Successful Meetings - September 2008 - (Page 20)

News & Analysis > Incentives Incentive Planners Cool Towards Procurement Departments Although they are often at odds with one another, incentive travel planners and procurement departments can, in fact, get along, suggests a recent survey from the Incentive Research Foundation (IRF). Concluded in April and released in July, the survey explores the often-conflicted relationship between those who plan meetings and those who pay for them. “Incentive travel planners are driven to create the most effective program and award experience possible for participants while procurement departments are tasked with containing costs,” Bob Dawson, chair of IRF’s Research THE ENT OF R M O Committee, said in a stateLVE NT INVOCUREMENG IN I ment. “It’s no surprise conPROURCHAS NTIVE S Fifty-two percent of P E INCE SINES flicts arise. This survey points respondents say proTH L BU E to actions that can improve TRAV curement is involved in and enhance the ways incentive incentive program travel planners and procurement planning. and purchasing departments work Of those, 59 percent—or together.” six out of 10—feel the overall effect of Titled, “The Involvement of Proprocurement department involvement is curement or Purchasing in the Incentive negative. Travel Business,” the IRF survey was conducted over a three-week period and included incentive travel providers, corporate incentive travel buyers, and suppliers. Among its findings: Of respondents who report procurement involvement, 52 percent feel negatively because procurement emphasizes costs at the expense of results. Despite the large distaste for procurement among incentive travel planners, survey respondents did identify several advantages to working with procurement departments. For instance: Procurement departments force planners to adopt fresh perspectives. Procurement departments enforce cost considerations. Procurement departments enhance program efficacy. Procurement departments facilitate the standardization of planning practices. Based on procurement departments’ pros and cons, the IRF has made several survey-based recommendations that it suggests will improve communication and collaboration between incentive travel planners and purchasers. It suggests, for instance, that incentive travel providers address procurement needs and issues during the proposal and implementation processes, and that they educate procurement executives about their value, with a strong emphasis on showing how incentive travel programs can produce more for less. —Matt Alderton Preview the entirely new Williamsburg Lodge at ColonialWilliamsburgMeetings.com 323 Guest Rooms • 45,000-square-foot Conference Center 20,000-square-foot New Spa • 45 Holes of Golf Williamsburg, Virginia • 1-800-822-9127 • (757) 220-7600 The Mid-Atlantic’s Premier Destination is on Your Desktop © 2008 The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation http://ColonialWilliamsburgMeetings.com http://ColonialWilliamsburgMeetings.com

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

Successful Meetings - September 2008
Contents
Editor's Note
Industry Trends
Supplier News
Technology
Calendar
Incentives
Association News
Corporate Meetings
Independent Planners
Management Matters
Meetings Law
Mouth for Sale
Planner Spotlight
Pre-Event
On Site
On Site
Tools of the Trade
Where All That Glitters May Bring Gold
Stepping Up in Class
Going for the Green
10 Great Drive-To Destinations
Charter Members
Night at the Museum
Places & Spaces
Charleston and Savannah
Los Angeles
Phoenix/Scottsdale
Rocky Mountain Resorts
Caribbean
Monaco
Malaysia
Gurus

Successful Meetings - September 2008