Convention Industry Council (CIC), Social Tables, and Meetings Mean Business Coalition (MMBC), announced Fuse 2016, a joint educational roadshow that will bring planners and properties together to reinvent the way meetings business is done before their events begin.
CIC, Social Tables, and MMBC are organizing Fuse to facilitate a discussion about how meeting planners and properties can work together to make meetings better, long before the first attendee arrives. Fuse is not only an educational roadshow for planners and properties; it’s an opportunity for innovation and industry growth.
Each organization involved brings different strengths to the table. Convention Industry Council represents certified meeting professionals (CMPs) and the planner community. Meetings Mean Business Coalition represents industry leaders and the economic impact of meetings. Social Tables represents a platform to bring planners and properties together. Together, they have the unique ability to stimulate conversations between their constituencies.
“The definition of the word ‘Fuse’ is ‘to join or blend to form a single entity,’ which is what collaboration in the hospitality industry yields: a joint partnership by planners and properties that achieve shared business objectives,” says Karen Kotowski, chief executive officer for Convention Industry Council.
“The two common themes in industry education right now are attendee experiences and what occurs during events or meetings,” says Social Tables CEO Dan Berger. “There’s no discussion about how properties and planners can support each other in the planning process. How do they achieve business objectives together? Fuse will provide a foundation for how this process can be improved.”
The five-city roadshow, sponsored by Loews Hotels, PSAV and American Furniture Rentals (AFR) will kick off in Washington, DC, and then travel to Los Angeles, Orlando, Dallas and Chicago. Each stop will feature a separate “Road to CMP Breakfast Club” for those interested in the program, followed by a robust breakout schedule and a debate-style keynote. Loews Hotels, widely recognized for its innovation and leadership in the travel industry, is the headlining hotel sponsor.
“We are excited to support the launch of this important series,” says Alisha White, global sales executive director for Loews Hotels. “Loews Hotels is committed to creating an authentic experience for our guests. We’re eager to support Convention Industry Council and its partners in exploring opportunities to heighten the attendee experience before a conference begins.”
Every aspect of the schedule has been carefully curated to be CEU-eligible for the CMP program, including breakouts on delivering business cases for meetings, research-backed insight on achieving effective site inspections, creating an appealing and functional learning environment and how to overcome connectivity barriers.
“Our industry is all about creating personal connections, driving positive business results and building strong communities. Fuse will do just that within the meetings industry by bringing planners and property owners face-to-face to foster personal connections that yield positive business objectives and build a stronger hospitality community,” says Nan Marchand Beauvois, manager of Meetings Mean Business Coalition.
This roadshow is open to all planners and property professionals. Certified meeting professionals will receive a discount for attending.
