Meetings and Group Events

Working and learning together can be an important component of a group meeting. For some companies and training programs, group work represents both a setting for learning and an opportunity to develop the skills needed to work as a member of a team. These group meetings can be of all sizes. And there are as many types of meetings and reasons for them as there are venues.

One key area that Planners help in is the site selection process – Researching, identifying and securing the best location for a program; trying to match the needs of the group; and obtain proposals with the best properties. They can set up the contracts, the site inspections, and even do contract negotiations – arranging everything from cut off dates to cancellation clauses.

Making meeting planning easy is a focus of a number of the larger hotel chains. One company, Crowne Plaza has a dedicated 800 number and a slogan, “Why Crown Plaza is The Place To Meet”. Its website lists some key points why you should book your event with them. These include a “2-Hour Response Guarantee” to the RFP with a full proposal by the next business day; An assigned Meetings Director; Comfortable Seating (they even show a picture of their chairs!); a “debrief” daily with itemized accounting of expenditures; room benefits; and a rewards program for meeting planners.

So, how does a hotel get on a meeting planners contact list? Get a site inspection at their property? And get selected as the best one? These and many more questions can be asked (answered?) at our panel program on Wednesday evening, September 16th at the Broward Convention Center. Friday is the last day to register online, so please do so at hsmaisouthflorida.org (just click on the event and scroll down to the link). Hope to see you there. Julie Wernick, Managing Director, HSMAI-South Florida.