BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Tips & Information You Can Put to Immediate Use
Pick one session from each group. Plus, Don Neal's keynote presentation at Noon.
Note: Advance session selection is not required.
Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Session Descriptions
"An Equation for Success: Show Managers + Exhibitors + ROI Tool Kit = Success"
Sponsored by CEIR
Attend this dynamic, interactive session and learn how show managers can use this simple on-line tool to demonstrate to exhibitors how they can be successful. Funded by a grant from the PCMA Educational Foundation to the Center for Exhibition Industry Research, the ROI Toolkit will help show managers and exhibit sales personnel in demonstrating value to current and prospective exhibitors. Research from the Center for Exhibition Industry Research reveals that 60 percent of trade show leads are NOT followed up on. Industry expert Sam Lippman will demonstrate how show managers can use the new, online, ROI Tool Kit to help their exhibitors be successful. This session will benefit both show managers and sales professionals in understanding the value of partnering with their exhibitors to assure success.
Learning objectives:
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Learn how to leverage data on their event, along with industry research, in the selling process
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Learn the importance of partnering with exhibitors for success
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Learn how to use the ROI Tool Kit to work with exhibitors to:
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Evaluate show potential and value – is exhibiting justified?
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Plan to maximize potential and ROI – what level of investment is required and justified?
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Measure reach of exhibit and potential for ROI
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Presenter: Sam Lippman, President and Founder, Integrated Show Management & Marketing (ISM)
"Best Practices for Negotiating and Managing Contract Provisions in Today’s Difficult Economic Times"
Sponsored by MPI
In today’s difficult economic climate, organizations must reevaluate their approach toward negotiating and managing their meetings contracts. Emphasis must be placed on not only economic items such as protecting room rates and managing attrition fees but also on other important legal issues such as force majeure, indemnification and insurance. Join hospitality industry attorney Barbara Dunn of Howe & Hutton, Ltd. as she facilitates an open discussion on negotiation strategies for success in today’s marketplace as well as the key legal issues which should be addressed in every contract. Come prepared to share your questions and negotiation experiences.
Session learner outcomes:
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Identify techniques to use during the negotiation phase to ensure the best position for your organization
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Describe each party’s position on various critical issues and the techniques that can be employed to reach resolution
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Understand key legal issues to address in all contacts and how to get them included in the contract.
Presenter: Barbara F. Dunn, Esq., Attorney and Partner, Howe & Hutton
"Crisis Planning and Meetings: Preparing for What COULD Go Wrong"
Sponsored by Mexico Tourism Board
No matter how well prepared you are as a meeting professional, there are many variables outside of your control that could have a significant impact on your meetings and events. Even veteran meeting professionals can be caught off guard by a domestic terrorist event or natural disaster, an international pandemic like the H1N1 virus, or the recent financial collapse felt around the world. What can we do as planners and suppliers when the unknown impacts you? Do you know what to do if such an incident occurred immediately before or during your event?
Join two experts on international and domestic meetings for an important discussion on crisis and contingency planning. Learn how to prepare for the unexpected and minimize impact. Gain decision-making tools for ensuring the safety and well-being of your staff, attendees, and exhibitors, as well as steps you can take to protect the financial obligations of your organization.
Presenters: Jim Skiba, CMP, Founder and Director, World Incentive Nexus; Brad Goldberg, Owner and President, TriGold Consulting LLC; and Eli Gorin, CMP, President, gMeetings Inc.
"Ethics in Today's Economic Climate: The Relationship Between Planners and Hoteliers"
This interactive panel will feature the viewpoints of independent planners, association executives, and hoteliers discussing real world examples on how to fairly and ethically communicate and negotiate during these unprecedented times. The contract may be signed, sealed, and delivered, but we have found ourselves tasked with creating solutions to issues outside the bounds of those very contracts we created. How do we do that and maintain an ethical and effective relationship between hotels and planners? What is fair? What is ethical? What is effective? What responsibility do organizations have? What responsibility do hotels have? Join our session and participate in this very relevant and important discussion about ethical communication and how each participant should work together to achieve mutual goals.
Moderator: Sandy Reynolds, CMP, President and Owner, Meetings & Events USA
Panelists: Stacy Lucherini, Regional Vice President, Sales, Associated Luxury Hotels; Margaret Manchik, Assistant National Sales Director, Disney Destinations; and Lisa J. Mikita, CMP, CAE, Director of Conferences & Meetings, Association of Legal Administrators
Note: this session replaces "Innovative Meeting Solutions:
Practical Ways to Bring Wow to Your Meetings"
"Increasing Accessibility at Meetings"
Sponsored by SGMP
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. It guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. As the population ages, this issue continues to take on greater relevance.
This session will provide an overview of the ADA and Title III, which address public accommodations. One professional associations approach to accessibility will be reviewed. Areas covered will include: ADA checklists, site visits, and dissemination of information to registrants. Accessibility requirements of convention centers, hotels, and local transportation will be discussed.
At the conclusion of the session the attendee will be able to:
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Provide an overview of the ADA and Title III
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Have an appreciation for what persons with disabilities are requesting.
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Conduct an accessibility assessment of a convention center, hotel, and surrounding area.
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Know what materials to provide to registrants and in what format.
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Know how to handle individual requests for accommodations.
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Identify resources for future use.
Presenter: Frank E. Gainer, Conference Program Manager, American Occupational Therapy Association
"Push/Pull, Streaming & Tweets, Oh My! Attendance Building on Steroids"
Traditional marketing meets digital and social media! Discover proven, innovative attendance-building strategies that utilize a blend of CVB tools, educational content, target marketing, and social media “communities” to create excitement pre-, during, and post-event. The result – creating the “buzz” that drives awareness and attendance!
Moderator: Mickey Schaefer, CAE, President, Mickey Schaefer & Associates LLC
Panelists: Mark Tunney, CMP, Managing Director, Convention Sales, Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau; and Lise Puckorius, Senior Vice President, Convention and Trade Show Services, SmithBucklin Corporation
Sponsored by PCMA
How do you know if your event is "green"? How do you determine if a product, program, or place is as green as they say? Using current best practices and standards as a guide, this fun, interactive session will test your knowledge, challenge your assumptions, and expand your understanding of sustainability. Teams will pit themselves against each other—and the audience—to see who knows most about green meetings and events.
Learning objectives:
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Find out how the industry currently defines green and where the standard is going in the future.
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Learn more about the concepts, terms, and ideas behind sustainability.
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Learn what to look for and avoid when choosing green suppliers.
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Discover state-of-the-art information on energy consumption, waste management, purchasing, sustainable food and beverage, transportation, audio/visual, and other issues.
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Learn the tools and techniques available to help plan and measure your greening effort.
Presenter: Deborah Popely, President, Green Events Source
