Successful Meetings - March 2009 - (Page 11)

designed to generate feedback for research and development purposes; and trade shows and similar events that bring prospective buyers and sellers together. “While monitoring expenditures by taxpayer-aided companies is warranted, federal regulation and sensational coverage has created a paralyzing environment where companies are unwilling to travel or to meet for legitimate business practices,” said Roger Dow, USTA president and CEO, during a call outlining the guidelines. Dow noted that most events in the news of late were legitimate, but executives are canceling because of perception concerns. “The irony is we are the answer to a flat economy, not the problem,” says Brenda Anderson, CEO of Site, formerly called the Society of Incentive & Travel Executives, one of the organizations partnering with the USTA. And of the collaboration among industry heavyweights, she says, “Egos are out the door. It’s about the greater good here.” She points out that none of the guidelines would be required, but adds, “It’s good common sense to have a protocol that’s measurable and sensible.” The announcement came one day after Wells Fargo ran a full-page ad in major metropolitan newspapers explaining the impact of canceling a February Las Vegas program. Canceling the event affects not only Wells Fargo team members, who were expecting, and deserving of, recognition, but also “The hospitality industry. Hotel housekeepers. Restaurant servers. The airlines.” In the guidelines launch call, Dow explained that it is often the hourly employee—the bellman or housekeeper—who is first to be let go when hotels need to cut costs. “At a time when the Department of Labor reports a loss of nearly 200,000 travel-related jobs in 2008 and U.S. Commerce Department data predicts a loss of an additional 247,000 travel- related jobs in 2009, it is critical that every effort be made to protect beneficial meetings and events,” said Dow in a statement. “Our associations are hopeful that with stringent, transparent standards in place, policymakers and the business community can embrace meetings, events, and incentive travel as responsible economic stimulants.” The USTA worked in conjunction with the American Hotel and Lodging Association, Destination Marketing Association International, Meeting Professionals International, National Business Travel Association, Professional Convention Management Association, and Site, as well as Maritz Inc., to develop the guidelines. Visit www.successfulmeetings.com for a copy of the guidelines. —Kinley Levack focus The world’s most focused learning environment At Q Center, your successful meeting is our only business. So we’re completely focused on helping you deliver outstanding results. Our conference center is dedicated to ﬂawlessly executing every detail of your event—technology, creative business services, Smart Space conﬁguration and, of course, memorable food — in our comfortable, distraction-free setting. All that’s left for you to do is relax and focus on your big picture. Qualiﬁed site visits eligible for travel cost reimbursement. Call or email for details. SITEVISIT@QCENTER.COM SALES 1.877.774.THEQ (8437) CHICAGO WWW.QCENTER.COM/FOCUS1 SuccessfulMeetings.com I March 2009 I SM I 11 http://www.successfulmeetings.com http://WWW.QCENTER.COM/FOCUS1 http://WWW.QCENTER.COM/FOCUS1 http://www.SuccessfulMeetings.com

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Successful Meetings - March 2009 Contents Editor's Letter News Update Education Management Matters Meetings Law Mouth for Sale Visionaries And the Award Goes to... Taking Green Initiatives to the Top Events of Presidential Proportion It's a Small World After All Places + Spaces Big Island Supplement-Insert NYC Metro Houston Oahu The Bahamas Memphis Passport

Successful Meetings - March 2009

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