We were so very pleased with the turn out and the response to our September meeting held Wednesday at the Broward County Convention Center. We wish to thank: Karen Smith, Vice President-Group Publisher, Meetings Media, for putting this together and for moderating; and our Panel Members for their insights, contributions, and keen observations –Andrea Milrad, Manager Global Accounts for Helms Briscoe, Graciela (Grace) Rebull, Founder and President Professional Meeting Organizers, and Dan Meister, CMP, President, Meister Meeting Solutions.
Special thank yous to our sponsor, The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau and Nicki Grossman, CEO/President, as well as Stacie Faulds, our Chapter’s President, for arranging and overseeing the venue; and to Jill and the able staff of the Convention Center.
As always, with a panel program there will be different things that people will remember that may apply to their specific hotel/company. I asked our panelists to give me a summary comment or “take away” item that they’d like to highlight.
Andrea Milrad said: “The feedback I received a few times in the networking portion was regarding the “not available” response. I love when hotels are more specific. If I haven’t found a home for a program and need to go back to all the hotels, I won’t bother with ones that are sold out. However, if it was just rooms-to-space or another issue my client can now be flexible on, I will definitely contact the hotel to reconsider. Who knows—perhaps a city wide has come in and now the rooms-to-space is no longer an issue.”
And she also wanted to mention that it is important that we “remember many end users, especially in today’s world of layoffs, are not professional meeting planners. They can be admins, HR professionals or IT directors. We have to remember our audience is different when communicating with them.”
Grace Rebull said that “properties (should) not cut back on service. I know that hotels now are willing to give more incentives in order to bring in business. However, if those incentives, which obviously have a dollar value, translate into cutting back somewhere else, please make sure it’s not on service. I’ll go back to the property that has adequate and visible staff to service my event, whether it is a small dinner meeting or a large symposium. The STAFF is what makes a facility great, not the other way around. “
And Dan Meister said: “Everyone is short handed these days and trying to do more with less. Take the time to really understand each client’s objectives and needs and be a solution provider instead of a sales person as this will make your product or service stand out by adding extra value and increase your standing over the competition. "
And Karen Smith noted that “Yes, meetings are shorter, programs have smaller budgets, and there may be less of them, but there is business out there...and sometimes you need to go back to the basics to get it. Be detailed in your RFP’s, answer all planner’s questions and answer them in a timely manner, and accurately. And, in a world where the typical rate is out the window, the best thing you can offer a planner is good customer service.”
Hope to see you next month at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale-Plantation on October 21st. The program will be “Countdown to the Super Bowl” – The Economic Impact/How to Get Involved. The registration link will be posted soon at http://www.hsmaisouthflorida.org/
Best, Julie Wernick, HSMAInsider, and Managing Director, HSMAI-South Florida
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