Meeting News - March 23, 2009 - (Page 44)

Cover Story continued from page 32 sage from senior executives to their employees about the future of their organization is important. Getting face time with current and potential customers is important. Buying and selling face-to-face is important. Rewarding those who brought your organization revenues beyond expectations is important. Educating members about the latest and greatest in your respective fields is important. Rebuilding our economy is important. Keeping people employed is important. Keeping people in their homes is important. Protecting state services such as emergency services and education is important. Yes? So, then tell me how a few sound bites from a few government officials have now caused this blatant attack on our industry and our livelihoods. Tell me the American people can see through all of this and realize that corporations need to conduct meetings in order to run their businesses. Here is my challenge: Tourism Industry: Defend the right to hold meetings and shout it from the rooftops. Government Officials: Take a moment to learn about the value of the tourism industry and how many voters we employ. Stand up and be a leader and defend the right to hold meetings. What you are saying today is making it worse. I hope and trust you get that. Corporate America: Stand up and defend your right to hold a meeting wherever you want. Don’t cave in to misguided and uneducated pressure. You’re better than that. And if you choose to do that in my town, you’ll have the best damn meeting you’ve ever had at a ridiculously affordable price. conducting events deemed “junkets,” little consideration has been given to distinguishing a boondoggle from a legitimate business meeting. The fallout from this lack of clarification—the “AIG Effect,” as it’s been dubbed—has rippled across the meetings industry and specific destinations that have been targeted. Companies from a range of industries have canceled meetings, incentives, and other programs in an effort to steer clear of potential public recrimination. I submit that not all these cancellations are beneficial to the country’s economic recovery. Forward-thinking companies clearly believe that meetings are valuable for business in good times and bad. The vast majority of company meetings have legitimate business objectives and produce a return on investment. Brainstorming sessions, sales meetings, training and development seminars, strategy meetings, product launches, professional conferences, and client events bring people together to generate sales, strengthen competitive advantages, drive greater profits, and position a company for long-term value and growth. Even the much-maligned incentive trip has a legitimate business purpose: motivating and rewarding top performers for exceeding established profit or revenue goals and generating incremental profits beyond a company’s investment in the program. As the war of words continues over what is and isn’t appropriate in these challenging times, we must acknowledge that, now more than ever, meetings are critical to keeping businesses viable and bolstering our ailing economy. And those are aspirations we all can agree on. have an expansion opening this year that will nearly triple the number of guest rooms and suites. In addition, we are adding 12 times the amount of meeting space. In basic economic terms, this expansion means jobs—almost 1,500 new jobs. It is imperative companies continue to come to Las Vegas to meet—not only for their own success and growth, but for those we are employing and for the economic stability of one of the country’s most recognized and famed cities. Robert Maricich President and CEO World Market Center Las Vegas The companies that survive this economic downturn will be the ones that actively and consistently pursue new business opportunities, wherever they arise. Our Winter Las Vegas Market saw tens of thousands of home furnishings professionals come together to do business in an efficient, productive setting. There’s no question those who attended Las Vegas Market are better positioned for future success than their competitors who stayed home. There’s also no doubt our attendees were able to take advantage of tremendous values at the city’s many world-class restaurants, hotels, shops, and shows when the workday ended. Lenny Izzo Tom Clearwater VP of Sales and Catering Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Senior VP and GM of Las Vegas Operations GES Exposition Services Michael A. Massari VP, Las Vegas Meetings by Harrah’s Entertainment The public debate over meetings and corporate business travel continues on with no sign of cooling. While the popular focus is on banks and TARP-funded businesses 44 MeetingNews March 23, 2009 Las Vegas is one of the most economical and accessible cities in the country for hosting meetings, whether corporate, association, or incentive. This industry allows companies to gather and share ideas, build strategies, and support employee growth in a convenient and costeffective way. The meetings industry also leads to jobs for thousands of Nevada residents and brings taxable revenue to the city. At Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas, we Las Vegas offers a popular and financially competitive location for meetings, exhibitions, and events. With convenient and affordable travel in and out, an abundance of meeting space capacity, and a wealth of restaurant and entertainment options, executives understand that Las Vegas is a fantastic destination to get their business done. H www.meetingnews.com http://www.vegasmeansbusiness.com http://www.meetingnews.com

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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

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