Posted on

ESPA Past President news: Kathryn Gleesing, CMP, MBA starts DMC

Kathryn Gleesing, MBA, CMP recently started her own Destination Management Company called Destination Management Connection, LLC. Having worked 15 years in Services at Visit Milwaukee and another 15 years as a meeting professional both roles have prepared her to take the next step and start her own company. As a DMC, her company will be working with corporate and association groups in the Southeastern Wisconsin area helping coordinate tours, transportation, event planning, VIP airport pickup just to name a few of the services. You can check out their website at: www.dm-connection.com

Posted on

ESPA Member Gary S. Bruckner Makes Debut on Jimmy Kimmel

ESPA Member Gary S. Bruckner, CMP, Meeting & Event Manager at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Makes Debut on Jimmy Kimmel with Actress Kristen Bell! In advance of Hurricane Irma, the hotel made the necessary preparations to ensure they could successfully service and ensure the safety of their guests. During the Hurricane they took in about 1,400 people from retirement homes in South Fla. Cast Members left their personal lives to help and assist with the needs of others. Successfully riding out the storm was a testament to all of the Cast Members at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin. Watch the Jimmy Kimmel clip!

Posted on

The Events Industry Council Shares the 5 Trends Shaping the Events Industry

ESPA is a member of the Events Industry Council. Recently we attended a Council of Delegates meeting, read on for trends identified during this event.

Washington, D.C. (May 16, 2017) — The Events Industry Council releases the top five trends shaping the events industry after discussing the state of the industry at their recent Council meeting. The Events Industry Council members comprise the CEOs of more than 30 of the leading industry associations – that represent more than 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry.

“The Events Industry Council is plugged into the leading organizations in our industry and we always use time at our Council meetings for a healthy exchange about what everyone is experiencing,” said Karen Kotowski, CAE, CMP, President and CEO, Events Industry Council. “Our discussion involved the changing nature of the industry, the emergence of new tech trends and even the current state of political affairs.”

Following are the five key trends that event professionals should watch closely in the year ahead:

http://www.eventscouncil.org/Newsroom/headlines/2017/05/16/the-events-industry-council-shares-the-5-trends-shaping-the-events-industry

Posted on

2017 CSM of the Year Awards

Convention service managers (CSMs) wear a lot of hats– mentors, on-site experts, sympathizers, to name a few. But some CSMs go beyond the call of duty to fix a problem, and a resource, or just make sure the planner looks good. Successful Meetings, in conjunction with the Event Service Professionals Association (ESPA), honors the top CSMs at resorts and hotels, convention and visitors bureaus, and convention centers.

Here are the 2017 honorees.

Read more in Successful Meetings.

 

Posted on

Linda Atkins, Austin CVB is Executive Excellence Award Recipient

Each year at the Annual Conference, ESPA recognizes an executive for his or her commitment and dedication to the profession of event service and to giving key support and leadership to members of their services team. This year’s recipient is Linda Atkins, Vice President of Services with the Austin CVB.

In the words of her nominator, Linda Atkins is the true definition of a positive and professional role model, not just for her staff but for the entire hospitality industry. She has worked tirelessly to build our convention services department from the ground up, and continues to be the backbone of our convention services family today. As busy a woman as she is, Linda never thinks twice about lending a hand, offering expertise, or simply stopping to see how her CSMs’ days are going.

Congratulations Linda!

Posted on

2017 CSMs of the Year

Successful Meetings‘ Convention Services Manager of the Year award winners have demonstrated to the most demanding critics in the business – meeting planners – their ability to provide the highest level of service.  ESPA partners with Successful Meetings to review applicants and select the winners of this prestigious honor.

2017 Recipients:

Hotel – Todd Donofrio, Meeting and Convention Services Manager, Omni William Penn Hotel & Resort


CVB – Bill Behrens, CMP, CTA, Director, Convention Services, Experience Columbus


Convention Center – Tyler DeBella CMP, CTA, Account Executive, Baltimore Convention Center

 

Posted on

Heard it from Planner Angie Ahrens, CMP, Director of Meetings & Events, Connect (formerly Collinson Media & Events)

Q: How can a facility or hotel truly WOW you? Please give examples….
A: Not only work with me, but also with my team. Many times, the professionals I work with are absolutely fantastic and overwhelmingly generous with their service towards me. But those who go above and beyond, treating my team the same way, really helps me build the morale and team work that is needed at events. Having supplies (beyond just a box of tape and cards) available for early teams is amazing. One destination went so far beyond the basics by providing a television for those long hours in the staff office, candy, even a stability ball for us to use so we had options. It is something I’ll always remember (the stability ball is currently in my office as my chair!) and appreciate.
Q: What are the top three things as a planner that you expect or need from your CVB, Hotel or Center services manager (specific services):
A:
1. Site Visit Coordination, including a city tour with not only sales, but my services manager too.
2. Communication. Getting their contact information early (email, number, etc.) and letting me know how they respond and communicate best is always ideal.
3. An Open Mind. It is great to know what has been done in the past, as it may work best. But sometimes there are new ideas that we, as planners, can spark in you as well. This is where the honest feedback comes in, to see how we can make it the best event your city/hotel/center has ever had, in addition to our best event.

Posted on

Heard it from Planner Robert J. Donovan, Senior Director, Meeting & Travel Services, AMERICAN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

Q: What is something that an Event Service Professional has done, or does regularly, that you love or value greatly?
I worked with a [CSM] once who anticipated our every need and took the initiative to correct the problems. Typical encounters were: “I just learned your CEO will need a late check-out…I’ve taken care of it” or “Your breakout room isn’t big enough now…we’ve moved it to a bigger room and have let everyone know”. Nothing better than having problems solved before you hear about them.
Q: What key attributes, qualities or skills are you looking for in your Event Services Representative?
A: 1) Clearly he/she must be extremely organized and able to multi-task. 2) Also resourcefulness and the ability to solve problems are of the utmost importance. 3) To me, perhaps the most important attribute is “grace under fire”. Your motto should be, “Never let ‘em see you sweat!”

Posted on

Heard if from Planner Bridget A. Robinson, CMP, Director, National Convention & Meetings, The American Legion National Headquarters

Q: What is something that an Event Service Professional has done, or does regularly, that you love or value greatly?

A: Just being present on-site during the event and being available is crucial. This creates trust between the client/vendor.

Additionally, making the client feel at home. I am away from home for 22 straight days every August. Making my staff and I feel comfortable is important. Whether it is saying hello every day to us, providing a special “pin of privileges,” giving framed pictures of our loved ones or just getting to know us on a more personal level is always valued and appreciated.

Likewise, being accountable for mistakes (if we aren’t making mistakes then one isn’t learning), touching base each day on-site and being responsive throughout the entire nine months of pre-planning are all contributing factors that lead to the overall success of our National Convention. As I like to say, each train car needs to be rolling down the same track. There may be stops along the way or detours but it eventually finds its way back to the main track.

Lastly, subsequent to the event, keeping in touch truly sets the CSMs apart and shows they cared.

Posted on

ESPA Launches Accessibility Toolkit for Venues

New Resource Makes Hospitality ‘Hospitable’ For People with Disabilities

If you were asked by a client…

Do you know which all-night pharmacy is closest to your hotel?

Does your convention center have an emergency Epi-Pen and someone who knows how to use it?

How do you make your event accessible to all?

ESPA has created “Project Access: Accessible Meetings FAQs,” a downloadable resource form that hotels, convention centers, CVBs and other destinations and venues can customize with their accessibility information and branding to provide to meeting planners.

The checklists are designed sequentially, from a guest’s arrival at a destination airport, to ground transportation, lodging, meeting venues and offsite venues. There is also a resource list that DMOs can customize to fill in state and local agencies. The toolkit was created with the input of ESPA members who work in convention and visitors bureaus, hotels and convention centers, along with contributions from meeting planners.

Download a copy and implement it in your venue or city!

The Accessibility FAQs toolkit is readily available to all ESPA members on the members-only web site. Just log in to My ESPA Portal. Non-members can email info@espaonline.org to receive a copy.