Smart Meetings | Page 414 of 603 | Corporate Event Planning: Business Events, Meetings, Conferences

power player holly valenti

A college elective changed the trajectory of Holly Valenti’s career from prepharmacy to hospitality. During a summer semester at University of New Orleans, she was inspired to switch majors after taking Harsha Chacko’s course, “Intro to Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism.”

“He is so passionate and knowledgeable about the tourism industry, I didn’t think twice about starting over,” she says.

The New Orleans native again faced the daunting task of starting at square one following Hurricane Katrina, learning resilience and perseverance. “The experience taught me to have little fear and realize that failure is OK as long as you learn from it and make adjustments to become smarter and stronger,” she says.

More: November Power Player: Trina Camacho-London

Valenti joined Hosts Global in New Orleans in 2015. She was recently promoted from director of operations to general manager. She succeeds Terry Epton, who held the GM position for 36 years. Although admittedly intimidated by filling her predecessor’s shoes, she’s prepared. “I’m so grateful to have Terry [Epton] as a mentor as he passes the baton to me, and I’m left with the task of inspiring an amazing, award-winning team to be even better,” she says.

Epton has been promoted to the newly created role of executive vice president and global brand ambassador for Hosts Global.

Valenti plans to lead her team by modeling a strong work ethic. This trait was instilled at a young age by working in an ice cream shop to help pay for high school tuition and being responsible for her college loans. While in college, she was known to awake at the crack of dawn to serve breakfast at the convention center before classes, and to clean hotel rooms when there was a 100 percent turnaround.

More: Report from IAEE: The Future of NOLA’s Meeting Scene

In her role, Valenti loves to showcase the Mardi Gras spirit to visitors. For a centennial event for National Automobile Dealers Association in January 2017, she created an authentic NOLA experience with a futuristic twist. Her team produced a carnival at Mardi Gras World, mini parade floats, custom-branded LED beads and a firework show over the Mississippi River. Guests dined on the best cuisine the city has to offer.

“You only turn 100 once, and I was so proud of being part of the Hosts NOLA Team that produced that epic event,” she says. “Each and every time we close the street to host a private second-line parade for a client, it gives me goose bumps to see the big smiles on each and every face.”

Valenti has previously held executive positions in sales, catering, revenue management and training at Westin, Wyndham and W Hotels in New Orleans.

IAEE day 2 supplier stories expo! expo! — Photo credit: International Association of Exhibitions and Events

Suppliers are lured to IAEE Expo! Expo! by the opportunities to do business with existing clients and to establish new partnerships. Much of the action takes place on the trade show floor and during social gatherings.

“Getting just one good introduction or contract accomplishes my goal if I can book something because of it,” says Greg DeSandy, director of sales and event services at Cobo Center Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority.

Lo and behold, he accomplished the goal during his first appointment: It resulted in a signed contract and deposit check.

Tim Litterland, CMP, director of sports and specialty markets for Visit Denver, looks forward to the personal aspect of the show.

“I like having the face-to-face time with customers,” he says. “This is an important show to us.”

A closer look reveals that suppliers also see Expo! Expo! as a chance to accomplish many other things, such as learning about current trends and other ways to do business.

Anna Lillemoen, sales manager at Myrtle Beach Convention Center, views the show as an opportunity to pick up ideas for sound environmental practices.

“We want to see what trends are out there,” she says.

Second- and third-tier destinations see the show as a chance to emphasize their offerings and thereby become a more visible option for planners.

“Sacramento is reinventing itself,” says Matthew Voreyer, general manager of the City of Sacramento. “We’ve been expanding our exhibition staff, have a new arena and will be upgrading our convention center. We want to tell people about them.”

Many up-and-coming destinations are in the same situation Nashville was in just a short time ago.

“We had a lot of collaboration throughout the city,” says Proscovia Mattas, CGMP, CEM. “We have a great location and culture, including bars, restaurants and music. And the hospitality community is amazing. Everybody worked together.

“We promise, and then we deliver.”

Planners with upcoming meetings in Southern California should watch developments there closely in the next few days or weeks. This year of hotel strikes, with thousands of workers on picket lines across the country, may not yet be over.

On Dec. 6, 7,500 employees at 24 hotels across several hotel companies in Los Angeles and Orange counties voted to strike if a new contract was not ratified by yesterday.

Although a strike has not officially begun, and contract negotiations are continuing, news reports indicate picketing is already underway at four hotels. The four properties are The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Los Angeles, Beverly Wilshire (a Four Seasons Hotel) in Beverly Hills, Hilton Anaheim and Sheraton Park Hotel at the Anaheim Resort.

More: Hospitality Strike Votes Could Increase with Arrival of High-Tech Hotels

Workers’ issues are higher pay, better health care and pensions, panic buttons for housekeepers and other demands.

“We are asking that this contract get workers to $25 an hour,” Kurt Peterson, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, which represents front-desk attendants, housekeepers and hotel restaurant workers in Southern California, told Los Angeles Times. “L.A. has one of the highest costs of living in the country, and our booming tourism industry can afford to pay its workers a living wage.”

The union is emboldened by its successful recent strikes in 10 U.S. cities and Hawaii. All of them ended with new labor agreements being won.

Many of the two dozen Southern California hotels targeted are operated by Marriott International and Hilton Hotels & Resorts. In a statement, a Marriott spokesperson said, “We respect the right of our associates to voice their opinions on issues that are important to them. Should the union and our employees choose to strike, our hotels will continue to operate and work to minimize any disruption.”

The threatened labor action underscores the importance for planners of doing due diligence on issues such as potential labor actions when negotiating contracts with suppliers, noted Jonathan T. Howe, president and senior founding partner of Howe & Hutton, a Chicago law firm that specializes in the event industry.

“It’s difficult to have a plan B without knowing what will happen to plan A,” Howe said, “but good planners keep themselves up to speed.”

meeting planners unite plan 2019

Three weeks after Hyatt Corporation confirmed that it would cut planner commissions, thereby following the lead of three other large hospitality companies, Meeting Planners Unite held its first conference in Washington, D.C. The group that started in the wake of Marriott International’s decision to pay 7 percent instead of 10 percent commission brought 70 event professionals to Walter E. Washington Convention Center for Connect Independent Planners, a gathering to focus on the needs of third-party planners in a new world.

“We are morphing into something more than a group that fights with Marriott,” said MPU founder David Bruce after the conference wound down. “Those properties are not going to go back to paying 10 percent commissions unless something catastrophic happens, so we need to find ways for our members to increase revenue and decrease expenses.”

More: The Independent Planner’s Guide

Affordable Resources

MPI introduced a new health-care option for independent planners at the conference that Bruce estimated will save self-employed members as much as 60 percent over other available plans. “Insurance has become prohibitive, so having this Affordable Care Act option available is important to our members,” he said.

A town-hall meeting at the conference identified other resources MPU could help secure, including limited liability insurance and streamlining IATA, CLIA and other travel agent certifications.

Augmented Income Streams

MPU’s leadership is also focused on negotiating for new sources of revenue for planners. Bruce reported that four audiovisual companies have agreed to offer rebates to planners when they contract for alternatives to the hotel AV team. Some CVBs have also offered to make up the difference. He is negotiating with transportation companies, as well.

Meanwhile, several hotel companies—including Loews Hotels and Fashion Island Hotel Newport Beach—have increased commissions, even if only on certain properties and for a limited time. “They see supporting independent planners as a way to increase market share,” Bruce said.

Recognizing Impact

A top priority for MPU is a mandate to tell the story of how independent planners elevate the meeting experience, bringing business to hotels and achieving client business goals. “We are not just leaches stealing commissions from hotels; we play a vital role in the transformation of a meeting from an idea to reality,” Bruce said.

Participants in IAEE Expo! Expo! 2018 in New Orleans were granted a behind-the-scenes look at activities—including a peek at kitchen preparations and backstage waiting rooms—at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center as well as a glimpse of some of the exciting future plans. The center, which boasts 1.1 million sq. ft. of space—making it the sixth-largest convention center in the United States—is being renovated as part of a five-year, $557 million capital improvement project. Some $379 million of the total will be used to improve the center and upgrade meeting rooms, public areas, restrooms, audiovisual equipment, escalators and elevators.

About $79 million will be used to build a 7.5-acre pedestrian park that spans the entire length of the center and running along Convention Center Boulevard. The park is slated to be fully open by 2020 and will feature a transportation center (scheduled to open in 2019) connected to the convention center via a covered walkway as well as outdoor entertainment spaces, seating areas, water features and public art. The park is scheduled to be completed by 2020.

Plans also call for a 1,200-room hotel with 150,000 sq. ft. of meeting and ballroom space to be built and connected to the center. The hotel would be expected to bring thousands of new visitors to New Orleans each year, as well as an estimated 1,900 permanent jobs, have a $282 million impact on the local economy and generate $24 million in taxes to fund critical city and state needs.

The new hotel could stimulate needed economic development on the undeveloped, state-owned riverfront acreage that will include new residential housing, retail, dining and more to make New Orleans competitive with other cities that have made similar investments.

grinch holiday parties

If companies seem a little less jolly this holiday season, it may not be your imagination. Only 65 percent of companies plan to host a party this year, according to the 2018 Holiday Party Survey Report released by Challenger, Gray & Christmas. This is the lowest number since 2009. Last year, almost 73 percent of companies held holiday parties.

It may not be because your boss is a Scrooge. In fact, the reason behind the decision may be in the best interest of the employees. With the #MeToo movement on the forefront of everyone’s mind, some human resources departments are concerned about co-workers overstepping boundaries.

“The impact of #MeToo has been overwhelmingly positive, and it’s clear the movement is spurring companies to enact important policies to protect workers—a huge boon to the business community,” says Andrew Challenger, vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. “Other reasons for fewer holiday parties could include that a company’s workforce is primarily remote and it’s too difficult to gather for a holiday party, or perhaps companies are having parties at other times of the year.”

In October, the consultancy firm surveyed 150 human resource reps throughout the United States. Of the 65 percent of companies who are hosting parties, nearly 58 percent have or will address #MeToo with employees prior to the soiree. However, almost 27 percent of companies reported they never host a holiday party, so not holding one this year is nothing out of the ordinary.

The Party Must Go On

If you’re still interested in planning a celebration to reward employees for their year of service, there are alternatives to the traditional in-office, restaurant or bar gatherings where liquid courage may cause problems. Tripleseat’s 2018 Holiday Party Feedback Survey tallied the results of 1,100 event planners, consumers and managers from all across the country and found that 57 percent of employees have witnessed co-workers intoxicated.

“While employers feel the need to put a pause on holiday parties due to avoiding any misconduct or bad behavior, employees still want to celebrate the holidays with their colleagues,” says Latha Youngren, vice president of marketing at Tripleseat. “Offering alternatives to the traditional party that involves alcohol could be an option, such as allowing employees to bring their kids or hosting an event at a unique venue over a restaurant or bar.”

The survey shows that only 13 percent of parties are held at unique venues, although employees are really seeking out more experiential celebrations. Bowling alleys, ice and roller rinks and TopGolf are some fun alternate options. In New York City, Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises and New York Water Taxi are offering private catered charters on the Hudson River.

corporate holiday parties — Photo credit: Rick Markovich

If your office would get a laugh out of tap dancing Christmas trees, political parodies and pop culture spoofs set to iconic holiday tunes, the satirical theater production of Steve Silver’s Beach Blanket Babylon Holiday Extravaganza in San Francisco offers group tickets and private performances.

The Challenger, Gray & Christmas survey discovered that almost 25 percent of companies that are holding a party this year have budgeted more than usual, thus making more funds available to afford an activity-based venue, especially if the alcohol expense is reduced.

RSVPs

Everyone who throws a party or event of any kind wants great attendance. Promising news on that front! Tripleseat found that 90 percent of employees attend their company’s party. One tactic to keep this rate up is to host the party during normal work hours. Some people have familial commitments or a side hustle that would prevent them from attending an evening or weekend function. However, for companies that don’t want festivities to interfere with work hours, consider inviting significant others and children to attend. If kids are coming, all the more reason to book a fun activity at a unique venue.

Celebrate Without an Official Party

Still not convinced of the benefits of hosting a holiday party? In-office desk decorating and gingerbread house building competitions can get teams in the competitive holiday spirit. Dressing in ugly holiday sweaters or pajamas on the last day of work before holiday vacation is also a hoot.

Finally, the holidays are an opportune time for companies to give back to the community. Hosting a food or coat drive, volunteering at a food bank, participating in a charitable 5K walk/run or caroling at a nursing home are just a few of the 25 ideas shared on totalwellnesshealth.com.

A new study by Freeman illustrates the dramatic role event data is playing in helping event professionals deliver bigger and better meetings. “Data Benchmark Study,” which was produced in partnership with Chief Marketer, showed that collecting and analyzing everything from attendance to leads and sales has the potential to positively influence decision-making and help event marketers and planners significantly improve the attendee experience.

Increasing Data Budgets

The study of more than 650 leading marketing executives from many of the world’s largest corporations revealed that event marketers are using the results of event metrics to secure budgets, set strategies, make decisions and positively impact ROI.

The study found that the data is primarily used to increase sales (62 percent) and drive brand awareness (60 percent). Data points collected included qualified leads (37 percent) and website traffic (30 percent).

Additionally, the study found:

88 percent of companies surveyed use event data to inform other marketing strategies and decision-making
70 percent use event data to enhance event experience
63 percent rely on data to improve product development

Event marketers are taking notice of the importance of data, as well. Two out of three professionals surveyed said they plan on increasing spending on data and analytics in 2019. Proper use of data and analytics can potentially improve and add value to attendee experience, data which planners can use in making better, well-informed decisions in the future. “Data is becoming the fuel that powers the marketing mix. It powers the insights that drive critical decision-making at all junctions in both marketing and throughout an organization,” said Freeman vice president of data and analytics Ken Holsinger.

More than half (54 percent) of brands surveyed believe better, more reliable data will mean an increase in attendee quality by at least 21 percent. Event marketers and planners cite creating top-quality, memorable experiences as the goal. Event experiences that attendees remember will almost always result in them not only coming back the next time around but spreading the word to colleagues.

Untapping Potential

Respondents cited the time and complexity of gathering meaningful data as a limiting factor. The survey showed:

Almost half (46 percent) said the biggest challenge is analyzing event data effectively
A third, (37 percent) said time and resources required to work with the data were challenges
A third (37 percent) said a lack of attention given to data analyzing can have a dire effect on its quality and completeness

Not having the time to analyze data is likely correlated to more than half of event marketing teams not having a dedicated team member whose focus is event data and analyzation. Fewer dedicated resources often means less reliable data. The survey found:

More than half (51 percent) of event marketing teams do not have a dedicated team member whose focus is event data and analyzation
Almost half (47 percent) of the event marketers surveyed believe that the lack of complete, easy-to-access data makes their events less effective

Data in Action

Having a team whose focus is event data and measurement can potentially solve the issue of having incomplete data by creating a pool of data advocates. It would follow that by having complete and easily accessible data, events will become more efficacious, as there would be more reliable data to work with.

An example of effective data analysis can be seen in a case study by Freeman. A trade association experienced a decline in attendance and exhibit space. After comparing the 30,000 attendee companies to the list of registered attendees at this event, it discovered that the highest number of potential attendee companies were in the Southeast region, although the area had the lowest attendee representation. The team identified that the problem was geographical representation. By adding a Southeastern venue to the association and reaching to that pool of potential attendees, attendance was increased by 22 percent in the first year.

Skip Cox, Freeman senior vice president of research and measurement, explained the ROI this way: “Data is a tool, and if your organization is not using it, you’re missing out on reaching and exceeding your potential.”

starwood data breach

Personal information from as many as 500 million Starwood guests dating back to 2014 has been traced to Chinese hackers working for the Ministry of State Security, the country’s civilian spy agency, according to The New York Times.

The hack also included health insurers and the security clearance files of millions more Americans, according to two people briefed on the investigation, the Times reported. The Times also cited four unnamed U.S. officials who said there could be indictments against Chinese hackers working for the intelligence services and the military. It said the Trump administration also plans to declassify intelligence reports to reveal Chinese hacking efforts dating to at least 2014.

Marriott International said the cybersecurity theft affected reservations made up to September 10, 2018.

A Marriott investigation found that 327 million of the files illegally accessed some combination of name, mailing address, phone number, email address, passport number, Starwood Preferred Guest (“SPG”) account information, date of birth, gender, arrival and departure information, reservation date and communication preferences.

More: Unified Rewards for Marriott Brands to Begin

For some, the information also includes payment card numbers and payment card expiration dates. The payment card numbers were encrypted using Advanced Encryption Standard encryption. That code may also have been compromised, however.

“We deeply regret this incident happened,” said Arne Sorenson, Marriott’s president and CEO. “We fell short of what our guests deserve and what we expect of ourselves. We are doing everything we can to support our guests, and using lessons learned to be better moving forward.”

Marriott, which purchased Starwood in September of 2016, is emailing guests of W Hotels, St. Regis, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Westin Hotels & Resorts, Element Hotels, Aloft Hotels, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Four Points by Sheraton and Design Hotels who may have had their data compromised. The company has set up a dedicated website and a call center to answer questions about the incident.

Marriott has offered one-year free enrollment in WebWatcher, which monitors internet sites where personal information is shared and generates an alert to the consumer if evidence of the consumer’s personal information is found.

Marriott is also phasing out Starwood guest registration systems.

Editor’s note: The same day the cybertheft was announced, a class action lawsuit was filed by the law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, the law firm involved in a 2017 Equifax breach, for “failure to ensure integrity of servers and safeguard customer information.” Marriott International has also offered to pay for passport replacements for anyone who may have been a victim of fraud because of the leak.

server room Internet Network

Smart phones are smarter than ever, streaming has never been easier or more common, and the constantly connected technology of modern society is pushing events to jaw-dropping heights. That is, if your internet connection doesn’t crash.

Thankfully, Ron Fariss, sales manager for the internet services division of meetings and events company PSAV, and the most recent Smart Meetings webinar host, had several suggestions for how planners can ensure they know what they are paying for with hotel internet. From bandwidth and network infrastructure to the support team a hotel provides, the key to a great experience is knowing what to look for. His webinar, “Network Ninja in Training: A Meeting Planner’s Path to a Successful Internet Event,” outlined the fundamentals planners need to be familiar with, and the questions to ask when selecting a venue.

Bandwidth

Steve Jobs famously halted his presentation when launching the iPhone 4 because the example websites wouldn’t load. To continue, he had to ask members of the press in his audience to turn off their Wi-Fi. According to Fariss, that embarrassment resulted from a simple mistake many people make about internet bandwidth for events.

There is only so much room on the highway, as Fariss put it. A shared network connection, while cheaper, means everyone—everyone in your event, other events and possibly the entire hotel—are driving on the same highway. A dedicated connection, on the other hand, is the equivalent of having your own personal lanes set aside just for you.

“If internet is important to you—and there are groups these days that say, ‘Internet is the foundation of our event,’ then I would tell meeting planners that what you’re asking for is dedicated bandwidth,” Fariss said.

For events with more than 100 attendees, he recommends paying the extra money. But even smaller events might need dedicated bandwidth if the presenter—the Steve Jobs of that scenario—needs totally reliable access. “You definitely do not want your presenter…sharing bandwidth with anybody else.”

For a medium-to-large event, you should look for venues with anywhere from 250 MB to 1 GB of bandwidth. This has skyrocketed in the past decade, leading to higher costs. But it is also what most modern events require.

Network Infrastructure

Another major contributor to cost is the need for a modern infrastructure. “Hotel networks used to last eight to ten years,” Fariss explained. “Technology was moving very slowly, and everybody was just using wired lines. Then suddenly we all started showing up as attendees, we had our new devices, and we all want wireless. Suddenly, technology is moving so fast because we are buying new devices every six months or a year.” As a result, hotel and conference center networks now typically last only three to four years.

When scoping out a venue, always ask how long it has been since the team upgraded its network. If it is longer than five years, Fariss advised caution. Newer devices will be more likely to have problems connecting.

Admittedly, this unrelenting pressure to upgrade is reflected in what planners are asked to pay. “Oftentimes, hotels are either paying for a network they just put in or saving for a network they know they need to install very soon,” he said. If a hotel offers event internet access for a relatively low cost, Fariss recommended asking why.

The next issue is access points—the specific points in a building’s network layout where devices can connect. Secure an access-point diagram from a venue. While simple coverage used to be enough, today’s needs require overlapping coverage from dual-band access points, allowing for 150 devices to connect per point.

“You might be able to get all the bandwidth in the world, and you might be able to get dedicated bandwidth. But if there isn’t a good network infrastructure to distribute out all that bandwidth—particularly to your attendees and your group—that’s going to be a bottleneck,” Fariss said.

Support

Whether they end up needing it or not, planners also need to know what support system a hotel has in place for its network. “When you have issues, you’re going to want somebody in that room immediately, ASAP,” Fariss said.

Treat technical issues as a given, he continued. “Everyone understands there are going to be issues. That’s just the technical side of things. The frustration comes from the folks onsite not having adequate information for ‘When is the fix going to take place?’” he said.

Support often comes in the form of a third-party company called a network operations center (often abbreviated as a NOC) that can provide network-wide fixes. Planners need to ask about that company, and whether they do preventive maintenance or are simply on call when Steve Jobs is left standing on the stage, fuming.

flight deck peanut policies

This week in air travel: Smart Meetings ranks major airline peanut policies, the FAA investigates Newark Airport and U.S. air travel gets Brexit-proofed.

The Peanut Policies of 5 U.S. Airlines, Ranked by Letter Grade

Nut allergies are no joke, and airlines around the country have taken steps to protect passengers with peanut and tree nut allergies in recent years. We’ve outlined the policies of five major airlines (and letter-graded them) for easy, breezy and safe traveling.

JetBlue | Grade: A+

Does not serve peanuts but does serve other nuts.
Allergic passengers may pre-board to decontaminate seat.
Will create a three-row buffer zone around allergic passengers on request. Other passengers in the buffer zone will be asked not to consume peanuts.
Will refund passengers unable to fly due to nut allergy.

Southwest Airlines | Grade: A

Does not serve peanuts.
Allergic passengers may pre-board to decontaminate seat.

United Airlines | Grade: A

Does not serve peanuts.
Pre-boarding up to discretion of gate agent.
No buffer zone but will alert nearby passengers of nut allergy on request.

American Airlines | Grade: A-

Does not serve peanuts but does serve mixed nuts in first and business class.
Effective Dec. 12, allergic passengers may pre-board to decontaminate seat.

Delta Air Lines | Grade: B+

Serves peanuts but will offer alternative snacks if requested by allergic passenger 48 hours in advance.
Allergic passengers may pre-board to decontaminate seat.

Note: None of the policies guarantees a completely allergen-free flight due to risk of cross-contamination and outside food. Rankings based on snacks provided and accommodations for allergic passengers, such as pre-boarding and buffer zones.

Do These Prices Smell Funny? Newark Airport May Be Overcharging You

The Federal Aviation Administration is calling, “no fair” on airfare at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). On Nov. 19, the FAA—following up on a 2014 complaint filed by United Airlines, who has a hub at the airport—announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has misused airport revenue and failed to provide transparent reasoning for the fees it charges airlines. According to the United complaint, Newark Airport flight fees are 75 percent higher than that of JFK and 38 percent above actual cost—which means you too are paying more for your ticket. Port authority has 30 days to reduce charges and provide a clear method of how it allocates costs. Stay tuned to find out which New York-area airport you should fly into in 2019.

Keep Calm and Fly On: Brexit Won’t Upend Your Travel Plans

Go ahead and plan that London event. While the United Kingdom prepares to leave the European Union in March 2019, nations and companies are Brexit-proofing aviation agreements to guarantee easy, continued global travel. The UK has already secured new arrangements for transatlantic routes with the United States and Canada, as well as Iceland, Switzerland, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, Georgia, Israel and Morocco.