"An Occasional Column about our Chapter’s Monthly Events"
Our HSMAI-South Florida monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, March 18th at the “new” and better than ever Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach. A record crowd braved rain and windy weather to hear Sal Dickinson speak on the very timely presentation: “Selling in an Uncertain Economy.” Thank you to our sponsor American Coach (Richard Gonzalez) for providing bus transportation from Broward.
The gorgeous resort is newly expanded and decorated. It seems you walk for miles from the parking areas to the meeting rooms. Do you remember the former lobby? The old black bow-tie patterned tiling will bring back memories of the glory that was Miami Beach. And how wonderful to hear that the hotel was completely occupied! We want to especially thank Scott Flexman in Marketing and Michelle Cannici in catering as well as Moe and the other banquet personnel for making our event so very special. Starting with our reception and cash bar through the dinner – with the added “surprise” of a free glass of wine – and to the spectacular chocolate desert, the service, ambiance and overall experience was luxury class all the way. (Speaking of “customer service” – did you notice that everyone on staff from the cleaning people to security all pleasantly greeted you?)
Sal’s presentation can be viewed on our website www.hsmaisouthflorida.org if you go to the resources section. I’m not going to recap the speech, but wanted to note that as Sal said, if you came away with just one or two ideas, he’d done his part. Well, I can say that most everyone came away with a lot more than that! Did you see everyone taking notes? The best was that there were immediately usable action items. Even long time members of our industry received helpful reminders of the some of the sales basics along with an introduction to some of the newer technologies available and valuable suggestions. Sal’s a great supporter of and believer in HSMAI. We’re hoping his exposure of national’s resources helps to drive membership to our Association. Thank you Sal!
Next month, our regular meeting moves to Ft. Myers. We are at the Holiday Inn-Airport for a luncheon and meeting planners panel. Industry veterans will be participating, so if you’re on the southwest coast of Florida please plan to be there. More information, as usual, on our website. See you there. And in May, we’re at the newly re-branded Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina – formerly the Ft. Lauderdale Grande Resort. Best, Julie
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
HSMAI Foundation Scholarship Applications Open
The HSMAI Foundation, which has been providing scholarships to students pursuing a career in hospitality sales and marketing since 1983, awards merit scholarships to full-time students in the Baccalaureate/Graduate Degree Candidate category, as well as to part-time students pursuing Associate, Baccalaureate, or Graduate Degrees.
The HSMAI Foundation scholarship program is currently accepting applications for the 2009-2010 academic year. And new this year, Graduate students will also be considered for the new HSMAI Foundation Mike Dimond Scholarship, which has been established to carry on the legacy of this hospitality sales and marketing giant who passed away in 2008.
The deadline is June 15, 2009. Recipients will be notified by July 15, 2009. The funds awarded will be forwarded to the colleges of the scholarship recipients to be applied directly to their tuition for the following semester.
Eligibility -- Students must: Be enrolled in a hospitality management or related curriculum and pursuing a degree; Have had hospitality work experience; Possess an interest in a career in hospitality sales and marketing; Be in good academic standing. Requirements -- Completed application form; Transcript from current college or university; Two recommendation forms; Current resume; Three personal essays. Judging Criteria --Grade point average; Essays; Industry-related work experience ; Recommendations; Extracurricular involvement; and Involvement in HSMAI
To Apply: Click here for more information and to download an application. Please call or email Kathy Tindell at 703-506-2010, ktindell@hsmai.org if you have any questions.
The HSMAI Foundation scholarship program is currently accepting applications for the 2009-2010 academic year. And new this year, Graduate students will also be considered for the new HSMAI Foundation Mike Dimond Scholarship, which has been established to carry on the legacy of this hospitality sales and marketing giant who passed away in 2008.
The deadline is June 15, 2009. Recipients will be notified by July 15, 2009. The funds awarded will be forwarded to the colleges of the scholarship recipients to be applied directly to their tuition for the following semester.
Eligibility -- Students must: Be enrolled in a hospitality management or related curriculum and pursuing a degree; Have had hospitality work experience; Possess an interest in a career in hospitality sales and marketing; Be in good academic standing. Requirements -- Completed application form; Transcript from current college or university; Two recommendation forms; Current resume; Three personal essays. Judging Criteria --Grade point average; Essays; Industry-related work experience ; Recommendations; Extracurricular involvement; and Involvement in HSMAI
To Apply: Click here for more information and to download an application. Please call or email Kathy Tindell at 703-506-2010, ktindell@hsmai.org if you have any questions.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
HSMAI RESORT MARKETER OF THE YEAR AWARD
HSMAI, along with presenting sponsor Fareed Zapala Koepke, has created a new award to honor individual leadership and achievement in the field of resort marketing. Eligible nominees must be employed within a hospitality organization, with current responsibilities focused on the branding, marketing and/or communications aspects of a resort.
Nomination forms are available at www.resortconference.com and are due by April 17, 2009. The winner will be announced on May 4 at the 9th Annual Resort Conference in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, May 3-5.
The Resort Conference draws high-level executives including general managers, directors of sales and other department heads, such as those in revenue management, human resources and online marketing, and includes valuable networking opportunities for attendees. This year's resort conference focuses on ways to maximize ROI in resort operations and marketing by connecting to the customer. For more information about the 2009 Conference, or a recap of previous events, visit www.resortconference.com.
Nomination forms are available at www.resortconference.com and are due by April 17, 2009. The winner will be announced on May 4 at the 9th Annual Resort Conference in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, May 3-5.
The Resort Conference draws high-level executives including general managers, directors of sales and other department heads, such as those in revenue management, human resources and online marketing, and includes valuable networking opportunities for attendees. This year's resort conference focuses on ways to maximize ROI in resort operations and marketing by connecting to the customer. For more information about the 2009 Conference, or a recap of previous events, visit www.resortconference.com.
HSMAI – Monthly Benefit for February 2009
In case you missed the email last month -- As an HSMAI member, you now have access to the "best of the best" practices in travel marketing via the new online HSMAI Adrian Awards Winners' Gallery. HSMAI's annual Adrian Awards honor excellence in travel and hospitality marketing in the categories of advertising, public relations and web marketing. (www.hsmai.org)
As part of HSMAI's on going efforts to provide best practices for the hospitality sales and marketing industry, the HSMAI Adrian Awards Winners' Gallery allows members to view what's behind the winning work. HSMA members have the exclusive ability to search for and view best of show, platinum, gold, silver and bronze winning entries from the 2007 and 2008 competitions. Members can narrow the search using particular terms, categories, or winning status, as well.
This is the first time in the 52 year history of the Adrian Awards competition that all of the work has been available for viewing by all members. You can see the award winning work of the following: Amtrak; Desires Hotels; Cunard Line; Emirates; Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation; Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; Holiday Inn Express; Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts; Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Marriott and Renaissance Hotels of New Orleans; Nevada Commission of Tourism; Norwegian Cruise Line; Singapore Airlines; The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company; and Tourism New Zealand.
Perhaps you can get some ideas for your own travel marketing efforts…
As part of HSMAI's on going efforts to provide best practices for the hospitality sales and marketing industry, the HSMAI Adrian Awards Winners' Gallery allows members to view what's behind the winning work. HSMA members have the exclusive ability to search for and view best of show, platinum, gold, silver and bronze winning entries from the 2007 and 2008 competitions. Members can narrow the search using particular terms, categories, or winning status, as well.
This is the first time in the 52 year history of the Adrian Awards competition that all of the work has been available for viewing by all members. You can see the award winning work of the following: Amtrak; Desires Hotels; Cunard Line; Emirates; Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation; Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; Holiday Inn Express; Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts; Louisiana Office of Culture, Recreation and Tourism; Marriott and Renaissance Hotels of New Orleans; Nevada Commission of Tourism; Norwegian Cruise Line; Singapore Airlines; The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company; and Tourism New Zealand.
Perhaps you can get some ideas for your own travel marketing efforts…
Monday, March 23, 2009
New HSMAI-South Florida Chapter Members To Date
Please join me in warmly welcoming our New Members (January to date):
Carmen Ackerman, Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District
Joel Bartimmo, Florida International University
Sharon Cowie, Ritz-Carlton
Christopher Crenshaw, Loews Hotels
Francine Dryja, Tecton Hospitality/Desires Hotels
Ashley Elliott, Planet Hollywood
Catherine Garcia, Morgans Hotel Group
Patrick Goddard, Ocean Blue Hospitality
Samer Hassan, Johnson & Wales University North Miami
Alejandra Lopez, LAN Airlines
Castillo Mayra, Florida International University
Donna McCarthy, Jungle Queen Riverboat
Saul Sarmiento, Morgans Hotel Group
Brian Schachter, Florida International University
Christina Soverns-Schwartzman, Sawgrass Recreation Park
Carmen Ackerman, Riverwalk Arts & Entertainment District
Joel Bartimmo, Florida International University
Sharon Cowie, Ritz-Carlton
Christopher Crenshaw, Loews Hotels
Francine Dryja, Tecton Hospitality/Desires Hotels
Ashley Elliott, Planet Hollywood
Catherine Garcia, Morgans Hotel Group
Patrick Goddard, Ocean Blue Hospitality
Samer Hassan, Johnson & Wales University North Miami
Alejandra Lopez, LAN Airlines
Castillo Mayra, Florida International University
Donna McCarthy, Jungle Queen Riverboat
Saul Sarmiento, Morgans Hotel Group
Brian Schachter, Florida International University
Christina Soverns-Schwartzman, Sawgrass Recreation Park
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Incentive Travel Takes a Beating
Extravagant gatherings have been in the headlines recently. The media coverage of bailout recipients has caused even healthy companies to follow suit in scrapping incentive trips and even some routine conferences and meetings.
Incentives – those prizes and trips used to motivate sales, reward and/or recognize accomplishments -- are in trouble. Incentive travel is big business to our hotel industry – especially our resorts. Nationally, it generates about $13 billion dollars a year, creates jobs, and generates tax revenues. This figure doesn’t include the huge value of other meetings/corporate travel.
The misconception by the public means that even legitimate trips are being labeled “junkets” and thus tarred with the same irresponsible brush. Not only is the hospitality industry impacted by this erroneous perception, but also affected economically by the cutbacks are the small businesses that rely on corporate gatherings, as well.
The flip side is that many sales people have come to look forward to these trips, to think of them as part of their compensation. For some, it is the only vacation opportunity they can afford to take advantage of during the year.
Most pundits expect incentive travel programs to return once the criticisms die down in the press and the economy improves. This may not happen until 2010, however. The fear now is that the overall impact may have larger consequences in the future on how companies plan meetings and where they are held.
So, South Florida, what percentage of YOUR business is incentive travel?
Incentives – those prizes and trips used to motivate sales, reward and/or recognize accomplishments -- are in trouble. Incentive travel is big business to our hotel industry – especially our resorts. Nationally, it generates about $13 billion dollars a year, creates jobs, and generates tax revenues. This figure doesn’t include the huge value of other meetings/corporate travel.
The misconception by the public means that even legitimate trips are being labeled “junkets” and thus tarred with the same irresponsible brush. Not only is the hospitality industry impacted by this erroneous perception, but also affected economically by the cutbacks are the small businesses that rely on corporate gatherings, as well.
The flip side is that many sales people have come to look forward to these trips, to think of them as part of their compensation. For some, it is the only vacation opportunity they can afford to take advantage of during the year.
Most pundits expect incentive travel programs to return once the criticisms die down in the press and the economy improves. This may not happen until 2010, however. The fear now is that the overall impact may have larger consequences in the future on how companies plan meetings and where they are held.
So, South Florida, what percentage of YOUR business is incentive travel?
Monday, March 9, 2009
“Table of Eight” – February 2009
An Occasional Column about our HSMAI-South Florida Chapter’s Monthly Events
Our HSMAI-South Florida monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, February 18th at the Grill Room in the Riverside Hotel. A sell-out crowd had the pleasure of hearing Will Secombe, head of marketing for VISIT FLORIDA. The facts and figures of his presentation are posted on our website, so I won’t go into the details of that information. It was sobering to learn that for the first time in seven years, visitor numbers are down for our state. We had the chance to hear about plans to keep our destination competitive and had the opportunity to ask concerning questions of our speaker. One item that Will pointed out was disconcerting and requires immediate action. The tourist industry has become too complacent in that we assume that everyone (including our representatives in the state legislature) realizes the economic value of our number one industry to the state and its residents. Otherwise, our legislators would not have contemplated, without hesitation, drastically reducing the tourism marketing budget.
For our other monthly event we want to thank Robyn Melvin, Sales and Marketing Manager and Scott Jacobs, General Manager, of the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood. As you know, on Tuesday, February 24th (Mardi Gras), we had the pleasure of being invited to an exclusive breakfast event wholly hosted by the Hard Rock Café as an appreciation of our members and guests. We were also joined by some members of the local chapter of MPI. What a lovely and special morning – good food (those made-to-order omelets and a buffet including yummy biscuits and gravy), souvenirs (you can never have too many beads), a jazz combo to get our toes tapping, the fun of posing for photographs, and the traditions of painting coconuts and eating king cake. A good time was had by all – new and old friends chatting away, networking, being introduced to the Café facilities -- all topped off with goodie gift bags on our departure. Some of us (who shall be nameless) had a very hard time going back to our offices!
Looking ahead: So looking forward to our March dinner event at the “new” Fontainebleau resort in Miami Beach on March 18th. Sal Dickinson will be offering a timely presentation on “Selling in an Uncertain Economy.” Please don’t wait to register so you won’t be shut out. See you there. Best, Julie
Our HSMAI-South Florida monthly meeting was held on Wednesday, February 18th at the Grill Room in the Riverside Hotel. A sell-out crowd had the pleasure of hearing Will Secombe, head of marketing for VISIT FLORIDA. The facts and figures of his presentation are posted on our website, so I won’t go into the details of that information. It was sobering to learn that for the first time in seven years, visitor numbers are down for our state. We had the chance to hear about plans to keep our destination competitive and had the opportunity to ask concerning questions of our speaker. One item that Will pointed out was disconcerting and requires immediate action. The tourist industry has become too complacent in that we assume that everyone (including our representatives in the state legislature) realizes the economic value of our number one industry to the state and its residents. Otherwise, our legislators would not have contemplated, without hesitation, drastically reducing the tourism marketing budget.
For our other monthly event we want to thank Robyn Melvin, Sales and Marketing Manager and Scott Jacobs, General Manager, of the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood. As you know, on Tuesday, February 24th (Mardi Gras), we had the pleasure of being invited to an exclusive breakfast event wholly hosted by the Hard Rock Café as an appreciation of our members and guests. We were also joined by some members of the local chapter of MPI. What a lovely and special morning – good food (those made-to-order omelets and a buffet including yummy biscuits and gravy), souvenirs (you can never have too many beads), a jazz combo to get our toes tapping, the fun of posing for photographs, and the traditions of painting coconuts and eating king cake. A good time was had by all – new and old friends chatting away, networking, being introduced to the Café facilities -- all topped off with goodie gift bags on our departure. Some of us (who shall be nameless) had a very hard time going back to our offices!
Looking ahead: So looking forward to our March dinner event at the “new” Fontainebleau resort in Miami Beach on March 18th. Sal Dickinson will be offering a timely presentation on “Selling in an Uncertain Economy.” Please don’t wait to register so you won’t be shut out. See you there. Best, Julie
Sunday, March 1, 2009
GFLCVB News – Feb. 2009
The official tourism site for the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (GFLCVB), sunny.org, has re-launched with a new look and feel, enhanced content, and “beach cams”. In addition, visitors can log onto www.sunny.org/win to register to win a 2009 Greater Fort Lauderdale beach vacation. The trip includes two certificates from Jet Blue Airways good for round-trip flights to FLL; a two-night stay at the Riverside Hotel on Las Olas Boulevard; two tickets to a performance of Jersey Boys at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts; dinner for two at Jackson's Steakhouse on Las Olas Boulevard and two VIP cards with complimentary admission for more than 20 attractions.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has chosen Fort Lauderdale to host its 2011 International Convention. Greater Fort Lauderdale hosted its first IGLTA conference in 2002, and is now the organization’s world headquarters. In addition to a full schedule of educational workshops and host city tours, the convention will feature a consumer trade show, networking opportunities, and the organization’s gala dinner/awards ceremony.
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s spring calendar is sizzling from now until the end of May. Being promoted as “have a spring fling in Greater Fort Lauderdale”, the list of events (available on their website) includes activities as diverse as a music festival, cultural performance, rodeo, fishing tournament to a re-enactment of the second Seminole War.
Bad economy or not, GFL still says no to bring back Spring Break. President/CEO of the GFLCVB was recently quoted as saying: “Returning to spring break as a quick tourism fix in a tough economy is clearly not the answer. Our decision to end spring break in 1986 has driven visitor growth from one half million annually to 10.8 million visitors in 2008.” Market diversification is another reason Greater Fort Lauderdale can continue to bypass the spring break crowd. According to Grossman, family reunions and intercollegiate sports, in addition to traditional corporate group meetings, have proven to be recession resistant for our area.
The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has chosen Fort Lauderdale to host its 2011 International Convention. Greater Fort Lauderdale hosted its first IGLTA conference in 2002, and is now the organization’s world headquarters. In addition to a full schedule of educational workshops and host city tours, the convention will feature a consumer trade show, networking opportunities, and the organization’s gala dinner/awards ceremony.
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s spring calendar is sizzling from now until the end of May. Being promoted as “have a spring fling in Greater Fort Lauderdale”, the list of events (available on their website) includes activities as diverse as a music festival, cultural performance, rodeo, fishing tournament to a re-enactment of the second Seminole War.
Bad economy or not, GFL still says no to bring back Spring Break. President/CEO of the GFLCVB was recently quoted as saying: “Returning to spring break as a quick tourism fix in a tough economy is clearly not the answer. Our decision to end spring break in 1986 has driven visitor growth from one half million annually to 10.8 million visitors in 2008.” Market diversification is another reason Greater Fort Lauderdale can continue to bypass the spring break crowd. According to Grossman, family reunions and intercollegiate sports, in addition to traditional corporate group meetings, have proven to be recession resistant for our area.
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