In This Issue

Ten Tips for Targeted Talks
A Meeting Planner's Dream Location
From the Field: Hay-Adams, Washington, D.C.
Poll: Where Have You Been Meeting Lately?
Around the Industry
Krisam & GEP News

 

Ten Tips for Targeted Talks
And a form to send speakers to help make it happen

"What does this have to do with me?" If members of an audience are asking themselves that question, the speaker is failing in his/her job. And that means you as the meeting planner are going to experience the fallout. But why is the speaker failing? And, what can you do about it? Sure you can get a big name who will keep the crowd involved and impressed. But, when it’s over, have the listeners learned anything that will help them in their work or make their lives better?

That’s why John Jay Daly, a long-time speaker, says you should ask yourself "What do I want to happen after the speaker finishes? What do I want the audience to do or how do I want them to think after the presentation is finished?" Share your answers with your speaker and you are off to a good start. Here are more practical tips and a form you can use to help guide your speakers.


 

A Meeting Planner's Dream Location

The virtues of this place sound like a meeting planner’s dream wish list. Four and five star hotels at unbelievably good prices. Plenty of meeting and exhibit space within walking distance of the hotels. Fantastic food at half the price you are used to paying. Unparalleled history. 2,000-year-old venues for dinners and parties. Incredible architecture. Superb shopping. Seashores, mountains, forests. Non-stop flights from New York and Chicago. And yet, few Americans have discovered it. That means this is your chance to introduce a truly new experience to participants in an upcoming incentive or meeting. Where is this magical place?




 

From the Field: The Hay Adams, Washington, D.C.

In movies set in Washington, you often see the actors in rooms with a view of the White House or Capitol Building. Few such rooms exist in reality. However, the Hay-Adams Hotel in Washington definitely has a view of the White House including a spectacular one from its rooftop. Available for private functions, the rooftop terrace puts you in the heart of monumental Washington. Location, service, history - The Hay-Adams has it all.

Question of the Month: Where Have You Been Meeting Lately?

With the dollar getting a little stronger versus the Euro, holding a meeting in Europe has become a bit more reasonable. However, based on the ICCA International Meetings Market Report, Europe appears to have been doing fine in hosting international conferences in the past year (See Around the Industry). Are you among those who have conducted a meeting outside of the U.S. in the past year? Take our poll and let’s see how you compare with the ICCA statistics.

 

Last month's poll results: Based on the participation in our poll in May, it seems that most of you would rather not think about ROI (return on investment). It’s been the hot topic in conferences and trade journals lately but few of you wanted to identify where your organization stood in relation to building such a program. Of those who did answer the question, nearly 60% said they have no ROI plans in the works. The results:

Which of the following best describes your organization's use of an ROI program?

• Have no ROI plans in the works. 58%
• ROI program in place. 33%
• In the initial planning stages. 8%
• About midway in adopting one. 0%
• Considering one. 0%

Around the Industry

 

• Hawaii tops dream trips. When asked where they would like to vacation if time and money were of no concern, U.S. respondents to an AP-IPSOS Poll chose Hawaii first. In broader terms, 46% opted for a U.S. vacation while 29% preferred Europe. Top site in Europe was Italy. Also strong were the Caribbean and Australia/New Zealand.
• USA first, Germany second as international meeting sites. The USA still holds more international association meetings than any other country. Germany and France both rose two places respectively from 4th and 6th to 2nd and 4th place, according to the ICCA's "International Meetings Market" Report. The other Top 10 countries are Spain, 3rd; United Kingdom, 5th; The Netherlands, 6th; Italy, 7th; Australia, 8th; Japan, 9th; and Austria; 10th. Barcelona has switched places with Vienna and tops the charts as the most popular city in 2004. Get more results.
• PhotoStamps are back. After a successful market test in 2004 and an evaluation by the United States Postal Service, PhotoStamps are back offering individuals the opportunity to create their own personal USPS-approved postage. At PhotoStamps.com, you upload a photo (or photos) of your choice to create your personal stamps. For now, company logos are not allowed. But meeting site photos, if you own the rights, could be used. And for such personal celebrations as weddings or anniversaries the choices are endless.
• United and Airfone get FAA approval for Wi-Fi. United and Verizon Airfone have just become the first companies to receive Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to install the necessary cabin equipment to enable use of wireless technology (Wi-Fi) devices on board a U.S. domestic commercial aircraft while inflight. The approval was granted after the two companies successfully demonstrated that the usage of 802.11 b/g wireless technology within the cabin of United's B757-200 aircraft does not affect the aircraft's operation. The date customers can use the service awaits the results of an FCC Air-to-Ground spectrum auction.
• Enjoy access to hundreds of airline lounges. If you travel frequently and find yourself cooling your heels in airports more than you’d like, the Priority Pass may be for you. For a fee, it offers you access to over 450 airport VIP lounges worldwide. Three different price and access levels are available. Get more information on the Priority Pass.

Krisam & GEP News
Updates on Krisam member properties & GEP partners. For more information on any of the partners below, contact your Krisam or GEP representative directly or email us today.

GEP announces new director of sales for Chicago
Dawn Barbeau, a veteran of ten years in the meetings industry, has been named director of sales for the Chicago office of Global Events Partners. Dawn has been working in Chicago with a local DMC as their national sales manager for over a year. Prior to that she was the national sales manager at the House of Blues Hotel in Chicago for three years.

She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University with a concentration in Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management. She has ten years experience in our industry and is very active with MPI. Margie McCartney has left the Chicago office of GEP to relocate and be near her family.

Sawgrass Marriott introduces unlimited golf packages
The Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, has announced new All You Can Play packages for golfers who want to enjoy sun-filled days on the lush greenery of its golf courses this summer. Package details include:

• Deluxe resort accommodations for two nights
• Unlimited play on TPC Valley for two days
• One 18 hole round of golf on the TPC Stadium
• 90-day advance tee times
• Breakfast buffet in Café on the Green each morning
• Club storage at the resort
• Unlimited use of Spa facilities including cybex equipped fitness room, variety of daily fitness classes, Steam, sauna and jacuzzi, outdoor lap pool and whirlpool

Cost for the packages, which are available now through September 30, 2005, are:
- $264 per night: 1 golfer in the room
- $399 per night: 2 golfers in the room
- $301.50 per night: 1 golfer in villa
- $436.50 per night: 2 golfers in villa
For more information, contact your Krisam or GEP representative.

Town and Country Resort & Convention Center begins building new exhibit hall
Town and Country Resort & Convention Center, San Diego, has begun work on Phase II of its Expansion & Enhancements plan which includes the addition of a 41,000 square foot Grand Exhibit Hall. When completed it will be the largest privately owned exhibit and meeting facility in the region. The exhibit hall will have all the necessary amenities for tradeshows and conventions, including 25 foot high ceilings. This expansion will bring Town and Country to a total of 230,000 square feet of meeting space. The projected completion date is Fall 2006.

Additional projects will occur in conjunction with the exhibit expansion. They are:

1. Restyling of the existing ballroom space.
2. Restoration of landscape and poolscapes in the Grand Plaza area.
3. Completion of the 1,000 guestroom restyling.
4. Revitalization of entrance and property borders for improved "curb appeal".
5. Creation of a new entrance to the Royal Palm Tower with parking enhancements and connecting promenade to Riverwalk, light rail trolley, golf courses & Fashion Valley shopping center.
6. Opening of a 14,000 square foot Bella Tosca Spa, Salon and Fitness Center.

LSO posts golf course reviews for France and Monaco
LSO International, a leading Destination and Event Management Company in France and Monaco has compiled reviews of 36 golf courses on the French Riviera, in Monaco and in Provence, with detailed technical information.

The golf feature also proposes a choice of hotels and other activities to please all tastes. LSO offers assistance and services for high-end golf themed stays and itineraries from 8 to several dozen persons.

For more information contact your GEP or Krisam representative or e-mail us directly.

Upcoming Industry Events - 2005