Successful Meetings - May 2008 - (Page 16)

News & Analysis TA K E YOU R M EET I NG S A N D YOU R BU DGET FA RT H ER . > Industry Trends favorite suppliers, build for future deals, and at the same time save money,” he says. Discipline also reigns supreme among the larger companies, to the benefit of meetings departments. The Johnson/MPI poll reveals that marketers who measured the ROI of their events were one-and-a-half times more likely to expect an increase in their event marketing budgets, versus those who shrugged off measurement techniques. “Today’s much more professional planners negotiate more aggressively and favorably on behalf of their attendees,” says Hanson, “while promoting the favorable economic aspects of their meetings.” —Christopher Hosford Nearly half of all respondents report they have preferred-vendor status with airlines and hotels, and a much greater percentage have similar arrangements when purchasing office supplies and shipping services. Yet most companies give employees free rein in deciding which suppliers to use. It’s a gap, Vergara says, that can undermine the most carefully negotiated of meetings, lodging, and materials spend, and one that companies are moving to plug. More than half of respondents recognize room for improvement in monitoring employee compliance to expense policies. “By tightening policies that govern how employees spend, mid-size firms can channel spending to When you host a meeting with us, you can expect more. Like 10 to 15% tax-free (VAT) savings. And a more inspiring meeting. Because, with our uniquely beautiful locations and authentic local experiences, big ideas come naturally. Locations include: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Merida, Puebla, Los Cabos,* Ixtapa,* Cancun, Cozumel, Puerto Vallarta MGM Bets on Up-andComing Destinations The $700 million 824-room MGM Grand at Foxwoods is scheduled to debut this month, featuring a 21,000square-foot G Spa; a 50,000-squarefoot casino; several lounge and club venues; as well as highprofile dining venues, such as Tom Colicchio’s Craftsteak, Michael Schlow’s Alta Strada, and even a Junior’s Cheesecake. But more importantly for planners, the new casino complex adds 115,000 square feet of overall meeting space to the Foxwoods resort—more than tripling the space that is currently dedicated to corporate and association meetings, trade shows, and convenmimegasite.com tions at the Foxwoods Resort. It will also feature a 50,000-square-foot, column-free ballroom—the largest in the northeast—and a new 4,000-seat per- MGM Grand at Foxwoods Do you live an InterContinental life? Call +1 800 344 0548 or visit www.intercontinental.com ©2008 InterContinental Hotels Group. All rights reserved. Most hotels are independently owned and/or operated. *All inclusive. forming-arts theater. In addition, both Foxwoods and MGM Grand will be partnered with Boston-based event and destination MAY 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://www.intercontinental.com http://www.intercontinental.com http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - May 2008

Successful Meetings - May 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry Trends
Destination News
Destination News
Suppliers
Destination News
Calendar
On the Record
Websites of the Month
Management Matters
Mouth for Sale
Meetings Law
Planner's Spotlight
Pre-Event
On Site
Tools of the Trade
Pre-Event
Counting Change
Giving Them the Business
The Magnificent Seven
All-American Gift Guide
Green Lights
Places & Spaces
Anaheim & Orange County
Upstate New York
Cincinnati
Detroit
San Diego
Phoenix
Gurus

Successful Meetings - May 2008