Corporate Event Thoughts
Corporate Event Thoughts
Hotels and Twitter - Why Some Succeed and Others Fail
We use twitter every day, it is a very useful tool and I am one of its biggest fans and yes, I know that it makes no sense. Really, twitter makes no sense, but still, for some inexplicable reason, it is one of the best marketing tools on the block.
On any given day, I send information to my followers about the meetings and events industry, useful things like new travel rules, hot destination information, interesting articles from not only PlannerWire, but from other industry and national publications. I especially like the ability to re-tweet the information that I receive from the individuals I "follow".
I follow some of the most amazing people, from meeting planners, CVB folks and corporate marketers to fantastic hotels, industry suppliers and everything in between. If it has to do with the meetings and events industry, I follow it and try to pass along good quality information that other meeting and event professionals might find handy.
I never use twitter to tell people that I am going for coffee, frustrated with my computer or taking the day off. Businesses should use twitter for more practical pursuits. Now, I have no problems with people who use twitter to share the intimate details of their lives, there are certainly people that like to know when their friends or strangers are going to an interview, hopping in the shower or what they are making for dinner and their are those people that want to share when they need to run to the bathroom. If you dig that kind of thing and have that much time on your hands, more power to you, go for it.
Twitter for business should be straightforward, especially for hotels. It is the perfect opportunity to engage their target audience. What I am seeing however, is rather than being engaging and useful, many hotels are making mistakes that not only make their use of this tool a complete waste of time, it could actually damage them in the long run with meeting and event pros. At the very least, they are leaving a strange taste in someone's mouth (I won't say bad, just strange, kinda like the carton of milk in the fridge that expired yesterday....you just are not sure if you should drink it, it smells OK, but.....).
Twitter could, and should be the tool of a lifetime for hotel marketing departments. Imagine if you will, a system that encourages your target market to pay attention to you as you send them exactly the message you want, when you want to send it. That is what twitter is. I see a hotel that I like and I follow them. I give them the right to market to me as they wish.
Put simply, this is power, this is the power to sway my opinion, make me love you, make me understand why I should pick your hotel above all others on a daily basis. Instead of seeing brilliance, I see hotels making mistakes that make it obvious that they do not have a social marketing strategy, or if they do, it sucks.
I see how this happens,it is as plain as day, in fact, here is a possible scenario everyone can imagine:
The boss comes in one day and says, "we need to get on this twitter thing, everyone else is doing it, Bob, get a twitter thingy up and running by the end of the week"......So poor Bob, not being very interested in twitter, twittering, tweets or hash tags starts a twitter account and does what he thinks he should, or what his friends think he should. He starts talking about his (or her) personal life on an account that is tied to a business. Poor Bob and Poor Hotel. We get to hear all about the crappy date he had last night, what he is eating for breakfast or that he is stuck in traffic. This hotel, through Bob, is telling me that I really don't need to have a program there, although I am not sure why. I just know that I should not be spending 500K with them. Strange I would feel that way, kinda like the milk in the fridge....
Now, while Bob might actually be interesting, the second twitter no-no, is not interesting at all, it is nothing. This is the hotel that opens a twitter account and puts out a couple of tweets and then they stop, nothing more, that is it. How flipping dumb was that, I took the time to find you and invite you to market to me and you blow it because you are lazy. Here is a prime example.
A third twitter screw up, which I have seen more than a few times is "protected" updates. Someone has taken the time to open an account and then they have to approve their followers. This is one I just do not understand. What it tells me that you don't like the general public or you think that I am not worthy of hearing what you have to say. Let me tell you, I am not going to bother to "ask your permission" to market to me, no worries though, I won't be back and next week when I am talking to another colleague about what Hotels to follow....your name won't come up. In fact, the next time I run across your hotel, this is what I am going to remember. Either use twitter or don't.
The last bad twitterism for hotels leaves such an awful taste in your mouth that you know the milk is spoiled, you spit it all over the kitchen. This is the hotel or resort that simply tweets over and over and over and over about their special room rate for the weekend or that the hotel bar has a two for one happy hour. What are you telling me, nothing, you are telling me that you can't sell your rooms, your bar is empty and you are not being original.
You are also giving me a headache because every time I hear the little twitter chime go off and I look down and see your logo, I bang my head on my desk asking myself A: why are you doing this?, and B: why do I bother to follow you? Right about the 4th head banging session I unfollow you so that I can concentrate on the wealth of great knowledge that does come through the twitter pipeline.
So, how should twitter work for hotels? I am going to share an answer that is so simple and so effective it should have hotels running out to open a twitter account now and in fact, it probably works for any business.
Here is the answer:
Have two accounts, one for the leisure market and one for the meeting and event planning industry. Please understand that we are totally different markets.
I won't speak to the leisure market, but in the meeting and event planning industry, their are easy things that you can do via twitter that will help me get to know your hotel and make me think of you for my client that just called.
Yes, you can tell me about special rates and dates, but also tell me about the new Kinkos that opened down the block, tell me about festivals in the area and the hot new five star restaurant that opened next door, in fact, give me links to all of their websites. Now I can share this information with my client.
Use your forward thinking sales skills and watch airfares to and from major cities and let me know when United is having a special deal to your city, that is information I can use and might not have known. When your property does an overhaul of the spa, tell me. Tell me about the treatment rooms and the new decor in the lobby, link to the press release. Meeting and event pros don't care about happy hour deals. Tell me about the grand opening of that fabulous new event space downtown. Give me information that I may not find online or in your brochure. Help me get to know your place by linking me to the places on the web that make your property perfect.
Make it personal without sharing your bathroom schedule. Part of getting to know you is knowing your staff, if one of your employees hits the "been with the company 30 year mark" tell me about it, in fact a simple "Congrats to Mark at the Desk on 30 Years" says a whole lot. What you have just told me is that your employees love the place enough to spend their lives there. That resonates. Tell me you are happy when one of your bellman is leaving the hotel because he got the lead in a Broadway play, that tells me that you encourage your employees to seek and live out their dreams. Oh and because you have a limited amount of characters to tell me, link to the article or press release, this way if I am not interested I can pass it by for your next tweet.
I am sure that a social marketing guru could go on about this for hours and charge you thousands, but in the end, it all comes down to information. Share the information that meeting and event planners need and you will find that you might actually get reaction and some business. If you provide information that is good, it will not only go to me, it will go to the people that follow me, I will share it. This is how you use twitter to win.
I don't care what you had for breakfast, do you care about what I had for lunch? I didn't think so.
Just a thought!
Keith
On any given day, I send information to my followers about the meetings and events industry, useful things like new travel rules, hot destination information, interesting articles from not only PlannerWire, but from other industry and national publications. I especially like the ability to re-tweet the information that I receive from the individuals I "follow".
I follow some of the most amazing people, from meeting planners, CVB folks and corporate marketers to fantastic hotels, industry suppliers and everything in between. If it has to do with the meetings and events industry, I follow it and try to pass along good quality information that other meeting and event professionals might find handy.
I never use twitter to tell people that I am going for coffee, frustrated with my computer or taking the day off. Businesses should use twitter for more practical pursuits. Now, I have no problems with people who use twitter to share the intimate details of their lives, there are certainly people that like to know when their friends or strangers are going to an interview, hopping in the shower or what they are making for dinner and their are those people that want to share when they need to run to the bathroom. If you dig that kind of thing and have that much time on your hands, more power to you, go for it.
Twitter for business should be straightforward, especially for hotels. It is the perfect opportunity to engage their target audience. What I am seeing however, is rather than being engaging and useful, many hotels are making mistakes that not only make their use of this tool a complete waste of time, it could actually damage them in the long run with meeting and event pros. At the very least, they are leaving a strange taste in someone's mouth (I won't say bad, just strange, kinda like the carton of milk in the fridge that expired yesterday....you just are not sure if you should drink it, it smells OK, but.....).
Twitter could, and should be the tool of a lifetime for hotel marketing departments. Imagine if you will, a system that encourages your target market to pay attention to you as you send them exactly the message you want, when you want to send it. That is what twitter is. I see a hotel that I like and I follow them. I give them the right to market to me as they wish.
Put simply, this is power, this is the power to sway my opinion, make me love you, make me understand why I should pick your hotel above all others on a daily basis. Instead of seeing brilliance, I see hotels making mistakes that make it obvious that they do not have a social marketing strategy, or if they do, it sucks.
I see how this happens,it is as plain as day, in fact, here is a possible scenario everyone can imagine:
The boss comes in one day and says, "we need to get on this twitter thing, everyone else is doing it, Bob, get a twitter thingy up and running by the end of the week"......So poor Bob, not being very interested in twitter, twittering, tweets or hash tags starts a twitter account and does what he thinks he should, or what his friends think he should. He starts talking about his (or her) personal life on an account that is tied to a business. Poor Bob and Poor Hotel. We get to hear all about the crappy date he had last night, what he is eating for breakfast or that he is stuck in traffic. This hotel, through Bob, is telling me that I really don't need to have a program there, although I am not sure why. I just know that I should not be spending 500K with them. Strange I would feel that way, kinda like the milk in the fridge....
Now, while Bob might actually be interesting, the second twitter no-no, is not interesting at all, it is nothing. This is the hotel that opens a twitter account and puts out a couple of tweets and then they stop, nothing more, that is it. How flipping dumb was that, I took the time to find you and invite you to market to me and you blow it because you are lazy. Here is a prime example.
A third twitter screw up, which I have seen more than a few times is "protected" updates. Someone has taken the time to open an account and then they have to approve their followers. This is one I just do not understand. What it tells me that you don't like the general public or you think that I am not worthy of hearing what you have to say. Let me tell you, I am not going to bother to "ask your permission" to market to me, no worries though, I won't be back and next week when I am talking to another colleague about what Hotels to follow....your name won't come up. In fact, the next time I run across your hotel, this is what I am going to remember. Either use twitter or don't.
The last bad twitterism for hotels leaves such an awful taste in your mouth that you know the milk is spoiled, you spit it all over the kitchen. This is the hotel or resort that simply tweets over and over and over and over about their special room rate for the weekend or that the hotel bar has a two for one happy hour. What are you telling me, nothing, you are telling me that you can't sell your rooms, your bar is empty and you are not being original.
You are also giving me a headache because every time I hear the little twitter chime go off and I look down and see your logo, I bang my head on my desk asking myself A: why are you doing this?, and B: why do I bother to follow you? Right about the 4th head banging session I unfollow you so that I can concentrate on the wealth of great knowledge that does come through the twitter pipeline.
So, how should twitter work for hotels? I am going to share an answer that is so simple and so effective it should have hotels running out to open a twitter account now and in fact, it probably works for any business.
Here is the answer:
- Create a simple plan and realize that you don't have to be Hemmingway to use twitter because it is a simple, simple tool
- Implement this simple plan that includes nothing more than sending out information that is important to your target market
- A couple of posts a day is fine, no need to over do it
Have two accounts, one for the leisure market and one for the meeting and event planning industry. Please understand that we are totally different markets.
I won't speak to the leisure market, but in the meeting and event planning industry, their are easy things that you can do via twitter that will help me get to know your hotel and make me think of you for my client that just called.
Yes, you can tell me about special rates and dates, but also tell me about the new Kinkos that opened down the block, tell me about festivals in the area and the hot new five star restaurant that opened next door, in fact, give me links to all of their websites. Now I can share this information with my client.
Use your forward thinking sales skills and watch airfares to and from major cities and let me know when United is having a special deal to your city, that is information I can use and might not have known. When your property does an overhaul of the spa, tell me. Tell me about the treatment rooms and the new decor in the lobby, link to the press release. Meeting and event pros don't care about happy hour deals. Tell me about the grand opening of that fabulous new event space downtown. Give me information that I may not find online or in your brochure. Help me get to know your place by linking me to the places on the web that make your property perfect.
Make it personal without sharing your bathroom schedule. Part of getting to know you is knowing your staff, if one of your employees hits the "been with the company 30 year mark" tell me about it, in fact a simple "Congrats to Mark at the Desk on 30 Years" says a whole lot. What you have just told me is that your employees love the place enough to spend their lives there. That resonates. Tell me you are happy when one of your bellman is leaving the hotel because he got the lead in a Broadway play, that tells me that you encourage your employees to seek and live out their dreams. Oh and because you have a limited amount of characters to tell me, link to the article or press release, this way if I am not interested I can pass it by for your next tweet.
I am sure that a social marketing guru could go on about this for hours and charge you thousands, but in the end, it all comes down to information. Share the information that meeting and event planners need and you will find that you might actually get reaction and some business. If you provide information that is good, it will not only go to me, it will go to the people that follow me, I will share it. This is how you use twitter to win.
I don't care what you had for breakfast, do you care about what I had for lunch? I didn't think so.
Just a thought!
Keith
OnSite Events Expands Partnership with GMIC
New OnSite Events association management division provides full roster of services and member benefits.
Chicago, IL (August 13, 2009) – OnSite Events, a full-service, Chicago-based meeting and event planning agency, launched its Association Pilot division this month to offer a new line of services and member benefits for small- to mid-sized associations. To kick off its new offerings, OnSite Events is pleased to announce that the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) selected Association Pilot as its association management provider.
“OnSite Events’ Association Pilot program provided the most comprehensive and flexible management package to meet our growing association needs,” stated GMIC Executive Director Tamara Kennedy-Hill.
Through partnership agreements with membership software provider Wild Apricot and benefits provider Strategic Insurance Group, Inc., OnSite Events launched Association Pilot as a comprehensive solution for association management needs. Association Pilot provides the versatility that organizations like the GMIC can use to customize their association management services to their specific needs.
“As a service, Association Pilot offers small- and mid-sized associations the services they need at an affordable cost,” stated Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite Events. “Association Pilot is the best way for these groups to provide superior services and benefits to their members while streamlining their operations to reduce costs and overhead.”
Another critical component of the Association Pilot division is its reflection of OnSite Events’ corporate commitment to utilize technology to maximize sustainability in its business operations—a synergistic complement to GMIC’s vision.
Kennedy-Hill further commented, “The GMIC previously worked with OnSite Events for the development of the Green Meetings Directory. We are pleased to expand the partnership with OnSite Events for our association management services. We feel there is alignment between our organizations to provide ongoing benefits for our members to help them transform the global meetings industry through sustainability.”
For more information about Association Pilot services by OnSite Events, Inc., visit www.AssociationPilot.com or contact Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite Events, at Keith@OnSiteEvents.com. For more information about the GMIC, visit www.greenmeetings.info.
About OnSite Events, Inc.
OnSite Events, Inc. offers event design, planning, and execution, creating cost-effective, strategic event experiences. OnSite Events offers event production services; event media services, including online event resources; and full destination management services. In addition to its new Association Pilot division of association management services, OnSite Events also owns and operates PlannerWire.com, a full suite of industry news distribution, destination marketing, and social networking tools designed for meetings and hospitality professionals. To learn more, visit www.OnSiteEvents.com.
About GMIC:
The GMIC (www.greenmeetings.info) is the premier global community solely dedicated to sustainability for the meetings and events industry. The Council delivers education and spearheads research, policy, and standards that support its mission to transform the global meetings industry through sustainability. The GMIC was started in 2004 and has been a pioneer in raising awareness and sharing knowledge about green meetings. The GMIC is an active member of the Convention Industry Council (www.conventionindustry.org).
Chicago, IL (August 13, 2009) – OnSite Events, a full-service, Chicago-based meeting and event planning agency, launched its Association Pilot division this month to offer a new line of services and member benefits for small- to mid-sized associations. To kick off its new offerings, OnSite Events is pleased to announce that the Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) selected Association Pilot as its association management provider.
“OnSite Events’ Association Pilot program provided the most comprehensive and flexible management package to meet our growing association needs,” stated GMIC Executive Director Tamara Kennedy-Hill.
Through partnership agreements with membership software provider Wild Apricot and benefits provider Strategic Insurance Group, Inc., OnSite Events launched Association Pilot as a comprehensive solution for association management needs. Association Pilot provides the versatility that organizations like the GMIC can use to customize their association management services to their specific needs.
“As a service, Association Pilot offers small- and mid-sized associations the services they need at an affordable cost,” stated Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite Events. “Association Pilot is the best way for these groups to provide superior services and benefits to their members while streamlining their operations to reduce costs and overhead.”
Another critical component of the Association Pilot division is its reflection of OnSite Events’ corporate commitment to utilize technology to maximize sustainability in its business operations—a synergistic complement to GMIC’s vision.
Kennedy-Hill further commented, “The GMIC previously worked with OnSite Events for the development of the Green Meetings Directory. We are pleased to expand the partnership with OnSite Events for our association management services. We feel there is alignment between our organizations to provide ongoing benefits for our members to help them transform the global meetings industry through sustainability.”
For more information about Association Pilot services by OnSite Events, Inc., visit www.AssociationPilot.com or contact Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite Events, at Keith@OnSiteEvents.com. For more information about the GMIC, visit www.greenmeetings.info.
About OnSite Events, Inc.
OnSite Events, Inc. offers event design, planning, and execution, creating cost-effective, strategic event experiences. OnSite Events offers event production services; event media services, including online event resources; and full destination management services. In addition to its new Association Pilot division of association management services, OnSite Events also owns and operates PlannerWire.com, a full suite of industry news distribution, destination marketing, and social networking tools designed for meetings and hospitality professionals. To learn more, visit www.OnSiteEvents.com.
About GMIC:
The GMIC (www.greenmeetings.info) is the premier global community solely dedicated to sustainability for the meetings and events industry. The Council delivers education and spearheads research, policy, and standards that support its mission to transform the global meetings industry through sustainability. The GMIC was started in 2004 and has been a pioneer in raising awareness and sharing knowledge about green meetings. The GMIC is an active member of the Convention Industry Council (www.conventionindustry.org).
OnSite Events and PMG Partner Up to Deliver Results
Strategic partnership combines capabilities to enhance meetings and media offerings.
CHICAGO, AUSTIN, SEATTLE – Today, OnSite Events, Inc. and Position Marketing Group (PMG)—market leaders in the meetings and media industries, respectively—announced a partnership agreement that will expand the robust service offerings provided to their combined clients. Together, OnSite and PMG are integrating their areas of expertise to help clients from diverse industries to achieve greater success and business growth from their investments in events and online media.
Through this alliance, OnSite has selected PMG as its preferred supplier for online media sales and strategy for both its event clients and its OnSite Media division, which includes the PlannerWire.com, PlannerMix.com, and PlannerWireDirectory.com news, community, and destination marketing outlets, among other offerings. Through its multiple solution sets, OnSite combines event planning, management, and marketing expertise with cost-effective online tools and technology that elevate the visibility of its clients and engage the global meetings and hospitality industries within a central platform.
“Working with PMG greatly enhances our ability to continue the fast-paced growth of our online properties within the meeting and events space,” states Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite. “In addition, we can now offer more compelling and successful online advertising and business development strategies to our event and association clients.”
Additionally, through this partnership, PMG expands its existing service offerings to include marketing strategies for corporate meetings and events, conferences, trade shows, sales force incentive programs, and experiential marketing. As a boutique interactive advertising agency, PMG has established successful relationships with advertisers, publishers, and data service providers, working with its network of partners to drive client revenue growth through cost-effective campaigns to reach diverse consumer and BtoB audiences.
"PMG continually adapts its service offerings to meet the lead generation, advertising, and sales goals of our clients,” says Derek Bates, CEO of PMG. “Adding these valuable services further enhances our ability to implement a diverse, cost-effective, and measurable marketing strategy through strategic consultation and strategy development with our clients.”
By combining forces, OnSite and PMG each bring proven track records to the strategic relationship designed to extend the reach of their meetings and media client offerings
set to launch clients into new markets and increase the value and visibility of each campaign.
“Given the ever growing universe of online solutions providers and increased access to varying destinations around the world, partnerships of this level enable both organizations to provide our clients with a broader line of services, higher value, and more efficiency.” said Greg Buhl, now a Vice President with both companies. “PMG and OnSite Events are outstanding companies perfectly suited to help our clients in the events and media space.”
For more information about the effective solution sets offered in partnership from OnSite Events and PMG, contact Greg Buhl at 888-823-3687 or Greg@OnSiteEvents.com.
About OnSite Events, Inc.
OnSite Events, Inc. offers event design, planning, and execution, creating cost-effective, strategic event experiences. OnSite Events offers event production services; event media services, including online event resources; and full destination management services. In addition to its new Association Pilot division of association management services, OnSite Events also owns and operates PlannerWire.com, a full suite of industry news distribution, destination marketing, and social networking tools designed for meetings and hospitality professionals. To learn more, visit www.OnSiteEvents.com.
About Position Marketing Group
Position Marketing Group, Inc. (PMG) is a boutique interactive advertising agency specializing in the new home and move verticals. PMG works with advertisers, publishers, and data service providers as well as strategic partners to create cost-effective, compelling, and successful campaigns to drive client revenue growth. PMG’s principals are committed to delivering strategic solutions based on long-term, sustainable client relationships fostered by frequent consultation and daily interaction. For more information about PMG, visit www.PositionMarketingGroup.com.
CHICAGO, AUSTIN, SEATTLE – Today, OnSite Events, Inc. and Position Marketing Group (PMG)—market leaders in the meetings and media industries, respectively—announced a partnership agreement that will expand the robust service offerings provided to their combined clients. Together, OnSite and PMG are integrating their areas of expertise to help clients from diverse industries to achieve greater success and business growth from their investments in events and online media.
Through this alliance, OnSite has selected PMG as its preferred supplier for online media sales and strategy for both its event clients and its OnSite Media division, which includes the PlannerWire.com, PlannerMix.com, and PlannerWireDirectory.com news, community, and destination marketing outlets, among other offerings. Through its multiple solution sets, OnSite combines event planning, management, and marketing expertise with cost-effective online tools and technology that elevate the visibility of its clients and engage the global meetings and hospitality industries within a central platform.
“Working with PMG greatly enhances our ability to continue the fast-paced growth of our online properties within the meeting and events space,” states Keith Johnston, Group Vice President of OnSite. “In addition, we can now offer more compelling and successful online advertising and business development strategies to our event and association clients.”
Additionally, through this partnership, PMG expands its existing service offerings to include marketing strategies for corporate meetings and events, conferences, trade shows, sales force incentive programs, and experiential marketing. As a boutique interactive advertising agency, PMG has established successful relationships with advertisers, publishers, and data service providers, working with its network of partners to drive client revenue growth through cost-effective campaigns to reach diverse consumer and BtoB audiences.
"PMG continually adapts its service offerings to meet the lead generation, advertising, and sales goals of our clients,” says Derek Bates, CEO of PMG. “Adding these valuable services further enhances our ability to implement a diverse, cost-effective, and measurable marketing strategy through strategic consultation and strategy development with our clients.”
By combining forces, OnSite and PMG each bring proven track records to the strategic relationship designed to extend the reach of their meetings and media client offerings
set to launch clients into new markets and increase the value and visibility of each campaign.
“Given the ever growing universe of online solutions providers and increased access to varying destinations around the world, partnerships of this level enable both organizations to provide our clients with a broader line of services, higher value, and more efficiency.” said Greg Buhl, now a Vice President with both companies. “PMG and OnSite Events are outstanding companies perfectly suited to help our clients in the events and media space.”
For more information about the effective solution sets offered in partnership from OnSite Events and PMG, contact Greg Buhl at 888-823-3687 or Greg@OnSiteEvents.com.
About OnSite Events, Inc.
OnSite Events, Inc. offers event design, planning, and execution, creating cost-effective, strategic event experiences. OnSite Events offers event production services; event media services, including online event resources; and full destination management services. In addition to its new Association Pilot division of association management services, OnSite Events also owns and operates PlannerWire.com, a full suite of industry news distribution, destination marketing, and social networking tools designed for meetings and hospitality professionals. To learn more, visit www.OnSiteEvents.com.
About Position Marketing Group
Position Marketing Group, Inc. (PMG) is a boutique interactive advertising agency specializing in the new home and move verticals. PMG works with advertisers, publishers, and data service providers as well as strategic partners to create cost-effective, compelling, and successful campaigns to drive client revenue growth. PMG’s principals are committed to delivering strategic solutions based on long-term, sustainable client relationships fostered by frequent consultation and daily interaction. For more information about PMG, visit www.PositionMarketingGroup.com.
2009 Daily Show Chronicle: The Motivation Show and Affordable Meetings® National
PlannerWire.com, the News, Information, and Communitywebsite for meeting and event planners, is pleased to present exciting new sponsorship opportunities for two upcoming, large-scale meetings industry events.In Show_Daily association with The Conference Publishers, Inc., PlannerWire announces that these sponsorships are now available for Affordable Meetings® National in Washington, D.C. and The Motivation Show in Chicago, IL, both fast approaching in September 2009.
As a part of its established media sponsorships of Affordable Meetings®National and The Motivation Show, PlannerWire has partnered with The Conference Publishers to provide Show Chronicles for both events. Show Chronicles are comprehensive event newsletters, available in both email and print formats,that report on-the-ground news and happenings every day during both of these major industry gatherings.
Sponsorship of Show Chronicles results in the following benefits:
Additionally, Show Chronicles will capture and demonstrate the value of the onsite trade show andeducational programs, positioning Affordable Meetings® and The Motivation Showas must-see events for future years. Here, PlannerWire provides sponsors with avenue for ongoing dialogue with meeting professionals, associating Show Chronicle sponsors with the valuable industry experience that planners gain at these events.
A select number of sponsorships are available, with various levels to choose from.
For additional information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Greg Buhl at greg@plannerwire.com.
As a part of its established media sponsorships of Affordable Meetings®National and The Motivation Show, PlannerWire has partnered with The Conference Publishers to provide Show Chronicles for both events. Show Chronicles are comprehensive event newsletters, available in both email and print formats,that report on-the-ground news and happenings every day during both of these major industry gatherings.
Sponsorship of Show Chronicles results in the following benefits:
- Distribution to more than 50,000 opt-in meeting and event professionals each morning during Affordable Meetings® National and The Motivation Show.
- The opportunity to reach both onsite show attendees and offsite subscribers of major industry outlets.
- Email and print exposure in pre-show and post-show editions of Show Chronicles.
- Opportunities to reach industry professionals onsite at the shows and afterward, via various avenues including PlannerWire's own industry community website, email newsletters, online editorial features, banner advertising, and multiple social networking applications like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
- High-level visibility alongside important coverage of educational sessions, show-floor activity, and "on-the-street" interviews that will capture participants' and exhibitors' perspectives each day.
Additionally, Show Chronicles will capture and demonstrate the value of the onsite trade show andeducational programs, positioning Affordable Meetings® and The Motivation Showas must-see events for future years. Here, PlannerWire provides sponsors with avenue for ongoing dialogue with meeting professionals, associating Show Chronicle sponsors with the valuable industry experience that planners gain at these events.
A select number of sponsorships are available, with various levels to choose from.
For additional information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Greg Buhl at greg@plannerwire.com.
Call for Sponsors! Great Spaces, Amazing Places, new video series for the Meetings and Events Industry:
WHAT IT IS:
Join us as we celebrate the meeting and event planning community by
exploring unique sites and venues, the planning lifestyle, and the
people that make the meetings and events industry such a dynamic and
compelling field of work. In each episode, we will explore different
destinations, venues, trends, and the latest products and services that
are available to both event professionals and the public at large,
celebrating the adventure that is the meetings and events world.
WHY IT WILL WORK:
• The multi-billion-dollar meeting and event industry is one you can bank on.
• Corporate America’s ongoing need for meetings and events and the industries surrounding them make today the right time for Great Spaces, Amazing Places.
There are more than 51,000 meeting and convention planners in the
United States, according to the most recent data from the U.S.
Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. That number only
includes individuals who identify themselves
as meeting and convention planners. Untold thousands of people working
in other fields—such as administrative assistants, public relations
professionals, fundraising personnel, marketing professionals and many,
many others—also undertake meeting and convention planning
responsibilities as a part of their job descriptions. The U.S. Travel
Association states that 2.4 million U.S. jobs result from business
travel, supported largely by meetings and events.
In addition, as the event planning field continues to gain visibility
and popularity through entertainment television shows and career rating
channels, more people seek to enter the field today than ever before.
The U.S. Travel Association states that meetings and events are
critical economic drivers in all 50 states.
These trends, although not recession-proof, mean profitable business
for the meetings industry and sustainable public interest in the event
planning field, now and in the future. A U.S. Travel Association survey
of business executives at companies with more than $50 million in
annual sales found that:
• 82% of companies surveyed believe that business travel is important to achieving their business results;
• 81% believe that more client contact is necessary in a slow economy;
• A strong majority (59%) strongly agree that in-person contact grows their business; and
• 72% of businesses believe that increasing travel while others are
cutting back creates an opportunity to build market share and new
customer relationships.
Meetings and events comprise 15% of all travel within the United
States. Over the past 10 years, meetings and events spending has more
than doubled, and business travel has become a $240 billion industry.
Meeting and event professionals hunger for meeting- and event-related content and information that speaks directly to them. Great Spaces, Amazing Places is the solution for reaching this profitable market. Great Spaces, Amazing Places
is a business and lifestyle show about the meetings and events
industry. It also carries diverse appeal for mainstream viewers and
consumers within all age groups who engage with programs focused on
travel, tourism, leisure, dining, recreation, art, culture, and other
aspects of different cities and destinations throughout the United
States and beyond.
Great Spaces, Amazing Places covers everything about the
industry. Venues, hotel/resort properties, technologies and trends—your
product or service can be showcased in a flexible and varied format. Great Spaces, Amazing Places
is fun, entertaining, informative, engaging, and colorful. High
production value ensures your message is seen in the highest possible
quality. We’ve created sustainable media, so you have the most delivery
options available and the most cost-effective choices.
HOW IT WILL WORK:
Your message… delivered from any stream to any screen. Your sponsorship of Great Spaces, Amazing Places will include the following:
Broadcast: Traditional TV Show
• Sponsorship of a 22-minute High Definition Pilot
Broadband: Syndicated Webisodes (5 to 7 minutes)
• Integrated sponsor videos
• Sponsored content
• Sponsor ad insertion
Interactive: Destination Great Spaces, Amazing Places
• Banner ads (multiple sizes available)
• 15-second pre-roll with a synchronized banner and a leave-behind banner
• Lower-third insertion with a synchronized banner and a leave-behind banner
• Sponsored content
• Custom opportunities such as sponsor microsites, custom online video, games, or contests
VOD: Video On Demand
• Sponsored content
• Long-format advertising messages
Podcast: Now or Later
• Audio and video downloads
• Sponsored content
About Great Spaces, Amazing Places:
Great Spaces, Amazing Places is hosted by Kristi Casey Sanders, Chief Storyteller of
Great Spaces, Amazing Places is produced and copyrighted by PlannerWire and Plan Your Meetings.
For more information, contact:
Keith Johnston
PlannerWire
312-789-5982
Keith@PlannerWire.com
www.PlannerWire.com
Las Vegas Continues Making Huge Mistakes, Hurting the Meetings Industry
In yet another move that makes me shake my head, Las Vegas unveiled yet another bad marketing device in this era of government crackdowns and meeting lynch mobs.
If Las Vegas wants to fly under the radar, regain some of the meeting and event business that has canceled and make the world consider it one of the finest meeting destinations, this is not the way to do it.....and I like Las Vegas as a meeting destination.
I made this same comment today on PlannerMix in response to Serenity Knutson's question, and I am repeating it now, It is time for our industry associations to sit down with the powers that be in Las Vegas and "encourage" them to keep these types of ads out of the mix until the economic recovery picks up.
This is almost as bad as the Mayor tossing out the first pitch with a giant martini glass and showgirls.
Meetings and Events are serious business, maybe business would pick up in Las Vegas if the powers that be treated the subject with a little respect.
Just a thought.
If Las Vegas wants to fly under the radar, regain some of the meeting and event business that has canceled and make the world consider it one of the finest meeting destinations, this is not the way to do it.....and I like Las Vegas as a meeting destination.
I made this same comment today on PlannerMix in response to Serenity Knutson's question, and I am repeating it now, It is time for our industry associations to sit down with the powers that be in Las Vegas and "encourage" them to keep these types of ads out of the mix until the economic recovery picks up.
This is almost as bad as the Mayor tossing out the first pitch with a giant martini glass and showgirls.
Meetings and Events are serious business, maybe business would pick up in Las Vegas if the powers that be treated the subject with a little respect.
Just a thought.
Twitter not for everything
Saw this on the web today from some of my twitter friends, has it come to this........I can actually picture someone on their mobile standing there typing away!
Zip Lining the Mountains of the Domincan Republic
Zip Lining is one of the safest activities in the Dominican Republic, Big Willie, our “Zip Instructor” told us so. He said “Smile and be happy! You will not die today”………it was humor and we all laughed and we did smile. In fact, we all believed him. The equipment can hold thousands of pounds, so my 230 was nothing…….
A picture tells a thousand words, so here are some images of our group outing to Zip through the tree tops and get a view of the Dominican countryside that few will ever get.
All I can say is that it is fun, cool and safe. In fact, the act of zip lining is a self contained team building activity, everyone works together to take that first step off the first platform to have the experience of a lifetime and touch the tree tops……..you would not believe the conversations at lunch as we all continued to get to know each other building bonds that will last a lifetime.
Doesn’t your team deserve to build the bounds that will help your company succeed?
Just a thought!
A picture tells a thousand words, so here are some images of our group outing to Zip through the tree tops and get a view of the Dominican countryside that few will ever get.
All I can say is that it is fun, cool and safe. In fact, the act of zip lining is a self contained team building activity, everyone works together to take that first step off the first platform to have the experience of a lifetime and touch the tree tops……..you would not believe the conversations at lunch as we all continued to get to know each other building bonds that will last a lifetime.
Doesn’t your team deserve to build the bounds that will help your company succeed?
Just a thought!
The Dominican Republic - An A for Meetings and Events
Sitting here in the Dominican Republic, I am taking a minute to think of all of the things I need to do and catch up on. I owe you all updates from my recent trip to Frankfurt (IMEX 2009) and to Puerta Vallarta, Mexico (Meeting Place Mexico), these posts will hopefully come this week as I return for a long spell with no travel.
Today, I am in the Dominican Republic for the Annual SITE Chicago Retreat, an educational event for SITE members to learn about the destination of Punto Cana on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic. A mere four hour flight from Chicago.
What I have learned is what American tourists have known for a long time; the Dominican Republic is an amazing place. Safe, Secure, Beautiful and the perfect place for groups, both meetings and incentives.
My question is, where are the American groups? You need to be here. There are plenty of flights and it is very cost effective. In fact, even Jet Blue has flights from New York, so lift cannot be the excuse…..or maybe it is a question that does not need an excuse because it has a simple answer.
The answer is that we as meeting planners had no idea that the Dominican Republic was a great place for groups so we have overlooked it for years. This is not our fault though, the Dominican Tourism folks have been doing a great job of marketing to the tourists, and they are just now getting a chance to catch their breath before they tackle the MICE market. This is not their fault either; they work really hard and are amazing people. They are the go-to people when you want to learn more. I hope my ramblings actually help them in their endeavors to catch the attention of the meetings and incentive market.
The Dominican Republic has an amazing array of 5 star hotel properties to choose from with great DMC’s to handle all of your group transfer and activity needs. From Paradisus Playa Real and Sanctuary Cap Cana to the Amazing Tortuga Bay and Moon Palace, the properties here are simply amazing. Beautiful, elegant (oops, bad word in the meetings industry) with all of the trimmings.
Group events in Punta Cana and country wide are a cinch; there is so much to do when your groups are not in session or on an incentive travel trip. Catamarans, Zip Lining, tours of the area and even cigar rolling demonstrations are just some of the activities that are available. I am only hitting a couple that I was able to observe, I am not even mentioning the 5000 other things to do (rafting, snorkeling, parasailing, museums, history, jeep excursions, eco-tours, etc). Then there are the properties themselves, beautiful beaches, pools and restaurants. Even a casino or two for good measure. Groups have a home here.
The biggest selling point however are the Dominicans themselves. They have a sense of self and a pride that shows in their work. Rarely do you find service levels this high. I am not kidding, they know how to treat a group and go the extra mile to ensure that your stay is perfect.
I can sum up the service in the Dominican Republic by simply re-stating what the bellman said to one of our group when we checked in, he said “I work for you”……..an amazing and rare statement from someone in the hospitality industry. These are a people that “get it”. They are here to make sure that your group’s every need is taken care of.
There are, of course, drawbacks (not many though). It is HOT during the day; in fact, it is surface of the sun hot (you can see me sweat in the picture in my next post). We all take groups to Las Vegas and Scottsdale though, same kind of hot so maybe this is not really a drawback…….
So, in short, if you are looking to bring a group international and have not yet chosen the destination, have a look at the Dominican Republic. You (and your attendees) will not be disappointed. Your budget will also be surprised by how affordable it is………and, during the summer, they are on Eastern Time so attendees won’t have a case of foggy brain caused by massive time shifts.
More to come on the Dominican Republic and the SITE Retreat…….this is by no means the end of the story!
Just thought!
Keith
Today, I am in the Dominican Republic for the Annual SITE Chicago Retreat, an educational event for SITE members to learn about the destination of Punto Cana on the eastern side of the Dominican Republic. A mere four hour flight from Chicago.
What I have learned is what American tourists have known for a long time; the Dominican Republic is an amazing place. Safe, Secure, Beautiful and the perfect place for groups, both meetings and incentives.
My question is, where are the American groups? You need to be here. There are plenty of flights and it is very cost effective. In fact, even Jet Blue has flights from New York, so lift cannot be the excuse…..or maybe it is a question that does not need an excuse because it has a simple answer.
The answer is that we as meeting planners had no idea that the Dominican Republic was a great place for groups so we have overlooked it for years. This is not our fault though, the Dominican Tourism folks have been doing a great job of marketing to the tourists, and they are just now getting a chance to catch their breath before they tackle the MICE market. This is not their fault either; they work really hard and are amazing people. They are the go-to people when you want to learn more. I hope my ramblings actually help them in their endeavors to catch the attention of the meetings and incentive market.
The Dominican Republic has an amazing array of 5 star hotel properties to choose from with great DMC’s to handle all of your group transfer and activity needs. From Paradisus Playa Real and Sanctuary Cap Cana to the Amazing Tortuga Bay and Moon Palace, the properties here are simply amazing. Beautiful, elegant (oops, bad word in the meetings industry) with all of the trimmings.
Group events in Punta Cana and country wide are a cinch; there is so much to do when your groups are not in session or on an incentive travel trip. Catamarans, Zip Lining, tours of the area and even cigar rolling demonstrations are just some of the activities that are available. I am only hitting a couple that I was able to observe, I am not even mentioning the 5000 other things to do (rafting, snorkeling, parasailing, museums, history, jeep excursions, eco-tours, etc). Then there are the properties themselves, beautiful beaches, pools and restaurants. Even a casino or two for good measure. Groups have a home here.
The biggest selling point however are the Dominicans themselves. They have a sense of self and a pride that shows in their work. Rarely do you find service levels this high. I am not kidding, they know how to treat a group and go the extra mile to ensure that your stay is perfect.
I can sum up the service in the Dominican Republic by simply re-stating what the bellman said to one of our group when we checked in, he said “I work for you”……..an amazing and rare statement from someone in the hospitality industry. These are a people that “get it”. They are here to make sure that your group’s every need is taken care of.
There are, of course, drawbacks (not many though). It is HOT during the day; in fact, it is surface of the sun hot (you can see me sweat in the picture in my next post). We all take groups to Las Vegas and Scottsdale though, same kind of hot so maybe this is not really a drawback…….
So, in short, if you are looking to bring a group international and have not yet chosen the destination, have a look at the Dominican Republic. You (and your attendees) will not be disappointed. Your budget will also be surprised by how affordable it is………and, during the summer, they are on Eastern Time so attendees won’t have a case of foggy brain caused by massive time shifts.
More to come on the Dominican Republic and the SITE Retreat…….this is by no means the end of the story!
Just thought!
Keith
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