Education Sessions
Get Expert Tips and Advice
Choose one breakout session from each of the two groups below. Plus, attend the keynote luncheon at noon.
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
Session Descriptions
ETHICS AND MEETINGS
"Planner Integrity:
Doing the Right Thing When No One Is Looking"
With the challenges that meeting professionals are facing today, we must keep up to date with ethics regulations and industry standards. While the economy is still struggling, planners are trying to get "a lot for a little." This session examines professional ethics, codes of conduct, conflicts of interest, and the impact of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act , etc.
Several interactive scenarios will be explored:
- What are the ethical and business issues that need to be considered when negotiating contractual concessions and other business deals?
- Where are the "gray areas" that can often come about when tempted by the offer of personal gifts, hotel stays, upgrades, etc.?
- What steps can individuals, their employers, and our professional organizations take to avoid potential pitfalls and conflicts of interest?
» Presenter: Garland L. Preddy, CGMP
EVENT INSURANCE
"Cover Your Meetings:
Everything You Need to Know About Meetings Insurance"
What does the indemnification clause cover? Do you really need terrorist insurance? What does meeting insurance really encompass? Get answers, from our panel of experts, to these questions and others related to meeting insurance, umbrella insurance, factors in filing a claim, and more.
Session goals and objectives:
- prepare planners to make more strategic crisis planning decisions,
- key takeaways to determine when to file a claim,
- information to better evaluate what insurance is right for your organization, and
- sharing of industry best practices.
» Moderator: Stacey Chattman
» Panelists: Cele Fogarty, Kristalyn J. Loson, Esq., and Christi SchroaderGREEN MEETINGS
"APEX in Action: Destinations, Sustainability, and Standards"
Sustainability has become a strategic concern for all businesses, and you can be part of our industry's sustainable future by joining this session. With the release of the APEX/ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Event Standards, our industry is poised to take major steps forward with powerful, measurable tools and approaches. This panel discussion explores how destinations and planners are integrating sustainability, what the new standards mean, and how planners and suppliers can work together to get started.
Learning objectives:
- gain insight into how destinations and planners are integrating sustainability into their practices and their selection processes;
- understand the framework of the APEX/ASTM standards and how they offer measurable criteria for evaluating destination sustainability; and
- identify next steps for adapting existing destination selection processes.
» Presenters: Scott Beck, Lawrence Leonard, CMP, and TBA
MARKETING & PR
"Powerful Partnerships:
Leveraging DMOs to Drive Attendance"
Learn how meeting professionals can partner with DMOs for complimentary marketing and PR assistance that helps drive attendance.
» Presenters: Tara Letort, Lauren Jarrell, and TBA
MEETINGS AND THE LAW
"Staying Fair in Trying Times:
Tips for Canceling a Hotel Meeting Contract"
When a planner and a hotel sign a contract for a future meeting, neither party is contemplating canceling the agreement—although both know it may happen. The impact of cancellation can be hurt feelings and lighter wallets, but this session explores ways to draft cancellation provisions so that neither party is unfairly disadvantaged.
By attending this session, you will learn:
- the difference between canceling and terminating a contract,
- the meaning of liquidated damage provisions and their impact on a "resell" requirement, and
- whether or not a mutual cancellation provision is a good idea.
» Presenter: James M. Goldberg
RELATIONSHIP BUILDING
"Teaming for Success:
Maximizing Hotel, DMO/CVB, and Planner Relationships"
When booking your meetings, there are sales cycles, priority deadlines, accountability, and milestones that affect planners, hoteliers, and CVBs. This session examines sales promotions and deadlines that can impact planners, as well as performance measures and goals that affect suppliers. Gain an understanding of the RFP and contract signing processes—and learn how to establish an open dialogue so that all involved parties have success and meet their performance goals.
What you'll learn:
- CVB and hotel sales cycles and milestones - learn about end-of-the-quarter and -month goals and how they impact a salesperson's performance. Can promotion timelines be changed/modified when the planner can't get the contract signed? What do "sign by" dates mean and how can you work with the hotelier to meet the deadline?
- Planner constraints and contract signing - what are the organization's goals? Who is the planner accountable to in this process and when? How many layers of signoff? Can a planner mitigate internal delays and meet a hotelier deadline? Is the constraint internal or external?
- Sending RFPs - whom to send it to and how it's disseminated by all parties. What does it mean for a CVB or hotelier to get "credit" for a lead? Why is it important?
SOCIAL MEDIA
"Virtual Networking: Harnessing the Power of LinkedIn"
It's 2012 and time to toss out your Rolodex and turn those business cards into a live, interactive network. Walk away from this session with these valuable tips on mastering the free-of-charge benefits of using LinkedIn:
- how to make your profile stand-out,
- what do first, second, and third connections mean and why should you care?
- costly upgrades are not required for success,
- how to get a full profile view of a non-connection,
- the etiquette of Linkedin,
- who to not invite and why,
- benefits of Groups, and
- creating updates that provide value to your otherwise lifeless collection of business cards.
» Presenter: Valarie Wilder
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
"Two Birds, One Stone:
Engaging Meeting Attendees Through Philanthropic Activities"
Come to this session for ideas and information to introduce philanthropy and life-enriching activities into your meetings. Imagine going to a meeting and participating in a meal assembly event that feeds schoolchildren in developing countries. What about spending an hour to donate blood? Or experiencing the accomplishment and reward of building part of a home with Habitat for Humanity?
You'll generate more positive feelings from attendees, which in turn, will be linked forever back to your organization's event. These are team building opportunities for attendees—and sponsorship opportunities for potential partners. A win-win for all involved.
» Presenters: Diane Fulton, CMP; Patti Steele, CMP; and TBA
STRATEGIC PLANNING
"The Big Picture:
Delivering Meetings
That
Meet Your Organization’s Strategic Plan"
Sponsored by PCMA
As a meeting planner, understanding and being part of developing your organization’s strategic plan can often be a challenge. However, to be successful, you must be positioned to make and communicate decisions that deliver results in support of the organization’s overall goals. A panel of CEOs will provide perspective on forming key partnerships with your senior management, why knowledgeable and diplomatic dialogue across your organization is a must, and how to make your own communications more strategic. At the conclusion of this session, you'll be able to structure ways to provide better support for your organization—and ultimately your career.
» Moderator: Gregg H. Talley, CAE, FASAE
WORKING WITH DMOs
"Negotiation Leverage: How Hotels
and CVBs Determine the Value of Your Event"
Not all meetings and conventions are created equal. So how do hotels and DMOs/CVBs value your event and what are the most important factors they consider? Hear firsthand from a veteran hotelier and a CVB sales professional about new tools and techniques that will help you understand the value of your event—and improve your negotiation leverage. Find out how to gain access to your event's history through empowerMINT.com and learn about DMAI’s new Event Impact Calculator.
» Moderator: Christine "Shimo" Shimasaki, CDME, CMP
» Presenters: Rachel Benedick and Peter O'Brien CMP, CASE
