Successful Meetings - December 2008 - (Page 41)

College University M E E T I N G S A N D FA C I L I T I E S PLANNER & rooms. Bentley always gives ONE CONTACT, ONE BILL us a separate room where Bentley’s Ron Webb also serves as national people can network, and president for the Association of Collegiate they love that, too,” she Conference and Event Directors Internsays. “The staff is not overly ational (ACCED-I), which has embraced slick, as it sometimes can be another key benefit of on-campus meetat hotels… There is a level ings: one-stop shopping. of trust… a sense that Campus conference centers can win this meeting will be good for on price and service, and now, according everybody.” to Webb, increasing numbers of them will Lee isn’t the only meeting offer a third powerful benefit: the ability planner concerned with for meeting planners to deal with only one affordability. Budgets are person at the conference center. becoming a big issue in When centers can clearly show that the current economic “one contact, one contract, and one bill” climate, according to Ron is their way of doing business, they will Webb, CMP, director of receive ACCED-I certification and will be Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire the Conference Center at featured on the ACCED-I Certified OneBentley. In fact, he reports Stop Shop web page. Notes the organizathat the quest for better prices has the tion’s Executive Director Deborah Blom: Steve Smith, director of quality services center’s phones ringing off the hook. “Our members coordinate the campus for the International Association of “Planners had all these meetings in visits of nearly five million persons annually. Conference Centers (IACC). Smith says the pipeline, and now they can’t afford Our membership believes that One-Stop that planners who are interested in bookthe hotels and big convention centers,” Shop certification will help meeting ing a property that can also help with he says. “We are a much more affordable planners provide those millions of visitors program development often hit pay dirt option.” with a more predictable, enjoyable, and with campus settings, where typically a Still, according to Webb, success always enriching campus experience.” “wealth of personnel” is available. ultimately comes down to the staff and University of Pennsylvania Conference The Conference Center at Bentley in the level of service that Bentley provides. Services endorses espouses the one-stop Waltham, Massachusetts, is one facility He and his team of 10 full-time employees shop philosophy. “We help to coordinate that can easily provide on-campus help and 20 part-time students have tripled meeting space, sleeping rooms, parking, with programming. In addition, this “ revenue growth over the last four years, A/V, food and beverage, and ground business school for a new kind of business transportation from hotels to meeting leader” is equipped with a trading room— which he attributes both to marketing and to word of mouth. The team’s efforts space,” reports Jeff Barta, director of sales a virtual laboratory where attendees at have also led to a 70 percent rate of and marketing, conference services. business seminars can simulate real-life repeat business. participation in world financial markets. The Conference Center at Bentley Pat Lee, association manager for the can handle groups as large as Human Resource Leadership Forum, has 500 for day meetings during the held some 35 meetings for human year and for overnight meetings— resources executives at Bentley in recent years. One reason for that often-repeated including corporate retreats—in summer. The college’s Adamian choice: She believes that the university Pavilion Amphitheatre can seat 250 setting inspires attendees to be better for learning sessions, Lindsey Hall’s leaders. Koumantzelis Auditorium can seat Lee reports that another key motivation 480 for programs that require a is price. The Conference Center at Bentley large stage, La Cava can seat 400 is simply less expensive than holding a day in banquet rounds and 300 theatermeeting at a hotel. While initially Lee style, and other space is available wasn’t sure that her high-powered execuas well. Catering is provided by tive attendees would go for a campus Sodexho, one of the world’s largest setting, she has discovered that they love it. The New England Center at the University of New food suppliers, with menus tailored “They appreciate the brick walls and Hampshire in Durham to match each group’s budget. windows, rather than sterile hotel ballSUCCESSFUL MEETINGS I DECEMBER 2008 I Supplier information at InfoNow on mimegasite.com 41 http://www.mimegasite.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - December 2008

Successful Meetings - December 2008 Contents Editor's Note Corporate Events On the Record Calendar Research Planner Spotlight Personal Success Technology Talk Food & Beverage Professional Development Quick Tip Tools of the Trade On Site: Retire Those Tired Power-Point Slides On Site: 12 Tips for Thriving on a South African Safari Deep Impact Recession-Friendly Speakers Showing Off Hawaii Insert Places & Spaces Mississippi Gulf Coast Fort Worth South Florida Beijing Gurus

Successful Meetings - December 2008

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