Meeting News - January 7, 2008 - (Page 26)

Collaborating with CVBs for event success A Planner Emily Lewis t the conclusion of last year’s Successful Meetings University – California event, I shared a cab to the airport with one of our meeting planner attendees. During the trip, the planner confessed a moment of enlightenment: She never thought to utilize the services of a CVB prior to meeting with one at our boutique trade show. Join me… Successful Meetings University Marketplaces that Educate & Connect I was certainly hotels and event venues. surprised to hear • Provide helpful marketing and A good CVB promotional services. this, especially since I work closely with local will review a • Send RFPs to suppliers that best match a group’s needs and CVBs for every event I plan. Yet, client’s program, requirements. many of my peers have limited determine their awareness of these organizations’ • Act as a liaison between the wide-ranging capabilities and, needs, and will group and potential facilities. I am currently instead, rely on individual hotels then target specific Monterey CVB toworking with the help coordinate for services and information. properties, this year’s Successful Meetings A recent MeetingNews survey confirms this phenomenon. Of regions, or venues University – California event, being in April. The personal service 433 meeting professionals surthat best address heldknowledgeable guidance have and veyed earlier in the year, less than the client’s added tremendously to the scope one-third often or always contact of our event. Speaking from expeCVBs when planning their meetobjectives. ings. Of those planners who do —Bruce Skidmore, director of rience, CVBs are truly a planner’s partner. —Emily Lewis utilize a CVB, all appreciate their sales, Monterey County CVB assistance with meetings tasks. Below are just a few of the ways CVBs can help Emily Lewis plans meetings for meeting planners— no easy task! She is the conference manager for ease the planning process: • Suggest local venues, tours, and vendors the MeetingNews and sister magazine Successful Meetplanner wouldn’t know about otherwise. ings,organizing multiple Successful Meetings Uni• Assist with availability and rates at meetings versity events across the country each year. Successful Meetings University – California DATE: April 14-16, 2008 CITY: Monterey, CA PROPERTY: Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa EXHIBITORS AT&T Park • Carmel Valley Ranch • CCM&E Destination Services • Costa Mesa CVB • Culinary Center of Monterey • Hard Rock Hotel San Diego • Hilton Anaheim • Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City • Hilton San Diego • Hilton San Francisco • Hotel Nikko San Francisco • Hyatt Regency Century Plaza • Hyatt Regency Monterey • InterContinental San Francisco • The Island Hotel Newport Beach • La Quinta Resort & Club • Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority • The Lodge at Torrey Pines • Loews Coronado Bay Resort & Spa • Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel • Long Beach CVB • Manchester Grand Hyatt • Monterey Bay Aquarium • Monterey Conference Center • Monterey County CVB • Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa • Oakland CVB • Pasadena CVB • PRA Destination Management • San Diego CVB • San Jose CVB • San Mateo County CVB • South San Francisco Conference Center • The Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa “ ” Calendar Successful Meetings University Southeast . . . . . . . . February 24-26 International. . . . . . . . . . March 3-5 California . . . . . . . . . . . April 14-16 Hawaii . . . . . . . . . . . . . May 13-15 Florida . . . . . . . . . . . August 24-26 During some scheduled free time at the upcoming Successful Meetings University – California event, planners can sign up for any of these exciting afternoon activities: • Golf at Carmel Valley Ranch • Land Rover Experience Driving School at Quail Lodge • Wine Experience at Chateau Julien Wine Estate • Monterey Movie Tours • Carmel Plaza Shopping Experience Adventures by the Sea Destination Update: Monterey • Carmel Walking Tour • The Spa at Bernardus Lodge • Kayak Experience at Adventures by the Sea Also on the agenda are lunches at the Culinary Center of Monterey and Carmel Valley Ranch, as well as an off-site evening reception at the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. Visit our Successful Meetings University website, www.MeetingNews.com/SMU, for the latest information about these programs, and feel free to e-mail any questions about the events to emily.lewis@nielsen.com. We’re expecting to hear from you! 26 MeetingNews January 7, 2008 www.meetingnews.com http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/events/marketplace.jsp http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/events/marketplace.jsp http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/events/marketplace.jsp http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/events/marketplace.jsp http://www.MeetingNews.com/SMU http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - January 7, 2008

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