behind the

scenes

Michelle Russell Editor in Chief mrussell@pcma.org

On the Download

FOMO — fear of miss- ing out — has just been accepted by Oxford Dictionaries Online as a term that expresses “anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on a social- media website.” My own fear of missing out is more of a gen- eral anxiety that I’m not keeping up with the latest technology that just might make me better organized.

I’m not alone — my colleague, PCMA Senior Vice President of Education and Meetings Kelly Peacy, CAE, CMP, shares the same sense of un- ease (see her column on p. 14). Fortunately, Assistant Editor Katie Kervin brings some relief. In this month’s CMP Series (p. 55), she shares meetings- tech experts’ top apps for greater productivity and eficiency. Bonus: Most are free or cost next to nothing.

In Our Sites The art and science of group travel.

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everal years ago, my husband called me after midnight from the closing session at his company’s sales meeting on the West Coast. It was difficult to hear him with all the cheering

and applause in the background. The president had announced from the stage those sales execs who had earned an incentive trip to Italy, and his name had just been called out. He couldn’t wait to share the exciting news with me. Since I’ve joined Convene, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to visit many incredible places around the world, and as a member of the meet- ings-industry media, there’s no denying that those experiences have included the red-carpet treatment. But there was something truly magical about that incentive trip to Rome, Pompeii, and Sorrento. Sure, it’s partly because I wasn’t “on duty” for Convene, but mostly it’s because it was exceptional in every regard — from the tours and options for activities, to having down- time in the schedule to explore on our own, to the incredible meals at places that had been handpicked by local DMCs. It was obvious to me how far this trip went to solidify relationships among my husband’s colleagues and strengthen their loyalty to the company. Because of my own personal experience, I’m especially pleased to announce Convene’s new partnership with Site, the global network of travel and event professionals focused on “motivational experiences that deliver business results.” Beginning with our December 2013 issue, and continu- ing in our March, June, October, and December 2014 issues, you’ll find inserts featuring research, best prac- tices, case studies, and articles from Site and the Site International Foun- dation. And my interview with Kevin

8 PCMA CONVENE OCTOBER 2013

Hinton, Site’s new chief staff officer, kicks off our Incentive Meetings spe- cial section in this issue (p. 90). Talking with Kevin, I realized again

how traditional conferences overlap with incentive travel. Both are meant to take participants out of their every- day environment and their own head- space for inspiration and renewal. As Senior Editor Barbara Palmer reports in our cover story this month (p. 42), more convention centers and other meeting venues are commissioning or featuring on-site artwork as a means of getting attendees into a more recep- tive frame of mind. Often it’s not just a matter of making the facility more aesthetically pleasing, but involving the local community and reorienting visitors to the unique features of their meeting destination. Take this month’s cover image of the

Vancouver Convention Centre’s majes- tic orca whale sculpture, Digital Orca. It’s not the same thing as savoring a dish of the most delicious pasta Bolog- nese ever on the grounds of a medieval castle overlooking the Bay of Naples (sorry, I got stuck in a memory groove), but it’s still a feast for the senses. And calorie-free.

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PHOTO BY JACOB SLATON