MPISCC Intercom sep:oct2014

1

Designed and Edited by Alvalyn Lundgren | Alvalyn Creative VOLUME 111 | September/October 2014INTERCOM

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

EDUCATION

2014

Weekend Educational SummitSeptember 12-14, 2014

MultitaskingMyths, realities, insights and best practices

PAGE 9

Tech TalkSocial strategies for events are different than marketing

PAGE 5

Picture PerfectSolvang and the Santa Ynez Valley as a meeting destination

PAGE 12

MPISCC’s Weekend Educational Summit is a prime opportunity to experience our chapter as an active community, and to catch up with colleagues and friends. WES not only provides vital education for professional development and certification, it creates opportunities for life-long connections.

2

Meeting Professionals International | Southern California Chapter

In addition to our keynote speaker, veteran meeting planner and corporate trainer, Shawna Suckow, CMP, who you read about in the July/August 2014 Intercom, you will benefit from the knowledge and experience of members of our own chapter and other industry pros. Here are some of the educational highlights to look forward to.

Bridging the Generation Gap in the Workplace and at Meetings

presenters

Joe Martin | Partner, BDI Events, plays an integral part in the development and design of special events and confer-ences. Prior to working in the meetings industry, Joe worked for the Academy of Country Music as a Logistics Coordi-nator for the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards, and several entertain-ment award shows. He currently serves as the Special Education Director on the Board of Directors for MPISCC.

Whitney Wilson | Eventive Group received her BS Degree in Event Man-agement from the University of Central Florida. She has been in the meetings industry for six years and a member of the MPISCC for 2 years. She chaired the Weekend Educational Summit in 2013. In 2014, Whitney was named to Collaborate Magazine’s 40 under 40.

Lane West | MPI Previously MPI’s Member Services Specialist, Lane is currently on the Events team within MPI as Event Specialist. Lane assists in planning and organizing various events within MPI’s live event portfolio.

Audra Narikawa, CMP | Capital Group is the Senior Manager and Vice Presi-dent for Capital Group. She received a BA in Psychology at the University of California, Los Angeles and returned to earn her M.B.A. at the Anderson Gradu-ate School of Management. She served for 7 years on the MPISCC Board, in-cluding chapter President, and is cur-rently serving a 3-year term on the MPI International Board of Directors (IBOD).

Wi-fi Know-Why: Internet and Bandwidth for Meetings

The Future of Your Meetings in 2014 & Beyond

presenter

Midori Connelly | Principal, AVGirl Productions, provides green AV produ-tion support to meetings and events for clients around the world. She recently appeared in Wired Magazine, is recog-nized as a Platinum Speaker by MPI and a Best-in-Class Speaker for Professional Convention Managers Association. Midori has been named to the Most In-novative Event Professionals by BizBash Media and to 40 Under 40 for both Col-laborate and Connect Magazines. She is the advice columnist for PlanYour- Meetings.com, peer-elected Chair of the Infocomm International Rental & Staging Council, and is the only woman to serve on InfoComm’s first-ever Green AV Task Force.

#MeetingsAdvocacy: A Voice For Our Industry

presenters

David Anderson, CMP | Partner, Eventive Group has 13 years in the meetings industry, with strengths in lo-gistics and scheduling. He was MPISCC president in 2013-14 and was named one of Collaboate Magazine’s 40 Under 40 for 2013.

Stephanie Starr, CMM, CMP, | namast(E)events develops inventive meetings, incentive programs and special events for financial services firms, high tech firms, publishing cor-porations, and non-profit organizations. She is of Chair of MPISCC’s newest committee, Advocacy.

The breskfast keynote speaker is Jay Gubrud, a performance improvement coach, speaker, trainer, and author.

REGISTER for WES via Cvent at: http://bit.ly/1B4bCEE

ACCOMMODATIONS

ACCOMMODATIONS

Meeting Planner Rooms: COMPLIMENTARY! (Only if you register by August 1 via CVENT.)

Meeting Planner Rooms after 8/1: $59/night

Meeting Supplier Rooms: $149/night

Our goal is that as many of our chapter members are able to attend as possible; and we secured reduced room rates and kept the registration fees the same as last year.

WES REGISTRATION

Member Planner Early Bird: $100 until August 1):

Member Planner Standard: $125

Non-Member Planner Early Bird: $200

Non-Member Planner Standard: $225

Member Supplier Early Bird: $175

Member Supplier Standard: $200

Non-Member Supplier Early Bird: $275

Non-Member Supplier Standard: $300

Member Student: $75

Non-Member Student: $125

Member Supplier Tabletop: $550 (Includes one registration)

Non-Member Tabletop Exhibit $750(Includes one registration)

WES continued

3

INTERCOM | Volume 111 September/October 2014

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

September brings an end to summer and vacations and a return to our professions. I hope your summer was filled with great memories and

renewed spirits.

As we begin our new fiscal year, I would like to share with you some new initiatives already in place:

The Chapter’s Golf Tournament and Wellness Day in June was a huge success, and I extend my appreciation to the Golf Committee for its dedication and commitment.

Our Membership Team is committed to fully engage our new members in order to enhance the MPI experience.

The Education Committee is continuing to enlist pioneering speakers, so please keep an eye on our website calendar for updates.

We also encourage you to be part of one of our teams. Not only is it a good way for you to become involved and form valuable alliances, it is fun, and you make new friends and, at the same time, continues the advancement of MPISCC. This is our personal invitation to you to be on the team…whether it be Communications, Sponsorship, EdCon, Fundraising, or wherever you see yourself, we would love to have you onboard.

I was fortunate to attend MPI’s World Education Conference, held in Minneapolis, August 2-5. Along with many other Southern California Chapter members, I returned with a renewed level of education and great ideas to take our chapter to the next level.

I look forward to connecting with you at our own Weekend Education Summit (WES) on September 12-14 at the beautiful Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Rancho Mirage. Our team is doing an outstanding job in planning this exciting educational event. A few of the highlights are: Meetings 3.0: Enough’s Enough! No More Fluff or Boring Stuff with Shawna Suckow, CMP as the Keynote Luncheon Topic, as well as a CMP Preparation course led by Libby Zarrahy, CMP and Haley Powers, CMP. If you miss it, you will really regret it, so be sure to make your reservations today if you haven’t already made them. Check out the preview article starting on pages 1 and 2 for additional details about speakers and educational session topics.

Happy September!

Beverly A. Laing, CMP

MPISCC 2014-20145 President

Turn Summer Refreshment into Fall Engagement by Beverly Laing, CMP | Russell Harris Event Group

4


DESIGN & EDITORIAL

Managing Editor/Design DirectorAlvalyn Lundgren | Alvalyn [email protected]

Contributing EditorLaura Bergerson, CMP

ContributorsLaura Fath, CMPElizabeth Glau, CMPKirsty Spraggon Harold Taylor

Photo Creditspp 7-8: Golf & Wellness Day Planning Committee; pp 12-13: ©SolvangUSA; pp 14-15: Alvalyn Lundgren

INTERCOM is published six times a year by Meeting Professionals International–Southern California Chapter, a nonprofit professional association of meeting planners and suppliers. ©2014

Article contributions and editorial guidelines requests should be sent to Alvalyn Lundgren, Managing Editor, at [email protected].

Advertising Information www.mpiscc.org/marketplace/ advertising-kit/

www.mpiscc.org275 East Hillcrest Drive, Suite 215

Thousand Oaks, CA 91360Phone: 805-449-9111

Fax: 805-557-1133

MPISCC MISSION STATEMENTMPISCC will be recognized as the leading local

membership community that is committed to shaping and defining the meetings and

event industry in Southern California.

MPISCCMONTHxMONTH SEPTEMBER

Weekend Educational SummitSeptember 12-14, 2014Omni Resorts Rancho Las Palmas Resort & SpaRancho Mirage, CA#WES2014

OCTOBER

Leadership & BrandingOctober 7, 2014 | 11:00-2:00 pmThe Garland, North Hollywood Monthly networking & program NOVEMBER

MPISCC Annual FundraiserDetails To Be Announced

DECEMBER

Holiday EventDetails

Watch for MPISCC program and event details via email or on our website at www.mpiscc.org.

PAGE 1

MPISCC Officers & Directors 2014-2015

PresidentBeverly Laing, CMP, CTC

Russell Harris Event Group818-760-6779

President ElectMariles Krok, CMP

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board424-731-7781

Immediate Past PresidentDavid Anderson, CMP

Eventive Group 562-438-4834

Vice President of Communications Laura Bergerson, CMP

Laura B Events562-234-8819

Vice President of Education/ProgramsNicole Newman

Searchwide951-640-3745

Vice President of FinanceAmy Zelinsky, CMP

A to Z Special Events818-646-3445

Vice President of Leadership DevelopmentJoe Marcy, CMP

Westin Long Beach310-748-3075

Vice President of MembershipChristine HartmanIce Hat Creative310-601-0695

Directors

Awards and Recognition Shelley Grey, CMP

Trust Company of the West213-244-0579

Fundraising and Strategic Sponsorship Joe MartinBDI Events

323-692-0802

Marketing, Publications and Advertising Jane Mato, CMP

Hilton Waikoloa Village310-523-3896

Member Care Akemi Shapiro

Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach 805-652-5118

Member Recruitment Michelle Conant

VP Limousine & Coaches714-556-6300

Monthly Programs Carlos Murillo

Harrah’s Rincon Resort760-751-3219

Professional Development Bryan Quinan, CMP

Milken Institute310-570-4638

Public Relations and MediaMeredith Delfosse

Crown Plaza Hotel Beverly Hills310-651-3251

Special Education Mai Hogan

Luxor & Excalibur Hotel & Casino702-262-4824

Special Events Michelle Thornton, CMP

NBDUniversal818-777-6044

Strategic Sponsorship Shang Hur

HelmsBriscoe310-562-0622

Executive DirectorDebbie Hawkins, CAE, CMP

805-449-9111

SEENSee more of MPISCC.withjust a click.

#MPISCC#MeestingsAdvocacy#EngageEducateEvolve

@MPISCC

/MPISCC

/groups/MPISCC

/user/MPISCC

/mpisocalchapter

5


5

There are ways to incorporate social media so that the objectives of your marketing team are supported in a way that integrates logically into the logistics of the event.

Social Command Center

Social Media Hubs/Lounges/Bars are visual, interactive spaces that create buzz among event participants. Social conversations are curated on multiple screens at one central location. The space is ideal for engaging attendees in brand or social conversations. The com-mand center is where you can:

Incentivize attendees to share their experience and feedback via social media

Offer one-on-on training on how to use social media

Curate and moderate all of the follow-ing content on one or more displays:

Twitter and Instagram

Announcements

Sponsor and host messages

Highlighted influencers’ posts

Social media timeline / stats

Rotating leaderboards showcasing your influencers

Roulette wheel for random selection of social participation

Attendee-facing control panel to let attendees “peek behind the curtain”

Organization profiles and others you want them to follow

Show your attendees that you think of social media as an important customer service tool. You care what they think and will put it on display. You also want them to take their own personal brand-ing efforts to the next level, which is why you are taking the opportunity to give them hands-on instruction.

Digital Signage

Digital signs are a great way to let attendees know what is happening, what you want them to do and incorporate brand messages. Most importantly, they can be changed on the fly.

Monitors can be placed anywhere in your event: social command centers, out-side and inside session rooms, etc. The content that can go on these moni-tors is endless, but the important thing to know is that you can now integrate types of content that were difficult to integrate previously. Plus, you can con-trol it all from a moderation panel on your phone or tablet. Here are a few ideas:

Social content in your session’s walk-in/walk-out slide loops

Presentation slides with your panel-ists’ Twitter handles inside of your Twitter wall

Concierge-type information, such as flight status, weather updates, and local restaurants

SOCIAL MEDIA

SOCIAL STRATEGIES Events By Elizabeth Glau, CMP | Building Blocks Social Media

Social media engagement is important to your marketing, but events are special. The strategy you use for your organization on a day-to-day basis is

different from the strategy you use for your event.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

6


SOCIAL MEDIA continued

Imagine an event where participants see their social photos alongside use-ful information like what’s on now or what’s on in this room. Attendees can look at the same screen to see what others are saying and find the speak-er’s twitter handle to make it easier for them to share what they are learning. Your sponsors are thrilled to have an-other option for getting their logos and videos into the event environment in a way that doesn’t seem intrusive.

Social Audience Response

You don’t need hardware or an app for audience response. If you are a trans-parent organization and want open feedback, then use social media chan-nels. If your session topics are confi-dential, use text messages or email. Either way, you can display the feed-back in your session rooms and mod-erate which questions/comments go to the screen.

Tell people how to participate

Establish a hashtag and add it to signage and announcements from the podium. Make it easy for people to use and track the conversation. So-cialPoint has been tracking social con-versations for a few years now. Time after time, the data shows that the largest volume of tweets occur during general sessions and keynotes.

Show the conversation

Put up a Twitter display, social photo display, live graph, or social lead-erboard. Let people see how their tweets, Instagram photos and videos are contributing to a larger conversa-tion. There are many ways attendees can participate in the social conversa-tion: They can tweet, retweet, take photos, post photo albums, check-in, etc. You should make sure your event’s social engagement strategy appeals to all of these behaviors and uses the applications they use every day.

You want your investments in social media to achieve your event goals and support the objectives of your market-ing team. In order to do so, you need to tell attendees how to participate, inspire them from the main stage, show them how they fit into the big-ger conversation and make sure that you appeal to different types of social engagement behaviors.

Elizabeth Glau, CMP, is a social media strategist and trainerg, and owner of Building Blocks Social Media. www.elizabethglau.com. Twitter:@elizabethglau

FOR MPISCC MEMBERS

Insider T ps Non-Member Attendance

MPISCC membership provides many benefits, including the opportunity to connect with like-minded industry professionals who have chosen to invest in their professional develop-ment. Most of these opportunities to connect occur during our educational events and networking meetings.

In order to honor the investment MPI members have made, and to deliver maximum benefits to our members, we need to apply our chapter’s written policy governing non-member atten-dance. The policy states:

3. Non-Member Registration guidelines:

a. Non-member fees are at a higher rate than fees charged to members.

b. Non-members may attend up to two regular or special meetings prior to joining MPI.

The annual fundraiser and non-industry spouses/guests are exempt from this policy.

What Does This Mean for You?

There is no impact on members. Non- members may attend up to 2 meetings and then need to join MPI to continue attending.

If you have already attended 2 meet-ings as a non-member, you need to join MPI prior to attending another event. If you don’t know how many meetings you have attended, please contact the MPISCC office at 805-449-9111.

Members from other chapters are welcome at all MPISCC meetings. but, if they wish to serve as a volunteer with MPISCC, they need to be subscriber members.

If you have already attended twice and are not sure about joining, we’d like to talk with you. Please contact Christine Hartman, Vice President of Membership, at:[email protected]

7


7


PHOTO ALBUM

On June 2, 2014, over 180 golfers and non-golfers enjoyed a day on the greens at Los Coyotes Country Club in Buena Park. The event was sponsored by American Golf, and featured a helicopter ball drop,

educational breakout sessions, yoga on the green, lunch, dinner and awards.

The Club SceneMPISCC’s Golf & Wellness Day

CONTINUED ON PAGE 8

8


GOLF continued

9


ultitasking is a myth. The brain is incapable of doing two things at the same time without a drop in efficiency. The brain focuses on activities sequen-tially, one at a time. New research from Vanderbilt University reported in the December, 2009 issue of Scientific American Mind indicates that the re-strictions on multitasking arise from the slow processing in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s central executive. By using functional MRI, researchers discovered that when people juggle two assign-ments, their prefrontal cortex appeared to deal with the tasks one at a time, cre-ating a mental bottleneck.

Depending on the activities you are engaged in, this drop in efficiency may be costly inconsequential or dangerous. Listening to background music while working may simply result in not really

hearing all the music; but texting while driving a car could be disastrous.

If a computer, machine, or appliance is doing something on its own at the same time that you are doing something else, that’s not multitasking. That’s simply utilizing idle time or wait time, and is an acceptable strategy for managing time efficiently. For example, reading while commuting by subway, setting the table while the kettle boils, checking email while a document is being printed or downloaded, or writing an article while sitting in the doctor’s waiting room, are simply examples of working while a machine or appliance is doing its thing. You are utilizing wait time.

Multitasking, on the other hand, refers to attempting to do or think about two or more things at the same time, such as talking on the telephone while sign-

ing forms, watching TV while eating, checking your smart phone for messag-es while attending a meeting or reading a book while listening to your spouse. In all these situations, your brain is switch-ing rapidly from one task or activity to another – not doing two things at the same time. Multitasking could also refer to frequently switching back and forth between one task and another. Either way, it’s inefficient.

Until there was adequate research, we didn’t know any better. We thought we were saving time, not wasting it. Now it’s known, for instance, that the brain takes a fraction of a second every time it switches its attention from one activ-ity to another. It’s been shown that cell phone users are a half-second slower hitting the brakes in emergencies. In a half-second, a car going 70 mph travels

TIME MANAGEMENT

MYTH of MULTITASKING by Harold Taylor | Harold Taylor Time Consultants Ltd.

The

M

10


10

It’s important to have a

MULTITASKING continued

51 feet. That’s critical if a child suddenly darts in front of the car. Drivers talking on a cell phone have more accidents than anyone else, with the exception of very drunk drivers.

Some people think they are multitask-ing only when they are physically doing two things at the same time. But it’s the brain’s activity that determines whether you are multitasking. For example, you could be writing an article while thinking about another task that has to be done. In that case, you are mentally multitask-ing. If you are solving math problems in your head or dreaming of a white Christ-mas while you are driving or walking or working, you are mentally multitasking. You are mentally multitasking when you are doing one thing and worrying or even thinking about something else. That’s why it’s a good idea to quickly jot down “things to do” as you think of them. You’re multitasking while you do so; but at least you’re not multitasking for the whole duration of your current activity.

There are also degrees of multitasking. The more complex the tasks, and the more senses involved, such as hearing, sight, touch etc., the greater the distrac-tion, the greater the switching time, and the greater the inefficiency.

I always tell clients to err on the side of not multitasking. If in doubt, don’t. Even when utilizing idle time or waiting time, don’t do it unless the amount of available time is significant – such as a 15-minute wait in a lineup or a 20- minute commute on a train. The time between agenda items at a business meeting is not idle time. Time in a res-taurant with your spouse waiting for your order to arrive is not idle time. These are communication times. Multi-tasking can affect more than efficiency and safety; it can damage relationships

as well. A Wall Street Journal article titled BlackBerry Orphans discussed how these gadgets were intruding on families and how children were feel-ing neglected. Psychologists reported that [smart phones] were becoming a topic of conversation in family therapy sessions.

The cost of multitasking

How much does multitasking cost a company or individual in terms of lost time or personal productivity? It’s im-possible to come up with an accurate figure. It would vary depending on the situation. But studies have shown that a person who is interrupted could take 50% longer to finish a task and make up to 50% more errors. Researchers es-timate a drop in efficiency of between 20% and 50%.

Whenever you are interrupted, you are multitasking, regardless of whether you are interrupted by email, a drop-in visitor, a telephone call or a trip to the coffee machine. My personal surveys of workshop attendees show that interruptions of one kind or another are the top time problems for most seminar attendees.

Most time management writers agree that interruptions occur in a typical busi-ness environment about every 8 to 11 minutes. A study conducted by the Department of Information & Computer Science at the University of California, Irvine, revealed that the most common interruptions at work were:

• A colleague stopping by

• Being called away from or leaving work voluntarily

• The arrival of new email

• A phone call

Each of these situations introduces multitasking into the environment.

With practice, the prefrontal activation time becomes shorter so you are able to do each task quicker, which explains why teens playing video or computer games seem to be better at multitask-ing. But they are only good at multitask-ing on that one activity and doesn’t help them at work – unless their job at work is playing video games. And continued digital stimulation on the brain and mul-titasking decreases their ability to focus attention on any one particular thing. And it’s now believed to contribute to ADD and ADHD. In fact, there’s quite a bit of proof that it does.

This restriction doesn’t appear to apply when only the senses are involved, such as hearing, sight and touch. You have no trouble looking at someone while you listen to them or feeling the surface of a table while you talk. These are processed in parallel. But you cannot multitask with tasks.

Harold Taylor is founder of HaroldTaylor Time Consultants, Inc. Follow and visit: Twitter: @HaroldTaylor. www.taylorintime.com

Some people think they are multitasking only when

they are physically doing two things at the same time.

But it’s the brain activity that determines whether you

are multitasking.

INTERCOM | Volume 109 January/February 2014

11

Expectations Exceeded

For over 35 years Luners Production Services has partnered with Event Planners to produce truly custom Event Technology experiences. From creative concept to detailed service performance, you can trust our team of Account Managers, Designers, and Technical Specialists to bring your vision to reality. No matter the size of your event, we go the extra mile to pay close attention to the details that are most important to you. The Luners team will partner with you every step of the way to plan, organize, and simplify your event details. We look forward to making a difference on your next event.

Creative Event Planning

Budget Friendly Proposals

Experienced Technical Specialists

Relevant Equipment Inventory

Our designers will create a truly custom show experience for your event. From renderings to reality, your event will be everything you expect and more.

Your on-site Technical staff will consist of some of the industries most talented, and specialized Event Technology Professionals.

Luners is constantly updating our equipment inventory to keep up with the fast-paced evolution of Audio Visual technologies.

Producing high impact events that stay within budget has been one of secrets to our success. We listen to your financial needs while providing creative solutions.

805-654-1007

www.luners.comCall Today For A No Obligation Proposal

Details Planned

Audience EngagedBudget Met

Southern California’s Premier Audio Visual

Event Production Experience.

0

5

25

75

95

100

MPI Intercom

Monday, July 21, 2014 2:27:35 PM

12

Want to discover a European-style meeting destination only two hours north of Los Angeles that’s ideally situated for groups from seven to 700? Now in its

second century, Solvang’s 5,245 residents continue to enjoy the same traditions as its founders envisioned— welcoming visitors from around the world to share the joys of “California’s Little Denmark”.

In 1911, three Danish-American educators encountered a coastal valley where land was plentiful and their culture could prosper—and founded the community they named Solvang (sunny field in Danish). Adjacent to the 1804 Old Mission Santa Inés (now a National Historic Landmark District) Solvang thrived and settlers carried on Danish traditions of language, folk dancing, music and cuisine. As Solvang’s population grew, more buildings began to re-flect Danish farm-style architecture—the cross-beamed bindingsvaerk, timbers framing either brick or stucco and roofing of thatch made of wood shingles cut jagged at the edges. Windmills of all sizes catch the first and last light throughout the village. Danish tradition holds that the pres-ence of a stork on a rooftop wards off lightning and brings good luck—which continues to smile on Solvang and its visitors today.

After the conclusion of World War II, idyllic Solvang was “discovered” by the media and described in the Saturday Evening Post as a “spotless Danish village that blooms like a rose”, and enticed travelers to experience it for them-selves. In 2009, Solvang was honored with the prestigious “Preserve America Community” award by the national Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In 2013, Solvang was named by Huffington Post as the #2 place to “Travel to Europe Without Leaving the USA.”

Festivals and celebrations are traditional parts of Solvang’s charm. Started in 1936, the annual Danish Days festival commemorates Solvang’s heritage every September. The Taste of Solvang happens every March and Julefest (Yule-fest) lights up December. Solvang was named by Time Magazine as one of the Most Christmas-y Towns in the USA.

Discover area history at the Elverhoj Museum of History & Art, the Hans Christian Andersen Museum and the Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum. Art and nature meet at the Wildling Museum. All four are excellent venues for off-site events.

DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT

by Laura Kath | Media Relations Director, Solvang CVB, and President, Mariah Marketing

Solvang

If you’re seeking a postcard perfect year-round meeting destination with warm, sunny days and crisp, clear nights, world-class wine tasting, bicycling and hiking

through spectacular scenery—your search will lead you straight to

Solvang


13

INTERCOM | Volume 109 May/June 2014

Solvang

Combining incredibly scenic venues with friendly, professional services is the recipe for memorable special events throughout Solvang and the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley. In this mild year-round climate, a dozen properties and one-of-a-kind venues offer banquet/meetings rooms and outdoor areas for corporate, incentive and association groups. Rates and facilities range from 4-diamond hotels and resorts to charming inns that suit every taste and budget.

Three highly rated, independently owned and operated luxurious lodgings are on offer for groups: Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort has been a idyllic hideaway since 1946, with 10,000 acres featuring 73 units, two golf courses, private lake, fishing, boating, spa, and horseback rid-ing, and with packages including break-fast and dinner daily. The Hotel Corque is a uniquely modern boutique property ideally situated in the center of Solvang, offering 122 guest accommodations, with professional services, pool, lounge and top-rated Root 246 restaurant, and group facilities for a sophisticated experience. The charming, European-style Petersen Village Inn features 40 guest rooms, meeting facilities for up to 70 and popular afternoon tea plus Mediterranean cuisine in Café Provence.

A plethora of parks and public venues provide additional options for groups. Over 100 wineries and tasting rooms of-fer facilities for special event and group rentals, and don’t overlook the many craft breweries in the area.

Event attendees can enjoy free time at art galleries, clothing boutiques, specialty gift shops and antique stores, or recharge at a day spa. The more adventurous can explore a nearby lavender farm, ostrich farm, horse ranch or get a hawk’s-eye view soaring from a glider ride. If attendees still have some stamina, how about a concert, dancing or a experiencing a professional perfor-mance under summer stars by PCPA The-aterfest at Solvang Festival Theater? Nearby, the Chumash Casino Resort features live entertainment and gaming.

According to Tracy Farhad, Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, a popular group activity is “Sweet on Solvang”, where up to 20 participants can learn how to make treats from a fourth-generation Danish baker or get cookie and gingerbread house decorating tips from the baker who’s appeared on national television. Cus-tomized 90-minute walking tours of the village are readily available from native Dane, Dean Klitgaard, manager of the Solvang Visitor Center, for a nominal fee. Specific details on capacities and RFP for group lodging, meeting venues and event services are available by contacting the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau staff at 1-800-468-6765 or www.SolvangUSA.com

Laura Kath, president of Mariah Market-ing, is the Media Relations Director for Solvang CVB. www.mariamarketing.com. Twitter: @mariahmarketing

Solvang


14

PHOTO ALBUM

EVOLVE2014 GALA & INSTALLATIONJune 12, 2014

Hollywood Roosevelt HotelHollywood, CA

15


16


It may appear that just closing a sale with someone who has an immediate need is more effective than investing time and energy in building rapport and opening a

relationship. You may even feel that you would be better off financially just prospecting for those clients ready to use your services or products today, compared with nurturing relationships and dealing with those people who don’t have an immediate need. However, you could be missing out on 90% of your potential market. This is because you would be limiting yourself by dealing only with the very small percent-age of the market that’s ready and willing to work with you today.

Focus on the long term

Research suggests that, depending on the industry, there is a 9-18 month incubation period from the first point of contact until a new client actually purchases your product or service. That means you would be missing out on a lot of business by only working with the ‘right here, right now’ prospects. You would also be cutting yourself out of the repeat and referral business that would otherwise come your way effortlessly through clients who feel so well taken care of and appreciated.

If you focus on closing sales, you’ll be forever on the ‘one-off treadmill’. You won’t be able to relax because you will have to be out there, day after day, working hard to chase down the next piece of business.

Whereas, if you open relationships and build meaningful foundations from the outset, your business will grow. Just like seeds scattered in the wind taking root and blossoming, referrals and repeat business will start flowing in.

If your business is run on the hand-to-mouth principle of closing a sale, you are dependent entirely on new clients and extremely vulnerable to market changes. The only sure way to ride out economic ups and downs is to have plan ahead and build a stable database of loyal, repeat and re-ferral clients. Even if there are fewer customers out there, there are always some customers. It’s your job to make sure that you are the person of choice in times of increased pres-sure and competition.

Focused socializing

It is important to prioritize meeting people as a prospecting activity. To build relationships, we must meet people. The word ‘network’ sounds so strategic, but it is nothing more than focused socializing.

Networking isn’t something we do once a week; it is some-thing we create. A network by definition is an interconnected system — a community to draw on for advice, wisdom and emotional support, to teach us, to share experiences with, to collaborate and leverage from… a pseudo family that you create. A good network should fill in the gaps where you yourself are perhaps not quite as strong and enhance and support your business. The idea is to find people you are comfortable with and enjoy being around. You should feel confident enough to recommend them and you want to build close reciprocal relationships with them.

Just as in personal relationships, we need to spend time together and get to know each other. If we didn’t spend any time with our friends or we only spoke to them on email or the phone we wouldn’t get to know them very well. Clients are no different. We need to invite them into our world and spend time together outside of doing business in order to truly connect

By opening relationships and tending them along the way, we slowly get to know each other and are rewarded with trust, loyalty and lifetime relationships.

Who do you want to connect with? Are you taking time to nurture your relationships and understand their world? What can you do to connect with your business contacts this week?

Kirsty Spraggon, speaker, coach and author, is known for her expertise in building relationships that assist you in building your sales, networks and connections for life and business success. For more info go to www.kirstyspraggon.com.au and KirstyTV.com.

CLOSE THE SALE, OR OPEN THE RELATIONSHIP Focus on the long term to build real connectionsBy Kirsty Spraggon | kirsty.tv

BUSINESS TIPS

17

INTERCOM | Volume 109 May/June 2014

Los Angeles :: Malibu :: Orange County :: Beverly Hills :: Inland Empire :: Santa Barbara

ContemporaryCatering.com310.558.8190

Something Sacred is at Stake at Every Event

Alvalyn Lundgrenwww.alvalyn.com [email protected] 805.857.7981

Corporate Event Branding

Designing Influence. Drawing Attention.P R O D U C T I O N S

P R O D U C T I O N S

@alvalyn /AlvalynCreative /Alvalyn /alvalyncreative

BREAKAWAYCAMP

to the Great Frontier

Lighthouse Church Fall Branding Program | v1 | 7.10.2012

and

Graphic Design & Visual Communications forFestivals, Conferences, Seminars, Trade Shows

Print, Web, Email, Signage & Social Media

18


What has

MPIDone forYOU?Share your story, and you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for cool stuff.

Go to our homepage at:www.mpiscc.org, click onthe form link, complete the form and send it in.

I had the pleasure of meeting many people at an MPI fundraiser event, one in particular whom I knew could benefit from my services.. Since the event I have followed up several times and have now started working with this client to help her with finding hotel venues for her event in 2014.

I don’t believe in pushing my services when I meet a new prospective client — rather engaging in conversation about them and learning about what they do. The time always comes when you are asked “What do you do?”, and that is when I share my services and how I can help others!

If I can help even one more person every MPI event I attend, then I’m doing my job!

Marcelle Moje | Site Services

www.mpiscc.org275 East Hillcrest Drive, Suite 215 Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

Phone: 805-449-9111 Fax: 805-557-1133

Membership Makes A DifferenceMeeting Professionals International Southern California Chapter is where you can help make a significant difference in the meetings industry. Join or renew today and enjoy the many ways MPISCC provides for professional growth, advocacy and giving back.

September 20146 month extended membership

Complimentary CMP Study Kit ($312 value)

MPI Store shopping spree*

October 2014Half off registration to WEC 2015 in San Francisco (July) or EMEC 2015 in Poland (Feb)

1 year extended membership

November 2014Half off registration to WEC 2015 in San Francisco (July) or EMEC 2015 in Poland (Feb)

MPI Store shopping Spree*

Complimentary CMP Study Kit ($312 value)

December 2014Half off registration to WEC 2015 in San Francisco (July) or EMEC 2015 in Poland (Feb)

1 year extended membership

6 complimentary tickets to any chapter event ($300 max)

CHECK OUT THESE FALL MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL INCENTIVES!

Join or renew today!*CMP Study Guide excluded from offer.

Are you up for renewal this Fall? Renew your MPI membership before the end of your renewal month and you will be entered into a drawing for one of THREE great prizes. Renew today!

19


STRATEGIC PARTNERS

�

Thank You!

IN THIS ISSUE

Weekend Educational Summit Preview 1

President’s Message 3

MonthxMonth Calendar 4

Tech Talk: Social Strategies 5

Insider Tips 6

Photo Album: June Golf & Wellness Event 7

The Myth of Multitasking 9

Destination Spotlight: Solvang 12

Photo Album: 2014 Gala & Installation 14

Close the Sale, or Open the Relationship 16

MPISCC Member Testimonial 18

Leadership: Tough Conversations 16

MPI Membership Scholarships 17

Our Strategic Partners 19 INTE

RC

OM

111

PAGE 7

PAGE 9

PAGE 14

275 East Hillcrest Drive, Suite 215Thousand Oaks, CA 91360

PAGE 12

MPISCC Intercom sep:oct2014

Documents

Transcript of MPISCC Intercom sep:oct2014