PCMA 2011: Generation Y Looks to the Future

Jan 12

maureen-pickellTrade Shows meeting experiences, meeting industry, pcma 1 Comment

Well gang, how did we do with yesterday’s quiz?  Here are the answers:

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Your intrepid Blogger is getting a big dizzy dodging the slot machines set up in all the Vegas hotel lobbies…yesterday’s events had me running the “gambling gauntlet” between the MGM Grand, the Bellagio and the Venetian Palazzo (all CP.com members).

It began with a General Session that awakened the audience by introducing Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com.  Tony’s riveting presentation focused on the customer experience that has made his company a successful distributor of shoes, clothing and happiness.  Zappo’s is so customer focused that one service call (that’s right…the customer actually got a live person on the phone!) lasted 8 hours and 23 minutes.

The next session showcased a panel of hotel, airline and meeting planner experts giving examples of how to overcome market constraints for meeting success in a still weakened economy.

Some great ideas were shared with the audience – with Christie Hicks from Starwood Hotels Worldwide mimiking the airlines as she joked about unbundling the hotel experience by providing the bed at a low price, but charging extra for the sheets!

A delicious lunch was sponsored by ConventionPanit.com member – the Mexico Tourism Board – and dessert was accompanied by a panel discussion by top industry leaders on 2011 Srategies and Vision.  While these experts from PCMA, MPI, ASAE, USTA and Maritz gave us insights into where the future of meetings is heading over the course of next year…they were almost upstaged by a group of 6 students in the fields of hospitality, events and tourism who spoke in the next session – Generation Y Looks to the Future.

This panel of bright, articulate and enthusiastic aspiring professionals will be using technology to plan and extend the life of their events – but will insist on face to face meetings as a more beneficial way to learn and network.

Here is a note to our supplier members…Gen Y will not be responding to standard advertising, but instead will go online to do their business when the time is right.  So you are using the best vehicle available (online advertising) to approach this market!

Then it was off to The Bellagio for the International Reception sponsored by Tourism Ireland.  If it’s one thing the Irish know how to do it’s combine the elements of business and enjoyment that gave planners more than a hint of what staging an event in Ireland would be like!

Finally, the day ended with a Networking reception at the Venetian Palazzo Resort Hotel & Casino.  Held outside on the pool deck, attendees braved chilly weather (no dry heat in Vegas in January!) to sample culinary delights and unique entertainment.

The pool deck!

Today “PCMA Convening Leaders” merges with the “Virtual Edge Summit”…more to come then!