Chapter Business Plan 2005-2006
Submitted by:
Mariela McIlwraith Chapter President July 1, 2005
Contents
Executive Summary.........................................................................................3 Operating Environment ...................................................................................5 Overall Industry Trends ...............................................................................5 Local Industry Trends ..................................................................................7 Competition ....................................................................................................9 Resources..................................................................................................... 10 Financial ................................................................................................... 10 Time and Talent ........................................................................................ 10 Marketing and PR Opportunities ..................................................................... 12 Promotion ................................................................................................. 12 MPI Resources .......................................................................................... 13 Constraints ................................................................................................... 14 Monitoring and Evaluation Tools .................................................................... 15 Appendix ...................................................................................................... 18 2005-2006 Budget ..................................................................................... 18 Sponsorship Grid ....................................................................................... 19 Education Plan .......................................................................................... 20
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Executive Summary
The BC Chapter of Meeting Professionals International has a devoted and passionate Board of Directors and Committee Members, committed to the strategies set forth by MPI‟s “Pathways to Excellence” campaign. The values of both our Chapter and Board of Directors reflect both the vision and mission of MPI and this is demonstrated in our business plan through our clearly stated objectives. Although both the Vancouver Board of Trade and Tourism Vancouver Economic Scans are predicting a bright future for Vancouver‟s economy our chapter is very aware of the bigger picture industry trends that are affecting the meetings industry today. On a local level there are numerous major projects that have been announced over the last year which will be stimulating our economy over the next 5-10 years and will likely generate opportunities for our industry which include: 2010 Olympic Winter Games; the Convention Centre Expansion (began October 2004); the construction of a new Rapid Transit Line connecting downtown with the Airport; improvements to the Sea-to-Sky Highway (Vancouver-Whistler HWY); Port and Airport Expansions and the Approved Destination Status for Canada from China. However, there are many other trends that our Chapter needs to stay abreast of, such as: technology, market saturation, US / CDN exchange rate, changing policies for US citizens requiring passports to re-enter the US, and relocation that are affecting our local industry even when business is good. MPI competes with several different organizations locally, nationally and internationally. On a local level we try to not only build partnerships with these organizations through the sharing of information but also by hosting joint events with these groups. Naturally our strategy keeps in mind the best interest of MPI Members and our own events but at the same time we are ensuring the best possible opportunities for our membership. All of our resources are carefully managed and our structure of our chapter Board of Directors is completely in line with the sizing of our chapter. Our financial resources have been carefully scrutinized on a board level and our accounting processes improved with the expertise of our VP of Finance. All VP‟s are conducting monthly reviews of their budget and submitting these reports each month. We feel it is important to know exactly where all accounts stand at all times. We have a great number of volunteers and we like to constantly be reviewing the needs of our committees in order to deploy any new volunteers or under-utilized volunteers in the best possible way. Our VP Communications and team of Directors work closely with our VP Education and team to ensure that communications to the membership and media are timely and effective. Our Communications team is very seasoned and is actively promoting the BC Chapter of MPI to all necessary distribution channels including business media, industry media, newsletter and website and through word-of-mouth advertising! All our VP‟s are making use of the MPI Resources made available to them via www.mpiweb.org and the toolkits and valuable information pertaining to their areas of
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responsibility. Although some of our board portfolios have valid constraints in the past, our Board works together to ensure that we are aware and on top of challenges. Finding solutions to these constraints is a top priority as our goal is to ensure that our volunteers can remain committed to their MPI roles and not feel overwhelmed. Where there are constraints there are opportunities! The Education Team has drafted the Education Plan for the upcoming year, based on feedback from our membership survey and feedback from our monthly evaluations. The membership will be surveyed following each event in order to ensure their satisfaction with the education events they choose to attend. Our Membership Team will also be very active in constantly evaluating the satisfaction of the membership and providing the membership with incentives that encourage strong attendance at our meetings and events. We have identified tactics that will contribute strongly to the achievement of MPI‟s 3 main objectives and these are clearly outlined in this business plan. The monthly reports submitted by each VP prior to our Board Meetings keeps the entire Board informed as to where we stand in the success and achievement of these objectives. Our Board of Directors is committed to the success of this our chapter and feel that with a well-communicated business plan with objectives that are clearly aligned with MPI‟s overall vision and strategies, success is the only possible outcome!
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Operating Environment
Overall Industry Trends
The industry trends that we feel are most affecting our industry today are the following: Shorter Booking Cycle Potential clients and DMO‟s are sending out RFP‟s and the turn around time is increasingly shorter giving suppliers very little time to respond. It is not unusual to book a fairly large meeting or incentive within one month. Globalization Technology and ease of travel has enabled more and more people to work in different parts of the world. Meeting planners follow their clients anywhere required. For example, it isn‟t unusual for an event coming to Vancouver to have a coordinator / meeting planner that is located in California. Mergers & Acquisitions There are constant changes happening in both the corporate and meeting / travel management world. Larger companies become even larger through mergers and it is very difficult to keep up with this trend. Many large travel companies are now taking on meeting management services as one of their product lines. Scrutiny in Spending Both government and corporate spending is under heavy scrutiny. This is generating pressure for less expenditure in the area of meetings and accommodations in some markets. The perception of meetings being held or individuals staying in high-end hotels is encountering bad reviews and therefore contributing to more and more meetings being held over a period of one-day or if possible in a company‟s or organization‟s own facilities. Procurement Procurement departments have recently gained higher levels of influence in strategic planning in many organizations, and are now playing a significant role in decisions related to meetings. Meeting professionals now need to be better versed and more accountable in issues such as cost containment, leveraging spending and the establishment of best practices are relevant to professionals throughout the global meetings industry.
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Outsourcing The outsourcing of both meeting planning services as well as corporate training i.e. customer service, selling skills, software and leadership is a growing market both internationally and in British Columbia, Canada. This trend is creating the following opportunities: 1. Rental of meeting space as many companies outsourcing their corporate training do not have their own space. 2. Increased number of independent meeting planners 3. Increased competition between meeting planners for a piece of the pie A recent report by Deloitte calls into question some of the claimed benefits of outsourcing, including cost and labour savings, and notes that some companies are bringing back previously outsourced services. This may prove to have an impact on both corporate and independent planners. Attrition: Meeting Planners are reducing their attrition risks and under-blocking hotel rooms required for their estimated attendees. Our MPI supplier members have reduced contracted hotel rooms and are therefore looking for more business. MPI suppliers are contracting fewer guestrooms. Our Vancouver community has less business on our books for 2005 because of the delay in our convention centre expansion. Technology: Our Chapter is particularly affected by the increased use of technology in the meetings industry. The BC Chapter has worked very hard to keep up with the technology standards that have become expected in the meetings industry by incorporating online registration for events. There are also many “do-ityourself”-tools that can eliminate the need of the services of a meeting planner. Forecast: According to FutureWatch 2005, MPI's annual report on the global business of meetings, for the second consecutive year, the multi-billion dollar global meetings industry is forecast to experience solid increases in key economic impact indicators including spending, international travel, employment and training budgets. Globally, meeting planners in segments such as corporate, independent and association/nonprofit forecast a 5 percent budget increase in 2005, building on a 3 percent budget increase in 2004. From Europe, outbound meetings will increase to 28 percent of all planned meetings in 2005, over 17 percent in 2004; and from Canada, 29 percent of meetings will be international in 2005, versus 23 percent in 2004. In both instances, the United States is the top destination choice.
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Local Industry Trends
On a local level our chapter is particularly affected by the following industry trends: Technology: Overall technology has transformed both for our chapter and for our members all aspects of communication: 1. Event registration 2. Payment collection 3. Communications to our members, including how we market our meetings and events to our members We are using technology smarter and we are all doing more with less staff. Due to the use of technology, communications in the form of email to our membership has quadrupled in the past two years. Our volunteer time commitments could be reduced if an interface is developed between Conference Manager and MPI databases. Market Saturation: Vancouver has a very active calendar of business networking events and it is a real challenge to compete for our members‟ time for event attendance. Often our members, in particular, our supplier members have memberships in two or more of our local hospitality business industry related associations. For example: 1. Vancouver Board of Trade – monthly breakfast & lunch meetings and numerous educational workshops are also offered as well as networking opportunities. 2. Canadian Special Events Society – monthly networking & educational events as well as other special events throughout the year. 3. PCMA – Western Chapter – 4-6 monthly educational events 4. Tourism Vancouver – Special Events, Members Meetings and Workshops Despite careful planning and co-ordination with other associations during specific times of the year there can be an over-abundance of events in one month. In response to this, we will limit ourselves to only one event In September, our annual “Schmooze at the Sheraton”, and will also promote a golf tournament cohosted with local chapters of CSES, ISES, PCMA and WAEM. Canadian / US Dollar Exchange: Our Canadian dollar has increased in value and our U.S. customers are struggling with the exchange rate. Our suppliers and meeting planners in our destination are having a value versus exchange rate variance that may need to be revisited in order to have successful events and meetings in Vancouver. Can the market
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bear rates that were quoted 2 or 3 years ago when the exchange rates were much different? Cross-Border Travel: On April 5, 2005, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, under which all travellers to and from the United States will be required to have a passport or "other secure documents" to enter or re-enter the U.S. The Canadian Tourism Research Institute recently conducted surveys in Canada and the U.S. to determine the reaction of potential cross-border travellers. Given that fewer American than Canadian travellers hold valid passports, the negative impact is expected to be larger for U.S. travel to Canada. In fact, from 2005 to 2008, it is estimated that the number of U.S. arrivals in Canada would decline by 7.7 million as a direct result of the new passport regulations. The bulk of the shortfall is expected to come from sameday trips (5 million). In 2005, the new passport regulations are expected to reduce visitation by about 1%; however, by 2008, full implementation of the passport rules could decrease potential U.S. visitation by 12.3%. Overall, the research suggests the net impact of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative on Canadian tourism receipts will be substantial. From 2005 to 2008, the net cumulative shortfall in Canadian tourism receipts is forecast to reach $1.6 billion. Thus, in real terms, the anticipated effects will be comparable to the estimated $1.5 billion hit that SARS delivered to Canada's tourism economy in 2003. Relocation: It seems that especially in the hotel industry, people are frequently changing jobs. This affects MPI memberships, there is a lot of sorting out and it can take a while before a membership is transferred.
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Competition
Who are the primary competitors of the MPI BC Chapter? The following groups compete for the time and resources of our members: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Vancouver Board of Trade CSAE (Canadian Society of Association Executives) Tourism Vancouver (and also Tourism Whistler and Victoria) ISES (International Special Events Society) VIMPS (Vancouver Island Meeting Planners) PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) CSES (Canadian Special Events Society)
How are they competing with MPI? All of these groups compete with us for membership and for our members‟ attendance at their events. For example, many Vancouver Island MPI Members also belonging to VIMPS choose not to come to our meetings. They have speakers and presentations that may interest our members. They perhaps draw a different group of suppliers and customers that may be interesting contacts for our MPI membership. There is also a political pull from all of these associations making it difficult for our members, especially supplier members whose primary reason for belonging is for networking / business opportunities (as opposed to education) to decide where there membership dollars are better spent and to decide where the best value is. How can we build partnerships with our competitors? A former partnership with CSES, ISES, PCMA and WAEM has been scaled back for 20052006. Past events were found to overly drain our volunteer resources, the events were not achieving the educational caliber of our MPI events and our supplier members were competing for hosting opportunities for special events with non-members. For these reasons, we have reduced our participation to one golf-tournament per year and will evaluate other opportunities throughout the year. Partnerships might be achieved with our other competitors such as the Canadian Society of Association Executives, The Vancouver Board of Trade, ISES, Tourism Whistler, Tourism Vancouver and Tourism Victoria. By sharing our events and educational opportunities with these groups we can build larger networking opportunity and also enhance MPI‟s image, increase the awareness of MPI as well as our reputation and membership.
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Resources
Financial
Our Chapter will maintain in reserves a minimum of 50% of the annual operating budget. A contribution of 5% of our net profit will be donated to the MPI Foundation Canada.
*** Please see Appendix 1: 2005 /2006 Budget (Financials)
Our chapter has sent out an RFP to secure sponsorship for the following items: Catering Speaker gifts and awards Venues Prizes Hotel accommodations Air Fare for speakers Audio-Visual Entertainment Photography Print Services Registration Services
*** Please see appendix 2: Sponsorship Grid and Sponsorship Package
Time and Talent
Our chapter has the following 23 volunteers, who, in total, can devote 61 hours per week to our chapter. To utilize all the talent that is available in our chapter, we need to engage other members and efficiently use their time. To do so will involve us in motivating, coaching mentoring and delegating. Breakdown of chapter volunteers and hours devoted to MPI President: Past President: President Elect: VP Administration VP Communications Mariela McIlwraith 5-8 hours devoted time per week Melanie Cook 3 hours devoted time per week Debbie Reynolds 5 hours per week Mark Happeney 5 hours per week Arlene Kravitz
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+ 3 Directors 10 hours per week (total) VP Finance Michael Macleod + 2 Directors + 5 committee members 10 hours devoted time per week Teresa Rempel + 2 Directors and 3 Committee Members 10 hours devoted time per week Evelyn O‟Connor + 2 Directors and 3 Committee Members 10 hours devoted time per week
VP Education
VP Membership
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Marketing and PR Opportunities
It is the role of the Communications group to be “ambassadors” for MPI and specifically the BC Chapter. As “ambassadors” for MPI we must educate the business media, members, non-members, people involved in the meeting industry and those outside of the industry about the goals, objectives, benefits and value of MPI.
Promotion
In order to maximize the value of the MPI brand, the MPI BC Chapter will promote and market our chapter by using: Business Media Press releases sent to all business media for upcoming events 1. Business in Vancouver 2. The Vancouver Sun 3. The Province 4. Globe & Mail Financial Post We are also striving to build direct and better relationships with business editors. Industry Media 1. Provide ideas and guidance for the soon to be reformatted Connect West (It will now be focused on MPI Canada) 2. Provide articles on successful events to The Meeting Professional 3. Extend invitations to media contacts to attend education and networking events. Newsletter and Website Increase the image of the newsletter to provide: 1. Interesting, informative and timely articles 2. Activity Update 3. A reasonable advertising rate 4. Distribute the newsletter to non-members to peak interest in becoming members and increase attendance at educational events 5. Create electronic newsletter Increase the image of the website: 1. Consistently up to date 2. Eye catching with easy navigation 3. Reasonable vehicle for advertising and job postings Word of Mouth Advertising
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Consistently talk about the benefits of being an MPI member: 1. Education 2. Networking 3. Buy MPI
MPI Resources
Our chapter will make full use of the tools and assistance provided by headquarters, including and especially: 1. MPI MIX – will be used for Board communications as well as queries to the membership and for mix sessions with VP‟s from other chapters to share information. 2. Chapter Tool Kit for media and public relations for forms and guidelines and assistance 3. Director of Canadian Operations – Elizabeth Henderson- She is an excellent resource for us. 4. MPI magazine and Dallas Website (www.mpiweb.org) for information on trends and articles. 5. Online Financial Toolkit 6. MPI Canada Office – Leslie Wright 7. MPI‟s financial advisors 8. All other chapter leadership tools Through membership referral programs and recognition events, we will reward and encourage members to promote our chapter and its programs.
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Constraints
The following matters are issues that our Board is aware of and are currently constraints / obstacles that we are striving as a team to overcome with good communication and evaluation of our systems and chapter infrastructure: 1. Encouraging participation and involvement from members from outside the Lower Mainland. 2. Lack of time to devote to MPI i.e. from volunteers 3. Finding dedicated board and committee members. 4. Resistance to change. 5. Same sponsors are asked all the time - find new ones. 6. Our new registration and payment process implemented without the assistance of a paid administrator. 7. Finding new avenues for members who are not selected for sponsorship opportunities to have other ways of promoting their products and services to our members. 8. Increasing our visibility with the media and with „C‟ level executives 9. Increasing participation from senior executives within our own industry. 10. Finding new avenues for past chapter leaders and volunteers to have other ways of contributing to our chapter.
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Monitoring and Evaluation Tools
To ensure that we accomplish our plans and remain committed to our objectives, we will: 1. Use all our Check Cards at every Board and Committee meeting. 2. Follow the five key steps in any evaluation process. 3. Provide the membership with incentive program i.e. Going for Gold to encourage strong attendance at meetings & events. 4. Monthly VP reports tracking / showing achievement of goals and objectives set forth in our strategic plan. 5. Target attendance for Educational Events. 6. We will apply the following success criteria: On a scale of 1-5, scores of 4.5, or higher, for our educational programs Monthly membership retention rates of 70%
Objective 1 Create professional development pathways and resources that enable members to evolve their careers toward positions or perspectives of strategic understanding and influence.
Outcome 1.1 Promote awareness and participation in the CMM program and Institutes in Whistler in 2005 Lead CMM Chapter Champion Budget Minimal – prepare promotional material to have at AGM, newsletter articles See Education Budget Completion Date Prior to application deadline (Sept 2005) % Completion 80% (started in 2004-2005 business plan)
1.2 Offer excellent educational programs. Topics should be based on member surveys. 1.3 Education Plan in place for the year. Planners have been targeted to attend our meetings because of our content, and because we are emailing those planners we know are not yet involved with MPI. We have two Platinum Series speakers this year and quality speakers and programs the balance of the year.
Education Committee Education
Monthly
0% complete
July 1: to December December 1: To June
50% complete
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Objective 2 Aggressively pursue opportunities to influence executives about the value meetings bring to their organizations.
Outcome 2.1 Trade show attendance – ETS Tradeshow 2.2 Will continue to produce a chapter paper newsletter and electronic newsletter 2.3 Will research / investigate methods and avenues of event / chapter promotion such as the Vancouver Board of trade and other publications read by local Executives 2.4 Host a chef‟s table with industry leaders, media and chapter leaders 2.5 Establish a relationship with Tourism BC, particularly with Manager of Industry Development 2.6 Host an event at CMM and Institutes Lead VP Membership Budget TBA Completion Date October 2005 % Completion 0% complete 0% complete
Communications
See financials
Ongoing
Communications
TBA
Ongoing
0% complete
President
To be sponsored N/A
Fall 2005
0% complete 0% complete
President
Fall 2005
CMM Chapter Champion
To be sponsored
October 2005
0% complete
Objective 3 Intensify business opportunities for supplier members.
Outcome 3.1 Build on success in Strategic Alliances. Offer excellent opportunities for networking and for participation in local tradeshows 3.2 Will secure and maintain sponsorship for events Will create business opportunities for members (Buy MPI) by sending the RFP to members first 3.3 Will create and maintain strategic partnerships Lead Director, Strategic Alliances Director of Fundraising Together with Director of Special Events Director of Strategic Alliances Budget Completion Date Ongoing % Completion 10% complete
By August 1
25% complete
Ongoing
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3.3 Will maintain accurate financial records 3.4 Will hold major fundraising activities at the June Gala (i.e. Silent Auction)
VP Finance Director of Fundraising Director of Special Events
N/a
ongoing June 2006 0% complete 0% complete
3.5 Special networking events in fall and spring, Schmooze at the Sheraton in September, Christmas, Martinis and Manicures in the Spring and the June Gala
3.6 Implementation and communication of strategic sponsorship plan. Bringing together of communication, education and finance portfolios to create a cohesive message to members and to leverage all opportunities for sponsorship. 3.7 Will coordinate informal chapter networking and gathering opportunities for attendees at the two major international conferences (WEC and PEC-NA) 3.8 Will create and implement nominations criteria for member awards that reflect an unbiased, transparent access 3.9 Will hold membership recognition program at the June Gala event
See budget
Ongoing
Director Strategic Alliances
Ongoing
0% complete
Membership
July 2005 January 2006
0% complete
Membership
September 2005
0% complete
Membership
June 2006
0% complete
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Appendix
2005-2006 Budget
MPI BRITISH COLUMBIA CHAPTER REVENUE FOR 2005-2006 President Elect 18.00 18.00 2,768.00 247.00 247.00 1,018.00 247.00 247.00 247.00 2,398.00 1,797.00 10,408.00 $ 49,960.00 BUDGET
Month July August September October November December January February March April May June Total EXPENSES FOR 2005-2006
Education
Comm $ $
Membership 100.00 $ 100.00 $ 950.00 125.00 125.00 625.00 450.00 125.00 625.00 125.00 125.00 125.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 1,400.00 1,200.00 1,100.00 900.00 500.00 1,300.00 1,200.00 700.00 900.00 800.00 1,500.00 1,200.00
Admin
Finance $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
Past President President
TOTAL
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
2,700.00 2,250.00 1,800.00 2,250.00 2,250.00 500.00 2,250.00
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
$ 14,000.00
3,600.00
$ 12,700.00
$ 19,660.00
Month July August September October November December January February March April May June Total Difference Revenue/Loss
Education
Comm $ $ 1,030.00
Membership $ 550.00 500.00 250.00 200.00 150.00 100.00 150.00 200.00 200.00 2,150.00 100.00 150.00 4,700.00 8,000.00
Admin $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 590.00 345.00 225.00 225.00 225.00 170.00 625.00 230.00 630.00 230.00 975.00 230.00 4,700.00
Finance $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ 550.00 900.00 550.00 115.00 15.00 225.00 65.00 15.00 525.00 1,115.00 1,250.00 4,925.00 10,250.00 9,410.00
President Elect $ 1,000.00
Past President $ 3,000.00
President $ 3,000.00
TOTAL
180.00 $ 115.00 215.00 115.00 115.00 1,065.00 115.00 215.00 180.00 115.00 115.00 3,575.00 25.00 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
1,510.00 1,875.00 1,590.00 1,775.00 1,125.00 200.00 1,500.00 9,575.00 4,425.00
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $
$
3,000.00
$ $
3,000.00 500.00
$ $ 4,000.00 $ 3,000.00 $
2,500.00 9,000.00 $ 48,800.00 1,160.00 58.00 1,102.00
$ (4,700.00) $
$ (4,000.00) $ (3,000.00) $ (9,000.00) $ $ $
Canadian Foundation 5%
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Sponsorship Grid
MPI BC Chapter 2005-2006 Partnership Benefits
Sponsor Levels Description Platinum Sponsor Monthly Event Host $ 3000 value Gold Sponsor Monthly Event Host $ 2000 value Silver Sponsor Monthly Event Sponsor or services Sponsor $1000 value Bronze Sponsor Monthly Event Sponsor or services sponsor $500 value
Benefits at a Glance Web Site Chapter Promotional Page Newsletter Editorial Promotional Materials Event Program flyer, Registration form, e-mail blasts PowerPoint display Seat at Head Table Company Sponsor Materials Speaker Reception In room signage Distribution of promotional materials Company welcome by designated host Advertising in one edition of chapter newsletter Website advertisement Complimentary registration at sponsored event Event Attendance List Member Spotlight
Registration display and / or place setting 2
Registration display and / or place setting
Business Development
1
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Education Plan
Mark Your Calendar!
Education Plan 2005-2006
2005
DATE Thursday October 20 MEETING TYPE / TOPIC / SPEAKER 11:30-14:00 Luncheon – Hugh Lee or Christine Duffy (Chair of MPI) or Mark Andrew TOPIC: Supercharge your Career. Are you ready to take it to the next level? MPI is the largest association for the meetings profession with more than 19,000 members. As the global authority and resource for the $102.3 billion meetings and event industry, MPI empowers meeting professionals to increase their strategic value through education, career pathways and networking opportunities. Join our Chairperson in learning the career pathways initiative, providing our members with unprecedented tools and highly customized education program that will bring your career to the next level. After participating in this session, you will be able to: Identify meeting trends and innovative solutions available to members of MPI. Identify professional development pathways and resources available to members of MPI. Identify career pathways opportunities. 8:30-11:30 Platinum Series Speaker – Tyra Hilliard, The George Washington University TOPIC: Contract Tips and Trends Not your typical contract workshop! In this highly interactive session, the group will look at actual contract language for hotel, vendor, and other contracts and the significance of seemingly minor changes in language. Discuss ways of addressing in the contract some of the current issues facing meeting planners, including Internet booking, privacy issues, the rebounding economy, and security issues. Be ready to discuss any issues unique to your group or event and bring sample contract language for comparison. This session is for planners who already have a basic understanding of contract issues and want to improve their contract negotiation skills. In these uncertain times, an added layer of legal protection is a career necessity. After participating in this session, you will be able to: Know how to most effectively negotiate liability issues in contracts. Understand current trends in attrition and how to best address them. Know what to do with a future contract already signed when uncertainty strikes. Know which contract clauses are worth fighting over. HOST PROPERTY
Thursday November 17th 1st Choice
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2006
Thursday January 19 11:30-14:00 Platinum Series Speaker – Name TBA TOPIC: Strategic Meeting Management Designed for all meeting professionals to give them immediately applicable skills and templates which they can then use to more strategically integrate themselves throughout their organization. After participating in the program, attendees will be able to: Identify the stakeholders and decision makers and the core competencies within their organization. Locate appropriate resources and tools to reinforce their message of value within the organization. Recognize and acknowledge their own expertise. Communicate to the stakeholders and decision makers the value they bring to the organization. 8:30-11:30 Platinum Series Speaker – Jane Sanders TOPIC: Gendersmart: Influencing Up For Results And Career Advancement If you want to maximize the effectiveness of your leadership and communication with co-workers, management, staff, prospects, spouse and family, this enlightening and humorous program is for you. Learn about communication style differences, including how they affect perceptions and cause misunderstandings. Have fun while learning specific tips for working successfully with the many communication differences between men and women. Improve your teamwork, leadership and advancement potential by communicating in ways suitable for each gender at higher levels. After participating in this session, you will be able to: Understand how communication differences affect performance, teamwork, and advancement potential. Understand how style differences cause misperceptions and misunderstandings, and how these misperceptions lead to conflicts and problems. Learn how to communicate more effectively and improve your leadership and advancement potential. 8:30-11:30 Platinum Series Speaker – Erick Burton TOPIC: The 11th Hour Syndrome: Navigating Human Behaviors Creating a successful meeting requires working with other humans. Why is it sometimes challenging to interact with someone else who is significantly different than you? What is standing in the way of your greater success? Explore the ways that you and others are ―wired‖ in this interactive session. After participating in this session, you will be able to: Discover your approach to problems and how you handle CHALLENGES. Discover how you attempt to interact and INFLUENCE other people. Discover your response to CHANGE and the pace of activities.
Thursday February 16
2nd Choice
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3rd Choice
Discover how you attempt to respond to rules, PROCEDURES, and regulations set by other people. This session will conclude with an open forum discussion of issues important to you. 8:30-11:30 Platinum Series Speaker – Joan Eisenstodt TOPIC: The Industry's Future: Expectations And Preparations? Yogi Berra said ―Our future ain't what it used to be." The changes we have seen and will continue to see are sometimes overwhelming: service standards on the edge because of a changing economy and stricter immigration guidelines; heightened risk management; competition for business and for jobs; demand for a greater return on investment by all meeting stakeholders; generational changes impacting the workforce and meeting participation; invasions of privacy for meeting participants; and more. What does our industry face in the future? How can we anticipate and manage the various risk factors in doing business in today's world? When and how will you impact what happens? After participating in this session, you will be able to: Think more and/or differently about our industry. Determine what you can do to advance our industry to new levels of action. Develop a plan for our industry‘s future. 11:30-14:30 Luncheon and Annual General Meeting – Martin Van Kekan or David Clark (TBA) TOPIC: How to Go From Ordinary to Extraordinary? Would you like to be inspired by stories about extraordinary meetings? Examples of meetings at which the unusual is usual? It is critical that we think different to plan experiences that engage our customers, our team, and our stakeholders. The ultimate goal of face-to-face meetings and events is to provide attendees the opportunity to build relationships and share ideas. In this session, you will learn how to maximize the points of impact and build interactive elements into your meetings and events. After participating in this session, you will be able to: Have tools and techniques to build extraordinary meetings and events. Identify what resources and options are available. Determine what priorities exist in the planning process. 07:30-10:00 National Meetings Industry Week – Across Canada celebration and recognition. MPI International Speaker (TBA) TOPIC: National Topic TBA
Thursday March 16
Thursday April 6
Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre
Thursday May 18
11:30-14:30 Luncheon and Panel Discussion – COTA, CTC, Tourism Vancouver, Tourism BC, YVR Airport Authority, Canada Border Services Agency, 2010 Office, Canada Customs TOPIC: Regional Strategic Planning This session will examine topics of relevance to the BC Meetings Industry, and will include a strategic planning session to address important upcoming inititiatives and events that will have an impact on our local industry.
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After participating in this session you will be able have tools and information to prepare you for: Planning for beyond 2010 Canada‘s Approved Destination Status from China Preparation for changes to US Customs regulations Back Up 11:30-14:30 Luncheon and Panel Discussion – Bruce Harris (Conferon), Sarah Lowis (Sea to Sky Management) TOPIC: Ethics 11:30-14:00 Luncheon – Darcy Rezac, National Speakers Bureau TOPIC: The Power of Networking YOU NEVER NEEDED YOUR NETWORK MORE. For too long networking has been viewed simply as an activity— turning contacts into sales. It has not been treated as a serious management discipline. People can perform more effectively if they understand the theory and learn the skills of networking in a positive manner. Exciting new science proves that networking is not the ‗wishful thinking‘ of motivational speakers and business gurus. You can learn how too. After participating in this session you will be able to: Become better at building your network of acquaintances Maintaining your network of acquaintances, extended and close contacts. Create better relationships and opportunities and grow business
Back Up
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