Meeting News - April 21, 2008 - (Page 39)

Join me… Successful Meetings University – Hawaii Date: May 13-15, 2008 Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Maui, Hawaii Optional Post trips to Kauai, Big Island, or Oahu Date: May 16-18, 2008 Prioritizing in-person meetings N ever underestimate the value of face-to-face contact. That’s a mantra easily forgotten by many busy meeting planners, myself included. connections is an integral part of an event’s success. Sharing ideas and resources with fellow meeting planners, as well as suppliers, leads Planner to many helpful relationships down Emily Lewis the road. G Time Management: At first blush, time away from the office might not at all seem worth the effort. But months of Internet research, countless backand-forth phone calls, and an endless stream of emails could all be eliminated with just one efficient in-person experience. Placing a high value on in-person meetings is a challenge, given the hectic nature of our working lives. But carving a little time away from our desks can be infinitely more meaningful and maybe a lot more fun. H —Emily Lewis Emily Lewis plans meetings for meeting planners—no easy task! She is the conference manager for MeetingNews and sister magazine Successful Meetings, organizing multiple Successful Meetings University events across the country each year. Exhibitors Big Island Visitors Bureau • Continental Airlines • Fairmont Kea Lani Maui • The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii • Hawaii Prince Hotels • Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau • Hawaiian Airlines • Hilton Kauai Beach Resort • Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio • Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa • Hyatt Regency Maui • Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa • JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa • Kahala Hotel & Resort • Kaua’i Marriott Resort & Beach Club • Kaua'i Visitors Bureau • Marriott International Hawaiian Island Hotels • Maui Prince Hotel • Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau • Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows • Polynesian Cultural Center • Prince Resorts Hawaii • Princeville Resort • Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Waikiki • Sheraton Kauai Resort• Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa • Sheraton Maui Resort • Starwood Hotels & Resorts Hawaii • The Westin Maui Resort and Spa • Turtle Bay Resort • Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort • Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa • Weil & Associates • Westin Moana Surfrider Like you, my tasks are plentiful and complex: There are forms to fill out, e-mails to send, phone calls to make, research to conduct, and files to fax, among many other daily concerns. I’ve got a desktop, a laptop, a BlackBerry, and a cell phone, all within arm’s reach to help me streamline the planning process. It’s amid the hustle and bustle of office life that opportunities to get away from my desk—and speak with vendors, host properties, and fellow meeting planners up close and personal—are often overlooked. This year, I’m striving to make in-person meetings a priority. It is a challenge, to be sure. But having face time—be it a few hours for a networking event or a few days for a site inspection—is endlessly more valuable in the long run. Here are a few reasons why: G Hands-On Experiences: Sleeping in a guest room, tasting the food, and traveling to a location are things one could never fully glean from video footage or online images. An in-person visit can instantly make or break a site selection. G Networking: Cultivating meaningful, in-person Host Update: Hawaii Post-Trips For the first time this May, the Successful Meetings University – Hawaii event will be held on the magical island of Maui. The boutique trade show will take place at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, and attending planners will have ample opportunities to experience the resort, as well as savor the island’s inspiring surroundings. From the soaring Haleakala crater to the well-traveled road to Hana, Maui offers a diverse and picturesque backdrop for meetings. Upon completion of our Successful Meetings University – Hawaii main event, attending planners have the option to explore another Hawaiian island of their choice—Oahu, the Big Island, or Kauai. Held from May 16-18, programs are being hosted by the following resorts: Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore; the Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii on the Big Island; and the Kauai Marriott Beach Resort & Club on the Garden Isle. Each post-trip will feature an array of fun activities and site visits to local properties. 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! Turtle Bay Resort in Oahu is a post-trip host. www.meetingnews.com April 21, 2008 MeetingNews 39 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 - April 21, 2008

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