Aug 24
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners crisis management, meeting planner help, Tips for Meeting Planners
The earthquake yesterday that was felt over much of the East coast got me thinking…what are the proper safety procedures for earthquakes? Many schools in California teach earthquake safety, but out here this is certainly not the norm.
Here is some information from FEMA to help keep you safe:
Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.
If Indoors:
- DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
- Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
- Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
- Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
- Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
- Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
- DO NOT use the elevators.
If Outdoors:
- Stay there.
- Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
- Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
If in a Moving Vehicle:
- Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
- Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.
Information courtesy of fema.gov
It is a good idea to become familiar with safety procedures for any situation. To learn more, be sure to check out our previous post on handling crisis situations for your meetings.
Jun 20
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, Tips for Meeting Planners, upcoming meetings industry events
ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman Julie Roberts has returned home after much travel and sales appointments across the country, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She shares the following show reflections in part 2 of this series.
Ah, to wake up in the morning to a welcoming breakfast by the Caribbean. The Omni Cancun is the only hotel in Cancun with event space right on the shore. Tina Johnsson, Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing warmly greeted us, and shared the many ways the resort can soar for professional conferences and incentive events. Sleeping rooms are spacious and conference space is well laid out for larger programs. A separate area is ideal for a more intimate, smaller event. The theatre is technologically advanced, and seats up to 1,200. The hotel also boasts a spa and seven restaurants.
Where to begin after the opening fireworks?!
Gran Melia Resort’s opening reception demonstrated why they are a 5-Star designation. Fabulous cuisine and entertainment was enhanced by the warm welcome from local specialists such as Fernando Cervantes, Group and Conventions Director for the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau.
One of the highlights of the Showcase was an introduction to the City of/Downtown Cancun by the B2B Malison Plaza and Convention Center. Excellent conference/event space, and if your group loves nightlife, restaurants and shopping within walking distance, you should take advantage of this area.
Thank you to Riviera Maya Convention Bureau for such an education on how much there is to see and do once your business is finished – explore the city’s archaeology, history, ecology and adventure. And do not forget the coral reefs, whose beauty will take your breath away.
By far, one of the largest facilities in Quintana Room is the Grand Vilas Riviera Maya, a resort going for the gold in hosting larger organization events with over 90,000 square feet of convention space. Beautiful accommodations and even their architecture is a reminder of the discoveries that await your leisure time in Maya country. I must have worked up an appetite the night before, because breakfast was scrumptious.
Alas, I had to leave paradise, but I look forward to returning to the Mexico Showcase 2012 and sharing my experiences with our dear blog readers!
Jun 20
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events
ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman Julie Roberts has returned home after much travel and sales appointments across the country, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She shares the following show reflections in part 1 of this series.
It was indeed a celebration time at Mexico Showcase this year!
Ten years and still a premier event to not just promote Cancun, Riviera Maya and Mexico in the convention, meetings and incentive marketplace but to set the bar for quality of accommodations and service. As always, organizers, led by Andy Ortiz with Global Incentives, constantly dazzled attendees with the great program, myriad of facilities, services, activities and the tropical ambiance available throughout the peninsula.
Thank you to all for all your hard work.
Cancun displayed its appeal to meeting planners as the host city. With pros such as Eduardo Chaillo, Mexico Tourism Board, Executive Director, Meeting Industry, based in Washington, DC, to act as your guiding light, just ask and all involved deliver.
The business of doing business was evident at Showcase, which is still one of the most productive, appointment scheduled, exchanges of information, requests and relationship building events in Mexico. Throughout the event, speakers addressed industry trends and issues while delivering useful information for planners and ideas for the future.
If you read the ConventionPlanit.com newsletter, you know what a Prezi is…but probably would not have thought one could be projected onto a building! Area experts like RocÍo Cárdenas with Cenacolo restaurant (if there’s a cuisine, Cancun has the restaurant) and Global Incentives Solia Juvonen were available to assist in arranging a fabulous “dine around” event for your group.
It has to be the setting in Mexico. I marvel at how a tradeshow can have such a feeling of tranquil communication instead of a hectic, harried pace. Everyone was prepared to learn about products.
From the warm greeting of our most professional transportation crew to the final showpiece reception at the ME Cancun (mmm), the settings, entertainment, themes, and presentations made me want to bring everyone I know south-of-the border. It’s temptingly easy to do because airlift to the Cancun International Airport is so excellent.
Stay tuned for more details from the showcase!
Jun 08
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners meeting experiences, meeting ideas, meeting planner feedback, prezi, technology, Tips for Meeting Planners
So, exactly what is a “Prezi?” 
We first heard about it after a member of the ConventionPlanit.com Meeting Professionals Advisory Council told us that it was one of the hot things for 2011.
It does have a cool name…and it’s free… so we thought we’d give you the lowdown.
But first, we want to clue you in on what a Prezi is NOT:
- It’s not what you call your boss or the head of your association who carries the title of “President.”
- It’s not a new device like an iPad or a Droid – although you can view a Prezi on a device like that.
- It’s not a phrase you utter in anger when something bad happens at your meeting.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s the deal: A Prezi allows you to “create astonishing presentations live and on the web,” according to www.prezi.com. The website also talked about “stunning” presentations, so it got our attention.
Basically, it frees up your creative mind when you’re building a presentation, because it allows more flexibility than traditional PowerPoint presentations, and even has zoom-in and zoom-out features to examine details or view the big picture.
There’s a creative presentation online called “How to create a great Prezi” that offers a quick look at the possibilities. So we encourage you to check it out.
We even created a quick Prezi on “How We Made the ConventionPlanit Flash Back to the Future Video.” You may like that one too. It was fun and took less than an hour to create. So try one yourself and see what you think.
Like anything else in life, a basic version of the Prezi software is free, and it costs money to upgrade the capabilities. But the upgrade cost is reasonable. We’re not even getting a commission for telling you all this.
Have you created or viewed a Prezi? What did you think?
Jan 31
Ashley ChalmersNews technology, Tips for Meeting Planners
Loyal readers, stay tuned for a very exciting announcement coming mid-February!
It is something we hope all of you enjoy very much, and we are quite proud of it.
So…get excited! More info to come. Thank you so much for reading our blog and for using ConventionPlanit.com!
Jan 05
Ashley ChalmersTips for Meeting Planners meeting industry, meeting planner feedback, meeting trends, Tips for Meeting Planners
As the New Year greets us (and we’re glad it’s here!), now is the time to review what’s hot and what’s not for 2011 in the meetings industry.
Take a look at these insights from the ConventionPlanit.com Meeting Planner Advisory Council and the ConventionPlanit.com staff:
What’s Hot and What’s Not in your world? Comment on this post to add to the list!
| What’s Hot |
What’s Not |
| Creating a Prezi |
PowerPoint presentations |
| Conference phone apps |
Conference program books |
| Personal URL marketing |
Unpersonalized mass marketing |
| Doing meeting surveys with wufoo.com |
Collecting survey data in Word documents |
| Hotel rooftop vegetable gardens |
Imported produce |
| New underwear so you look good in the airport scanner |
Easy passage through airport security |
| Walkable cities |
Bussing attendees around town |
| Social media comments on meeting sites |
Hotel rating systems |
| Hybrid meetings with a virtual component |
In-person-only meetings |
| Water stations |
Water bottles |
| Edutainment |
Boring speakers behind a lectern |
| Custom meeting apps |
Reinventing the wheel |
| Smart phone audience response technology |
Counting raised hands |
| Teleworking and temporary staffing |
Bloated staffers and long commutes |
| Packing smart |
Baggage fees |
| Online search directories with complete transparency |
Search directories with hidden fees and mark-ups |
| The chocolate you will eat this year |
The chocolate you ate last year |
Aug 25
maureen-pickellTrade Shows ASAE & the Center, attendee interaction, meeting industry, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows
The ConventionPlanit.com dynamic duo, Julie and mysef, attended a session entitled “What is the Future of tradeshows?” and learned a lot about charting the course for a new business model.
Instead of “re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic” (as one supplier succinctly put it) we should be polling association members, staffers, meeting planners and exhibitors all to come up with a trade show that lives up to everyone’s expectations…as well as providing ROI.
The night ended with Cindy Lauper…talk about a “Grand Finale!”
Jun 07
Ashley ChalmersTrade Shows Event Industry Networking, overseas meetings, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows, upcoming meetings industry events
ConventionPlanit.com saleswoman extraordinare Julie Roberts has returned home to Florida after a whirlwind month of travel and sales calls, including attending the Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo. She has shared the below show recap with us:
If you have not had the opportunity to attend this terrific event in the past, do plan to do so for the future. Organized by the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau, Mexico Tourism Board and Global Incentive Management Mexico – DMC, the 3 day schedule offers a terrific opportunity to experience Mexico, research venues and evaluate services while reviewing your program details on a one-on-one basis with knowledgeable hospitality professionals.
There was plenty to digest this year, and we’re talking about more than just the wonderful cuisine. A warm welcome greeted guests at every turn. Professionals representing hotels, audio-visual/technology companies, decorators, restaurants, caterers, off-site venues, transportation, eco-tourism, were on hand to enthusiastically share the enjoyment and fun while providing their “know how” for every aspect of hosting a group, special event or congress. Charlie Moore, with Faith Christian Fellowship, has attended Showcase every year and uses it to evaluate and gather new ideas for his clients. He has run 3 successful programs in Cancun and finds “the event does what it says: it ‘showcases’ the tremendous variety available for events and really cements my relationship with hoteliers.”
The tradeshow is organized with an efficient appointment schedule. With the show being in Cancun, the destination was well represented, as were other zones of Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Everyone got down to the business of doing business in the atmosphere created by the Cancun Convention Center staff and decorator.
You need never be concerned with the delivery of service for detailed programs. Omega World Travel’s Alonzo Duncan commented, “Mexico Showcase has opened my eyes to some wonderful meeting alternatives in Cancun for my clients. The tradeshow networking appointments were very worthwhile, allowing us planners to focus our attention on specific products, maximizing the time available during the exhibition. I would definitely attend again.”
These folks are at the top of their game.
The Q & A game (Oh, the fun of “were you paying attention!”) at Saturday’s luncheon only added to the program touting Re-Evaluate, Re-Invent, Re-Investment and Re-Silient for updating planners, agents and brokers on the MICE business climate of Mexico today. Mexico is experiencing media sensationalism, just as any number of global destinations. Adding the economic climate and other challenges from the past few years, representatives did not shy away from acknowledging tough issues and then demonstrated how your price-points will get great value with flexible or no attrition clauses, expanded emergency management, additional airline service and competitive rates. Some surcharges are even disappearing! The luncheon panel gave an excellent “walk through” of master account management in regards to the VAT tax refund as well.
Another program presentation covered the ease with which larger groups can bring in exhibits, materials etc. through customs by working with local freight carriers at a most reasonable cost. The National Onion Association’s Wayne Mininger commented that he has done programs on both the Caribbean and Pacific sides of Mexico and what he finds most impressive is the “service, service, service” with a “can do” attitude of everyone involved (including the story of a gardener building an easel for him!) “The most extraordinary things are done just to make sure things work and run smoothly by this industry in Mexico,” says Mininger.
In planning for the future, Andy Ortiz with Global Incentive Management reflects on how 9 years ago a small ‘Showcase’ was organized solely for Cancun. Now, all of Mexico provides support.
“The wonderful participation and support of Mexico Showcase comes from a group of professionals who understand what this business is about and they want people to know we can deliver. They know having professional planners and organizers coming to actually experience our service, is what has produced the twenty million in revenue directly attributable to this show for our country,” Ortiz said.
Yes, Mexico is fun and always will be, given the warmth of its citizens, but know that the country plays on a global stage when it comes to group business, whether it’s a wedding party or an international congress.
You can learn for yourself at next year’s 10th Anniversary, April 28 – May 2, 2011!
May 25
Ashley ChalmersMisc Tidbits, News meeting planner help, meeting planning services, Tips for Meeting Planners
Simply invite five meeting planners to your office for a breakfast, lunch or a cocktail hour featuring an online demonstration of ConventionPlanit.com. We’ll deliver the presentation and the cuisine.
As a sponsor of the presentation, you’ll receive a $50 American Express Reward Card for your efforts. You can also spread the word about this offer to your guests – they can host their own presentation and take advantage of this great offer.
For more information, please contact Katherine Markham, CHME, at 301-975-9462, or katherinem@conventionplanit.com.
May 17
Ashley ChalmersContests Peppermill Reno, refer a meeting professional, Tips for Meeting Planners
Calling all meeting professionals:
Do you use ConventionPlanit.com? Do you have industry colleagues or peers who could benefit from using these services?
If so, you can refer your colleagues and enter to win a trip for yourself at the same time!
Enter the Refer a Meeting Professional Contest for a chance to win a trip for two to the Peppermill Resort in Reno Nevada.
Package Includes:
-Two nights in the all-new Tuscan Tower suite, complete with European soaking tub
-Round trip air for two valued at $500 each on Southwest Airlines
-Limo transportation to and from Reno-Tahoe airport
-Couples massage for two…or spoil just yourself with a massage and a facial
-Dinner at our Bimini Steakhouse valued at $150
The contest winner will be announced early July 2010, so be sure to enter before it’s too late!
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