debut in the nation by 2011.

see page 21

LIVERPOOL CC OPENSWITH A ROCKING SHOWRingo Starr-led act breaks in thebrand-new Arena and Convention Centre Liverpool. see page 22

ISLAND INCENTIVES Atlantis in Bahamas, Sandals all-inclusive resorts, and Westin in theDominican Republic make moves.

see page 30

MEMPHISNew boutique hotel pays homageto city; Hilton is getting $8M spruce-up. see page 32

ATLANTABoutiques are diversifying city’shotel inventory; Coke museumwelcomes meetings. see page 34

NEW MEXICOAlbuquerque’s famed La Posadahotel is set to reopen after twoyears in the dust. see page 37

Destination Insider

MN_32_3_1,40,41-lay 2/1/08 4:36 PM Page 1

By Irene Korn

What creates a planner? Is it a vocation, askill, or just an accident of employment?

MeetingNews discovered that it is all theseand more. In conjunction with sister publi-cation Successful Meetings, MN embarked

on its most ambitious survey to date,polling more than 1,300 meeting plannersto uncover the origins—and destiny—ofthe planning impulse.

The survey, conducted in 2008 by Martin

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

33/N

umbe

r 1/

$10.

00INTERNATIONALNot deterred by Mumbai p. 21

GREEN BEATThe great compost giveaway p. 22

REGIONAL REPORTHappenings in the East p. 29

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com January 5, 2009

Hotels & Resorts

Q&A: BEAU RIVAGE IS BACKTO ITS PRE-KATRINA FORMDirector of sales and marketingfor the Gulf Coast casino resort isbullish despite economic climate.

see page 12

GAYLORD NIXES PROJECT IN SAN DIEGO FOR GOOD

Upon second attempt, companygives up on Chula Vista hotel/convention complex.

see page 13

DATA HELPS VISIT FLORIDAHONE ITS GLOBAL TARGETS

The tourism agency uses Visa’simpersonal billing tracking todecipher where visitors are fromand how they spend their money.

see page 16

DALLAS PICKS OMNI TO BEANCHOR HOTEL OPERATORFending off a political actiongroup against the hotel, the city isworking out a final operatingagreement.

see page 17

LOS ANGELES

New venues join Nokia Theatreat the City of Angels’ $2.5 billionL.A. Live destination complex;Long Beach freshens downtownwith series of light displays andupgrades to convention complex.

see page 26

MEMPHIS

A leading bioscience hub, thecity attracts scores of researchand association events; thefamous Peabody ducks stillswim in success.

see page 34

FLORIDA

In post-AIG climate, plannerssay the Sunshine State has programs with the right imageand price; South Beach has newproperties looking for winners;Orlando spas use exotica andmore to woo more women, aswell as men.

see page 36

GOLF

A stronger U.S. dollar lifts overseas programs, especially inperennial-favorite Scotland.

see page 44

CVBs

Convention Centers

Incentive Report

Insider Report

Destination Insider

By Gretchen Kelly

As authorities and pundits debate a newparadigm of terrorism after the three-daysiege of Mumbai in November, securitymeasures here in the U.S. at so-called softtargets, namely train stations, are beingramped up.

But in the wake of disclosures of unpre-

paredness in Mumbai, is thenation’s passenger rail systemready for an attack similar tothe one that struck a Mumbaitrain station, which was over-taken by highly trained, armedmilitants? Amtrak spokesper-

continued on page 20

Mumbai Train Attack: Can It Happen Here?

continued on page 24

Mgmt/board

meetings

Education/training

International

meetings

Extensiveexperience/knowledge

Trade shows/

conventionsSales meetings

Justlearning

thebusiness

Incentive

sTim

e s

pent

pla

nnin

g m

eeti

ngs

Planners Putting In the Time

Martin Akel & Assoc.,with tabulations byWilson ResearchGroup, conducted apoll of more than1,300 meeting planners.

SmithBucklinexecutive VP

Michael Paynewill helm PCMA

Foundation. page 8

NEWSMAKER

MN_33_1_1,20,21,24,25,47,48-lay 12/23/08 6:27 PM Page FC1

By Terri HardinThere’s buzz in the industry about incorpo-rating social responsibility and green initia-

tives—as well as co-locating (holding sim-ilar meetings simultaneously in onevenue)—into events. But are these trendsdriving meetings, or are we paying lip serv-ice (and printing ink) to fads that aren’t sig-

nificantly impacting business?MeetingNews heard from 502 cor-

porate, association, and independ-ent meeting planners, who weighed in

on these subjects. The result? When asked, for example, if they

incorporated charity initiatives into thisyear’s meeting programs, only 5 per-cent of all responding planners saidthey had done so for up to 100 per-cent of their programming in 2008,while 51 percent of all planners saidthey had not done so—although thenumber was lower (40%) for inde-

pendent planners. Only one-third of allplanners said they had incorporated

charity into their programs up to 24percent of the time.

Of those incorporating charityinitiatives, the most popular initiatives imple-mented were related to health and education(both 43%). For the participants, health-relat-ed charity initiatives created the most positiveexperiences

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 19

/$10

.00

INSIDE THE INDUSTRY AIBTM has early effects p. 4

TECHNOLOGYPushing telepresence further p. 21

GREEN BEATFlorida’s Green Lodging p. 24

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com November 10, 2008

Hotels & Resorts

STARWOOD HOPES E-PORTALIS SMALL MEETINGS UTOPIA

Hotelier makes its southern U.S.properties’ small meetings roomsavailable on Worktopia website.

see page 8

INTERCONTINENTAL O’HAREPUTS ART AT FOREFRONT

Art-centered activities can beincorporated into group events.

see page 10

DALLAS AND PHILADELPHIAMOVE ON THEIR PROJECTS

Dallas is finalizing the operatorfor its new convention hotel, whilePhilly draws closer to bed tax hiketo fund its building expansion.

see page 12

JACKSONVILLE MARKETS TOMEDICAL, CULTURAL GROUPSBureau dubs the city “America’sHealth Center” and launchesmicrosites with medical and cultural group collateral.

see page 16

JAMAICA’S ROSE HALL AREABLOSSOMS WITH RESORTS

Iberostar plus a new challengerto Ritz-Carlton are openingproperties in the enclave.

see page 18

EIBTM PUTS TOGETHERAN AMBITIOUS PROGRAM

Organizer says next month’sshow will have a wide mix covering industry forces, careerstrategies, technology, ROI,green meetings, and more.

see page 18

FORT LAUDERDALE

City is loading up on luxuryproperties. see page 28

CLEVELAND

Plan for the new conventioncenter has two site proposals.

see page 30

MEXICO

Acapulco’s Mundo Imperialcomplex debuts; planners strawpoll shows Cancun and Caboare top destinations.

see page 32

CVBs

Convention Centers

Incentive Report

Stephanie Linnartz,

Marriott’s newVP of globalsales, stays true to her

industry roots. page 5

NEWSMAKER

InternationalGreen & Social Responsibility:The Year that Was in Meetings

Destination Insider

By Leo JakobsonThere may be a way to obtain worse public-ity for your company than treating a groupto a lavish, half-million-dollar resort bashjust days after accepting $85 billion worth oftaxpayer money to avoid bankruptcy, but it’shard to imagine one.

Certainly the ex-leaders of insurer Amer-ican International Group (AIG), who were

grilled by the House Oversightand Government ReformCommittee, Saturday NightLive, and every editorial pagein the country for running a$443,000 program at the St.Regis Resort, Monarch Beachin Dana Point, CA, from Sept.

continued on page 38

Incentive Special: Recovering from AIGMitigating the bad publicity from the insurer’s ill-timed incentive trip will take time and effort

None29.5%

1 to 24%43.0%

11.7%7.2%

8.6%

25 to49%

50 to74%

75 to100%

TotalPlanners

continued on page 22Source: 349 of MeetingNews survey respondents

What percentage of your meetingprograms this year incorporatedgreen elements?

MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch

MN_32_19_1,22,28,38-lay 11/3/08 11:18 AM Page FC1

By Corrie DoshAnticipating a drop in drive-to meetingsdemand due to high fuel prices, manyhotels and venues have begun to offerincentives such as gas cards and free park-ing to attract regional business.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts last monthannounced it will offer $25 gas credits andreduced rates through Sept. 30 at morethan 100 properties in the Mid-Atlantic,Northeast, and Southeast regions. The offeris good for Thursday through Sunday staysand requires a two-night min-imum stay. Conference centerchain Benchmark HospitalityInternational is offering acomplete meeting package atthe Chattanoogan Hotel inChattanooga, TN, withreduced room rates and $25gas cards. North of the border,

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 14

/$10

.00

By Rayna KatzMeeting Professionals Inter-national is planning to moveforward with upcoming pro-grams in the Middle East andSouth Africa.

There are, however, risingconcerns from membersover perceptions of unfairtreatment of certain minori-ty groups in those spots.

At issue in the Mideast region is thealleged treatment of women as well as gov-ernment stances on Judaism and Israel.

Some members also areunhappy over an upcomingforay by MPI into SouthAfrica for hospitality train-ing, because the country’spresident allegedly supportsRobert Mugabe, President ofZimbabwe, who is known todeploy terror tactics.

But an MPI official saidthere are chasms between

perception and reality.“I have not been able to reconcile peo-

Progress Over ProtestMPI is forging ahead with meetings in overseasdestinations that raise human rights questions

TRANSPORTATIONTalon Air digs into market p. 26

TECHNOLOGYHotel Wi-Fi is big in the U.S. p. 27

GREEN BEATDNC will run on beer power p.29

continued on page 26

Reeling Regionals?Gas cards, free parking, hotdates are intended to addvalue to drive-to meetings

continued on page 66

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com August 11, 2008

Hotels & Resorts

HIGH-END MEETINGSFULL OF CONSCIENCE

Both Fairmont and Ritz-Carltonintroduce social responsibilityprograms for groups.

see page 20

ST. REGIS PULLS OUT; RITZ-CARLTON STEPS IN

Year-old property in Fort Laud-erdale has its flag switched after Starwood contract dispute.

see page 21

SHREVEPORT’S OIL RUSH

Energy firms setting up shopmeans bonanza of meetings.

see page 22

OTTAWA SAYS GOODBYE

Old convention center will betorn down for a new one in 2011.

see page 22

ORLEANS CHANGES MULLED

NOCVB reportedly wants tounify city’s marketing agencies.

see page 24

ORLANDO’S SKY HOOK Bureau stamps its new slogan onAirTran plane. see page 25

LATIN AMERICA BECKONS AS DOLLAR COUNTS DOWN

Central America and South America emerge as go-to localeswhere buck goes farther.

see page 28

A TASTE OF HOLLYWOOD From Louisiana to Florida,meetings at movie sites makeattendees feel like A-listers.

see page 32

NATURE HAS THEIR BACKS

Venues by the lake offer naturalbeauty and ‘getaway’ meetings.

see page 35

BOSTON

Beantown remains hopping onboth regional and internationalfronts. see page 63

DALLAS-FORT WORTH

Irving Convention Center goesafter high-end groups startingin 2010. see page 64

REAL LIFE LESSONSBy and for our readers.

starts on page 37

Southern Meetings

Convention Centers

Meeting Planners Handbook

CVBs

Destination InsiderMeet ingNewsExc lus iveResearch

Most planners envision them-selves in the profession in fiveyears; beyond that is a morecloudy matter. see page 30

Do you see yourself as a planner…?

Planning The FutureSource: MeetingNews survey of 273 meeting planners

Yes78.3%

Yes57.3%

Yes58.6%

No21.7%

No24.1%

Yes75.9%

No42.7%

No41.4%

International

Going for Gold:Jennifer McCraryis in charge ofthe main dining

hall at the Beijing Olympics.

page 12

CHEF TALK

“I was taken intocustody for 48hours in Qatar

because I have aJewish last name.”James Mendelsohn,

travel director, Chicago.

In Five Years’ Time

Age: <30

Age: <30

Age: 31-40

Age: 31-40

In 10 Years’ Time

MN_32_14_1,26,66-lay 8/1/08 4:03 PM Page 1

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 15

/$10

.00

TRANSPORTATIONProblems reach sky high p. 30

TECHNOLOGYAmericans finally Spotme p. 32

INCENTIVE REPORTSArizona,Hawaii, Scotland pp. 60-62

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com September 8, 2008

Hotels & Resorts

MARRIOTT MARQUIS INATLANTA REFRESHES BIG

A vital piece of Atlanta’s conven-tion inventory completes massive$138M renovation. see page 24

GROUPS CAN EAT ‘GOOD’ AT LXR LUXURY RESORTS

High-end hotel chain rolls outLifestyle Cuisine for banquetand catering items. see page 24

LUCAS OIL STADIUM SENDSINDY OFF TO THE RACES

Meetings-friendly stadium is aprecursor for Indianapolis’ bigconvention package upgrades.

see page 27

HAWAII’S TOURISM BUREAUHOLDS ONTO REX JOHNSON

Board of directors docks pay andrevises contract to one year afterprez and CEO is caught with X-rated e-mails. see page 28

DALLAS RAMPS UP FORAFRICAN-AMERICAN BIZ

Bureau creates cultural-centriccampaign. see page 29

STOCKHOLM’S GRAND PLAN

Historic Grand Hotel keeps upwith the times. see page 34

THE STATE OF THE GAMEEconomic slide has altered thecourse of course play.

see page 38

FLORIDA KEYS

Coverage includes the latestresort developments in Key West.

see page 42

WASHINGTON, DC

Hilton, Marriott, and Omniteam with Destination DC onmidsize package. see page 45

CINCINNATI

Riding on robust convention biz,the city shrugs off airlift cuts.

see page 46

LAS VEGAS

Market, property, off-site, andrecreation news on the mecca.

see page 48

SAN DIEGO

Downtown renaissance still hot.see page 58

CVBs

Convention Centers

Insider Report: Golf

Back to School:Bjorn Hanson

leaves PwC forprofessorship

at NYU. page 21

NEWSMAKER

International

By Rayna KatzJust as a stone cast into water creates a rip-ple effect, one charitable contribution madeby a hotel owner in San Diego has left somemeeting planners responding to angry andconcerned attendees over the policies oftheir meeting venue—ultimately having tocancel and re-plan a host of functions—and forced the hotel to do damage control.

The proprietor of the Manchester GrandHyatt San Diego, John Manchester, gave$125,000 back in March to Proposition 8, aballot initiative in California that would bangay marriage. Also known as the ProtectMarriage Act or the Same-Sex Marriage Ban,

Prop 8 is to be voted on in November.Subsequently hotel workers union Unite

Here allegedly have been calling meetingplanners with events booked at the Manches-ter Grand and requesting they move theirprograms; and it also has put the property onits website as one to boycott.Further, the hotelwas taken off an online list of “gay-friendly”hotels, operated by Community MarketingInc., a San Francisco-based communicationsfirm. CMI collects a $159 annual fee fromhotels that are members of its program.

At the same time, the Association ofAmerican Law Schools (AALS), which is

CA Hotelier’s DonationDraws Ire from GroupsA property starts losing group business amid controversy and works to restore its image

Destination Insider

By Robert CareyThe World Education Congress of MeetingProfessionals International (MPI), held lastmonth, in Las Vegas, was designed based onan 18-month process by theassociation to improve thebreadth and quality of educa-tional content at its two majorannual events—WEC and theProfessional Education Con-gress (PEC), which is heldevery winter. But some long-time members are not sold on

continued on page 121

Record AttendanceAt MPI, But SomeInitiatives GreetedWith Reservations

Meet ingNewsExc lus iveResearch

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

300,000

350,000

400,000

Planners of international meetingscite the economy and geopoliticalvolatility as the two biggest factorsdriving their work. see page 36

How many offsite meetings do you plan bothdomestically and internationally?

Over The Border Line?Source: 601 of MeetingNews survey respondents

368,619

14,27426,405

112,270

Meetings Meetings outsidewithin the U.S. the U.S.

Average

Median

continued on page 120

MN_32_15_1,120-122-lay 8/29/08 8:57 PM Page 1

By Corrie DoshNew York—Like car rental taxes or road tolls,taxes on hotel rooms are a way for cities tomake money without angering their localconstituents. On the plus side, these taxes goa long way in funding convention and visi-tors bureaus and their meetings-related serv-ices. The disadvantage for planners, howev-er, is that they usually have no say (and oftenno warning) when cities decide to jack uproom taxes to make up for budget shortfalls.

In Las Vegas, city leaders are battling out a

proposal to increase the hotel room tax by 2 percent to fund local schools. The propos-al was made as an alternativeto a petition by the NevadaState Education Association toincrease taxes on gross gamingreceipts, but casino developerssuggested raising the room taxinstead. At the same time, abudget forecast by the LasVegas Convention and Visitors

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com July 16, 2007

Vol

ume

32/N

umbe

r 11

/$10

.00

Who are today’s meetingplanners, and what’s impor-tant to them? That’s whatMeetingNews set out to findin its latest survey of morethan 300 professionals. Weguarantee plenty of surprises.

Turn to page 36 for in-depth reports on industrytrends planners face.

It’sAllAbout

You

CONVENTION CENTERSNASCAR revs up Charlotte p. 24

TRANSPORTATION & SVCSExperient prez & CEO exits p. 30

GREEN MARKETINGPaperless meetings are in p. 54

continued on page 57

Nickel and DimedAs cities feel financial strain from the sluggish

economy, can rising hotel room taxes be far behind?

MeetingNewswww.MeetingNews.com June 16, 2008

Hotels & Resorts

PLANNERS DO A TAKE TWOFROM HYATT’S NEW PERKS

Take Two Meetings is a roster ofperks from which planners canchoose two. see page 20

DETAILS OF LAS VEGAS’CITYCENTER DIG EMERGE

Aria Resort & Casino willanchor the complex under construction, and the Vdara isone of three non-gaming hotels.

see page 20

MARRIOTT MAKES GOODON ITS GREEN PLEDGE

Groups can contribute to itsrecently created Amazonasrainforest foundation.

see page 20

DENVER IS IN PRIME TIME

Bureau is getting ready for theDemocratic National Conventionin late August. see page 26

ORLANDO ON AN OFFENSIVE

Roadshow in DC, Chicago, andNY declares the destination’screative know-how for events.

see page 28

TIBETAN CONFLICT MAY BECHASING CHINA MEETINGS

Attendance at major trade fairis down, while association groupabruptly cancels. see page 32

SWITZERLAND IS NOT ONNEUTRAL WITH GROUPS

Numerous hospitality upgradesare occurring as the franc tradesevenly with the dollar.

see page 34

NEW YORK CITY

The venerable Guastavino’sevent venue reopens; SportsMuseum of America looks toscore with events.

see page 44

BERMUDA

On a tourism comeback,Bermuda offers group deal anda revitalized pair of Fairmontmeetings resorts.

see page 48

NORTH FLORIDA

Beefed up inventory yieldsmore groups for Tallahassee;Jacksonville increases dosage ofmedical meetings.

see page 50

Destination Insider

CVBs

THE AWFUL TRUTH:Gender Bends Sa lary Curve

What is your annual salary?

Less than$30K

$30-$39.9K

$40-$49.9K

$50-$59.9K

$60-$69.9K

$70-$79.9K

$80-$89.9K

$90-$99.9K

$100-$124.9K

More than$125K

Source: MeetingNews survey of 315meeting planners

The ‘Ed’ Guru:Graydon Dawson

is reshapingMPI’s education

products. page 14

NEWSMAKER

International

$0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

6.7%6.3%

3.3%14.5%

10.0%22.0%

11.7%

11.7%12.9%

15.0%8.2%

10.0%5.9%

11.7%3.5%

5.0%3.5%

2.7%15.0%

20.4%

Men

Women

State of the Industry 2008

MN_32_11_1,57-lay 6/10/08 1:50 PM Page 1

By Irene Korn

While MeetingNews’ survey of salary and careeryielded plenty of surprises, one of them was

expectedly not the ratio of women to men. Womenplanners continue to outnumber men, with 81 per-cent of female respondents compared to only 19percent of males. Also unsurprising is the mean ageof planners: 44, with 81 percent of the respondentscoming in somewhere between 31 and 60 years old.Only 10 percent are under 30 and another 9 percentare over 60.

When it comes to salary, there’s as wide a range asthere are planning responsibilities and titles. Themean salary for corporate planners who respondedto the survey is $72,000, while the mean for associ-ation planners is under $59,000. Only 5 percentbring home more than $125,000, while another 6 percent earn under $30,000. Thirty-nine percentearn between $40,000 and $59,900 a year.

It may surprise planners to learn, however, thatthe salary ceiling is firmly in place. Fifty-five percentof women planners earn between $40,000 and$69,900, compared with 34 percent of men. Mean-while, 37 percent of male planners earn between$70,000 and $99,000, compared with 18 percent ofwomen planners. Between $100,00 and $124,900,the genders are relatively equal; at the highest level,15 percent of men reported earning more than$125,000, compared to 2.7 percent of women.

The MN survey also took a look at other compen-sation. For example, 29 percent of planners report-ed receiving an annual bonus—while another 34percent said that a bonus “depends on the organiza-tion’s performance.” Beth Cooper-Zobott, directorof conference services at Equity Residential inChicago, is one of those who receive a bonus basedon a combination of factors:“I receive about 75 per-cent of my bonus based on achieving a series ofgoals set on an annual basis, while the other 25 per-cent is based on the company achieving its annual

goals,” said Cooper-Zobott.Another surprise: Planners under 30 are more

likely to have a bonus arrangement in place (34%)followed by planners above 51 (31%). Young plan-ners, however, are also slightly more likely to have anorganization’s performance caveat (37%) than theirseniors (35%).

But money, as they say, is not everything. The sur-vey discovered that 48 percent of 324 respondentsdeclared they were “very satisfied”with their jobs—

although corporate planners(54%) and independentplanners (47%) were hap-pier than association plan-ners (44%). On the otherhand, more associationplanners and independentplanners were “somewhatsatisfied” (46%) than cor-porate planners (39%).

Alice Parker, 71, execu-tive secretary of theColumbia Basin Develop-ment League, in Royal City,WA, said meeting planningconstitutes about 50 per-cent of her work; she freelyacknowledged that hersalary does not “cover thetime, energy, and other

costs I put into the organization, but it is a volunteerorganization, and I consider the additional time andcosts as my volunteer contribution.”

Julie Sibthorp has flexible hours and a 30-hourworkweek in her position as meeting and eventplanner for Salt Lake City-based CHG HealthcareServices. She typically works Monday to Friday from9 a.m. to 3 p.m., including work-at-home Tuesdays.But her flexible arrangement allows her to changethe remote day when necessary.

“I came from the supplier side,” she said, citingher former position as vice president of meetingsand events for a DMC. “But I have a young family—two children and another one on theway—and working 60 hours a week is no longerfeasible. One of the reasons I took this position wasbecause they were willing to create this arrange-ment for me, which provides more work-life bal-ance while allowing me to do what I love.”

She started with CHG a little over a year ago,shortly after acquiring her Certified Meeting Profes-sional (CMP) title, which was a calculated careermove. Cooper-Zobott also decided to acquire edu-cation in meeting planning after she got a taste ofthe position at a former company.“As an assistant ata French company in the U.S., I had helped the Parisoffice with European trade shows, primarily becauseI was the only one in the U.S. office who spokeFrench,” she said. “Eventually, they created a posi-tion for me as meeting planner, but I wanted tolearn more.” To combine her practical experiencewith the business side, she attended Roosevelt Uni-versity in Chicago and acquired a master’s degree inhospitality management, with a focus on meetings,convention, and exhibition management. “I felt amaster’s would give me the knowledge I needed andbe more valuable than, say, a CMP if I ever decidedto leave the industry,” she said.

Cooper-Zobott’s education isn’t exactly typical,though; only 15 percent of the planners in the MNsurvey have a degree in a field related to meetingplanning. More common are those like DonnaWiegel, assistant director of the ELCA Youth Gath-ering in Chicago, who reported that she had no for-mal training.

“I have a BA in history and a master’s in women’sstudies,” said Wiegel. “They helped prepare me forworking in the real world, but most of what I do

36 MeetingNews June 16, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

State of the Industry: MN Exclusive ResearchWho are today’s meeting planners, and how do they work?

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

“Hello, My Name Is...”

Source: MeetingNews survey of 337 meeting planners

Which of the following best describes your job title?

33.5%

33.6%

19.8%

13.1%

Association planner

Corporate planner/executive assistant

Event planner/independent/

third-party planner

Other

48% of planners are verysatisfied with their jobs, and44% are somewhat satisfied.

continued on page 38

MN_32_11_36-43-lay 6/9/08 3:12 PM Page 36

related to meeting planning, I learned on the job.”In fact, a full 56 percent of respondents have no

formal meeting planning training and reportedthat they have learned “on the job”; only 15 percenthave a degree in a related field. Despite—or,because of—little formal training before enteringthe field, 70 percent of the corporate planners and60 percent of the association planners continue tohone their skills and reported having taken profes-sional development courses in the past year, includ-ing meeting planning courses at industry confer-ences, as well as event planning and marketingcourses.

For example, in his role as event planner for LosAltos,CA-based David & Lucile Packard Foundation,Tom McCarter,attends MPI’s Professional EducationConference (PEC), as well as periodic MPI educa-tional luncheons. This year, he’s added a couple ofconferences focused on green meetings to his sched-ule. “My organization pays for registration, airfare,

hotel, and all the other basics for educational sessionsand conventions,”he noted.

Cooper-Zobott’s company also pays for educa-tional opportunities.“Because I’m a department ofone, my VP really encourages me to go to industrymeetings and trade shows. I come back rechargedand ready to go,” she said. One of her favorites isIT&ME in Chicago, in addition to some MPI meet-

ings and informal meetings with a network of plan-ners around the country.

If a degree is not common, professional designa-tions are perceived as important, and the CMP des-ignation far outranks others. Of the survey’s corpo-rate planners, 57 percent said it was important; 61percent of the association planners valued it.“SinceI was coming from the supplier side, I chose to gofor the CMP to provide some self-education in themeeting planning industry,” said Cooper-Zobott.“The CMP is the most respected and well-knowndesignation in the industry, and I felt the educationwould help me make that transition from supplierto meeting planner.”

“The CMP has helped me do my job betterbecause it’s given me great resources,” said MelissaHart-Martin, who earned her CMP in 2004. Hart-Martin is director of meetings and events for insur-ance company Keenan & Associates in Torrence, CA.“Within the industry, having a CMP behind your

38 MeetingNews June 16, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

State of the Industry: MN Exclusive Research

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Planners of All Types

Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 meeting planners

What is your age?

Less than25 years

25-30 years

31-40 years

41-50 years

51-60 years

More than60 years

0.0%

0.0%

2.8%

7.3%

8.7%

10.9%

34.9%

30.4%

22.6%

36.2%

26.6%

29.9%

20.3%

18.3%

26.3%

4.3%

10.1%

10.2%

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

OtherPlanners

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%

Men and Women

Source: MeetingNews survey of 315 meeting planners

What is your age?

0.0%

1.2%

6.7%

9.8%

25.0%

29.4%

23.3%

31.8%

26.7%

21.2%

18.3%

6.7%

Male

Female

Less than25 years

25-30 years

31-40 years

41-50 years

51-60 years

More than60 years

continued on page 42

continued from page 36

79% of planners betweenages 31 and 50 have

attended courses at industryconferences, and 38% of

those under 30 have takenevent marketing courses

MN_32_11_36-43-lay 6/9/08 3:34 PM Page 38

40 MeetingNews June 16, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

State of the Industry: MN Exclusive Research

By A.E. Smith

More than five years after the Sept. 11 attacks,the latest MeetingNews survey reveals that risk

management is only of moderate interest to plan-ners. Of the nearly 350 corporate and associationplanners surveyed, just 16 percent indicate that riskmanagement is extremely important, and morethan half (55 percent) admit they have no formalstrategies in place on how to handle emergencies.

The amount of attention paid to security, evac-uation routes, and backup strategies varies substan-tially among companies. Many rely on third-partyvendors and partners to stay on top of emergencyprocedures. Just over half of the planners surveyeddiscuss safety issues with suppliers in pre-con meet-ings. About 30 percent draw up detailed emergencystrategies with contact information, and around thesame number discuss plans for emergency evacua-tion. However, 29 percent of respondents admitthat they don’t discuss the issue with suppliers at all.

Many planners feel that risks from earthquakes,cyclones, terrorism and pandemics are slight andtoo unlikely to be of much concern. Susan Piel, aconference director for Washington, DC-basedmedia company Hanley Wood, plans corporateconferences between 100 and 700 participants allaround the country. She only considers possible

emergency situations when an event involves acelebrity or high-profile figure who might requireextra security. When it comes to disasters, “I reallyhaven’t thought about it much,” said Piel. “Ourcompany thinks that doesn’t affect us.”

In fact, according to Robyn Williams, an inde-pendent planner who works with small and mid-size businesses through RW Business ManagementServices in Moreno Valley, CA, a contingency planis a necessity, and a pre-event site inspection is agood time to look into emergency response anddevelop backup strategies. He advised, “sit downwith the people who are going to be there with youand go through everything.” If Williams can’t visitthe site more than a day or two prior to the meet-ing, he has his contact at the event space send pic-tures and a schematic that includes emergencyinformation. His planning includes alternative ven-ues and accommodations for attendees in case ameeting space or hotel is rendered unavailable.

To date, however, the worst disasters Williams hasdealt with include a false fire alarm and a kitchenpower outage, and he said the biggest risk he plansfor is equipment failure. He doesn’t see the need fora formal risk management policy.“You have to lookat each [meeting] individually. I’ve never had twothat were the same,”he said.“The biggest thing is todouble-check everything. A lot of mismanagementcan be avoided if you check ahead of time.”

On average, the issue of risk management is lessimportant to association planners than their cor-porate counterparts. This may be because corpo-rate planners are more likely to have policiesimposed by upper management (34%, versus 12%for association planners), and they also are morelikely to have worked with a risk management con-sultant (7%, versus 2% for association planners).

Pressure from the top is an issue for Dana Neill,director of member services at the National Asso-ciation of Wholesaler-Distributors in Washington,

DC. She plans between 15 and 20 small executivemeetings per year and currently has an informalapproach to risk management. “I’ve never had tocancel an event. I guess I’ve been lucky so far—noteven a medical emergency,” she said. But risk man-agement is “becoming a topic of discussion—driven by our executives.” She expects to begindeveloping an official policy this year.

As more internal meeting planners like Neillbegin to formalize their risk strategies, they are like-ly to look to the independent meeting communityfor guidance. Around 15 percent of survey partici-pants said that an outside meeting planner had cre-ated their companies’ existing risk managementstrategies. Neill would like to see some industryevents on the topic.“Maybe [we could] bring togeth-er meeting planners who are going through this anddevelop a standardized plan,” she suggested. “Eachorganization is going to be different, but maybe wecould put together a list of best practices.”SOI

Formal risk management strategies are rare among planners

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Risky Business

Source: MeetingNews survey of 348 meeting planners

How important is risk management to your programs, using a 1-5 scale where 1 means not at all important and 5 means extremely important?

5= Extremelyimportant

4

3

2

1= Not at allimportant

18.7%

29.5%

13.7%

22.9%

17.6%

36.3%

19.2%

24.1%

4.8%

13.2%

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Origin of Policies

Source: MeetingNews survey of 338 meeting planners

Where do your risk management strategies comefrom for your meetings?

We don’t haveformal risk

management strategies

Meeting planners mustcustomize risk manage-ment for each program

Risk managementmandate and/or policy

comes from C-levelexecutives

Meeting planners havecreated risk manage-

ment strategies for the company

Company has hiredrisk management

consultants to assessprograms

*Other

44.8%

34.4%

64.0%

29.4%

22.3%

12.0%

14.9%

14.7%

6.7%

1.7%

3.1%

1.1%

CorporatePlannersAssociationPlanners

* Other responses were:Board of DirectorsCompany has risk management departmentMy meetings are for governing boards; no risk managementRisk management policy from executive managementSelf-insuredUpper level managers have gotten involved in events.We include our risk strategies within our vendor agreements

Double-check everything. A lot of mismanagement can

be avoided if you checkahead of time.

MN_32_11_36-43-lay 6/9/08 3:12 PM Page 40

www.meetingnews.com May 5, 2008 MeetingNews 31

MN Webcast ReportPut Your Foot Down: Reducing carbon footprints for events

The term “carbon offsets” has entered theplanner lexicon of late, but very few peoplehave a good handle on what it means or how

to go about offsetting carbon emissions. Both off-sets and carbon emission reduction were discussedduring the April 17 Virtual Meeting World hot-button panel on reducing carbon footprints.

Suzie Amer, managing editor of Successful Meet-ings, began by reminding planners that the easiestway to reduce a carbon footprint is to reduce emis-sions and keep meetings local to as many attendeesas possible. Also, keeping restaurants and off-sitevenues within walking distance can be a big help, asis incorporating publictransportation.

Amer noted,“You haveto play to your audiencehere”—as no one wantsto ask an executive towait for the local bus—but public transportationcan be a viable option formany groups.And, out ofall the transportationoptions, trains producethe least amount of emis-sions and can be great for travel between such citiesas New York and Washington, DC.

It’s also worth asking transportation providersabout the availability of natural gas-powered vehi-cles, hybrid vehicles, and other low-impact options.Amer explained that hybrids will be best for groupstraveling within one city, as they shift to gas usewhen driven on highways, thus negating an envi-ronmental advantage.

“The carbon footprint of an event is incrediblycomplex,” said panelist Shawna McKinley, projectmanager for Portland, OR-based green expert Meet-ing Strategies Worldwide. “The important thing torealize is that our carbon footprints are not justabout outputs, but also inputs,” she said. What goesinto the creation of the materials you use—in trans-portation, building operations, and manufacturedproducts—is important, too.“A carbon footprint isbroader than our emissions and transportation.”

McKinley advised being “paper picky.” For onerecent event, printing a conference program on 50-percent post-consumer-recycled paper saved 12trees, 4,305 gallons of water, 553 pounds of solidwaste, and 1,037 pounds of carbon dioxide, among

other resources.McKinley is also a proponent of recycling and

has achieved a nearly 96 percent diversion rate atpast events, meaning only 4 percent of materialsend up in landfills. For her formally green events,delegates produced on average a half-pound oftrash per day; at “brown”events, each delegate pro-duced an average 20 pounds of trash per day.

The Carbon Offset QuestionAfter reducing emissions, planners can compen-sate for the remaining carbon footprint of an eventusing offsets. Carbon offsets are tricky, though.

According to Amer, $54million was spent lastyear on offsets, but plan-ners need to be awareand ensure that they aregetting what they payfor. She also cautionedplanners not to con-tribute to projects thatwould have happenedwhether you paid for itor not, and added, “It’simportant to remember

that carbon offsets are invisible” and thus possiblethat unscrupulous companies are selling the same offset more than once.

Amer recommended Clean Air-Cool Planet’sConsumer’s Guide to Carbon Offsets for Carbon

Neutrality (www.cleanair-coolplanet.org), whichincludes a ranking of offsetters based on trans-parency, public educational efforts, and other criteria.

McKinley views offsets as a “Plan B” becausethey don’t immediately reduce a group’s carbonfootprint. “It’s really a ‘buyer beware’ market outthere,” she said, adding that “there are many ‘low-hanging fruit’ options out there” when it comes tolessening the environmental impact of events, soplanners should get started doing something.

Some are making serious headway greeningevents. When Denver won the 2008 DemocraticNational Convention, Mayor John Hickenlooperchallenged organizers with the question: “How do we make this the greenest convention in history?”Parry Burnap, director of greening for the DNChost committee, said during her presentation thather team will “use the convention to green the city,not just green the convention” and leave a positivelegacy for Denver’s residents, as well as for plannerslooking to hold events there.“It’s not just about yourevent but the whole constellation of people youwork with,” said Burnap of the implications.

Denver is in the enviable position of workingwith a slew of partners that include the Environ-mental Protection Agency, and Burnap said thatdetails of Denver’s green efforts will be made avail-able on the “Green Room” page of the website ofthe DNC, www.denverconvention2008.com. �

—Kinley Levack

Webcast Survey Says...

Source: MeetingNews and Successful MeetingsWebcast poll of 198 responding participants

Yes

No

Not Sure

86.9%

4.3%

Are you presently measuring thecarbon footprint of your event?

8.6%

For planners looking to gauge the carbonemissions of their events, these online calculators can be the first step—they cancalculate personal carbon footprints, too.

MyFootprint.org

CarbonCounter.org

CarbonFootprint.com

ZeroFootprint.net

CarbonFund.org

“We will use the convention to green

the city, not just greenthe convention.”—Parry Burnap, director of greening,

Democratic National Conventionhost committee, on leaving behind an environmental legacy for all of Denver

MN_32_9_31-lay 4/25/08 3:58 PM Page 31

Washington, DC—In late March,Destination Marketing AssociationInternational released research thatgauged meeting, convention, andtrade show professionals’ interest inpopular and emerging communica-tion technologies.

Among the 500 planners atDMAI’s February DestinationsShowcase event who were surveyedsaid webinars are the most widely uti-lized technology, with 58 percent ofrespondents saying they participate inthem frequently or occasionally.Twenty-seven percent said they don’tparticipate currently but are interest-ed in doing so.“It’s not surprising thatplanners have a strong interest inwebinars,” said Jim Duda, managingdirector of Destinations Showcase.“Meeting planning is one of thebusiest professions, and many plan-ners don’t have time to travel if it’s notfor their own programs. Webinarsallow everyone the opportunity toparticipate in quality education.”

The next most popular technologyamong responding planners is textmessaging, with 34 percent using itfrequently or occasionally and anoth-er 20 percent interested in using it.On the flip side, 45 percent said theyhave no interest in using text messag-ing for themselves or for the benefit oftheir meetings. Close behind is

social networking applications suchas Facebook and MySpace; 32 percentsaid they use it frequently or occa-sionally, while another 26 percent saidthey were interested in using it. Butlack of interest is high, as well: 42 per-cent expressed no interest in usingsocial networking in any capacity.

On the heels of these results, DMAIlaunched a series of free webinars

aimed at planners. The first, titled“Hotel Contracts: Balancing LegalIssues with Business Considerations,”took place on April 23. It can beviewed on demand at www.destina-tionsshowcase.com. A second webi-nar will take place in August or Sep-tember; attendees may earn CMPcredits by participating in any of thesewebinars.

6 MeetingNews May 5, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

Inside the Meetings IndustryEdited by Elizabeth West

elizabeth.west@nielsen.com

DMAI Focuses on the Tech Habits of Meeting PlannersWebinars win out for their flexible education opportunities; text messaging is useful tool

Even in the Slowing Economy,Springtime Expo Still BloomsWashington, DC—Despite the economic downturn that could crimp spending on meetings this year and next, the American Society of Association Executives drewa record 2,390 attendees to its one-day Springtime Expo on April 3. More than 2,100 exhibitors awaited attendees on the show floor to network and land meetings business,while ASAE introduced several new features to the show to enhance the attendee experience and make the

event more environmentally friendly.They included personalized virtual expo brochures,

session handouts and video recordings available online,concierge desks in the expo hall and across from registra-tion that provided shipping services plus typical businessservices, new-to-the-industry biodegradable badge holdersand lanyards, reusable tote bags made from recycled material, and leftover food donations to DC CentralKitchen. To view the session summaries online, visit SpringtimeExpo.com.

Conference CenterExecutives Take OnPopular Green Issues IACC’s real-time webcastspush meeting’s sessions to a wider audience, too

Midway, UT—Nearly 370 executivesfrom conference centers made it tothe Zermatt Resort & Spa, about 45miles outside Salt Lake City, for theInternational Association of Confer-ence Centers’ (IACC) national meet-ing in late March. Environmentallyfriendly meeting practices took cen-ter stage.

Amy Spatrisano, principal of Portland, OR-based Meeting Strate-gies Worldwide, and a founder of the Green Meetings Industry Council,led a session where she offered a variety of pro-environment contractclauses. She also addressed tacticsthat work best for events of differenttypes and sizes, and how to measurea tangible ROI from such efforts.Another session detailed how thefood and beverage function can bemade more environmentally sustain-able through the purchase of localfoods, eco-friendly packaging, waterconservation, and other tactics.

To bring the conference to a wideraudience, IACC produced webcastsof two major sessions in real time.The first webcast covered the open-ing-day town hall session of IACCleaders. The second covered theCopper Skillet competition, wheretop conference-center chefs compet-ed in an on-stage cook-off.

The winner of the chef showdown,Mark Suenemann of the ChateauElan Winery & Resort ConferenceCenter outside Atlanta, preparedseared red snapper and chickenmedallions.

Both webcasts can be viewed ondemand at www.iacconline.org. �

—Section by Robert Carey

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

Technologies on the VergeThe technologies below didn’t place first, second—or third—but, according to a survey from DMAI, they’re on the rise, with highscores in the “interested” category.

Wikis Blogs Podcasts RSS Feeds

Current Users

Current Users

Current Users

Current Users

Interested

Interested

Interested

Interested

31% 32%

27%

34%

22%

41%

36%

21%

MN_32_9_6-lay 4/25/08 4:02 PM Page 6

in-person experience. Placing a high value on in-person meetings is a challenge, giventhe hectic nature of our working lives. But carving a little time away from our deskscan be infinitely more meaningful and maybe a lot more fun.

Collaborating with CVBs For Event SuccessAt the conclusion of an event last year, I shared a cab to the airport with one of ourmeeting planner attendees. During the trip, the planner confessed a moment ofenlightenment: She never thought to utilize the services of a CVB prior to meetingwith one at our boutique trade show.

I was certainly surprised to hear this, especially since I work closely with CVBsfor every event I plan.Yet, many of my peers have limited awareness of these organ-izations’ wide-ranging capabilities and, instead, rely on individual hotels for servicesand information.

A recent MeetingNews survey confirms this phenomenon. Of 433 meeting profes-sionals surveyed, less than one-third often or always contact CVBs when planningtheir meetings. Of those planners who do utilize CVBs, all appreciate their assistancewith meetings tasks.

Below are just a few ways CVBs can help ease the planning process:� Suggest local venues, tours, and vendors the planner wouldn’t know about otherwise.� Assist with availability and rates at meetings hotels and event venues.� Provide helpful marketing and promotional services.� Send RFPs to suppliers that best match a group’s needs.� Act as a liaison between the group and potential facilities.

Speaking from experience, CVBs are truly a planner’s partner.

52 MeetingNews August 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

2008 meeting planners handbook

chapter 3

Source: MeetingNews surveyof 433 meeting planners

If there’s one single topic that getsmeeting planners buzzing, it’s how bestto measure the effectiveness and valueof meetings, conferences, and conven-tions. After all, organizing an event thatis meaningful to attendees—and satis-fies company objectives—is the crux ofwhat we do and why we do it.

I’m confronted daily with someaspect of meetings measurement. Itweighs most heavily, however, a few daysafter our Successful Meetings Universityevents—when my inbox fills with post-event surveys from attendees andexhibitors.

While countless innovations areborne from these surveys (it’s integral toknow what we did right and what we didn’t), I often wonder if calculating anaccurate return on investment for ourevents—or any meeting, for that mat-ter—is truly possible. And if it is, am Idoing everything in my power to ensurethat our meetings meet every objectiveevery time?

We all know that meetings play a significant role in business. Learninghow to better calculate the merits ofmeetings can only lead to increasedcredibility. Isn’t that invaluable?

Know What YourMeetings Are Worth

Source: MeetingNews survey of338 meeting planners

Which of these best describes your organiza-tion’s program for tracking totalmeeting/event spending?

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

Excellent40.4% Good

33.6%

Fair18.4%

Poor7.6%

Poor5.2%

Excellent54.8%

Good28.7%

Fair11.3%

If you often or always use CVBs,what do you like most about doing so?

They suggestlocal venuesand ideasI would nothave knownaboutotherwise71.4%

They suggestlocal venues andideas I wouldnot haveknownaboutotherwise48.6%

They canhelp me

with avail-ability and

rates athotels/event

venues20.6%

They can provide helpful market-ing and promotional services4.8%

Other3.2%

Other15.7%

They can help me withavailability and ratesat hotels/event venues21.4%

They canprovidehelpful mar-keting andpromotionalservices14.3%

AssociationPlanners

CorporatePlanners

MN_32_14_38-60-lay 8/4/08 9:45 AM Page 52

www.meetingnews.com September 22, 2008 MeetingNews 41

Cover Story/MN Exclusive Research

AD INDEXAdvertiser PageAT&T Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29www.attpark.com Bermuda Department of Tourism . .39www.bermudatourism.com/meetingsDeep South Silks . . . . . . . . . . . . .17www.deepsouthsilks.comFamous Dave’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9www.famousdaves.comGeorgia Aquarium . . . . . . . . . . . . .19www.georgiaaquarium.orgGreenbrier, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2www.greenbrier.comHotel Nikko San Francisco . . . . . .31www.hotelnikkosf.comHyatt Meetings Take Two Offer . . . .23www.taketwo.hyatt.comLas Vegas CVA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44www.lvcva.comMohegan Sun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35www.mohegansun.com/testimonialsNewport Rhode Island CVB . . . . . .37www.gonewport.comPalms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5www.palms.com

Advertiser PageParadisus Resorts . . . . . . . . . . . . .13www.paradisusresorts.travelPrince Albert II ofMonaco Foundation . . . . . . . . . . .21www.PA2F.org or www.visitmonaco.comSeaport Boston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36www.SeaportBoston.com/go/pamperedmnSouth San FranciscoConference Center . . . . . . . . . . . .30www.ssfconf.comStarcite . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15www.StarCite.comWyndham Princeton ForrestalHotel & Conference Center . . . . . .14www.wyndhamprincetonforrestal.comWyndham Rio Mar BeachResort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6-7www.wyndhamriomar.com

The Index to Advertisers is published forthe convenience of our readers. Everyeffort is made to list advertisers’ names,web addresses and page numbers cor-rectly. The publisher is not liable forerrors or omissions.

The Motivation Show next year will start theday after Yom Kippur, the most significant Jew-ish holiday, which doesn’t conclude until sun-down. “We talked to some exhibitors and atten-dees who said it would affect them somewhat butthat they could come for at least part of the firstday,” said a spokesman.“But being that our showis always in September or October, this hasalways been a problem for us and has impactedus in the past.”

Some planners have learned the hard way theperils of scheduling meetings that conflict withholidays.

Jennifer Baker, marketing and program man-ager at Chicago-based BUCOMInternational, said: “We held a

summit over Rosh Hashanah once, and theturnout was terrible. We had problems fulfillingcontractual agreements with our sponsors, andlots of credits and refunds were given. In theseven years since then, I have never let that hap-pen again.”

Still, some survey respondents do find holidaysto offer business opportunities. Eleven percentconsider these days to be value times, and inde-pendent planners with clients to please condonethe practice even more (14%).

If it must be done, there are measures eventorganizers can take to limit problems, saidChristy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, presidentand chief strategist of San Francisco-basedStrategic Meetings & Events. “Offering a way toacknowledge the significance of the day—busesto the appropriate gathering place, recording ses-sions missed, tailoring menus, and acknowledg-ing the conflict and explaining why it had to hap-pen over that date and what you’re doing toaccommodate—lessens the blow.

“There are limited instances when the conflictis unavoidable, but most of the time it’s just amatter of someone not doing due diligence orsimply being unaware of the reactions the con-flict will create,” she continued.

Meeting planners have a particular duty to payattention to holidays, Eisenstodt noted. “Weteach the importance of looking at calendars,querying stakeholders, etc, to ensure dates work.”

Said Lamagna,“Planning a meeting over a reli-gious holiday sends the message that your needsare more important than the attendees’, which isironic since they’re your target audience.

“Planners should know their attendees,”shesaid.“What’s more important than their respect,support and participation?”�

Contact Terri Hardin atterri.hardin@nielsen.com and

Rayna Katz at rayna.katz@nielsen.com

Some Dates Are Much “Hotter” Than Others...They should know better, but some industry assn.’s clash with holidays

Industry Shows for 2009 Conflicts Affects How?

PCMA annual meeting, January 11-14MPI-PEC, February 7-9IACC annual conference, March 26-29ASAE Springtime, April 16 Last two days of Passover (April 15-16) Jewish Dietary issueHSMAI Midatlantic, April 1-2IMEX, May 26-28HSMAI West, June 10-11DMAI annual meeting, July 29-31MPI-WEC, July 11-13ASAE National, August 15-18NBTA annual meeting, August 23-26 Ramadan begins August 22 Moslem Dietary issueHSMAI National, September 9-10The Motivation Show, Sept. 29-October 1 Yom Kippur ends September 28 Jewish Travel issueICCA annual meeting, November 7-11EIBTM, December 1-3PCMA annual meeting, January 10-13, 2010

Thy Neighbor’s Planner continued from page 26

MN_32_16_1,26,40-41-lay 9/12/08 7:57 PM Page 41

and social responsibility ranked far lower, too.MN’s research was corroborated by a separate

study from Chester, NJ-based Martin Akel &Associates, in which meetings professionals citedthe economy (81%) and the needto negotiate even better dealswith suppliers (78%) as chief concerns. Further,58.3 percent noted increasing pressure to developfresh and creative approaches to meetings.

“In this downturn, it will be even more impor-tant than ever for events to be morale boosters foremployees and clients,”said Patricia Ahaesy, part-ner at New York City-based corporate events plan-ning firm P&V Enterprises. “Budgets obviouslywill be tighter. Events should make people feelgood, and planners and producers will be usingtheir creativity overtime to accomplish this.”

The MN-surveyed planners were relativelybullish about their meetings volumes, thoughassociation planners expressed much more con-fidence than corporate and independent plan-ners. Corporate, association, and other plannerswere in line with each other in terms of atten-dance forecasts, with roughly half of eachrespondent segment anticipating a small dip.

But that was before the financial crisis came to ahead in mid-September, which instead has height-ened worries among both planners and suppliers,while beginning to turn planning conditionsupside down. Said one planner on MiForum,MN’s online community,“I thought Bear Stearns’collapse was a unique event. . .it’s going to be even

tougher as the fallout affects other industries.”Theearly consensus was that lead times, for example,willbecome more intense.

The full brunt of Wall Street’s collapse won’t beknown until it “hits everybody in their wallets,” saidJacquie Brave, partner at Accenting Chicago Events& Tours, a DMC. But already, in speaking withsome national association planners at the Motiva-tion Show in Chicago, Brave said the 2009 plansthey had in place were changed.“They are cuttingback, and there is less long-range planning in orderto make changes more rapidly.”

Hannah Greenberg, conference servicesdirector for Cherry Hill, NJ-based MeetingMavericks, said she senses an oncoming crisisat a financial services client. She traditionallyhas organized separate U.S. and European ver-sions of an annual meeting for that large, globalfinancial institution. A major lender to banks andthe government, the company had decided to hold acombined annual in the U.S. in January to boostcamaraderie between the two offices, but after theWall Street events,“all has changed,”said Greenberg.

“The company is reconsidering [a mergedevent], in spite of the fact that contracts have beenexecuted. If the company does change its plan—which I believe it will—the meeting objectives willchange and planning will begin at square zero.”

“The $700 billion bailout that is before Con-gress will have everything to do with business inthe next six to nine months,”said Tom Blackman,sales and marketing director of Seascape BeachResort in Monterey, CA, at press time. Blackmansaid if companies feel credit is hard to get, meet-ings will lose appeal, since they are borne fromnew projects.“Without lending, there’s not muchin the way of new projects.”

One analyst, Chicago-based Tim Brooks,founder of Meeting Trader LLC, offered this pic-

ture: reduced number of meetings, daysshaved from existing bookings, cancellationson 8 percent of pre-existing contracts, andgroups experiencing attrition up to 25 per-

cent. He said meetings will be booked evencloser to operating dates, and hotels will begin tooffer discounts in return for greater prepayment.He doesn’t expect a recovery until late 2009.

“It’s unwillingness to contract until absolutelypositively sure they’re doing the meeting,” saidAtlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place sales managerKevin Priger, of groups. “I don’t want them tocontract meetings that they end up downsizingor canceling, incurring attrition. This situationwould inevitably result in strained relationships.”

But in the face of the potentially dire situation,

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

www.meetingnews.com October 6, 2008 MeetingNews 15

MN Exclusive ResearchMN Outlook 2009: Financial market meltdown raises fears

MNExclusiveResearch

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

OtherPlanners

Total

Planners Expect Attendee Numbers to Stand Up

Source: 391 of MeetingNews survey respondents

The average attendance at off-site meetings you hold next year will:

continued on page 24

Exclusive Research continued from cover

A Breakneck MarketCompared to 4-5 years ago, three-quarters of planners(76%) find there’s a more rapid pace of change in themeetings market.

Rapid change

The same

Less rapid0.8%

75.6%

23.6%

Source: Martin Akel & Associates

Increase significantly Increase slightly Stay about the same Decrease slightly Decrease significantly

1.0%

11.3

%

36.8

%

37.6

%

34.3

%

38.8

%

47.6

%

47.2

%

48.9

%

46.5

%

3.3%

2.4%

5.1%

2.3%

10.4

%

11.7

%

11.6

%

2.4%

0.0% 0.

8%

MN_32_17_FC,15,24-lay 9/26/08 4:23 PM Page 15

By Gretchen Kelly

Halloween, also known as All Hallows Eve—orif you’re a neo-pagan, Samhain—has become

increasingly popular among meeting and corpo-rate event planners at companies that now view theonce-traditional Christmas party as too controver-sial. With office holiday parties moved up to the31st of October, candy corn replaces candy canes,and everybody should be happy.

Well, almost everybody. According to Meet-ingNews’ Exclusive Research, 51 percent of all

responding planners believethat Halloween is a non-

controversial holiday and a good time to hold aparty. Twelve percent, on the other hand, felt thatthe holiday was controversial enough to makeattendees uncomfortable, and 5 percent thoughtthe H-word spelled trouble, as in “all the craziescome out.”(Thirty-two percent did not categorizetheir perception of Halloween.)

Marie Hunter,managing director,global head ofcorporate services at New York City-based LehmanBrothers, stated that Halloween “has become aswholesome as apple pie.”Added Laura Miller, reg-istrar at Lawrence,KS-based Franklin County His-torical Society:“My director is having a Halloweenfunction this year at one of our historical sites,with

wine and appetizers. We’re hoping tobring in more members to our society,more people to join the board, and tofoster goodwill among those of usalready involved.” Miller noted thatHalloween is less of a hot-buttonissue than the December holidays,and “as for the ‘pagan’nature of the hol-iday, I don’t think that’s going to makemuch difference.”

Tell that to the pagans, whoview Samhain as a sacred time.Kate Burlett,a member of the FourQuarters Interfaith Sanctuary of EarthReligions in Artemis,PA,pointed out that Hal-loween was traditionally celebrated as a time whenthe veils between the worlds of the living and thedead were thinnest. “Within the community, thedepiction of the witch as an old hag is trouble-some, but we don’t let that guide us,” Burlett said.“It’s OK if you’re going trick or treating, but knowthe other side of it.”

People today, Burlett said, are afraid of the ideaof death and so have made a big, noisy holidayout of it with costumes and candy. That is the sidetaken by Joshua Czarda, creator of RavenchaseAdventures, an international high-conceptadventure live game and team-building compa-ny:“Whether you’re running down a street beingchased by brain-eating zombies; eluding lasers,guards, and cameras to get to a safe; or rapellingfrom a helicopter, high adventure yields realteam-building.” The firm, which is known for itssophisticated cipher-solving “chases” played outfor corporations in the U.S. and around theworld, will be using ghouls and other pop-upscares on a U.S. Army-commissioned coursescheduled on Halloween. Said Czarda, “Everygame we create, including the high-conceptefforts like Zombie Invasion or Illuminati (everyclue is invisible), wraps the same problem-solv-ing and team-building skills we encounter in ourbusiness lives—within the fold of an entertain-ment package.”

If there is a downside to planning a meeting orevent around Halloween, it is that Halloween—which encourages role-playing—might unsettlecolleagues within groups. Mary Ellen Hettinger,

public relations manager at Boston-area GirlScouts of Swift Water Council, said, “I’ve workedplaces where costumes are worn (and judged in acontest) and you can choose to participate,or not.”But Hunter added,“A Halloween theme can workwell for an employee group—but not for a clientgroup. Frequently, client relationships are strong,but not so strong as to allow people to step so farout of their professional comfort zone to ‘wear acostume’and really let their hair down in that way.”

Many planners also said that Halloween is con-sidered a family event. Hettinger said,“Halloween

is also Girl Scouts founder Juliette GordonLow’s birthday, so many Girl Scouts cele-brate the date twice in different ways! Butour national convention is over Halloween

this year, and I know some mothers of youngchildren who are choosing not to go because theydon’t want to be away.”

The Eventors’Shari Westmoreland had a grouplast year that ended its conference on the morningof Oct. 31.“You really have to give people time toget back to their homes in time for Halloween festivities,” she said.

To which Burlett agreed, “Before our ownSamhain ritual, I’m taking my daughter trick ortreating.”�

18 MeetingNews October 20, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchGhouls Just Want to Have Fun, In Team-Building or PartiesHalloween brings out the spirit in meeting groups, but planners should save time for attendees to be with their kids

MNExclusiveResearch

Non-controversialholiday - we like to hold parties ................50.5%

Trouble - allthe crazies come

out . . . . . . . 2.8%

Controversial - makes some attendees uncomfortable . 15.0%

Other . . . 31.8%

Corporate Planners Say

Source: 332 ofMeetingNews surveyrespondents

What’s your perception of Halloween?

Source: 332 of MeetingNews survey respondents

Association Planners Say

34.7%

51.6%

Other

Trouble -all thecraziescome out

Non-controversialholiday - we like

to hold parties

Controversial -makes someattendeesuncomfortable

7.3%

6.5%

MN_32_18_18-lay 10/10/08 3:58 PM Page 18

By Terri Hardin

When asked about their New Year’s Resolu-tions for 2009, corporate, association, and

independent meeting planners were inclined toshare particulars. Of the 308 meeting plannerswho responded to the MeetingNews ExclusiveResearch survey, 29 percent resolved to retooltheir meetings program in 2009. Knowledge ofand familiarity with technology was among

the deficiencies that plannersintended to correct.

“Get a technology upgrade,”“improve the elec-tronic invitation process,” and “increase my skilllevel in the use of technology as it relates to plan-ning, promotion, implementation, follow-up,and evaluation of our meetings” were the aspira-tions of some respondents, while others wantedto “assess technology strategy” and “focus onindustry innovations.” Still more planners citedstrategic resolutions: “be proactive with projecttimelines” and “add value for attendees andexhibitors at shows.”

Fewer planners cited a resolution to improvetheir meeting programs by instituting green poli-cies (Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, and CTSMwas one), but for those who did, they tacked onother plans: “Draft a ‘green plan’ and continuelearning more about meeting planning,”“reducethe company’s carbon footprint in regards to meet-ings, and continue to look for additional savings,”

and “move more meetings into green standardsand push for more technology for staff usage.”

The second most popular resolution for allplanners (27%) was to “receive recognition.”Thisparticularly resonated with corporate planners(32%), association planners (30%), and femaleplanners (30%). Lamagna said that she wants to“continue to bring awareness to people insideand outside the industry as to the differencebetween ‘party planners’ and ‘strategic planners.’”

Among the methods to receive recognition wasto complete certification progams like the CMP,CME, or CMM. Perhaps since this resolution wasprobably the most ambitious, it was the least pop-ular, with only 8 percent of all planners declaringthis intention. Corporate planners (6%) faredworse than independent planners (9%).

Joan Eisenstodt, of Washington, DC-basedEisenstodt Associates LLC, said she will take some

courses or seminars and “do more reading andpracticing in the areas that interest me most: facil-itation, ethics, and learning for adults.” She hasregistered for the International Association ofFacilitators Conference in April 2009 in Vancou-ver, and she is casting about for seminars at theInstitute on Global Ethics in DC.

Even before the economic downturn, 11percent of all meeting planners had resolvedto find a new job; it was especially true for plan-ners aged 31 to 40 (19%) and those aged 41 to 50(17%). In the corporate planner segment, 15 per-cent were expecting to conduct job searches evenbefore the economic downturn. Sara W. Davis, athirtysomething CMP, has just started a brand-new position at a financial services firm.“My chal-lenge for 2009 is to define the role,build it out, andthen fulfill it.” Davis will work with sponsors, in

addition to meetings and events, “really gettingmore into ROI and strategy, not just logistics.”

Some resolutions referred to ongoing projects:“continue taking the department to ‘the nextlevel.’” Others vowed to “cultivate new businessas well as our other new organization.”MaryAnne P. Bobrow, CAE, CMP, and CMM, ofBobrow & Associates, resolved “to keep myclients and their meetings successful, despite thegloomy economic news.”Others monetized suc-cess:“Earn a profit!” resolved Richard Markel, ofMarkel Associates, although one planner wouldsettle for “making our budget in 2008.”

There also were wacky resolutions, like “getthrough another big meeting,”“win the lottery,”and “impress myself professionally.” But thebiggest surprise, by far, was that 21 percent

declared they did not have resolutionsbecause they couldn’t “plan that far ahead.”That was prevalent for planners aged 31 to

40 (27%) and those aged 51-plus (24%).(Come on now, isn’t that admitting to a profes-sional gaffe?)

In the coming year, MN resolves to bring youresearch, industry initiatives, and the recognitionyou deserve. Meanwhile, we wish you health,work-life balance, a better-than-ever meetingsprogram, and ongoing success.�

Contact Terri Hardin atterri.hardin@nielsen.com

26 MeetingNews December 15, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchPlanners Share Their Goals and Dreams for the New YearIn 2009, gaining knowledge about technology and getting recognized for the job done are prominent resolutions

MNExclusiveResearch

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Complete My Degree

Source: 308 of MeetingNews survey respondents

8% responded affirmative; here’s the breakdown:

Male Female <30 31-40 41-50 51+

21%

79%

13%

25%

42%

21%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Find a New Job

Source: 308 of MeetingNews survey respondents

11% responded affirmative; here is the breakdown:

Male Female <30 31-40 41-50 51+

19%

81%

11%

25%

44%

19%

“My challenge for2009 is to define therole, build it out, and

then fulfill it. ”—Sara W. Davis, CMP

MN_32_20_26-lay 12/2/08 4:17 PM Page 26

By Nancy Lazarus

Meeting planners are feeling the pressure as oilprices recently crossed the $100-per-barrel

threshold. In a survey of 387 meeting professionalsconducted by MeetingNews, more than two-thirdsreported adverse impact on their programs. Morethan half of these planners have taken specific stepsto reduce their meetings’ oil and fuel consumption.

Skyrocketing oil prices and higher transportationcosts have led nearly one-third of corporate plan-ners to limit the destinations they recommend.

Michael Hudson, president ofSite Search & Select, in Brooklyn,

NY, observed,“My corporate clients are looking fordestinations that are closer to home to avoid excesstravel expenses.”

Four out of 10 corporate planners claimed they’renow seeing fewer attendees at off-site programs.Stephanie Miller, training coordinator for confer-ence services at UniGroup Inc., in St. Louis, said themoving business is experiencing the impact of oilprices firsthand. She said, “I’ve noticed that agentsaren’t sending as many people to the training work-shops. So far, this hasn’t led to a lot of cancellations,but I see that as a possibility later this spring.”

Another side effect, particularly for corporate

planners, is a reduction of the number of off-sitemeetings held. David Oltman, co-founder, presi-dent, and CEO of Orion Mobility/Relocation Taxesin Wilton, CT, said,“For the past 20 years, we held aWest Coast conference and an East Coast confer-ence. Based on the higher costs these days, we havechosen to hold just one conference.” He added,“Our clients are scrutinizing whether the particularmeeting is necessary and, more importantly, whoneeds to attend.”

Other responses involve tradeoffs.“We now usefewer support staff, and while we do save money,it takes away from internal development oppor-tunities,”said Oltman.In-person meetings are beingtested by high-tech alternatives.“The feedback has beenvery positive for webcasts and videoconferences,”Olt-man said.“But we can’t charge as much,and the num-ber of attendees is significantly less.”

Accessible DestinationsSome meeting professionals, especially associationplanners, are reacting to oil price inflation by using“walkable” destinations with good public transit systems. Amy Woodward, meeting specialist at theState and Territorial Injury Prevention DirectorsAssociation, in Atlanta, noted,“We try to hold meet-ings in larger cities that don’t require the use ofrental cars to and from the airport.”

Deborah Taylor, meeting planner for the Con-necticut Education Association, in Hartford, CT,added,“The walkable destinations and/or those with

effective public transportation are for our largerconventions and include cities such as Washington,DC; Philadelphia; Chicago; San Diego; and Atlanta.”

Smaller cities can be walkable, too, noted RoyBenear, senior VP of the Austin Convention and Vis-itors Bureau.“Destinations such as Austin fare betterwhen oil prices are an issue given the city’s ability todraw from a large metropolitan population nearby,”he said. “Attendees benefit from the convenience ofeverything being centrally located.”

Green Meetings Initiatives GrowingExorbitant oil prices have also caused green

meetings initiatives to influence nearly three-quarters of the meetings professionals surveyed.Woodward described herself as a proponent ofgreen meetings initiatives, but has encounteredobstacles when trying to plan them. She admitted,“Getting budget approval for alternative locationsand services from directors can be difficult.” Never-theless, she expressed hope that organizationalchanges will enable green meetings in the future.

Nina McCollum, communications and eventspecialist at law firm Thompson Hine, in Cleveland,is taking action.“I’m asking all my CSRs to give metheir properties’ green policies or describe whatefforts are in place or under way to make my meet-ings as green as possible,” she said.“This wasn’t partof the decision-making process when these proper-ties were booked, but it will be a considerationwhen deciding on properties going forward.”�

22 MeetingNews March 24, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchResourceful planners find ways to deal with oil price hikes

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

How Planners are Reacting

Source: MeetingNews survey of 387 meeting plannersNote: Multiple responses allowed

How have increased transportation costs affectedyour off-site meeting programs?

Taking fewerpeople to off-site

meetings

Using “walkable”cities or those

with public transit

Using airporthotels and/

or holding morein-out meetings

No specific steptaken

40.0%

19.0%

25.0%

27.1%

19.5%

12.2%

37.0%

50.0%

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

Green Meetings Gain Traction

Source: MeetingNews survey of 387 meeting planners

Have you become more aware of green meetings initiatives since oil prices have increased?

CorporatePlanners

NoNo

34.6%

31.2%

34.2%

Yes, andI’ve made

changes

Yes, andI’ve made

changes

Yes, but change has been difficult

Yes, butchange

has beendifficult

42.9%

24.1%

33.0%

AssociationPlanners

MN_32_6_22-lay 3/14/08 10:36 AM Page 22

By Emily Carrus

With a weakening economy, the pressure onplanners to stretch their budgets in all areas

of meeting planning has intensified, and with foodand beverage playing such a large role in events, theimpact is undeniable. In fact, nearly two-thirds ofthe almost 400 planners who took part in a recentMeetingNews survey on the topic said that creatingsuccessful F&B events has become more of a chal-lenge in the past year.

Not surprisingly, the number one reason cited bythose respondents for the diffi-culty—by about 90 percent of

both corporate and association planners—is risingcosts.“A chicken plate for lunch is now around $30,whereas a few years ago you could get it for around$18,”said Michael Allen, employee relations special-ist for the Newport Beach, CA-based mortgage andbanking company Downey Savings and Loan.“The price has skyrocketed in the last twoyears, especially when booking events for datesthat are close in: within six months. We reallylost any negotiating ability on the last-minutebookings.”

For some planners, though, the art of negotia-tion has allowed them to maintain the quality oftheir events. Such is the case for Valerie Moore,president of Executive Meeting Consultants inCedarhurst, NJ.“We try to negotiate an across-the-board discount on all F&B events in the contractstage. I also ask upfront if the hotel would be will-ing to work with us to customize menus that arewithin the client’s budget. Times are tough, and assuch, I find that hotels are even more willing towork with us,” she said.

Expensive AlternativesBeyond the economy, there are other food andbeverage concerns, such as the increasing need toattend to special dietary needs. “I never realizedhow many people are allergic to nuts. We had sev-eral attendees who could not even go in the roomwhere lunch was being served because of the pos-sible nut flour in the air,” said Yvette Remschel,business development director of the DallasHuman Resource Management Association, whoorganizes meetings for the organization.

Dietary requests have also proven difficult for Glo-ria Williams. “Many participants are more carb-conscious now,and in an effort to accommodate thatwe may add boiled eggs or some other protein[source] to our meeting breaks,” said the Washing-ton, DC-based conference manager of the AmericanPublic Human Services Association.“But I have seen

boiled eggs costing $38 a dozen. Finding healthyalternatives drives up our costs even further.”

Creativity Is KeyThe risks are tangible when cutting back on F&B,especially for association groups who struggle tokeep attendance high during tough economictimes. “Our members are mainly state and localpublic servants. With many states reducing travelbudgets and some even suspending staff travelaltogether, our challenge is providing as much F&Bas possible to offset their out-of-pocket expenseswhile not significantly increasing our registrationfees,” said Williams. Nevertheless, she is forced tomake F&B compromises. “We have begun cuttingback slightly. I may eliminate a mid-morning bev-erage break or scale back on reception food items,

offering more light fare than we have in past years.”Executive Meetings Consultants’ Moore empha-

sizes the need for greater creativity when planning,and a willingness from her clients to replace an event-long open bar with a short cocktail reception and wineserved with dinner, for example. “The last thing youwant to do when organizing a program is compro-mise on food—that impacts the entire event.”

According to the poll, about a quarter of plannershave cut costs by having fewer courses at meals, lim-iting the variety of food available, serving box lunch-es, or shortening receptions. “You have to be morecreative, such as offering a greater variety of fooditems in a reception but just not ordering enoughfor everyone to have their 1.5 pieces of each,” saidRemschel, who has also discovered that workingwith outside caterers has proven cost-effective.“Lastyear, we used one for breakfast, and I was surprisedat the amount of money that we saved.”

The hope for all planners and their clients,though, is that their groups will be sympathetic toF&B cutbacks. “Everyone will surely notice thechanges because we are scaling back so much,” saidDowney Savings and Loan’s Allen. “However, Ithink our attendees will be fully aware of why wehave to make these changes. I will just have to becreative to make sure it is the best it can be.”�

18 MeetingNews May 5, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchFood and beverage events getting costlier & more complex

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

F&B Harder to Chew

Source: MeetingNews survey of 245 meeting planners

In what ways have food and beverage eventsbecome more challenging?

It’s more expensiveso needs more

attention to keepcosts down

More attendeeshave special dietary

needs

Attendees are moreeducated about

food and demandmore creativity

Sustainability is aconcern and it’s

challenging tosource products

Other

89.8%

41.7%

92.0%

38.0%

35.2%

27.0%

4.6%

11.7%

9.3%

5.8%

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

Planners looking to cut down on food andbeverage costs are taking several differ-

ent strategies and stretching their dollarswith more creative ideas.

� Have fewer courses for a sit-down meal� Offer larger quantities of fewer food items� Offer box lunches or light fare that can be

eaten on the go� Provide full breakfast but a light lunch� Work with the chefs for more creative ideas

� Rely on heavy hors d’oeuvres instead ofhaving sit-down meals

� Do shorter or smaller receptions� Use smaller plates and glasses to control

quantity� Consolidate F&B at one venue vs. doing

dine-arounds� Eliminate bottled water� Serve less coffee and tea� Use venues with less expensive menus

Cutting the Fat

MN_32_9_18-lay 4/25/08 4:40 PM Page 18

www.meetingnews.com April 21, 2008 MeetingNews 13

MN Exclusive Research

By William Ng

The latest MeetingNews survey shows that manymeeting planners are sourcing speakers from

within their organizations and industries in lieu ofoutside professionals and those represented byspeaker bureaus. The two biggest reasons cited inthe 315-planner study are a desire to find experts

who can educate on industry-specific issues and cost savings.

Attendee demand for maximizing return on timeaway from the office is driving event organizers toselect speakers who deliver highly targeted informa-tion. The push is especially true for planners ofsmall meetings or those working on meetings inhighly specialized industries.

Karen Brown, managing partner of Conferencesby Design, in Salisbury, MD, has gone away frommotivational and entertainment-type speakers fora pair of meetings by a distribution-industry soft-ware user group of C-level executives. Said Brown:“Attendees wanted content-rich presentations.It really became an issue. Now, my marketingis focused on content rather than the meetingamenities.”

Brown added that not only has she used speakerbureaus less, because of the nature of the talent,she’s had to pay the price to find industry experts.“My last speaker, a distribution-trend and econom-ics guru, his price was two and a half times what I’mused to paying,” she said. Her budget went to thatone speaker.

The MN poll revealed that the majority of speakerbudgets among respondents fell between $1,500 and$5,000, followed by a large contingent of those whohave even less money to work with. This has impact-ed the use of outside speakers and bureaus, too.

“I don’t use speaker bureaus because they’re tooexpensive,” said Kathleen O’Donnell, deputy direc-tor for New York City-based International Ticket-ing Association, who plans the group’s events.“As abyproduct of my budget, I am limited in hiring out-side speakers to keynotes,” she added. And, like 58.3percent of the planners in the MN survey, O’Don-nell looks for educators when she brings in outsidespeakers.

The budget restrictions, said O’Donnell, height-en the planning challenge when attendees want tohear from someone “other than the person theywork with”but also who can relate to their industry.So, she relies on academia, finding professors onsalient subjects, such as the future of commerce

and social networking, though she said manyspeakers on generational diversity “seem to betied to speaker bureaus.”In the pharmaceutical industry, not only is it

more effective to source organization players, it’ssafer, as well, said Aleka Garcia, account supervisorfor Costa Mesa, CA-based event planning firm Pacif-ic Communications. “In pharma, there are restric-tions on what can be discussed.An internal speaker is[aware of] the organization’s ethics and schooled incompliance issues,” said Garcia. “They know what

can be talked about and what’s not appropriate.”But while speaker selection has become more tar-

geted, the outside celebrity/professional speaker isin no way a dying breed. Michael Quatrini, Orlan-do-based GM for marketing and events firm TBAGlobal LLC, contending that speaker budgets areactually increasing, said his clients are mixing pro-fessional speakers with targeted speeches to enliveneach program.

“You’ll still have your Olympic stars,” said Qua-trini, alluding to top athletes and celebrities. And,he said the pros are adapting:“Professional speakersare savvy; they’re becoming more on point withbrand spirit and company messages.”

Then, there are risks when relying heavily oninternal speakers, argued Laurie Meyer, president ofNew York City-based Programs Plus International,an events firm and speaker boutique. Namely, if theinternal speaker is exposed within the organizationas someone who doesn’t lead by example, she said,the message delivery can backfire. Another pratfallis attendee perception that the group isn’t worth theextra money for an outside speaker.

“You have to analyze whether you’ll lose morethan you’ll gain,” said Meyer.“And, you can still getoutside speakers who customize for companies anddon’t cost exorbitant [amounts of money].”�

Contact William Ng at william.ng@nielsen.com

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Hot for Teachers

Source: MeetingNews survey of 235 meeting planners

What is your primary goal in bringing speakersfrom outside your organization?

Educate attendeeswith industry

Motivateattendees

Use famousnames to draw

attendees

Entertainattendees

* Other

54.0%

33.6%

62.3%

19.7%

4.4%

10.7%

6.2%

5.7%

1.8%

1.6%

CorporatePlannersAssociationPlanners

On the Outside Looking In

Source: MeetingNews survey of 243 meeting planners

How much money do you typically budget for speakers who are not already part of your organization?

CorporatePlanners

0-$1,500

0-$1,500

13.6%

33.9%

22.0%

22.9%

7.6%

$1,501-$5,000

$1,501-$5,000

$5,001-$10,000

$5,001-$10,000

$10,001-$20,000

$10,001-$20,000

$20,000+

$20,000+

28.0%10.4%

32.0%

16.0%

13.6%

AssociationPlanners

Planners are loud and clear on internal speaker sourcing

MN_32_8_13-lay 4/11/08 2:19 PM Page 13

By Nancy Lazarus

Planners’ jobs not only involve a great deal ofbusiness travel, they also entitle them to gener-

ous vacation benefits. In MeetingNews’ recent sur-vey of 310 meeting professionals, respondentsreported an average of 23 annual vacation days, fargreater than the national average of 14 days. Buttheir heavy work travel schedules prevent them fromtaking a lot of vacation time, and they usually checkin with the office while away on break.

The amount of time off isonly part of planners’ enviable

vacation packages. One-quarter of those surveyedsaid their vacation time has increased in the pastcouple years. Two meeting professionals with sub-stantial vacation time are Joel Whitten, meetingsand events manager for the Subway sandwich chainin Milford, CT, and Christine Dahlgren, associatedirector of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board.Both Whitten and Dahlgren have 25 paid days offannually, including vacation and personal days,marking an increase of five days since they reachedtheir five-year work anniversaries.

Flexible time-off policies are also the norm forplanners. Two-thirds of those surveyed noted that

they are allowed to carry over vacation time into thebeginning of the following year, including Whitten,who usually holds over five days due to his workschedule. Furthermore, over half of associationplanners and one-third of corporate planners cantake comp days for business trips that occur onweekends. Ericka Katz, director of programs for theSoftware Association of Oregon, in Portland, said,“Every time I have an event on a weekend, I can takea comp day within the following 30 days.”

To be sure, planners earn every day of their leisuretime, as they spend nearly 30 percent of their worklife on the road performing their jobs. Beth Becker,global meeting services manager for MicroTek inDowners Grove, IL, travels one-third of the time.Planners tend to keep business and pleasure tripsseparate, however, as those surveyed reported onlyoccasional instances of adding on leisure days totheir fam trips or site inspections. Becker recalled thelast trip she managed to add personal time off wasthe MPI education conference in Houston, stayingthree extra days to visit Galveston, TX.

Meeting professionals were divided as to whetherthey access work messages while away on vacation.Becker confessed a “love/hate relationship with myBlackBerry.” Whitten pointed out that he alwaysstays in touch with his office because “it prevents alot more work when I return.” Dahlgren, however,resists the temptation to stay connected. “I try not tocheck in and plan for that while I’m away exceptunder special circumstances.”

But, in many respects, planners’ vacation patternsreflect those of Americans overall. One-third ofthose surveyed do not intend to take all of theirallotted vacation days this year, similar to otherU.S. workers. Dahlgren explained, “Nothingconcrete prevents me from taking the days; it justusually turns out that the end of the year comesbefore I have used them all due to a busy schedule.”

Meeting professionals’ leisure trips average onlyfive days, also mirroring national vacation trendstoward shorter periods of time off. Katz noted thatshe takes her vacation time in “two- to four-dayincrements throughout the year.” Furthermore,planners tend to favor the summer months for theirlongest trips—again typical of the traveling public.Whitten said his longest trip is in “late summer orChristmas/New Year holiday season since it is my

office’s slowest period.”The U.S. is the most popular leisure destination

for these planners. Nearly three-quarters of thosesurveyed prefer to spend their vacation time ondomestic trips, while less than one-fifth prefer inter-national trips. Another 13 percent like staying athome to relax, instead of going away. Becker recent-ly enjoyed a “staycation” in June, when she preparedthe house, pool, and yard for summer entertaining.

During their longest vacations this year, plan-ners are visiting different regions of the U.S.,especially the East and West coasts.Whitten will

vacation in Florida, while Katz will travel to theBay Area in California to visit her family.

Not surprisingly, few are venturing abroad, wellaware of the high costs for American visitors. AsDahlgren observed,“I would love to go overseas, butbecause of the weak dollar it’s unlikely it will hap-pen this year. My next international trip will bedetermined by the exchange rate, plane ticket prices,and my budget, when my other vacations areplanned.”�

Contact Nancy Lazarus atnancy.lazarus@nielsen.com

20 MeetingNews July 21, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchFinding the Time for Time Off Is a Challenge for Planners

Our latest survey finds that planners get more time off than the U.S. average but have trouble taking advantage of it

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Bankers’ Hours

Source: MeetingNews survey of 309 meeting planners

Which, if any, of the following does your currentemployer allow?

Carry vacation timeover from one year

into beginning offollowing year

Take comp daysfor business trips

taken duringweekends

Purchase extravacation time

I workindependently

None of the above

64.7%

35.3%

71.3%

56.5%

7.4%

0.0%

4.4%

6.5%

14.7%

13.9%

CorporatePlanners

AssociationPlanners

Before and After

Source: MeetingNews survey of 270 meeting planners

When you travel for work on fam trips or siteinspections, how often do you add on leisurevacation days?

Never

Always

Frequently15.2%

5.6%

0.7%

33.7%

Occasionally

Sometimes

44.8%

MN_32_13_20-lay 7/11/08 5:58 PM Page 20

By Heidi Waldrop Bay

Word from the front lines indicates that a shift ishappening in how destinations are chosen and

what is demanded of the meeting planner when try-ing to balance an increasingly global meetings envi-ronment with new regulations. Among the new

obstacles are recently increasedimmigration security measures

in countries such as Japan.As of Nov. 20, all foreign-ers get fingerprinted and photographed upon enter-ing Japan; with few exceptions, those refusing tocooperate are not granted entry.

In stepping up security, the U.S. Department ofHomeland Security has begun requiring 10 finger-prints instead of two from international visitors.All non-U.S. citizens between ages 14 and 79 areto submit to digital fingerprinting and photo-graphing when applying for a visa and arriving ata U.S. port of entry. Began in December, the programwill roll out to all 288 ports of entry by year end.

About 83 percent of the 300 planners polled in theMeetingNews survey regarding stepped-up screening

expect it to be a hassle but don’t anticipate it chang-ing meeting plans. Just under 15 percent of all plan-ners—but 20 percent of association planners—believe the changes will cause groups to look foralternative international destinations.When it cameto cancellations, none of the association plannersand few corporate planners and those who organizeboth anticipated having to do so.

Carlson Marketing, which shepherds a range ofcorporate and association meeting and incentive pro-grams from offices in 19 countries, reflects the gen-eral consensus. “We do not see clients canceling orturning away from a destination because of enhancedsecurity requirements,”said Fay Beauchine,executive

VP of global meetings, incentives, and events forthe Minneapolis-based company. “It is a goodthing to advance security.”

A pair of MN surveys—in 2006 and 2007—queried planners how new passport requirementsfor U.S. travelers would impact the way they do busi-ness. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative(WHTI) called for all persons traveling between theUnited States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, andthe Caribbean region to present a passport to enter—or re-enter—the United States. Last January, the airtravel portion took effect, and this month passportsare being called for at all land and sea border cross-ings. (Congress is seeking to delay the effective date; atpress time the January phase-in was in place.)

In the first survey of 389 planners, in 2006—before the requirements took effect—65.6% ofrespondents anticipated that new rules would haveno impact. In 2007, in a survey of 300 planners ask-ing the same questions, only 60.7% still felt that way.

Expectations of increased lead times held steadywith experience, with around 28 percent of plannersweighing in with concern they would need more timeand about the same percentage finding they actuallydo, especially for obtaining documentation. Whenthe air phase of WHTI went into effect,wait times forpassports jumped from four to 12 weeks as the StateDepartment struggled to meet demand.Concern thatthe backlog may become more severe when the land-and-sea phase goes into effect prompted Congress’current attempt to delay its implementation.

For Jennifer Smith, director of operations forCharleston, SC-based Planning the Globe, new doc-umentation requirements are impacting foreignnationals the most.“There are a lot of doctors, scien-

tists, and experts from places like India and Pakistan,who live in the U.S. and work for companies based[here],” she said. “We have to get official documen-tation of the meeting and their hotel confirmationsfor them to take to their closest consulates forapproval. Lead times can be four months. In a yearor two, it will be common knowledge: ‘We can’t dothat meeting; Dr. Whomever can’t come because hehas to have special approvals to travel, and we can’tdo it in that short time.’”

In both MN surveys, planners were also askedabout what effect the passport requirements mighthave on the popularity of nearby international desti-nations. While only about 7 percent of the respon-dents to the 2006 survey thought they might be lessattractive, in 2007, it was 12 percent: The overalltrend is toward choosing domestic destinations. Ofall those polled in 2006, 14 percent believed thechanges would make domestic destinations moreattractive; in 2007, 21 percent report that domesticoptions are more appealing. Only 3 percent of the2006 respondents anticipated looking more to otherinternational settings; 7 percent did so in 2007. �

24 MeetingNews January 7, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchBorder rules rewrite international planning perspectives

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

2006 Survey Results

Source: MeetingNews survey of 389 meeting planners

As of January 2007, passports are required forall U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico,and the Caribbean. What effect will this have onplanning future international programs?

Lead timewill increase

Will makedomestic

destinationsmore attractive

Will makethese nearbyinternational

destinations lessattractive

Will make otherinternationaldestinations

more attractive

No impact

20.5%

45.6%

11.0%

14.0%

31.0%

24.1%

3.8%9.0%

15.2%

3.3%

7.6%

73.3%

64.0%

46.8%

Corporate Planners

Association Planners

Both

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

2007 Survey Results

Source: MeetingNews survey of 300 meeting planners

In early January 2007, passports were requiredfor all U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico,and the Caribbean. What effect will this have onplanning future international programs?

Lead timewill increase

Will makedomestic

destinationsmore attractive

Will makethese nearbyinternational

destinations lessattractive

Will make otherinternationaldestinations

more attractive

No impact

23.1%

43.1%

16.2%

12.9%

33.9%

41.5%

8.7%

14.5%

20.0%

5.8%

6.5%

9.2%

67.6%

64.5%

38.5%

Corporate Planners

Association Planners

Both

MN_32_1_24-lay 12/28/07 2:20 PM Page 24

By Phillip Hennessey

From coast to coast, a wave of new conventioncenters have opened in mid-tier cities across the

United States in the last five years, giving plannersmore options and more bargaining power in theirmeeting negotiations. In the latest MeetingNews

survey of over 300 corporateand association meeting plan-

ners, 48 percent of respondents who use conventioncenters said they are considering many more citiesnow than in the past.

“What we’re finding is that planners are alwayslooking for that new hot destination,” said DennyEdwards, president and CEO of the Raleigh Con-vention & Visitors Bureau. “They get tired ofgoing to the same old place.”

The strengths of the 500,000-sf RaleighConvention Center, which will open in Sep-tember, will be its attention to customer service andaffordability, he said, coupled with the city’s airaccess and vibrant mix of dining and entertainmentoptions in the downtown area.“You’re going to finda lot of the same amenities, but at a much reducedcost of what you’re going to find in a first-tier city.”

The focus on affordability is shared by plannersindustry-wide: 73 percent of 175 surveyed plannerswho use convention centers identified cost as one oftheir most pressing needs, beyond adequate space.Still, challenges remain for groups in attaining theright mix of venues in certain destinations.

“We stay with the second-tier cities because ofthe cost factor,” said Vanessa Kane, manager of

meetings and events for the Veterans of ForeignWars of the U.S., in Kansas City, MO.“But in a lot ofthe cities, we’re limited a little bit in the fact that thecities need to have a good hotel package in closeproximity to the convention center. A lot of themhave a really nice center, but they’ve got small hotelsnear the center—it just shoots us in the foot.”

Kane organizes the VFW’s national annual conven-tion held each August, which averages about 10,000attendees. The next two conventions will be held inOrlando and Phoenix, but afterward will be in small-er destinations with strong hotel packages: Indi-anapolis in 2010 and San Antonio in 2011.

Some centers, like the Connecticut ConventionCenter in Hartford,which opened in 2005,are sim-

ply too expensive for planners like Deborah Tay-lor, who hosts her largest gathering for the Con-

necticut Education Association (CEA)—anannual,1,200-attendee conference—at Mohegan Sun,the Uncasville, CT, casino resort.

“We have moved to a hotel with a ballroom witha large enough capacity for this particular annualconvention because I had more bargaining power,”said Taylor, meeting planner/state coordinator forthe Hartford-based CEA, who benefits from nego-tiations that include sleeping rooms, parking, andfood and beverage all under one roof.

According to Taylor, the Connecticut ConventionCenter has largely overlooked local companies inlieu of national groups, focusing on out-of-stateventures while pricing out some of its own neigh-bors.“That place is gorgeous, but I don’t see it being

used as much as it should be,” she said.“It’s lit up atnight, but there’s no one in it.”

Other groups, like the annual Paint and CoatingsExpo are also starting to consider large hotels withindividual convention space, which may be able tooffer a more intimate atmosphere for the group’s3,500 to 4,500 attendees.

“There are cities like Las Vegas that we would loveto go to,” said Annette Suriani, the Fairfax,VA-baseddirector of meetings for the expo.“But we’d be justlike this little fish in a really, really big pond.”

Nancy Elder, director of meetings and industryrelations for the American Society for Microbiolo-gy, in Washington, DC, continues to use larger citiesfor two annual conventions that draw 12,000 to13,000 attendees. But she also organizes between fiveand 10 smaller events that have grown from as smallas 100 people to nearly 1,000, and which may soonwarrant convention centers in second-tier cities.

For Elder, it comes down to taking full advantageof what a city has to offer, regardless of size.

“Every city, first- or second-tier, is going to beunique,”she said.“It’s about using the strengths of thecity to produce the meeting; understanding that cityand how it can be put to best use is really our role.”�

22 MeetingNews March 10, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchConvention centers in smaller cities give planners choices

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Watching Those Dollars

Source: MeetingNews survey of 175 meeting planners

When choosing a convention center, what are yourmost pressing needs beyond adequate space?

Cost

Adjacentheadquarters

hotel

Excellentcatering services

Top-notchcommunications

and AV

Nearbydining/entertain-

ment options

Proximity tothe airport

67.0%

60.4%

69.0%

54.9%

78.6%

57.1%

50.5%

50.0%

50.5%

39.3%

35.2%

23.8%

Corporate Planners

Association Planners

Easing Up on Availability

Source: MeetingNews survey of 139 meeting planners

With increased supply, have convention centers become easier to book?

CorporatePlanners

Yes, ingeneral

Not in the citieswhere we holdour program

27.3%

22.7%

50.0%

No, ingeneral Yes, in

general

Not in the cities where we hold our program

No, ingeneral

58.9%21.9%

19.2%

AssociationPlanners

MN_32_5_22-lay 2/29/08 4:37 PM Page 22

By Terri Hardin

“Where do you see yourself in five years?”It’s the quintessential interview ques-

tion, and in MeetingNews’ most recent survey, weasked that question, and others, and found thatmost meeting planners—corporate, association,and independent—are in it for the long haul.Nearly all planners saw themselves in their jobsin a year’s time; and 81 percent saw themselvesremaining as planners in five years’ time. Andnearly half (49 percent) saw themselves in theirplanning role in 10 years’ time.

Coupled with the fact that 92 percent of survey respon-

dents reported experiencing good to excellent levels of job satisfaction, it would seem,at first, thatthe meeting industry is one big bed of roses.

Looking deeper, however, MN discoveredsome clouds on the horizon, namely, that while78 percent of all twentysometing-to-fortysome-thing planners see themselves in the planningrole in five years’ time, only 59 percent see them-selves as planners in 10 years’ time.

Among planner categories, independent plan-ners expressed the most disaffection, with 73 envi-sioning themselves as planners in five years’ time,and 43 percent making it to the 10-year mark.

Between genders, planners were basically onthe same page at five years, but 15 percent moremen than women were opting out when it cameto the 10-year mark.

Why the falloff? According to Harith Wickrema,adjunct professor of the School of Tourism andHospitality at Temple University and President ofWillow Grove, PA-based Harith Productions,“meeting and event planning is a profession thatdemands continuous passion to succeed. Thosewho get to do various different meetings tend tocontinue, but others who do the same ‘meat-and-potatoes’ meetings tend to change careers.”Wick-rema added,“Students in my classes at Temple areencouraged to work in a related field or in an assis-tant/administrative assistant capacity at anevent/meeting planning company prior tobecoming a full-fledged planner.”

“At least 25 percent of [our] students (out of2,400) are event management majors,” said Deb-orah Breiter, chair of the department of tourism,events, and attractions at the Rosen School ofHospitality Management in Orlando. “Some areinterested in meetings, some in conventions, anda lot are interested in special events. Our market islargely supplier-based, so students work in hotels,theme parks, DMCs, GSCs, etc.”

MaryAnne P. Bobrow, of Bobrow & Associates,based in Citrus Heights, CA, thinks there hasbeen a shift in expectations where planners areexpected to move from logistics to strategic. “Iam often amazed to learn that many plannersnever see organizational financials, nor do theyunderstand or appreciate what they (or theirdepartment) contribute to the bottom-line prof-it of the organization. How can they possiblybecome strategic in their approaches whenthey do not have the tools necessary to graspthe organization’s overall plan?”

Also, only so much about meeting logistics canchange. (After all, as Joan L. Eisenstodt, principalof Washington, DC-based Eisenstodt AssociatesLLC, who has nearly 40 years of industry experi-ence, pointed out,“We are still meeting in facili-ties with chairs in rows.”) Thus, planners who aregoal-oriented and undeterred by the necessaryrepetition are best-suited to the vocation.“I lovethe rush; I love the deadline; I love that the proj-ect has a definite finish date,” said Emily Vandall,who was most recently marketing and event

manager for Charleston, SC-based Force Protec-tion Inc. “I love stepping back when it’s all over,assessing it, and then moving on to the next proj-ect.” For Vandall, her past 10 years of meetingsexperience started with cocktail hours and babyshowers and advanced to million-dollar interna-tional exhibits. The industry, she noted, is “what-ever we make it. It’s a fine line that we walk. Onone hand, we have to fight to be taken seriously.On the other hand, we have to be extremely flex-ible, always happy, and ready for the next

project.”Perhaps the new generation of planners

will come from where they’ve always comefrom—out of the blue. “Fortunately,” said

Karen Brown, of Conferences by Design, in Salis-bury, MD,“we’ve found two very organized peo-ple to take over registration and database manage-ment of our post-conference surveys.We’ve hireda social butterfly who is handling our companionand social networking programs (and leaves eachevent with a whole new set of best friends), andI’ve found a retired school teacher who handlesour speakers and session monitors.”�

Contact Terri Hardin atterri.hardin@nielsen.com

30 MeetingNews August 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

MN Exclusive ResearchAre There Enough Planners In The Pipeline?

MNExclusiveResearch

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%0% 20%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

Retention Rates

Source: MeetingNews survey of 279 meeting planners

Do you see yourself as a planner…?In Five Years’ Time

Yes

No

Yes

No

81.2%

72.5%

76.0%

18.8%

24.0%

27.5%

54.0%

53.6%

42.5%

46.0%

46.4%

57.5%

CorporatePlannersAssociationPlannersOtherPlanners

Commitment by Gender

Source: MeetingNews survey of 279 meeting planners

Do you see yourself as a planner…?In Five Years’ Time

Yes67.9%

Yes77.7%

Yes37.3% Yes

52.8%

No62.7%

No32.1% No

22.3%

No47.2%

In 10 Years’ Time

In 10 Years’ Time

Male Female

FemaleMale

MN_32_14_30-lay 8/1/08 3:36 PM Page 30

6 MeetingNews February 11, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com

#1TROPICANA FOR SALE

Staying in the top spot for the weeksof Jan. 14-28, the sale of the Tropi-cana hints at trouble in a boomingAtlantic City hotel, resort, and casi-no development market. Click onmeetingnews.com/top50026

#2 Planner’s Workshop: How to Manage Site Selection Meeting planners are getting the tools to do their jobs better. Leslie Schultz comes in at the number-two spotwith advice and strategies for selecting the right site. Point your browser to meetingnews.com/top50027

#3 FutureWatch Predicts Solid 2008 for Meetings Industry Meeting professionals expect healthy attendance and budget increases in the coming year, according tothe annual market trends study FutureWatch 2008. Look for expanded coverage in the Feb. 25 issue.Watch for more at meetings.com/top50028

#4 HSMAI Presents Sourcebook for Meeting Planners 2008In cooperation with Ascend Media, the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI,www.hsmai.org) has prepared HSMAI’s Sourcebook for Meeting Planners 2008. Go to the source at meetingnews.com/top50029

#5 State Department Warns of Lengthy Passport Wait Times As the Jan. 31, 2008, deadline for the land/sea passport requirement was postponed to June 2009, plannersgot wise to previous deadlines and long wait periods for documentation. Get the latest atmeetingnews.com/top50030

Web Top 5: Jan. 14 – 28

GurusMONDAY

Six Steps to Hiring HeadlineEntertainment

TUESDAY

Livin’ La Vida Loca:How to Hire and

Work with HeadlineEntertainment

WEDNESDAY

Champagne on aBeer Budget: Hiring

Headliners for Less Money

FRIDAY

Meetings & EventsIndustry Ethics

Watch

Two Wrongs Don’t Make A ‘Write’ Posted by William Ng

You may have heard or read about the big flap over Golfweek maga-zine's recent “Caught in a Noose” cover. I gotta wonder what DaveSeanor, now ex-editor, was thinking, putting a symbol of racial hatredon the cover. And he was “surprised by the negative reaction”?

So what prompted the distasteful cover, anyway? Seanor and theGolfweek staff were pontificating on another controversy, the one created by GolfChannel anchor Kelly Tilghman. On the air at the second round of the Mercedes-BenzChampionship, she and partner Nick Faldo were discussing challengers to TigerWoods. Tilghman, in suggesting what the challengers should do, jokingly made thedumb remark, “Lynch him in a back alley.”

Apparently, Tilghman and Woods are friends—he even has tried to downplay hercomment—but there's still no excuse for such a remark.

Tilghman has been suspended by the Golf Channel, and Seanor has been replacedby Turnstile Publishing Co., the parent of Golfweek. Right moves.

There's a lesson in here for meeting planners. While all of us are searching forattention-grabbing event themes, we need to realize certain words or images thatmay seem innocuous at first are insensitive, even taboo, to others. This is especiallyimportant for international meeting planners, who need to be respectful of othersand unfamiliar cultures.

But, of course, when you know what you’re about to say or do is wrong and youdo it anyway, that’s just stupid.For the full blog, check out meetingnews.com/soapbox0006

SoapboxTo which emerging meetingsdestinations will you be takingyour programs in 2008?

Pollster

“Other” responses included emerg-ing islands, developing destinationswithin Mexico, and Eastern Europeancountries, such as Croatia.

Brazil

Other

India

10%

18%11%

China

Russia

More than oneof the above

16% 11%

34%

Mark Sonder, Chief EntertainmentOfficer, Mark SonderProductions

meetingnews.com/sonder

MN_32_3_6-lay 2/1/08 4:19 PM Page 6

32 MeetingNews February 25, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

People Making News

E-mail your personnel announcements in the meetings and hospitality industries to William Ng, Managing Editor, atwilliam.ng@nielsen.com, or mail them to MeetingNews, 770 Broadway, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10003.

ROY ASSADBoard Chairman, Palm Beach County CVBRoy Assad will apply hissuccessful business skillsto his new role as boardchairman in Palm BeachCounty, FL, where there’s

a $2.8-million tourism industry to chal-lenge him. Assad will be leading up a 17-member board, which in 2007 transitionedfrom a larger board to a small core groupwith increased involvement. He also servesas chairman of West Palm Beach’s Downtown Development Authority and onthe advisory board of the Arthur MarshallFoundation for Everglades restoration.

NANCY DEBROSSEVice President Experient DeBrosse will be workingfrom the Washington,DC, office for Experient,an integrated meetingand event solutions firm,

relying on her 20 years of industry experi-ence that includes sales, marketing, andoperations. She also serves as the DCChapter chair for the InternationalAssociation of Exhibitions and Events,and is 2008 president elect for theCapital Chapter of the ProfessionalConvention Management Association.

SONIA FONGDirector of Convention Sales Greater Miami CVBFluent in English,Spanish, and Chinese,Fong spent the past twoyears working for the

Greater Miami CVB in Europe working tointroduce the Miami brand to theChinese market. She’ll likely bring thesame enthusiasm to her new role in theMiami office. She will oversee citywideassociation and corporate business fromthe Washington, DC, and Chicago-areamarkets.

DAVID COLELLABoard of DirectorsChairman Greater Boston CVBNative Bostonian Colellabrings hometown enthu-siasm to his new role as2008 chairman of theboard of directors for the CVB. He cur-rently serves as vice president and man-aging director of the Colonnade Hotel, a285-key luxury hotel in the city’s historicBack Bay district. Among Colella’s manyachievements is his recent “2008Restaurateur of the Year” award by theMassachusetts Restaurant Association.

TODD GREENWOODVP of ConventionCenter Sales and Mkg.Greater Springfield CVBGreenwood hopes his 18years’ experience andathletic passions willhelp him elevate eventsat the MassMutual Center to a new level.Former marketing manager with theIndianapolis CVB, he’s also worked for theGreater Columbus CVB and in the boom-ing Miami hotel market, the NCAA Hall ofChampions and Conference Center, andon the committees for such events asNCAA Final Four and the Indianapolis2011 Super Bowl bid.

JOSEPH PALMIERIGeneral ManagerHilton Americas-HoustonThe 1,200-room HiltonAmericas-Houston,which is connected tothe George R. BrownConvention Center by skywalk, has a newGM: Joseph Palmieri, who has 33 years’management experience to bring to hisnew role. Palmieri most recently served inthe same position for Dallas’ HiltonLincoln Centre since 1989, during whichhe concurrently held the position of areaVP of operations for the hotel flag. �

CARL COHENChief Sales andMarketing Officer Dolce InternationalExperience begetsexpertise for CarlCohen, who bringsmore than 20years’ worth to hisnew role leadingcompany-wide

sales and marketing efforts to Dolceproperties. His career began in market-ing for the consumer products industry,after which Cohen made a successfultransition into hospitality, serving as asenior VP with Starwood Hotels andResorts, among other posts. In his lastrole, Cohen was president of marketingsolutions for Dendrite International, anInternet marketing firm.

BOB BEDELLPresident and CEOIndianapolis CVBPlans for a June2008 retirementhave beenannounced for BobBedell, who has ledthe IndianapolisCVB (IACVB) since2002. Prior, Bedell

served as senior vice president, from1986 to 1993, and in between headed upthe St. Louis CVB as president and CEO.Upon his return to the IACVB, he spear-headed the campaigns for an expansion ofthe Indiana Convention Center, futureaddition of its headquarters hotel, andconstruction of the Lucas Oil Stadium,among other accomplishments. Bedellleaves the CVB on a good note, with thebureau already ahead of booking forOctober 2010 and beyond.

CorrectionIn Feb. 11 MN, Bob Bedell’s photo ranagainst a Q&A with Atlanta CVB’s VP Sales,Bob Schuler. MeetingNews regrets the errorand extends apologies to both gentlemen.

MN_32_4_32-lay 2/15/08 4:25 PM Page 32

Like any good planner, I sat tight and briefed myteam every hour with weather reports and evacua-tion plans. But I also had to make dramatic, last-minute changes to my program regarding how tomove forward with F&B events, room nights,ground transfers, and a thousand details. It was anerve-wracking process, to be sure.

My headquarters property was extremely accom-modating, given that the circumstances were total-ly beyond anyone’s control. But in the middle ofreorganizing my program, the force majeure clausein my contract was not exactly the first thing on mymind. I just wanted to minimize the damage to myprogram. After the storm passed, though, I certain-ly thought twice about how to protect my programsbetter from these kinds of unexpected events, and Igot in touch with a pro to help me refine the forcemajeure clauses for my programs. For our upcom-ing Successful Meetings University – Hawaii, I’mbringing the advice to you.

John Foster, an attorney and counsel whose firm,Foster, Jensen & Gulley LLC, specializes in the legal

aspects of meetings, conventions, trade shows, andspecial events, will present “Why Bad Things Hap-pen to Good Meetings,” a great overview of what aforce majeure clause typically covers for a meetingor convention and how planners can tailor thisimportant contract clause to address the very realchallenges that they face today:

• Political upheaval or terrorist threats• Sudden and destructive weather (hurricanes,

earthquakes, tsunamis, snowstorms)• Infectious diseases, such as SARS or avian flu• Power outages • Major strikes and labor disputesFoster will discuss how planners can include

allowances for partial termination and negotiate formore lenient program-performance standards in thecontract language.He will also show planners how tobe specific in the language of the force majeure clausewhile also being inclusive of unforeseen events.

A force majeure clause isn’t meant to be an “easyway out”for either party of the contract. But shoulda catastrophic event affect your program as a whole,

or even in part—as it did mine—it’s good to beconfident that you have a solid contract that willprotect your interests.� —Emily Lewis

Emily Lewis plans meetings for meeting plan-ners—no easy task! She is the conference managerfor MeetingNews and sister magazine SuccessfulMeetings,organizing multiple Successful MeetingsUniversity events across the country each year.

68 MeetingNews March 10, 2008 www.meetingnews.com

This is major: How to tailor force majeure clauses

Iremember it like it was yesterday… I had a program located inthe southeastern United States in August. The group was on sitewhen we got the weather report: Tropical storms were brewing

in the Caribbean and picking up speed. Hurricane-force windswere likely to hit my coastal destination city the following day.Attendees and exhibitors were clearly concerned—so concernedthat about half changed their flight arrangements and hopped onplanes to anywhere just to get out of the area.

Successful MeetingsUniversity – HawaiiDATE: May 13-15CITY: Wailea, Maui, HIPROPERTY: Wailea Beach

Marriott Resort & Spa

*Optional Post Trips to Oahu, Kauai, or Big Island May 16-19

EXHIBITORSBig Island Visitors Bureau • Fairmont Kea Lani •Hawaii Convention Center • Hawaii Prince Hotels• Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau • HawaiianAirlines • Hilton Kauai Beach Resort • HiltonWaikiki Prince Kuhio • Hyatt Kauai • Hyatt Maui •Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa • Kaua'iVisitors Bureau • Marriott International HawaiianIsland Hotels • Maui Prince Hotel • Maui Visitors& Convention Bureau • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel &Bungalows • Polynesian Cultural Center •Sheraton Kauai Resort • Sheraton Keauhou BayResort & Spa • Sheraton Maui Resort • St. RegisResort, Princeville • Starwood Hotels & ResortsWaikiki • The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii • TheKahala Hotel & Resort • The Westin Maui Resort &Spa • Turtle Bay Resort • Wailea Beach MarriottResort & Spa • Weil & Associates

Visit our Successful Meetings Universitywebsite, www.MeetingNews.com/SMU, for the latest information about these programs, and feelfree to e-mail any questions about the events toemily.lewis@nielsen.com. We’re expecting tohear from you!

Successful MeetingsUniversityMarketplaces that Educate & Connect

Join me…

Destination Update:Maui, HawaiiFor the first time this May, the Successful Meet-ings University – Hawaii event will be held on themagical island of Maui. The boutique trade showwill take place at the Wailea Beach MarriottResort & Spa, and attending planners will haveample opportunities to experience the resort aswell as savor the island’s inspiring surroundings.From the dramatic Haleakala crater to the well-traveled road to Hana, Maui offers a diverse andpicturesque backdrop for meetings. The program

also features lunch at the Fairmont Kea Lani, anevening reception and torch lighting ceremony atthe Sheraton Maui Resort, dinner at the WestinMaui Resort & Spa, breakfast at the Maui PrinceHotel, and an evening excursion to the historicwhaling village of Lahaina.

PlannerEmily Lewis

MN_32_5_68-lay 2/29/08 5:06 PM Page 68