Meeting Planning Resources

Thursday, April 10 industry practices that create or give rise to ethical concerns and “gray areas” that meeting planners frequently encounter. You also will help to create practices or guidelines within your area of control that address consistency in ethical behavior. You will leave the session with your questions about ethics answered and with an understanding of the actions you can and can not take as a meeting planner whose reputation is above reproach. bottom line. Industry trends that impact negotiations will be discussed as will the variables that influence hotel pricing and availability, and how hotels value your meetings. You also will be shown five steps to valuebased negotiations and how to use your leverage for maximum results. You will walk away from this workshop with solid information that will help you generate a significant return on investment (ROI) for your meetings and events. The Strategic Request for Proposal: Selecting the Perfect Site Room 307 Jennifer Brown Partner Meeting Sites Resource Irvine, California The request for proposal (RFP) and hotel evaluation process are essential to ensure selection of the right meeting site as well as a highly successful event. In this interactive workshop, you will discover how to produce a strategic RFP that helps you better communicate and negotiate with hotels and other meeting facilities and assists you with both your planning and assessment of your leverage and negotiations strategy. You will learn the essential components and questions that must be included in an RFP and you will be better able to establish a preliminary budget. This workshop also will focus on the processes of assessing your meeting needs and evaluating meeting facilities that ensure “perfect sites” for your meetings and events. You also will leave the workshop with an invaluable action plan for success that includes planning tools and resources. Especially for Independent Meeting Planners A Business of Your Own: Steps to Take for Success as an Entrepreneur Room 305 Jonathan Howe, Esq. President/Senior Partner Howe & Hutton, Ltd. Chicago, Illinois Whether you have been an independent meeting planner for years, or are an aspiring entrepreneur, to ensure the success of your enterprise there are steps that you need to take when you launch your business and as your business grows. This session will address those steps as well as some critical issues that face everyone who manages a small business, specifically organizational structure, tax issues, and how to protect your intellectual property. Of course, you also will receive tips for making your business more profitable and yourself more secure. In addition, invaluable information will be shared about contracting with your clients and your vendors that will help you avoid disappointments and disputes. Please bring your questions to the session and prepare to be actively involved. Effective Negotiation Strategies: Understanding How Hotels Evaluate Your Business Room 309 Tim Brown Partner Meeting Sites Resources Irvine, California It’s a hot sellers’ market and hoteliers can be choosy about what meetings they accept – or decline. In this dynamic workshop, you will learn the new rules of hotel revenue management and specific negotiation strategies that will add significant value to your meeting and increase the Networking Luncheon 11:30 am – 12:15 pm Exposition Hall B Exposition 12:15 pm – 2:30 pm Exposition Hall A Two drawings for $1,000 at 2:30 p.m. sharp 10 Your new e-badge will arrive in the mail 3 weeks before the show.

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