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!

PCMA Annual Meeting Education Session Matching Game

Jan 11

maureen-pickellTrade Shows attendee interaction, economy, meeting education, meeting industry, pcma 1 Comment

After being treated to a rousing Four Seasons “Jersey Boys” medley at 8:30 am  (a bit early to deal with “Big Girls Don’t Cry” in a piercing falsetto – but fun anyway!) the day began with the strategic plan for PCMA 2011 and awards.

Some insider information to share with ConventionPlanit.com followers: the most recent Economic Impact Study of our industry will be released by mid-February and word is that the results are very positive.

According to Deborah Sexton, President and CEO of PCMA, we’ve moved from “cautiously optimistic” to “optimistic” with more meetings being booked in a “reset” environment.  No more business as usual…but business will continue to improve.

The first full day was packed with sessions that were varied and insightful…beginning with the general session and moving through the myriad of educational break-outs.

Let’s have some fun and play a matching game!

The left column contains quotes from several sessions…match them up to the session titles in the second column. (Answers will appear in my next blog post.)

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PCMA will move forward as an industry vanguard by mingling face-to face and virtual to create the hybrid experience necessary to stay ahead of the curve.

By soliciting the input of New Professionals, expanding the International Membership and encouraging student involvement, the organization is concentrating on their member centric strategic plan.

Add on the recent partnership with the Virtual Edge Institute and we see that PCMA is not content to sit on its laurels…

…the organization is ready to help take its membership into the next era of meeting management.

Getting ready for tomorrow and more “serious business” of meetings.  And in Las Vegas…who knew??

PCMA’s 55th Annual Meeting Kicks Off

Jan 10

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The ConventionPlanit.com Blog  comes to you today from Las Vegas!

I have taken off again to represent the site and mingle with our planner and supplier partners at the 55th PCMA 2011 Annual Meeting “Convening Leaders.”

The conference opened in Las Vegas this weekend with organization members giving back to the city.  Several Las Vegas based charities benefited from the hard work, talents, donations and fundraising efforts of convention participants.  The event  showed all that there are worthwhile reasons to part with your time and money in Vegas…outside of the casinos!

Attendees also enjoyed the Opening Welcome Reception held in and sponsored by the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. With a background duel between strobe lights and sequined showgirls, attendees were treated to recreations of the acts that put “Vegas” on the map.  Sammy Davis followed Elvis who followed Sinatra who followed…well…you get the idea.

Along with the usual ground breaking on-site education, PCMA is launching a new hybrid component where virtual attendees will be able to access live, complimentary broadcasts of the General Sessions, select Plenary Sessions and Masters Series programs in the new PCMA365 virtual environment.  If you are new to PCMA365, register here to participate!

Are you in Las Vegas for the conference?  Respond to this post if you would like to see your blogger in person!

PCMA Annual 2010: The Final Day

Jan 14

maureen-pickellTrade Shows economy, meeting attendance, meeting industry, pcma, upcoming meetings industry events Comments Off

Well, the PCMA 2010 Annual Meeting wrapped up with another strong day of education beginning with a Plenary Session entitled “The State of the Meetings and Travel Industry.” The theme of “cautious optimism” that has run through the conference was reiterated once again – this time with hard numbers presented by Peter Yesawich of YPartnership.

His panel included Minaz Abij of Asset Management, Thomas C. Dolan, PhD., CAE, American College of Healthcare Executives, Brian Phillips of FedEx Office, Thomas W. Storey, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Frits van Paasschen of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The consensus of this distinguished group is that business meetings are coming back slowly.  The 2^nd quarter will see the emergence of small and mid-sized events with large meetings surfacing in the 4^th quarter.  Association business will pick up with higher attendance at annual conferences because of the pent up demand for face to face encounters.

According to Thomas Dolan, “You still need to see to sell and convince.”

It appears that 2^nd quarter will see a rush to get these meetings launched.  To help our planners manage their “time poverty,”  ConventionPlanit.com offers the RFP Valet^TM service.  Instead of  spending time researching facilities and chasing properties for timely responses, we do the work for you.  To learn more about this service, click here.

Your dedicated blogger was virtually overwhelmed by the wealth of information presented during PCMA 2010 – Convening Leaders.  I’ve attempted to share some of the highlights with you over the past 4 days, but in order to comprehend the wide scope of the education that was offered, go to www.pcma2010.org and click on Video to view the PCMA-TV News Summary.

We’ll see you at PCMA 2011 in Las Vegas!

Tuesday at PCMA Annual 2010

Jan 13

maureen-pickellTrade Shows economy, environmental-friendly, green meetings, Keep America Meeting, overseas meetings, pcma Comments Off

Your intrepid blogger had another busy day. The sessions at the PCMA annual conference continue to be varied and interesting, beginning with “Beyond Borders: Advanced Solutions for International Meetings.” Roundtable discussion topics ranged from Risk Management and Attendance Building to Budgets and Cost Containment as well as Working with Partners. The goal was to help eliminate the trial and error of international planning by sharing information among participants. Specific issues were introduced and solutions discussed using the expertise of both planners and suppliers.

For those of you interested in the results, the notes will be posted on the PCMA website after the conference.

Then on to “Top Industry Leaders on the Future of Meetings.” The meetings industry version of “The Magnificent Seven” including Jonathan Tisch, Roger Dow, John Graham, Bruce MacMillan, Michael Gehrisch, Brenda Anderson and Deborah Sexton addressed the outlook for 2010 and beyond. A lively discussion about the power of collaboration revealed that the prognosis is basically optimistic but more work needs to be done to rebuild and renew our industry.

The standing room only audience seemed more than anxious to take on the challenge by furthering the grass roots movements begun this past year.

And lastly, how many of you know the difference between Free range poultry and Cage free birds? The session entitled “Green Guide: Sustainable Food and Beverage” presented tips on selecting sustainable food choices and staying within budget while implementing a program to manage food and beverage waste.  Again, consult the PCMA website for a glossary of terms relating to this important topic.

Looking forward to Wednesday’s sessions and networking!

PCMA 2010 Annual – Monday Recap

Jan 12

maureen-pickellTrade Shows air travel, airlines, non-profit, pcma Comments Off

Your ConventionPlanit.com blogger has had a busy day at the PCMA “Convening Leaders” Annual Meeting!

The day began with the opening general session which could be titled – “A Tale of Two Sisters” presented by Ambassador Nancy Brinker. As a result of her sister’s battle with and loss of her life to breast cancer, the Susan G. Komen Foundation was launched by Nancy to provide grants for research and development to combat this global disease. As the largest grass roots movement of its kind, this collective effort began 30 years ago and depends on “the power of one” to help change the global culture as it relates to breast cancer and the apathy that has grown up around it. As a recent winner of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Nancy Brinker has fulfilled her promise to her sister, Susan, by diligently empowering activists of all ages and backgrounds to participate in this international health movement.

Next up was The PCMA Masters Series – Airlines and Meetings: A CEO Conversation where the audience was privy to a discussion between Gerard J. Arpey, Chairman, President and CEO, AMR Corp. and American Airlines, and Gary Kelly, Chairman, President and CEO, Southwest Airlines, moderated by Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert.

If you think that you have issues with the business model represented by most of the major airlines today, take a look at the unprecedented level of volatility that these CEO’s have dealt with during the past decade and most particularly in the last two years:

• Surge in the price of oil resulting in an ongoing fuel crisis
• 2009 economic downturn
• Growth opportunities restricted by operating costs and security concerns
• Future issues include:
  • The need to modernize the Air Traffic Control System
  • The necessity to develop commercially viable sustainable fuels
  • The development and deployment of new aircraft technology

The good news is that group business is important to both American and Southwest who both have programs targeting the meeting and convention market. During the economic recovery, people will need to do business in places that they’ve never been before – and that will result in increased demand for air travel.

Airlines will continue to be our partners in combating the misguided perceptions regarding meeting and incentive travel.

PCMA 2010 Annual Meeting Gets Underway

Jan 11

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The PCMA 2010 Annual Meeting “Convening Leaders” opened in Dallas this weekend with organization members giving back to the city. Five Dallas based charities benefited from the hard work, talents, donations and fundraising efforts of convention participants attending PCMA’s 5^th annual meeting, Jan.10-13, 2010.

Attendees also enjoyed the Opening Welcome Reception sponsored by the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. The event provided glimpses of the North Texas culinary scene, arts district, sports, hair and make-up professionals, shopping opportunities and carnival fun. Interactive entertainment, Texas food specialties and two-steppin’ music rounded out the evening.

Over the course of the four days, the annual meeting will offer <u>200 plus speakers and more than 60 education sessions</u> along with ample opportunity to network with colleagues. Attendees will learn new skills, share goals, solve problems and generally expand their horizons while reinforcing the position that “Face to Face” encounters are still the best example of “social networking.”

What is your favorite session so far?

If you’re currently at the show, be sure to say hello to Maureen Pickell.  She’s been busy blogging about her experiences in between networking and attending sessions!

PCMA 2010 Green Initiatives Preview

Jan 06

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Are you attending the PCMA Annual Conference in Dallas later this month? If so, here’s the inside scoop on how the conference is working hard to go green:

Getting Started: Choosing a Green Location

Make a difference from every aspect of your conference by choosing a green city. For example, 40% of the energy used in Dallas is renewable. Dallas was also one of the first cities to implement green building guidelines, and is committed to city-wide green programs including park construction.

Green-friendly destinations are eager to work with you to meet your green requirements and implement your ideas at the convention center. PCMA Vice President of Meetings & Events Kelly Peacy said she worked closely with the Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau to infuse green elements into all areas of the conference, including area, including the destination, accommodations, food and beverage, communications, and operations.

Implementation: Make a Difference

This year’s conference supports local organically grown food as much as possible – quite a feat with the thousands of expected attendees! Leftover food will be donated to a local food bank and other unused food will be composted.

PCMA partnered with green hotels for conference housing, like the Hyatt Regency Dallas, who donates leftover soap to a recycling effort to provide people in developing nations with soap.

Words of Encouragement:

“You don’t just go out and suddenly become a green organization,” Peacy said. “You have to build on it. You need to decide how high green ranks on your list of organizational strategic objectives. We asked that question and determined that it was very important, so we put significant resources toward it. At PCMA it is half of one person’s job. Every year we build new objectives. If PCMA can be recognized as an industry leader to educate our members about green that would be a success.”

If you’re attending the conference, be sure to tell us what you think of the green efforts!