Meeting News - January 5, 2009 - (Page 47)

Cover Story AD INDEX Advertiser Page 3-2-1 Connect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 www.3-2-1Connect.com Atlantis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3 www.atlantis.com AT& T Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC www.attpark.com Boston Convention Marketing Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5, 7 www.AdvantageBOSTON.com Cherokee Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 www.cherokeecasino.com Cranwell Resort & Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 www.cranwell.com Emerald Coast CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 www.destin-fwb.com Greater Phoenix CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45 www.meetphx.com Greater Raleigh CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 www.visitraleigh.com Greensboro Area CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 www.greensboronc.org Advertiser Page Advertiser Page Harbourtowne Golf Resort & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 www.harbourtowne.com Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 www.hiltonuniversal.com Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 www.theislebettendorf.com LA Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 www.discoverlosangeles.com/meetings Memphis CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 www.memphistravel.com Metro Tucson CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC www.TucsonOnUs.com Norfolk CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 www.visitnorfolktoday.com Nuevo Leon Monterey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 www.ocvmty.com Orlando/Orange County CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24A (insert) www.orlandoconventions.com Otesaga Resort Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 www.otesaga.com Pearl Stable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 www.pearlstable.com Penn Stater Conf. Ctr. Hotel, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 www.pennstatehotels.com Rosen Plaza Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 www.RosenPlaza.com Rosen Shingle Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 www.RosenShingleCreek.com Savoya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .IFC www.savoya.com Singapore Tourism Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18-19 www.visitsingapore-usa.com/mice St. Petersburg/Clearwater CVB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 www.VisitStPeteClearwater.com Visit Charlotte . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11 www.charlottesgotalot.com Visit St. Charles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 www.stcharlesilmeetings.com Walt Disney Swan & Dolphin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 www.swandolphinmeetings.com The Index to Advertisers is published for the convenience of our readers. Every effort is made to list advertisers’ names, web addresses and page numbers correctly. The publisher is not liable for errors or omissions. continued from page 25 corporate planners, and 37 percent of independent planners said 80 to 100 percent of their overall job involves meeting planning. For professional planners, the percentage seems surprisingly low. Administrative tasks take up the rest of the time of successful independent planners, according to Dan Gennari, president of VenueQuest, a meetings management and group travel company based in Atlanta. “In the past, I would have said that 100 percent of my job involved planning,” he said,“but as our team has grown, I find myself more and more in an administrative/business operations mode. Today, I’d say I spend about 60 percent of my time actually working on client programs.” When it comes to meeting planning, one thing that’s eating up more of Gennari’s time these days is reviewing hotel proposals. “For the RFPs that we’re working on now, we’re getting about four times as many proposals back as we would have six months or a year ago,” he said. One example is an event he’s working on that has 14 viable options for 2010 in one city; for the 2009 event, which he worked on last year, he had three options. “It’s great for the client, and it’s good on the purchasing end,” said Gennari, “but it definitely creates much more work and more followup with that many more hotels. And like with anything else, sometimes the more options you give a group, the more confusing it gets.” Close to the vest Like many planners, IntrinXec’s Schuette is keeping a close eye on attendance numbers, as well as budgets. “We had one program in November that was only down 30 people,” he said. “People still want to get together and are finding creative ways to make it happen—you can’t deny the power of face-to-face meetings.” Still, Schuette’s doing his best to protect the associations he works with in case attendance does go down. “In negotiating with hotels, we put our clients first while still maintaining relationships [with hotels],” Schuette said. To that end, he’s negotiating into contracts, for example, room-block review periods when he can reduce the block by 10 continued on page 48 The meticulously restored Pearl Stable. Revived beauty. Renewed spirit. elegance you’ve dreamed . Loc d the h elegance you’ve dreamed of. L ted at th historic amed d Located h Pearl Brewery. Conta t us for a private showing. Br we Brewery. Contact u tact private sh wi g A spirited event venue www.meetingnews.com January 5, 2009 MeetingNews 47 http://www.pennstatehotels.com http://www.harbourtowne.com http://www.3-2-1Connect.com http://www.RosenPlaza.com http://www.hiltonuniversal.com http://www.atlantis.com http://www.RosenShingleCreek.com http://www.theislebettendorf.com http://www.attpark.com http://www.savoya.com http://www.discoverlosangeles.com/meetings http://www.AdvantageBOSTON.com http://www.visitsingapore-usa.com/mice http://www.memphistravel.com http://www.cherokeecasino.com http://www.VisitStPeteClearwater.com http://www.TucsonOnUs.com http://www.cranwell.com http://www.charlottesgotalot.com http://www.visitnorfolktoday.com http://www.destin-fwb.com http://www.stcharlesilmeetings.com http://www.ocvmty.com http://www.meetphx.com http://www.swandolphinmeetings.com http://www.orlandoconventions.com http://www.visitraleigh.com http://www.otesaga.com http://www.greensboronc.org http://www.pearlstable.com http://www.pearlstable.com http://www.pearlstable.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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Meeting News - January 5, 2009

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