PCMA TODAY AUGUST 2012

PCMA is the leading resource and premier educator for professionals in the meetings and conventions industry.

Next Steps PCMA will work with the Independent Planner Task Force to develop the recommended resources and tools in the coming months.

The Results Are In

Independent meeting planners and business owners weighed in at PCMA’s inaugural Independent Planner Think Tank. Here are some key takeaways.

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CMA hosted an invitation-only Independent Planner Think Tank — the first of a series of educational think tanks this year — on May 31–June 1 in New Orleans. Spon- sored by the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau and the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the inaugural event brought together 24 senior-level independent meeting pro- fessionals at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside to discuss and share strate- gies regarding critical issues they face. Sessions focused on three main areas:

challenges and trends that help meeting professionals determine when to grow their businesses; expanding services and increasing value for existing clients; and solutions for growth — including hiring staff and developing partnerships. Facilitated by Nancy Morrell Swanson,

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president of Global Marketing Services, the program encouraged independent planners to discuss their experiences and help PCMA identify and develop specific tools to serve their needs. Key takeaways and suggestions included: › a meeting valuation form for plan- ners that would help them demonstrate the value of their meeting to hotels, increasing their negotiating power › a list of resources for IT assistance to aid experienced independent planners and business owners in implementing and troubleshooting new technologies and social media › information and education on the Convention Industry Council’s proposed independent planner accreditation › a strategy checklist for marketing ideas and resources to help indepen- dent planners grow their businesses

› a “teaming” program, similar to a mentoring program, but pairing like- minded meeting professionals to share their experiences, challenges, and solutions about the issues that most concern independent planners. Although many think-tank partici-

pants were direct competitors, there was a spirit of collaboration and coop- eration — to the point where attendees discussed helping one another with potential business overflow. Planners and business owners were open to shar- ing their challenges and strategies in an effort to find solutions and develop PCMA resources to benefit all. And par- ticipants enthusiastically embraced the idea of an online community to keep the conversation going.

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