Successful Meetings - February 2009 - (Page 20)

PLANNER’S WORKSHOP education hold the meeting virtually. We designed some intriguing alternatives and presented them to the client—all wrapped in the context of explaining the importance of moving ahead with that particular meeting from a business standpoint. The client, in turn, presented the ideas to the senior execuwith the face-to-face event. In the current economic circumstances, I have been hearing stories of how meetings are being canceled right and left. One production company executive told me that one of her clients had even paid a $500,000 cancellation fee. That’s a huge amount of money to or measured risk assessment. Now, it would be easy to exhort clients (internal or external) to simply refrain from canceling. But when people respond on the basis of emotion, even the most logical arguments can fall on deaf ears. Simply pointing out the value of meetings in general is not enough. We have to do that, of course, but the argument’s effectiveness will be directly proportional to its specificity. That is, if we are going to make the case for a meeting’s value, we need to be very specific about the value of that particular meeting. How will it contribute to adding revenue? Maintaining customers? Building the organization’s value proposition? All of these things must be included in the discourse. Obviously, it helps if the meeting plan- When people respond on the basis of emotion, even the most logical arguments can fall on deaf ears. tives who were planning to cancel. Surprisingly, they decided (on the basis of hearing our argument) that the meeting was simply too important to cancel and they decided to go ahead —Mary Boone, president, Boone Associates just drop into the incinerator. Many meetings industry veterans I’ve spoken with see these cancellations taking place primarily because of fear—not because of sound business judgments THE PERFECT BLEND OF BUSINESS AND PLEASURE Elevate your event at the majestic MGM Grand at Foxwoods and the Foxwoods Resort Casino. We are redefining what it means to mix business with pleasure as your team enjoys the ultimate northeast meeting destination. We offer 160,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 50,000-square-foot column-free ballroom, cuttingedge technology, a fully-equipped business center, delectable full-service catering and over 2,200 hotel rooms. Our Conference Services professionals will work hand-in-hand with you to ensure a seamless experience from start to finish. Whatever the size or style of your event, MGM Grand at Foxwoods and Foxwoods Resort Casino guarantee to deliver a winning experience. And just a short distance from our pristine forest majesty, you’ll enjoy the impressive Lake of Isles Golf Course and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. The perfect blend of business and pleasure. Conveniently located off I-95 at exit 92 in southeast Connecticut. “ “

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - February 2009

Successful Meetings - February 2009 Contents Editor's Letter News Update: Meetings Associations Band Together Education Planner Spotlight Technology Talk Food & Beverage Making Cents of It All Meanwhile, Back at Headquarters Seal of Approval Come Sail Away Making Tracks Places & Spaces Florida’s East Coast Aruba Maui 3 Days in Philadelphia

Successful Meetings - February 2009

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