Yudu - Jan 2011

CERTIFICATION MADE POSSIBLE Area of Focus Suppliers Steps

Work up a Preferred Supplier Program that includes scope of services, pricing, evaluation, agreements, and SMMP out- comes.

Payment

Establish a process for hotel/ supplier deposit and payment.

Benefits

Risk mitigation (financial and legal compliance); meetingconsolidation/ leveraged spend

Budgets

Create budgets and variances determined by meeting.

Risk mitigation (financial and legal compliance); meetingconsolidation/ leveraged spend

ROI

Formulate relevant metrics to define and measure success. These might include standard and custom financial, cost-sav- ing, and risk-reduction reports, broken down by meetingand enterprise-wide spend.

Transparency of metrics and ability to demonstrate real cost savings

Implementation

Determine how SMMP will be put into action in terms of collab- oration, training, compliance, and stakeholder feedback.

Post-meeting

Develop mechanisms for evalua- tion, learner outcomes, and meetingvalue (return on invest- ment and return on experience).

Technology

Make sure systems are in place to drive SMMP, including24/7 access to current and past meet- ing activity, as well as manage- ment and financial reports.

Improved meetingquality, learner outcomes, and attendee experience

Robust technology and data management

collaboration with meeting and event stakeholders, and sig- nificant value being driven in our hotel and contract negotia- tions process,” Demyanovich said. “We are all more focused on meeting quality and ROI by addressing big-picture goals and objectives early on.Our preliminary cost savings and risk-reduction reports will clearly be impressive.”

www.pcma.org

JenniferW. Brown, CMP, is president of Meeting Sites Resource, a global specialist in meeting-site research and hotel-contract negotiations. The company also offers professional meeting-support services,SMMP consulting, and advanced technology solutions. For a complimentary copy of her SMMP Blueprint for Success Action Plan Checklist, contact her at jbrown@meetingsites.net.

pcmaconvene January 2011