SallieGrant-DiVenuti, CMP,FCDME,CDME,CEM Executive Director Hampton CVB
Atime of reinvention
What lessons with respect to the meetings business have you learned over the past two years? Don’t take anything for granted! Every aspect of the meetings business is evolving. The economy has fueled a greater need for meeting planners to be accountable. Hampton’s group serv- icemanagersmeetwithmeeting planners as soon as theirmeet- ing is definite. They listen to their needs for the meeting, and we customize the services to meet their objectives.
What will be the top destination-selection criteria for meeting planners during the coming year? Price value will continue to be para- mount. Creative packaging with all- inclusivemeeting experiences will remain in demand in order to maintain budgets. It’s helpful for delegates to know exactly how much to budget to attend the meet- ing when they register, so inclusive pric- ing can be a major selling point. Planners will continue to look to con-
vention centers and hotels to be flexible with attrition policies. Environmentally friendly meeting and event venues and hotels will remain important factors in the site-selection process. Programs that guide conference and event facilities on energy and resource prudency, such asVirginia Green, will continue to pave the way to future efficiency.
If you could turn back time, would you choose to go back to the dominant way of doing business in and the general business environment of 2007? Business was more predictable and meeting planners were booking further in advance than they arenow. Budgetsweren’t as stringent as they are today.We are all looking together for the answers to this new phase in our industry.
How are younger CVB and meeting professionals changing the industry? Our younger professionals utilize more electronics and rely on socialmedia to help establishandbuild relationships. There seems
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to be less courting of clients and media contacts and more bot- tom-line–orientedactionand results.With social media so exten- sively intertwined in their lives, the importance of face-to-face networkingmaybe overlooked. Thiswould be a serious mistake. People do business with people they trust, and it is difficult to establish trust based solely on an electronic relationship.
What innovations in the realm of social media/ networking and technology in general will your destination be pursuing in 2011? We are developing a new website and several microsites within our larger site to allow information to be more read- ily available and interactive for our clients.We will also utilizeYouTube and other video media platforms to enhance the man-on-the-street perspective for our visitors. This allows them to experience Hampton before they even leave home.
Do you find that attendees are enjoying certain aspects of your destination that they didn’t before? We have opened the new PeninsulaTown Center just one block from theHampton
Roads Convention Center, so our meeting attendees can enjoy an abundance and variety of restaurant, retail, and entertain- ment options.With the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War and Hampton’s 400th anniversary, our visitors have the opportunity to learn more abouthowour country was founded. During the year, meeting attendees have had many opportu- nities to help celebrate our four centuries of history through our attractions, anniversary exhibits, and special events.Now, with the 150th anniversary of the American CivilWar before us, Hampton’s heritage and legacy are again front and center.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR: “Creative packaging with all-inclusive meet- ings,” Sallie Grant-DiVenuti said, “will remain in demand.”