Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 26)

Insider Report: Conference Centers Edited by William Ng william.ng@nielsen.com South San Francisco Conference Center continued from cover Meeting Space 20,600 sq. ft. total, plus 6,300 sq. ft. of lobby and pre-function space Full service Complimentary wireless connectivity Accommodations 3,000+ guest rooms close by Central Location 15 minutes from San Francisco 5 minutes from San Francisco International Airport At the heart of the biotech region 20 minutes from Silicon Valley www.ssfconf.com 650.877.8787 26 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 Another company that operates conference campaigns center on more one-on-one interac- centers, Dolce Hotels & Resorts, is embracing tions with planners, publicizing their robust the personal approach as well; it has sent propwebsites, stressing the meetings-focused nature of erty reps to the offices of independent meetingtheir facilities, and demonstrating the value that planning firms and large corporations over the their complete meeting packages (CMP) provide last several months to educate them on conferin this down economy. The goal of all these efforts: ence centers. One of the reps’ most potent to land a larger share of existing clients’total meet- weapons: testimonials that show planners the ings business, plus bring in new clients who have expanding range of meetings conducted at connot used conference centers. ference centers, and how each venue’s staff adapts to the specific needs of each meeting. Drawing up battle plans “We’re making a full-court press to get out Recalling a Feb. 27 IACC marketing committee the message that we’re productive venues whose meeting, board member Steve Sackman, region- core business is meetings, and that we’re not al director of sales and marketing for two North- fluffy or posh or over the top,” said Phil Mattia, east conference centers run by Destination Hotels senior director of marketing for Dolce, which & Resorts (DH&R), said the has 17 North American propertrade group did not seek to ties. And, given the current clichange “what we’ve been mate, “we think we can get not saying all along—that just more of the types of meetIACC-member facilities are ings we are known for, but also where productive meetings the executive meetings that tratake place and lend themditionally go to resorts,” he said. selves to solid return on (See a Q&A with Dolce’s new investment [for planners]. president and CEO on page 4.) But we did want to find ways Eric Terry, VP of sales and to publicize the relaunch of marketing for Benchmark HosIACC’s website, such as tarpitality—a conference center geted news releases to planmainstay—noted the 23-properners and media outlets, as ty firm is participating in the well as RSS feeds and other pro-meetings initiatives by the —Phil Mattia, senior director electronic means.” U.S. Travel Association as well as of marketing, Dolce Hotels & Resorts Continued Sackman: Hospitality Sales & Marketing “We need to tout the site’s Association International. ability to let planners find a distraction-free What’s more, Benchmark is embarking on a meeting environment and also show their exec- brand-specific campaign that focuses on the benutives that a specific venue is well-suited to the efits of “the fixed, upfront meetings cost— with purposes of that meeting. It’s a deep site that no surprises—that the CMP provides.” (One wasn’t built in cookie-cutter fashion; individual other large conference center firm, Aramark HarIACC properties populate the site with their rison Lodging, did not return a call for comment.) own property details and packages.” At a time when transparency is a critical facSackman added that the seven conference tor in corporate spending and when traditional centers in DH&R’s 32-property portfolio are hotels and resorts are fighting to maintain their being represented at various DH&R marketing meetings business, between conference centers’ events taking place in major cities this year, in use of testimonials and the all-inclusive CMP, order to create personal customer interactions some planners feel these venues just might succontinued on page 48 and get the message out to planners. We’re making “full-court pressa that we’re venues whose core business is meetings, and that we’re not fluffy or posh or over the top. ” www.meetingnews.com http://www.ssfconf.com http://www.ssfconf.com http://www.meetingnews.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Meeting News - March 23, 2009

Meeting News - March 23, 2009
Contents
What’s Up @ MeetingNews.com
Meetings Mean Business
As 'Meeting Matter' Marriott Unveils Promo
Columbus, OH, Addresses Convention Hotel Issues
People Making News
Orlando Strives for Cost Transparency
Is Biz-Class Air Travel Dead?
Greenest Planner Awards
Mid America
Insider Report: Conference Centers
Destination Insider: Mississippi Gulf Coast
Las Vegas
Destination Insider: Cleveland
Ad Index
Live from the Forum

Meeting News - March 23, 2009