E D U C AT I O N I N B U S I N E S S E V E N T S + T E C H N O LO GY + L E A D E R S H I P + D E S T I N AT I O N S + M E E T I N G D E S I G N +
MARCH.APRIL 2016
KEEPING UP WITH THE
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Set your sights on the centre of Canada where a new Winnipeg has come into focus. With sweeping views from the newly-expanded RBC Convention Centre, a vision for a brighter future at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, and panoramas of playful polar bears at the Journey to Churchill, we have eye-catching venues for any occasion. To book your next convention please call Tourism Winnipeg 1.855.PEG.CITY (734.2489) or visit meetingswinnipeg.com
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WINNIPEG ONE OF THE 20 BEST TRIPS IN 2016
- National Geographic Traveler Magazine
16-03-21 3:10 PM
y
re 6)
+CONTENTS features In Depth
26
HARDWIRED
KEEPING UP WITH
How to create no-cost infographics
BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA
35
CANADA UPDATE
30
THE DOWN DOLLAR How planners are dealing with the Loonie’s decline against the greenback BY JUDY WILLIAMS & LORI SMITH
47
Destination
DUBAI Discovering the UAE city’s plan to win more MC&IT business BY LORI SMITH
columns 13
LEADERSHIP
After 20 years NMID is going global
BY LORI SMITH
16
THE SUPPLY SIDE
Whistler gets sustainability certification; St. Catharines’s cultural complex opens; JW Marriott slated for Edmonton; and more
BY LORI SMITH
40
CUISCENE
New proteins are catching on with groups BY DON DOULOFF
54
NEXTGEN
Meet Sean Hoff, Managing Partner, Moniker
AS TOLD TO CHRISTINE OTSUKA
departments
Automated RFPs are efficient but are they effective
6
What’s new on meetingscanada.com
BY ALLAN LYNCH
10
Editor’s Comment
19
CRITICAL PATH
12 Feedback
Redstone Agency’s first six months in business
51 Snapped
BY BAILEY ROTH and CARLY SILBERSTEIN
22
MEETING DESIGN
Klick’s experiment in inspiration
BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA
.
16
35 57
19
47 MEETINGSCANADA.COM
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2016-03-23 12:24 PM
what's new on
news
renos
GMIC Merges with CIC The Green Meeting Industry Council’s merger with the Convention Industry Council will allow it to reach a wider audience and open its doors
PAN PACIFIC VANCOUVER COMPLETES UPDATE
and assets to the full industry. It also demonstrates the
trends
HOTELS
importance of collaboration in a crowded marketplace.
Online Exclusive
MARRIOTT’S FIVE KEY MEETING TRENDS
ALHI ADDS PARIS Properties
DEALING WITH THE ZIKA VIRUS The mosquito-borne
blog
Tara Wylie, CMP “Meet, Eat, Drink: Cambridge Mill Restaurant”
New blog! Meet, Eat, Drink blends meeting space review with f&b tasting. Interested in contributing? Email: lsmith@meetingscanada.com.
Zika Virus has spread to parts of the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. M+IT looks at how it’s
Listen in on the conversation or better yet, join in! Follow us on Twitter for the latest breaking industry news and updates @MeetingsCanada 6
View and share event photos, ask for advice from other planners and suppliers or react to industry headlines on our Facebook page (facebook.com/MeetingsCanada)
impacting programs and provides links to essential resources.
MEETINGSCANADA.COM
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2016-03-23 10:30 AM
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WHAT’S MAKING YOU HAPPY?
VOLUME 45, NUMBER 2 MARCH.APRIL 2016
Managing Director R O B IN PA IS LE Y 416.510.5141 robin@newcom.ca
“Jess Walter’s novel Beautiful Ruins. Spanning 40 years and set in Hollywood and Italy, it covers love, loss, fame, failure redemption. Perfect!” and
“Spring cleaning! It energizes me.”
EDITORIAL Editor 416.442.5600 x3254
LO R I S MIT H, CIS
Associate Editor 416.442.5600 x3255
CHR IST IN E OTS U KA
lsmith@meetingscanada.com
cotsuka@meetingscanada.com
“GT’s Organic and Raw Gingerberry Kombucha – my favourite fizzy pick-me-up, that’s good for you too!”
ART “Taking my dog Max for a leisurely walk.”
Art Director 416.442.5600 x3590
ELLIE ROBINSON ellie@newcom.ca
SALES International Business A LA N N A MCQ UA ID Development Manager amcquaid@meetingscanada.com 416.510.5144 “Road salt-free walks with Advertising and MA R K KE LLY Marketing Consultant mkelly@meetingscanada.com “Beautiful spring tulips 416.510.5199 make me happy”
my canine kids— Raleigh and Wallace!!”
INCENTIVEWORKS
Event Coordinator 416.442.5600 x3213
ST E P HA N IE RA P KO, CMP srapko@meetingscanada.com
“Having the windows open in my stuffy apartment – the sound of the city is calming and helps me sleep. Spring is here!”
Event Manager S IM FRAYN E 416.510.6867 sfrayne@meetingscanada.com Event Coordinator MEG A N ME HLE N BACHE R “Spending quality time 416.510.6819 meganm@newcom.ca with people I love.”
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Don Douloff, Allan Lynch, Bailey Roth, Carly Silberstein, Judy Williams
NEWCOM BUSINESS MEDIA Vice-President + General Manager
JOE GLIONNA
President
JIM GLIONNA
CIRCULATION + PRODUCTION + ONLINE Circulation Manager MA RY G A RU F I 416.442.5600 x3545
mary@newcom.ca
Production Manager (Print & Online) 416.510.6779
KIMB E R LY CO L L I N S kim@newcom.ca
Meetings + Incentive Travel (M+IT) magazine receives unsolicited features and materials (including letters to the editor) from time to time. M+IT, its affiliates and assignees may use, reproduce, publish, re-publish, distribute, store and archive such submissions in whole or in part in any form or medium whatsoever, without compensation of any sort. MAIL PREFERENCES: Occasionally we make our subscriber list available to reputable companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Phone: 1-800-668-2374, Fax: 416-442-2191, E-Mail: privacyofficer@annexnewcom.ca, SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: Canada $77.95 per year, Outside Canada $108.00 US per year, Single Copy Canada $13.00, Buyers Guide $60.95. HST #10386 2405 RT0001. Meetings + Incentive Travel is published 6 times per year except for occasional combined, expanded or premium issues, which count as two subscription issues. Meetings + Incentive Travel is indexed in the Canadian Business Index and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. Contents Copyright Newcom Business Media. Canada Post — Canadian publications Mail Sales Product Agreement 40069240 ISSN No. 0225-8285 (Print) ISSN No. 1929-6428 (Online). 80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON M3B 2S9. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
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MEETINGSCANADA.COM
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True MariTiMe HospiTaliTy Experience the best of Canada’s east coast. Make the most of your business travel with an incredible variety of meeting spaces and specials. Explore ‘not to miss’ features from the famous Prince Edward Island beaches to standing over the mighty Miramichi River, you’ll find a hotel or resort that best fits your needs.
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Client: Rodd Resorts
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+EDITOR’SCOMMENT
WHAT’S NEXT?
COMING NEXT ISSUE
The 2016 M+IT Salary Survey Report, one of the industry’s must-reads plus a look at why Europe is on the rebound with incentive travel groups, and how to be more productive.
Congratulations to IncentiveWorks’ event coordinator Stephanie Rapko, CMP, who was named MPI Toronto’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year! Way to go Steph! We’re proud of you!
On April 14th National Meetings Industry Day (NMID) celebrates its 20th anniversary. As you’ll see when you read the Leadership column in this issue, its formation is owed to a group of event professionals, who were inspired—and determined—to create an event that would elevate the industry in the eyes of government and business. However, the day’s continued success is due to the legions of planners and suppliers who have organized, supported and attended NMID events for all the years since. Last year, our NMID was adopted in the United States and Mexico and morphed into North America Meetings Industry Day. This year it has achieved another milestone: it will be celebrated by Meeting Professional International (MPI) chapters around the world. The launch of Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) is something the Canadian meetings community has a right to be very proud of. There are other accomplishments too. The MPI Foundation Canada developed and fielded the first three editions of the ground-breaking Canadian Economic Impact Study (CEIS). Now, the Business Events Industry Coalition of Canada (BEICC) has taken the CEIS reins and is working with Ryerson University on the fourth edition. This survey and resulting report have become templates for other planning communities seeking to demonstrate the industry’s value to their respective governments. The last two decades have also seen strides made in the area of event education
and certification. More companies are requiring that event planning job candidates have the appropriate degree or certificate. And the Certified Meeting Planner (CMP) and Certificate in Meeting Management (CMM) are being given greater respect as professional designations. These achievements and the generation of planners who created, implemented and drove their success should be celebrated. They gave (and still give) enormous amounts of time and energy to better the industry. But, though the industry has come a long way in 20 years, there is still a lot of work to be done to reach the goals set out in 1997. The 2008-09 recession revealed a government and business readiness to cutback on meetings and eliminate planner jobs because it was perceived that the work could be easily outsourced or handled off the side of someone else’s desk. The downturn also demonstrated how ready the media is to vilify an industry it still doesn’t understand—a lack of understanding shared by the general public. In addition, the industry still struggles to make many CEOs understand the real ROI of meetings and events. NMID and the CEIS were—and are— transformative. What’s next?
LORI SMITH EDITOR lsmith@meetingscanada.com
M+IT EDITORIAL MANDATE Meetings industry and travel publications are often offered free FAM trips, accommodations and gifts. M+IT magazine only accepts those that will be featured in the magazine or online through editorial content. Destinations are chosen through reader surveys and market research. 10
MEETINGSCANADA.COM
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+FEEDBACK I’ve just read the J a n u a r y. F e b r u a r y issue—great job, as usual—and can’t help but respond to the Q&A with Matthew LeBlanc on page 46 [NextGen column]. “I am a man and I like to plan a party. Is that strange?” Hell, no! The skills required to kick out a great event aren’t gender based. What IS strange is that someone who wants to be thought of as a professional—indeed, someone already employed as an Events Officer by a major Canadian not-for-profit organization—would refer to himself as a party planner. Among my planner peers, the term “party planner” elicits a knee-jerk reaction. The phrase denigrates the value event managers bring to the organizations for which they work. It belittles the contribution we make to enabling the exchange of ideas, the dissemination of information, and the importance of connecting people. Even when the objective of the event we deliver is to celebrate, labelling the organizer a party planner dismisses the notion that there should still be objectives, processes, and measurable outcomes for the event. I’ve been referred to as a party planner by C-suite executives who hired me into director-level positions. (Yes, I’ve set them straight every time.) So, it’s even more disappointing to see that term used by one of our own. If Mr. LeBlanc wants others to take him seriously, I suggest he use language that indicates he respects his own profession. EDUCATION IN BUSINESS EVENTS + TECHNOLOGY + PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT + DESTINATIONS + REWARDS +
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Helen Van Dongen, CMP, CMM Editor’s reply: Thank you for the feedback on the NextGen column. Personally, I read it as tongue-in-cheek comment. However, I’m now wondering if there’s a (planner) generational/gender difference of opinions. Hmmm…. I will send your letter to Matt for a reply. Helen’s reply to Editor: My suspicion is that women get painted as “party planners”
where men might not. I wonder whether Matt’s ever been on the receiving end of that pejorative. Should be fun to find out! Matthew LeBlanc’s reply: I certainly did not intend to belittle my profession with that comment. My approach to answering the questions was light-hearted and directed mainly (and perhaps incorrectly) to my peers in the industry who understand exactly what the work is really about. The comment that “I like to plan a party” was indeed intended to be cheeky, and not at all a reflection of what I actually do. Had I known the line would be separated from the full response and placed at the top of the page in big, bold text, I would have given the wording a little more consideration. I am grateful for Helen’s insight, as it had not occurred to me. I generally don’t concern myself with how my job is perceived by those outside of the industry. Perhaps my gender is a big reason for that, as I don’t often find myself struggling to be taken seriously. The people I work closely with see the work I do and appreciate it. I am lucky to have worked under true event professionals and have not yet been in the position to have to defend the complexity of event planning and the skills required for this type of work. Blame my ignorance not just on my gender, but also on my “NextGen-ness.” If I had Helen’s experience, I might not be so quick to make the same kind of comment, and I certainly will be more thoughtful about how I portray my work in future. Just as Helen pointed out, I must wonder if the struggle to be taken seriously is more of a reflection of the challenges faced by women (being a majority in the field) in the workplace over the years, rather than a reflection of many people’s misunderstanding of the profession. As time passes, gender is becoming much less of a consideration in many aspects of life. And cheers to that! Matthew LeBlanc M+IT welcomes letters to the editor. Please send your comments to Lori Smith, editor, lsmith@meetingscanada.com
www.cranberryvillage.ca 12
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+LEADERSHIP
NMID TURNS
20
Independent planner Louisa Davis remembers the day National Meetings Industry Day was born. It was at a gathering of the Canadian Council of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) at Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, she says. The year was probably 1997, maybe 1996. She was president of the Montreal chapter of MPI. The Council was comprised of the chapter presidents and a few others. Rita Plaskett, CMP, CMM, Diane Stefaniak and Marsha Jones, CMP, CMM from Toronto were there. As was Fiona Marshall White from Vancouver. “We split into groups to talk about particular issues and initiatives that had come up,” Davis recalls. “I had a flip chart and we were in a little team of three or four people. I do mind mapping and had mind mapped what people were saying. We initially called it the government advocacy program. I had drawn a Canadian maple leaf with the word GAP in the middle on the flipboard. We laughed and decided the acronym GAP would not be a good thing. Eventually, as we discussed it, it turned into National Meetings Industry Day.” According to Davis, there was also talk about doing an economic impact study. Planners felt government and key policy decision-makers didn’t understand the impact of the meetings and convention sector on the economy. We were a driven little team, she says. And so, at the tip of a red felt marker NMID came into being. However, Davis’s account is not the only story about the beginning of NMID. In response to an article about NMID in the Winter 2004 MPI Communique, Irene Davidson Fisher penned a letter on behalf of the Greater Edmonton MPI chapter explaining that it had created National Meetings Industry Day and that the Canadian Council had simply implemented a mandate for chapters across the country to celebrate it “on
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BY LORI SMITH
CANADA’S NMID IS GROWN-UP AND GOING GLOBAL. HOW—AND WHY—DID IT GET STARTED? MEETINGSCANADA.COM
13
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+LEADERSHIP NMID MILESTONES 1997 | National Meetings Industry Day Initiated across Canada
2013 | MPI’s Canadian Chapters receive MPI RISE Award for Community Achievement and Ideas in honour of developing NMID 2015 | The United States and Mexico initiate NMID celebrations and the day is renamed North American Meetings Industry Day
2016 | MPI Chapters around the world initiate NMID celebrations and GMID—Global Meetings Industry Day—is born
or about the same month.” Davidson Fisher said that the initiative started in Edmonton with the local chapter receiving municipal recognition for meeting professionals. “Each year we had a special event where the City of Edmonton presented a certificate of proclamation,” she wrote. “This grew to having provincial representation.” Chapter representatives sitting on the Canadian Council were interested in the concept, which was tabled and then taken back to the other chapters. “It was about three years later, when I became Edmonton’s Canadian Council representative, [that] we developed 14
an advocacy plan. That plan was to encourage the members across Canada to become more interested and involved with the various levels of government and engage their support for the industry,” she explained. “This led to Canadian Council adopting the idea of Edmonton’s Meeting Professionals Day to raise awareness of the value that meetings play in the Canadian economy at the local, provincial and national levels of government. This then became National Meetings industry Day.” Only at first glance are these two accounts at odds with each other. Clearly something or some things inspired the Canadian Council to implement National Meetings Industry Day. It could well have been the Edmonton chapter’s initiative. In addition, MPI members in the United States had staged their own version of a “Walk on Washington” around 1995. Its goal was to make government aware of the economic impact of the industry. Was it a spark as well? Unfortunately, time has dimmed memories and determining the exact sequence of events is difficult. However, after talking to many people, I know the following to be true: by the mid-1990s, planners were tired of having their profession misunderstood and denigrated. They were frustrated with the lack of respect the industry received. And more than a few of them were mad as hell and determined to change things. Roni Feldman, CMM, DCMP, tells me that at the time a number of senior planners were “really, really frustrated with the fact that the government and the public had no respect or knowledge or inclination to learn about the value of the industry to the economy.” A portion of that frustration came from being lumped in
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with hospitality and tourism by government at all levels. “We always got the leftover minister and by the time that minister learned what the industry was about they moved him somewhere else. We were totally disrespected,” she says. An additional issue, Feldman explains, is that meetingplanning was not being recognized as a professional industry. “There were people [planners] doing things in companies that their bosses didn’t understand. We had to validate that it was a real industry as opposed to just an add-on, call up a hotel sort of thing. In my mind, those were the clear objectives: to get the industry recognized for its economic impact and planning meeting and events recognized as a valid profession. We needed to bring everybody in the industry together and get the media and politicians out and say, ‘Hello! Here we are.’” Davis also emphasizes the importance placed on bringing the industry together. She says that at the time Canada was the “I” in MPI. “We were the US’s second cousin. There was a feeling that issues like tax legislation, which only impacted Canadian planners, wouldn’t be addressed by MPI headquarters. We wanted to be working on behalf of Canadian interests.” To do so effectively, all the associations had to unite. Though she didn’t become involved with NMID until 2000, Katherine Wright, CMP, CMM, agrees. “We needed to present a united front and have some sort of national representation of the industry. To make our voices heard we couldn’t just be the 300
members of MPI Toronto or the 40 members of CanSPEP or 30 members of SITE—whatever the membership numbers were at that time. We had to unite these siloed groups.” National Meetings Industry Day was an opportunity for the industry to address issues, politicians and media together. I ask Davis how it feels to see NMID go global. She replies that it’s cool that something written in red felt marker on a flipboard 20 years ago could turn into something like this. But she points out that to survive and thrive NMID has needed the blood, sweat and tears of huge numbers of engaged, active volunteers; lots of fundraising; and the support and involvement of MPI Foundation. Feldman concurs. “There was Rita Plaskett, Ron Cameron, Leslie Wright, Sandy Biback—people who’d been in the industry for awhile. I’m incredibly proud of everybody that was involved and continues to be involved.” Davis also notes that from the beginning it’s been a mix of young and seasoned industry members—energy and experience—that has propelled NMID forward. Has NMID achieved the objectives set out 20 years ago? I ask Feldman. She thinks for a minute and then explains that it’s met one of its objectives. “[Meeting planning] is now validated as a professional job and it has more respect than it’s ever had. As far as recognizing the economic impact, I think we still have a way to go.” Editor’s Note: Leadership will return to its regular format and authors next issue.
Do you have NMID memories/opinions that you’d like to share? Email Lori Smith, Editor at lsmith@meetingscanada.com. We’ll post them online at meetingscanada.com.
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+THESUPPLYSIDE
ASSESSING RFPS
Automated requests for proposals are efficient for planners, but are they effective? BY ALLAN LYNCH Is the business of meeting planning merely about rates, dates and space? That’s what automated RFPs (request for proposal) seem to have reduced the sector to. While suppliers understand the convenience for planners, they’re frustrated by the limitations automated RFPs place on their ability to bid. Suppliers aren’t allowed to know the customer, understand the purpose of the event or offer budgetboosting suggestions. As one sales director said, “I think it is a real shame from the customer perspective that they are not allowing the hotel to understand the ‘need behind the need’ of an event and therefore, making hotels quote ‘vanilla’ proposals as opposed to creative ones.” While the automated RFPs may be efficient for planners, they’re the opposite for suppliers. Because the RFP has another layer of eyes on it, suppliers see a trend to shorter response deadlines, which isn’t necessarily respectful of the seller’s time. Caroline Langelier, director of sales at the Quebec City Business Destination, says they get RFPs that have as little as oneand two-day turnarounds. To manage this, Langelier’s office has a full-time staff person monitoring RFPs from receipt to distribution to partners and partner 16
responses. They do this through a newly developed extranet that allows clients to target their RFP to particular suppliers, for example, four-star, city-centre properties. Langelier says the beauty of this system’s monitoring is that RFPs don’t go to a dead email address or land on the desk of someone on a prolonged sales trip. It allows colleagues to step in to avoid a business loss due to something as preventable as a missed deadline. Glenn Bowie, sales director for New Castle Hotels in Halifax, (they have six city-based and resort properties in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick) like many of his sales colleagues across Canada, says automated RFPs are frustrating and, in his opinion, don’t satisfy the needs of planners. “One of the big killers for us is the time it takes to fill them out. They’re all laid out differently,” he explains. As a result, it can take several hours to slot in responses. He also says that they take the personality and opportunity for personalization from the process. “Generally, [an automated RFP] says do not call the customer; do not call us. We can’t find out what’s important to the customer and can’t personalize the RFP to the group. So, we just have to answer rates, dates and space. Not having the ability to personalize
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the RFP hurts us. For instance, if a facility knows that all that matters is price, then they can cut out some things and work on price. But for a lot of groups the most important thing is to have a really successful meeting and take really great care of a component of their meeting. Unfortunately we don’t know that so we can’t create that dream event.” Bowie also says that he would love to see planners and third parties use one agreedupon format so that hotels can better understand the needs of groups and events and thus provide better information to them. “I also think that if a third party or company doesn’t want to be contacted by hotels they should give a lot more information so that the hotel can create a better proposal,” he adds. Loren Christie, sales leader, Business and Leisure Sales, Starwood Toronto Metro Market, says some clients who use an automated RFP also use several traditional sources like their national sales rep and CVBs. “Sometimes the information on the automated RFP is different than the one we get through the sales rep or CVB.” On top of that, issuers expect a separate response to each version of
the same RFP. “I get that automated RFPs are helpful and make life easier in terms of the client speed, but for us, you’re basically reducing salespeople to order takers. So the emotional connection or developing a relationship is eliminated and you just become a response on a spreadsheet,” says Christie. He adds that one of the challenges he finds with automated RFPs is that they frequently only allow for yes and no answers. “Often there are options and discussions to be had that could really work as solutions. But, if you don’t have the opportunity to do that you’re forced into giving an answer that might take you off the table when in fact you have a really good [alternative] option.” The irony is that a sector, which prides itself on creativity, budget wizardry and ability to provide a bespoke program that maximizes return on investment (ROI), is shifting to a generic process that doesn’t recognize the primary supplier’s potential to contribute more than space. Allan Lynch is a freelance journalist based in New Minas, Nova Scotia. He writes extensively about the business events industry.
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Chairman of mpi Foundation Canadian Council 2015–2016
For Trevor Lui, puTTing on a greaT evenT is more Than jusT a job. iT’s a passion. As the Director of Operations and Sustainability, Trevor is committed to the success of the over 500 events hosted each year at The International Centre. “We attend to every detail from crisp linens, to the perfect temperature and even that special Tweet.” They say that you are only as good as your last event and with an endless calendar, you better love what you do. His expertise is in hospitality, event management and sustainability but his true strength, however, is the relationships he has with his team, with his partners and with his clients. “We’re a family. People come to us because we make it happen and we’ll do whatever it takes.”
Follow us!
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where
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+ CRITICALPATH
BUILDING A FOUNDATION Redstone Agency’s first six months in business BY BAILEY ROTH AND CARLY SILBERSTEIN
So you’ve decided to start your own event planning business. Like us, you probably have thousands of ideas popping into your head at all hours of the day, sometimes even in the middle of the night. Some of the best ideas come to people at the most inconvenient times—be sure to keep a pen and paper close by (or download your favourite note-taking app) so you can jot these ideas down. It’s great to have creative and fresh ideas, but how do you know if your ideas will turn into a profitable and successful business? How do you demonstrate your value? How much money do you need to invest in your dream and how long will it take to “make it”? Most importantly, where will you find your clients? We believe that the first six months are critical for planning. We’re going to explore these questions as we tackled them over the first six months. YOUR VALUE PROPOSITION Are you planning to offer a service that doesn’t exist, or is it a variation of a service that is already available in market? It is always beneficial if you can differentiate yourself and your company ©dane_mark/iStock
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in a way that is relevant and trendy. In events, people are always looking to do something new, so be sure to stay on top of the most current trends so your company stays relevant and ahead of the industry standard. Maybe there is nothing new about the service you offer, but YOU are the value that makes your company unique. You must be able to tell people what makes you different, why they should hire you, and what your company stands for and does. This is your value proposition. BUSINESS PARTNER OR JOURNEY IT ALONE? Starting a business is a big risk, which takes a lot of time, patience and resources. This may include financial resources, depending on what you are hoping to accomplish. It is important to evaluate your situation right now, as well as your personal goals for the future. Are you hoping to have a large family? Are you financially able to make the commitment? Do you have the skills needed to run the business you’d like to start, and if not, are you able to learn these new skills? Maybe it makes sense to consider starting your business with a partner. Is there an individual that has complementary skills that MEETINGSCANADA.COM
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+ CRITICALPATH you trust and respect? We get asked all the time how we knew that partnering in our business was the right decision. The answer for us was simple: we trust each other and we have a deep respect for one another. Honesty is incredibly important, and when we have disagreements, we discuss them at length until they are resolved. Partnership is like marriage. Trust, honesty and communication are the most important components. If you choose to start your business with a partner, make sure they are the right person. HOW MUCH MONEY DO I NEED? This is, of course, a loaded question. Let’s start by exploring what the priorities are for your company. What do you need to have in order to provide the value you are offering in your value proposition? It is important to differentiate between what you need to be successful, and what you want, or what the company can do without, within the first six months. For example, it might be nice to have a new, lightweight MacBook Pro, but will you be able to deliver the same level of service with a heavier or older PC? We mentioned in our last column that many companies fail because they don’t budget themselves enough time to succeed. Make sure your timeline for success is realistic. If you’re hoping to have a wildly successful business in six months to one year, you may get lucky and accomplish your goal, but you may also need to face reality and give yourself a little more time. Another question to consider, if and when the money
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# starts rolling in, is whether you pay yourself right away or invest the revenue back into your company. Make sure when you plan your company’s budget and finances, you are keeping all your short- and long-term goals in mind. Look at your budget at minimum every three months and make adjustments as necessary. NOW, WHERE ARE THE CLIENTS? Ideally, you want to spend the first six to eight months in business filling your business pipeline, and you want to fill it with work that will keep you busy for the next two or three years. Spend the time now, when you still have it, nurturing relationships that you already have and making new ones. If you are fortunate enough to start with a client or two, or someone gives you an opportunity early on, be sure to keep them a priority. Word of mouth and repeat business are the easiest ways to secure new business. If you are having trouble filling your pipeline, make some tweaks and revise your strategy. Bailey Roth and Carly Silberstein are the co-founders of Redstone Agency, an event and association management company headquartered in Toronto, Canada and operating internationally. redstoneagency.ca
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#myphx
This is the moment it felt like you were exactly where you were supposed to be. You wouldn’t have guessed it. But you’ll never forget it.
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+MEETINGDESIGN
MUSE TORONTO
AN EXPERIMENT IN INSPIRATION BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA
When Klick, a digital services agency in Toronto,
wanted to introduce themselves to the marketing, advertising and digital health world, they decided to go big or go home. They invited 1,400 industry influencers, movers and shakers to what they deemed an “experiment;” the intersection of creativity, art, science and technology would converge in MUSE Toronto, a night of A-list speakers, thought leaders, world-class food and entertainment. And all to say, “we’re here, and we’re a little bit different.” The event, held at the Carlu in downtown Toronto had an air of mystery. Guests checked-in on iPads and were escorted in elevators by finely dressed ushers whose sole purpose was to guide you to a reception already in full swing. Partygoers imbibed on signature cocktails and noshed on passed apps. There were no printed agendas, adding to the mystery of what would happen next and when. Two rooms provided comfortable seating, high-tops for mingling, and a virtual reality demonstration. Guests awaited the opening of the main room where a carefully curated list of speakers like author Margaret Atwood and film director David Cronenberg would soon speak, but not before the inspiring Adrianne Haslet-Davis, the ballroom dancing Boston Marathon bombing survivor,
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would bring the room to tears. This thoughtful mix of inspiring speakers who could have made the grade at any TED conference were punctuated by entertainers, beatboxers, a jazz pianist and mentalist Bobby Motta. Meanwhile, everything on the main stage was simulcast throughout the entire venue. What was noticeably absent was the pitch. Nowhere in the course of the night was Klick front and centre. There were no promo videos about the services they provide. No plugs, no kudos, nothing. Instead guests were treated to a meaningful experience, left feeling rejuvenated and wondering what it was all for and who made it happen. And this end game is exactly what the Klick team wanted to accomplish. When I spoke to Klick’s senior vice-president of client experience Peter Flaschner, he explained how this all came to be. Bored with the traditional marketing event with the usual suspects—round tables, boring speakers and bad food—he and his colleagues thought there had to be a better way. “People come to events for two reasons; to get inspired, to get out of the office, to feel that lift and to reconnect with people and connect with new people. So we thought what if we created an event that did just that.” It’s what Flaschner and his team have
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+MEETINGDESIGN
Photos: Klick Inc.
dubbed “an experiment.” And it’s been an unquestionable success. The MUSE concept was executed successfully in Boston, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia. And even though Klick has an office of 560 in Toronto, because most of their work is done in the US, Torontonians had yet to meet Klick. “MUSE was an opportunity for us to introduce ourselves to the advertising and marketing world, both as a coming out and as positioning to say we’re here and we’re a little bit different than the rest of you. And we felt an event was the best way to make that brand experience and that difference be felt.” Sarah Jacobs, director of events for Klick says that every aspect of the event emulated the Klick brand, from the couches and coffee tables to the salon-style theatre and the lighting and food. “It goes back to that brand of we do stuff differently, we create stuff differently, we design stuff differently, and all of that is highlighted through every single event element.” But MUSE wasn’t just an exercise in branding and brand positioning, it served as a tool for long-term talent acquisition or future “Klicksters.” With a targeted audience of Toronto’s marketing and advertising community, they’ve had tremendous interest in working for Klick since
the event was held back in December. “I walked away with a pocketful of business cards from people asking if we are hiring because they want to be a part of this,” says Flaschner. If you’re thinking that producing an event of this scale is an expensive recruiting tool, Flaschner challenges you to look at the numbers. Klick has grown at a rate of 40 per cent a year for the last 18 years, and hopes to move the needle from 560 employees to 800 by the end of 2016, which can be difficult and expensive to do when you’re after seniorlevel hires. Flaschner says when you compare the cost of a headhunter (multiplied by 200) against the cost of the MUSE Toronto event, they still come out eons ahead. What’s perhaps most incredible is that producing events like MUSE in the US and in Toronto has opened up an additional offering for their clients. Since they’ve created such inspiring events, several large pharmaceutical companies and associations have asked them to create events for them, opening up an additional revenue stream for Klick. It may not have been what they intended but you can’t get a much bigger ringing endorsement than that. Experiment, no longer. MUSE is a full-blown success.
On The Menu Passed Hors d’Oeuvres Ginger and Marscarpone Crab Cakes with Avocado Yoghurt, Cherry Snapper Fish Tacos, Crispy Chicken & Leek Potsticker with Pickled Ginger Gonzu, Grilled Cheese on Brioche with Caramelized Onion Puree Main Slider Food Station, Pad Thai Station, Market Salad Station Dessert Gourmet Paletas (peppermint, eggnog, cookies and cream, sangria), Two-foot High Macaroon Towers, Artisan Donuts and Artisan Chocolate Bark Collection Food: Oliver & Bonacini at the Carlu; Dessert: Nadia & Co.
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t’s been an exciting year in Scottsdale, with several of the city’s most popular meeting-centric resorts undergoing multi-million dollar makeovers. Here’s a quick look at what’s new for groups in Scottsdale. The Boulders Resort & Spa (above and left) celebrated its 30th anniversary with a property-wide renovation that included the Main Lodge, Palo Verde restaurant and all 160 casitas. In addition, the revamped Latilla Ballroom now offers 5,620 square feet of meeting and function space, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a spacious outdoor patio with an adobe wood-burning fireplace. Come summer 2016, the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess will boast an additional 102 guest rooms, including three luxury suites, for a total of 750 guest rooms. Other property upgrades include the 6,900-square-foot Sunset Beach pool, which features an expansive white sand beach and swim-up bar.
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At The Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch, formerly the Scottsdale Resort & Conference Center, a $9 million renovation included upgrades to the property’s 60,000 square feet of meeting space and a new 10,000-square-foot lawn function space with capacity for up to 1,200 guests. Chaparral Suites Scottsdale will debut in 2016 under the Embassy Suites flag. As part of the transformation, the property is undergoing a $20 million, top-to-bottom renovation that includes all guest rooms and public spaces, as well as the property’s 50,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. At Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, a $10 million renovation included the debut of mountainside Camelback Casitas
and Camelback Suites, and Spa House, a wellness retreat for small groups. Finally, we’ll leave you with a sneak peek at two of the city’s newest gems. The Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Spa (left), slated to open in September 2016, will offer 201 guest rooms, a luxurious spa and 20,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting and event space. And in 2017, Mountain Shadows Resort will debut with 183 rooms and suites, 28,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, and a newly enhanced 18-hole golf course. Contact the destination experts at the Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau for more information and to start planning your next successful program today.
800-782-1117 www.MeetinScottsdale.com
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+HARDWIRED
DO-IT-YOURSELF DESIGN Creating No-Cost Infographics BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA In an increasingly noisy online world, event planners have to do more to reach their audience and attendees. Visual mediums are becoming even more important as people have shorter attention spans and are much more likely to skim an email or webpage rather than read from start to finish. Infographics can add value to your online content by getting the point across in a fun, and sometimes interactive, way. The problem is creating infographics can be intimidating, and until recently, very difficult to create. But there are free tools out there that will help you design high-quality graphs that you can use in your email marketing and online. Over the past year, I’ve tried out a couple of different tools to create infographics, but one came out on top—Piktochart. I used the free version of Piktochart last year to create an infographic for our website. I had some leftover data from our annual compensation study, the 2015 Salary Survey, and since numbers and text can be boring for readers, I thought I’d take a stab at creating something a little more aesthetically pleasing. Enter Piktochart, an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop tool that introduced me to do-it-yourself design. It’s the Canva of infographics. (Canva is a free DIY graphic design tool featured in the September. October 2015 issue of M+IT. Check it out in our digital archives). First, select whether you want to create a standard infographic or one optimized for a presentation or report. Next, choose from a selection of stunning free templates that do the design work for you. Choose your background, upload photos or logos, select icons from their library, add text, shapes, lines and numbers or go the heavy-duty route and opt for charts and maps. When you’re happy with your design, you can download it for free, which is critical. Some free tools on the web let you use their program for free, until you go to download your design, which is frustrating since you’ve already invested your time! One thing to note is the free version of Piktochart lets you download moderate resolution inforgraphics (like the one at right), but if you want a high-resolution version, it’s best to upgrade. It’s $29 a month on an annual basis for the pro version, which eliminates the Piktochart watermark, gives you access to all templates and lets you download high-res infographics and high-quality PDF reports. Some key features for the zero to no-experience “designer” include auto-save, so you don’t accidentally lose what you’ve been working on for the past hour, a blog for design inspiration as well as tutorials to help you use all of the free features. While you can’t manipulate uploaded images, logos or graphics in the same way a professional could, 26
Piktochart is a great option for planners, marketers and communications professionals on a limited budget. Another cool, just-added (and free!) feature is the ability to import your data directly from Survey Monkey. So after those postconference or event surveys, import the data directly to Piktochart and create beautiful visuals that you can share with your members or attendees when you market next year’s event. Additionally, you can create specific infographics to share with speakers, sponsors and other stakeholders. Do-it-yourself design is here at last.
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When selecting a convention centre, we understand how important it is to find the right fit. At the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, we are dedicated to creating successful events of all sizes. Whether you have 20 attendees or over 20,000, our flexible meeting spaces can be configured to meet your needs perfectly. Plus, our award-winning team works with you to ensure every aspect of your event, from the floor plan, to the food, to the lighting, is fully customized. Take a closer look at all we have to offer at mtccc.com.
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KEEPING UP WITH
THE DOWN D LLAR BY JUDY WILLIAMS & LORI SMITH
eteran planners may recall that after 9/11, the resulting impact on the worldwide tourism industry was dramatic everywhere, but felt most acutely within our own borders when Canada’s exchange rate offered great value to US visitors. For many Canadian groups, it was a losing battle, competing for space and rates against the powerful Yankee greenback, particularly in major markets like Vancouver in the summer months. In 2004 our currency started to revitalize, reaching the low .80s. In 2006, it climbed into the .90s. Then in October 2007, it leapt above par to $1.02 before rising to $1.03 in November. From 2008 to April 2013, its strength ebbed and flowed but for 36 out of 53 months it was slightly below par (.98 and up), at par or just above par, with a high of $1.04 in April 2011. In May 2013, the slide began. Today’s Canadian dollar is once again giving Americans serious bang for their bucks and according to Bryan Yu, senior economist, Central 1 Credit Union, Vancouver, BC, this is due to the drastic drop in the price of oil. Yu and other economists forecast relatively low oil prices and favourable exchange rates to continue over the next few years, providing ideal conditions for US-based short- and medium-term bookings as well as homegrown business. The benefits of the down dollar for suppliers are obvious: tourism and group business from the American market has returned, filling hotel rooms and meeting space. But for planners with programs in Canada
the decline can mean they are once more battling for space and rates against the greenback. And planners with outbound programs are challenged with managing budgets and expectations. REDUCING RISK AND FINDING VALUE Lauren Smith, director, Events & Sponsorship, Dominion Lending Centres, explains that any time you book a program in the US, you have to set the expectation that exchange rates can fluctuate at any moment. “Most clients understand that there is risk in taking a program across the border with the uncertainty in the exchange rate right now,” she says. To mitigate that risk, Amanda Stewart, president, Eventive Marketing Inc., presents budgets in Canadian and US dollars and discusses with the client how they want to pay for the program. A best case scenario is that they have a US bank account, which typically offer lower internal exchange rates and make managing the budget easier, she says. Karen Ouimet, account director, Meetings & Incentive Travel Division, Bond Brand Loyalty, also says that tapping into clients’ US fund accounts, where possible, reduces exposure to losses due to currency fluctuations. “Often we run dual currency programs where clients are able to provide funds in US dollars for US dollar budget lines and provide Canadian funds through their Canadian accounts for their Canadian budget lines,” she explains. But if a client is paying for everything in Canadian dollars, Stewart says that she makes sure they CONTINUED
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understand that the exchange rate may change and that a plan is needed to deal with fluctuations. Maureen Clark, manager of business development, M&E, MCI Canada, says that one of the changes she’s seen in the last 20 years is an increase in the number of companies asking for contingency funds in budgets. Ouimet also reports that contingency funds are part of Bond’s conversations with its clients. “They are something that we’ve adopted as a best practice with our clients,” she says. Not only can they be used to offset currency fluctuations but they provide a cushion for unexpected expenses such as flight cancellations or hurricanes—“anything that affects the Canadian dollar spend for our Canadian client,” says Ouimet. In addition, she says because planners are accountable for their clients’ dollars, they watch currency exchange rates “just as much as the traders out there” and are diligent in making sure that clients are aware of any changes. At MCI Canada, recosting is an ongoing process made easy by a special software program, Clark explains. “Nobody wants to see the [currency] fluctuation show up on a final requisition without it having been considered all along,” she says. “So it’s really those two things: ongoing recosts and communication.” But there are other ways that planners developing outbound programs are helping clients get more for their dollars. Stewart looks for “value pockets” for groups set on a US destination. “US Thanksgiving is always a value pocket,” she explains. “Americans do not travel [to business events] over the Thanksgiving time frame and hotels want to fill space. We’ve done many programs in the US over that weekend and we’ve had some great rates.” She also actively seeks “in-between” dates. “For example, we may have a three-night program and we’ll be flexible with our dates so we can fit in-between two other programs and get a better rate that way.” Planners are also introducing (and reintroducing) clients to
VS
The Loonie
The Greenback
1.00 0.93 0.93
50 years of a few ups and a lot of downs.
0.94
1973
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alternative experiences, accommodations and destinations. Ouimet says that they are offering clients “a nice combination” of options now. She explains that in terms of incentive travel programs, Europe will always be a draw as will the United States. And, she points out that airlift is important and frequently clients will want to stay close to home. “Oftentimes our clients ask us where their dollars will go the furthest,” she says. “There are some jewels out there in Europe and in the Caribbean, and the value in Canada is great as well.” Two other shifts that Ouimet’s noted with incentive travel clients is a new openness to having different calibers of properties such as boutique-style hotels included in proposals, and a renewed interest in all-inclusives. “Even if the majority of all-inclusives are in US dollars, they are still a means to get more value for your dollar and contain costs,” she says. Stewart suggests presenting clients with alternatives that don’t lend themselves to apples-to-apples comparisons with previous programs. She is currently looking at an all-inclusive dude ranch for a client who has traditionally gone with luxury hotel-based incentive trips complete with expensive experiential elements such as helicopter rides and race car driving. She explains that the dude ranch has real experiential value. “The meals are included so we’re able to bring it in on budget but the client can’t say, ‘But it’s not a Four Seasons.’ It’s a completely different type of thing.” However, there are times when program elements have to be eliminated. The Loonie started 2013 at $1.01 vis-à-vis the US dollar. By January 2014 its value had dropped to .91. The next January, it was .83. This January its average value was .70. As currency devaluations go it was a precipitous drop. “On a million dollar-plus program a 20 per cent drop in the value of the dollar is a huge chunk of change,” says Stewart. For programs caught in the fall, some things had to go. Lauren Smith explains that on recent programs they’ve
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INDEPTH scrutinized budgets in terms of domestic orders and items that are “nice-to-haves” as opposed to “need-to-haves.” They’ve also been budgeting better in terms of manpower and staff attendance. “We’ve had to get creative when it comes to event décor, AV orders, gifting and event marketing materials—keeping the budget down while at the same time creating a memorable event experience,” she says. She adds that it’s not a case of removing these elements completely but scaling them down and giving them more strategic thought. Clark agrees that it’s important to scrutinize the niceto-haves. As an example, she says an open, premium-brand bar can be switched to wine and beer. Stewart also says she looks at reducing the spend on f&b, décor and entertainment. “We might have done four hot food stations and we’ll drop it down to three. Still have selection but not as much,” she says. According to Ouimet if the program is in operation there may be penalties for altering or trying to break contracts with suppliers. “So again we’re looking at how we can maintain an enhanced experience by scraping away at the little things that won’t make a huge impact on the program overall,” she says. One conversation, they often have with clients concerns perceived value of gift items. For example, she says participants may appreciate a quality brand name item as much as the luxury brand version of the same product.
Quebec City, Montreal, etc. when they’re considering Chicago or Los Angeles. We want them to take a look and see the value.” She adds that in terms of the programs MCI Canada is pitching now, there’s definitely increased interest in Canada on the meetings side. Ouimet agrees that there’s an appetite for Canada now. “It’s more top of mind for our Canadian clients to look in their own backyard and it’s a beautiful backyard so there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be looking there,” she says, adding that Bond has some proposals currently out with clients looking at Canada. According to Smith the exchange rate has not forced her groups to stay in Canada but it has opened up the conversation so that Canadian destinations are an option. In her most recent pitch she included Mont Tremblant, Calgary and St. John’s. “Our largest program of 2015 was in Whistler, BC, so if pitched properly, a unique Canadian destination can win a bid over a US city,” she says. However, she’s found that while the exchange rate may not be favourable for groups looking to go outside Canada, “the costing almost equals out as Canadian destinations are quite expensive to bring a group to.” Regardless of the exchange rate, one critical reason that tends to discourage inbound US business and sends many Canadian groups south, is simple: the cost of flying in and out of Canada and within Canada is prohibitively high. “I am actually finding that one of the reasons many of my Canadian corporate clients are looking south of the border, is that despite the exchange rate, the cost of air travel in Canada is just too high,” says Jennifer Glynn, managing partner, Meeting Encore. She cites the cost of airfare from Toronto to Vancouver, versus the cost to fly from Toronto to Nashville, Tennessee or Washington, DC. “The air from Toronto to these US destinations helps offset the costs for the exchange rate,” she says.
CANADA ON SALE The up side of the down dollar is that Canada is back on the radar of groups—from home and away—that had eschewed it when the value of the Loonie was high. Maureen Clark says that MCI Canada has gone out to the 60 international offices of the MCI Group and spread the word that Canada is on sale. “Canada is a cool country so we want people in our other offices to consider Toronto, Vancouver,
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Glen Hodgson, senior vice-president and chief economist, Conference Board of Canada (CBoC), explains there are several reasons for the high cost of Canadian airfares and no easy, short term answers to the problem. “There are a lot of little costs such as airport security, the way we pay for navigation systems and little known factors that tend to add up and create a barrier, both on the US and Canadian side,” he explains. “Unfortunately, there is no free trade when it comes to air travel between the two countries.” Putting airlift aside, so-called second tier cities like Halifax, Ottawa, St. John’s and Niagara Falls, are providing many new options for groups wanting to stay in Canada and groups looking to come to Canada. The result is increased competition for meeting dollars as well as increased competition for rooms and meeting space. Sisters Janet and Katherine McCartney, principals of Vancouver-based PDW Inc., have been organizing TED and its affiliate events for 15 years. Accustomed to managing TED’s global destinations, they are well-seasoned at playing the currency two-step. Katherine McCartney says that while the drop in the value of the Loonie makes Canada an even more favourable destination, the bigger message is that our country is easy to do business with, and has fabulous natural scenery, good transportation and excellent venues. Janet McCartney adds that the recent dramatic rate drop has presented major opportunities, particularly for short lead
Meetings. Conferences. Events.
business.“We are in an interesting time right now, so staying close to the trend is important,” she advises. Despite Canada actively reaching out for—and getting—American business, Jennifer Glynn has not found it difficult to negotiate good rates for her Canadian clients. “Educating the hotel on the value of the total meeting spend and negotiating a fair overall deal is what we do every day,” says Glynn, who is past-president of SITE Canada. As far as negotiating a good deal with fluctuating exchange rates as a factor, she encourages planners to be flexible on dates and patterns, if possible, to fill holes at higher demand properties. In most ways, dealing with the decline in the value of the Loonie is business as usual for planners. The CBoC’s Hodgson points out that $1.20 [.80 US] is the Loonie’s long-term or equilibrium rate. “If you’re a seasoned planner, you were more surprised when the Loonie was at par,” says MCI Canada’s Clark. “Now we’re playing with the exchange rates that we’re used to.” Judy Williams is president and owner of EventSkillSeminars in Vancouver, BC and a business journalist specializing in the events industry.
Has the down dollar helped or hindered your business? Write Lori Smith, Editor at lsmith@meetingscanada.com
Close to YVR and Downtown, Pacific Gateway Hotel has the people and facilities to make your meeting exceed expectations. • • • •
Boardroom to ballroom sizes for up to 600 382 modern guestrooms Over 30 flexible spaces with natural light Restaurants, marina, gym, pool and gardens
• Walking distance to McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Center • Our own 24/7 complimentary YVR Shuttles
Contact us for more information: 1-866-382-3474 pacificgatewayhotel.com
Pacific Gateway Hotel – your natural choice. M A R I N A • LO C A L M E N U S • 38 2 M O D E R N R O O M S • N AT U R A L M E E T I N G S PA C E S
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CONVENIENT. CONNECTED. COMMUNITY. 34
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BY LORI SMITH
CANADA UPDATE
A CROSS-COUNTRY LOOK AT NEW EVENT SPACES, HOTEL OPENINGS, RENOS, F&B AND MORE
Whistler Conference Centre. Photo by Joern Rohde / insight-photography.com
ALT Hotel, River Landing, Saskatoon, SK. Artist’s rendition provided by Groupe Germain Hotels.
BRITISH COLUMBIA Whistler is the first Canadian destination to achieve APEX/ ASTM sustainability certification in four standards: Meeting Venue – Whistler Conference Centre (operated by Tourism Whistler); Food and Beverage – Centerplate (provider for Whistler Conference Centre); Destination – Whistler; and Audio Visual – Freeman AV Whistler (provider for Whistler Conference Centre). + Two properties were added to Kamloops’ hotel inventory in the last two years. The new build Sandman Signature Kamloops Hotel opened in 2014 and has 202 guest rooms including 100 suites. The Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott, also a new build, opened in 2015. It has 114 guestrooms. + Predator Ridge Golf Resort in Vernon will open a new 3,000-square-foot banquet facility this spring. The room, CONTINUED
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Photos: (Clockwise from left) Lobby Bar, Thompson Hotel, Toronto, ON; Oliver & Bonacini’s Beaumont Restaurant, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sherway Gardens, Toronto, ON; FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, ON. Photo by Lauren Garbutt; William Gray, Montreal, QC. Sketch by Jérôme Mireault, Colagene Clinique Créative.
which will have a total maximum capacity of 160, can be divided into three private function spaces. It will also include outdoor patio space and views of the golf course and the Okanagan Valley. ALBERTA Marriott International and ICE District Properties Joint Venture have announced that a JW Marriott will be the first luxury hotel in Edmonton’s new ICE District. When it opens in late 2018, the JW Marriott Edmonton will feature 356 rooms and suites, and more than 25,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. + Canalta Centre, a state-of-the-art facility and new home of the Medicine Hat Tigers WHL Hockey Club, opened in Medicine Hat in 2015. It has 7,100 seats (350 club seats, 22 suites, eight loge boxes, two community suites for public rental and lounge) and a mission to be a first-class, multi-use venue. 36
SASKATCHEWAN Group Germain Hotels is adding a new ALT Hotel to Saskatoon’s River Landing area. Scheduled to open in 2018, the 15-floor property will have 155 rooms and 4,000 square feet of meeting space outfitted with the latest in technology. It will be located close to the Remai Modern Art Gallery and within walking distance of other major attractions. ONTARIO Aquatarium, a brand new waterfront attraction with conference facilities, will open in Brockville this spring. The 27,000-square-foot interactive learning and discovery centre will focus on the culture, history and entertainment of the 1000 Islands. A restaurant—1000 Islands Waterfront Grille—will be opening on the building’s second floor. It will overlook the St. Lawrence River. + La Charette on Hunt
Club Road in the southwest corner of Ottawa is a new venue for small and medium meetings. It has two rooms that can be configured to accommodate from two to 100 guests. Décor is fresh and modern. + Thunder Bay is getting a new Hampton Inn Suites. The 96-room property will be located near the airport. Scheduled to open later this year, it will have small meeting rooms. + The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (PAC) opened in November. The 95,000-square-foot cultural complex is part of the renaissance of downtown St. Catharines. It consists of four state-of-the-art performance venues, all of which can be used for events. The venues are: Partridge Hall, a multi-purpose concert hall with 782 fixed seats; Cairns Recital Hall, a smaller space with 304 fixed seats; Robertson Theatre, a 2,600-squarefoot “black box”; and the Film House, which has 199 fixed seats. Additional rental
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+CANADA UPDATE
Photos: (Clockwise from top left) Le Domaine Château-Bromont, Bromont, QC; Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with the staff at The Algonquin Resort, St. Andrew’s by the Sea, NB; Meeting space at La Charette, Ottawa, ON.
spaces within the facility include the Mann Raceway Plaza, lobby and rehearsal rooms. + Jamie Oliver is the latest celeb chef to join the Toronto restaurant scene. Oliver opened his first North American eatery— Jamie’s Italian—in Yorkdale Shopping Centre this past December. Malls will also house two new eateries from Oliver and Bonacini. The Toronto restaurateur has new spaces—Leña and Beaumont—in the Saks Fifth Avenue locations in Toronto’s Eaton Centre (under construction) and Sherway Gardens (open). Leña, the Eaton Centre location, will be helmed by Chef Anthony Walsh, who is creating a menu showcasing South American cooking, with unique Spanish and Italian influences. It will have a private dining room. + Thompson Toronto Hotel has renovated its Lobby Bar, updated its meeting spaces and created new guestrooms, at a total cost of $1.5 million. The Lobby Bar’s reno includes a new
high-tech, private event space complete with 60-square-foot media wall. It can accommodate 100+ people. In addition, the third floor Portland Meeting Room is being updated with décor, furnishing and technology to accommodate meetings with a maximum of 40 attendees. QUÉBEC Guest rooms and public spaces at Le Domaine Château-Bromont, Quebec’s largest four season convention resort south of Montreal, have been updated. The resort has two properties (l’Hôtel ChâteauBromont and l’Auberge Château-Bromont) with a total of 206 rooms and more than a dozen meeting and convention rooms. Guestrooms now have HD TVs, new furnishings, Bluetooth radio with USB connection, updated AC/heating systems and new plumbing. Meeting spaces were refreshed with new carpeting, decorative accessories,
armchairs and eco-friendly wood tables. + Construction has started on La Cache de la Cité in Mirabel. Described as a high-end business hotel and condotel, it will have 146 guestrooms including 15 suites with balconies; a meeting space with a capacity of 900; a performance hall; a rooftop with a glass chapel for weddings; bar with terrace; swimming pool; and fitness centre. It is scheduled to open in 2017. + The meeting rooms, reception area, dining room and all other common areas of the Marriott Residence Inn in Mont Tremblant have been renovated. The property’s guestrooms will be renovated in Spring 2016. + Le Groupe Antonopoulos is opening a new hotel in Old Montreal this summer. William Gray will have 127 guestrooms, 10,000+ square feet of event space, an 180-seat restaurant, rooftop terrace, luxury spa with outdoor pool, a boutique and café. The eight-floor glass tower will sit atop two historic buildings. CONTINUED
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+ The Québec City Convention Centre has received LEED-CI (Gold Level) certification for its 73,000-square-foot expansion, adding to the LEED-EB certification for the rest of the facility. + The Delta Trois-Rivières and Convention Center was acquired in December by G3R Lands, a group of local entrepreneurs. The new owners have announced a $7 million renovation of the property and the possible expansion of the convention center. The 159-room property has 13 meeting spaces. Its largest meeting room is 11,250 square feet and has a capacity of 1,500. + The City of Trois-Rivières, with assistance from the Québec government, has invested $505,000 in a new Cruise Pavilion, which will serve as a welcome area for international cruises and also be available for events of up to 225 people. NEW BRUNSWICK The Grey Rock Entertainment Centre, which is located just outside Edmunds-
ton, can be used for large receptions of 750+ guests. + The Fredericton Convention Centre (FCC) has selected Freeman Audio Visual Canada as its official in-house supplier of AV and technology services. + Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his newly-formed cabinet held their first retreat at The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea Autograph Collection® in St. Andrews, NB. The Liberal party used some 70 rooms in the resort from January 17-19, 2016, giving staff members some extra hours in the quiet off season. NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR The Quality Inn Corner Brook has reno-
vated its guestrooms and public spaces. The property’s conference and banquet facilities can accommodate up to 180 people. Each of its 55 guestrooms features a 42-inch TV, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator and desk. Amenities include free WiFi. + The Day’s Inn, Stephenville has also completed a renovation of its 47 guestrooms, which now have free WiFi, large working desk with ergonomic business chair, mini refrigerators, and more. The property has 2,000 square feet of event space comprised of one large ballroom that divides into two meeting rooms, and one executive boardroom. Maximum capacity is 200.
CANADA UPDATE VIDEO debuting April 1, 2016! Visit meetingscanada.com to view this quick (two minutes!), entertaining recap of what’s new from coast-to-coast!
+
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Meetings with a fresh point of view
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32 wineries
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19 golf courses
2.2 km boardwalk
City of Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, BC
Expect a fresh point of view when you book your next meeting or retreat in Kelowna. Imagine your event staged alongside vast vineyards or lakeside at a fabulous resort. Our wide range of meeting and incentive facilities, complemented by spectacular landscapes, will ensure Kelowna exceeds your expectations.
1-800-663-4345 ext. 217 | meetings@tourismkelowna.com #meetKelowna |
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+ CUISCENE
GAME ON NEW PROTEINS ARE STARTING TO WIN FANS BY DON DOULOFF
Photos (l-r): Game Board, L-eat Catering; Roasted Duck with Cherry Two Ways, Culinary Capers Catering and Special Events. Photo by imps.ca.
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roups’ collective culinary tastes continue to change, and as part of that ongoing evolution, attendees are opting for proteins that venture beyond the traditional beef and chicken. “Slowly, game continues to gain traction,” said Geoff Morden, executive chef at Ottawa’s Shaw Centre. “Certain types of groups, such as local galas and fundraisers, are more adventurous with their dinner menus and more attuned to culinary trends, and will choose game as their main course,” he said, citing one organizer who favours game “to maintain innovation and interest” for repeat clients that attend an annual event. Game entrées have included ballotine of pheasant (pounded breast stuffed with a forcemeat of leg or thigh). Alternative proteins also resonate with Shaw Centre’s convention and meetings attendees, who sometimes choose game as their appetizer or canapés—say, braised elk with wild mushrooms and sherry cream tucked into puff pastry shells. Predinner buffets have featured venison loin cooked sous vide,
40
sliced at an action station and paired with onion chutney. Not surprisingly, the prevalence of game on group menus can evolve along regional lines. Alberta, for example, boasts a thriving network of ranchers raising venison, elk, wild boar and buffalo, and to a lesser extent, quail and ducks, so it’s only natural that local venues would take advantage of that. “We want to give an experience of what we have in Alberta,” said jW Foster, executive chef at Fairmont Banff Springs, in Banff, AB. On top of that, international incentive groups often seek an authentically local dining experience. Alberta groups, exposed to game at high-end Calgary restaurants, are also receptive to those proteins. Foster and his kitchen brigade oblige by dishing up bison (braised and served on poutine; marinated, seared tenderloin; braised short ribs); elk (marinated and roasted tenderloin, striploin and rack); wild boar (pulled and tucked into tacos; braised and served on poutine; slow-roasted loin); and venison (marinated roasted tenderloin). Tight supply, driven by seasonality—peak demand is typically
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+ CUISCENE
Photos (clockwise from left): Executive Chef Geoff Morden, Shaw Centre Ottawa; Bison Tartare and Tenderloin, Fairmont Banff Springs; Cabernet Braised BC Venison, Culinary Capers Catering and Special Events. Photo by Brian Dennehy.
“The key [to cooking game meat] is low, slow and precise cooking, to ensure a moist result.” —Geoff Morden, Executive Chef, Shaw Centre
in summer—and the number of ranchers farming a particular animal dictates game’s availability and price, so Foster works closely within planners’ budgets. Although game typically carries a premium, its cost, he said, is often “not exorbitantly more than beef.” Besides adding novelty and variety to group menus, game is typically leaner than beef, which makes it nutritionally attractive, but also makes it susceptible to drying out through overcooking. The key, said Morden, is low, slow and precise cooking, to ensure a moist result. Similarly, Foster never cooks game beyond medium, to prevent the meat from acquiring a strong “liver-y taste.” At Vancouver’s Culinary Capers Catering and Special Events, CEO Debra Lykkemark said the company has found success including unique proteins “when we are doing a West Coast-type reception with interactive food stations. Here, we create small plates—usually up to three stations—so guests have different choices. We can include venison or bison small plates, but there would be other choices such as Arctic char, lamb and chicken at the other stations. Our chefs love working with pheasant, duck, quail and, on occasion, venison. We can introduce them in more approachable ways such as stuffed pasta—for example, pheasantstuffed agnolotti or venison ravioli.” Echoing Lykkemark’s words is chef Brad Livergant, of Toronto’s L-eat Catering. “As long as there is a variety of options for guests, then we find a few unexpected proteins can be incorporated into menus.” He added that “certain game meats are milder in flavour than most people think and can handle a variety of side dishes as would beef or lamb.”
Livergant said bison is “very popular due to its mild flavour and lean, soft texture. Quail works well as an hors d’oeuvre and has a very delicate flavour. Venison, both rack and loin, is getting good reviews, as it has similar textures to lamb, without the gaminess.” Bringing a seasoned planner’s perspective is Sandra Wood, CMP, who, for 13 years, organized the Canadian Medical Association’s annual meeting. Wood has run VIP dinners, for under 100 people, offering game, which “seemed to be well received,” but she always ensures “a few regular meals on the ready for those who don’t want to eat venison or whatever is on the menu. This is where I have both a better budget and I can try different things because the demographic lent itself well.” Her recommendation? “Really know your group if you are going with different proteins. While the temptation to be different and upscale is there, food waste can run high and is becoming less socially acceptable, but also not satisfying your attendees is the worse thing to do. I find some of these different proteins can be pricier, but if you want to upscale a chicken dinner, then quail would indeed be an option, and that’s likely still cheaper than offering roast beef (although I’d want to see the pricing in the hotel to compare first).” Best bet, she said, is “surveying guests in advance to find out if they will eat something like venison.” Don Douloff is a food and travel writer based in Toronto.
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THIS PLACE IS ALIVE. ARE YOU?
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BANFF & LAKE LOUISE TOURISM There’s no place like it on earth. Our snow-capped mountains, among Canada’s most cherished images, bless every view from conference site, hotel room, or hot tub. Every vista in Banff National Park’s 6,641 square kilometres will leave you breathless. At its heart lie Banff and Lake Louise, two charming yet cosmopolitan mountain towns with first class amenities, meeting space, spas, and endless adventures. A bucket list destination for planners and guests alike. Break free of your routine destinations and come to a place that will make you feel Alive. Jason Elie, Manager – MICE Canada | JElie@BanffLakeLouise.com | 403-762-0271
BANFF AIRPORTER Banff Airporter has been the Leading the Way for transportation between the Calgary International Airport and Canadian Rockies for nearly two decades. Whether you are looking for Airport movements or regional Dinner & Activity transfers, our luxury unmatched fleet of Sedans, SUV’s and 10 & 24 passenger buses will suit your meeting’s requirements. Please contact Aaron Sands, our Sales Manager, to discuss your program. Aaron@BanffAirporter.com | 403-762-1671
MEET AT THE BANFF PARK LODGE The ONLY full service resort hotel and CONFERENCE CENTRE located downtown Banff! We are steps away from the Bow River and endless local activities. We offer 211 guestrooms and 19,000 sqft of meeting and banquet space. We offer two onsite restaurants; The Chinook and La Terrazza, an indoor swimming pool, hot plunge pool, heated underground parking and concierge service. www.banffparklodge.com | sales@banffparklodge.com | 403-760-6415
BUFFALO MOUNTAIN LODGE Whether sitting under a towering open-beam ceiling and antler chandelier, or enjoying the warmth of our massive field-stone fireplace, Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff has something to suit your meeting needs. Buffalo Mountain Lodge offers four distinct function rooms for meetings, conferences or retreats. The lodge’s restaurant and lounge features our signature Rocky Mountain Cuisine and an award winning wine list for guests to enjoy. We can comfortably host meetings for up to 90 people. www.crmr.com/buffalo/
| 1-800-661-1367
MOUNTAIN MEETINGS MADE MEMORABLE Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise is a world class resort in a one-of-a-kind destination. Promote and inspire unity in your team through authentic experiences, breathtaking surroundings, and unique indoor and outdoor group activities. Historic grandeur blends with state-of-the-art technology throughout the 36,000 square feet of inspiring function space, while our skilled conference services team ensures that your event is tailored to your every need. www.fairmont.com/lake-louise
| 1-866-540-4413
MEET AT CANADA’S CASTLE IN THE ROCKIES Fairmont Banff Springs repeatedly amazes the most discerning conference planners. With over 72,000 square feet of versatile convention, event & exhibit space your event will be a perfect fit. Whether it’s a reception in the grandeur of the Mt. Stephen Hall, or a presentation to 1,000 clients in the Van Horne Ballroom, we will ensure your event is marked with impeccable taste and gracious hospitality. www.fairmont.com/banff-springs
| 1-866-540-4406
THE RIMROCK RESORT HOTEL The Rimrock Resort Hotel is a Four Diamond luxury hotel located in Banff Alberta. The Rimrock offers 343 spacious and recently refreshed guest rooms with spectacular views. Our 23 luxurious suites of various sizes; complement our spectacular Suite Infinity, situated on top of the hotel with a large balcony overlooking the entire valley. With 18,000 square feet of function space, the only CAA/AAA 5 Diamond Dining in Western Canada and a luxurious full service spa, the Rimrock is your best choice for meetings. www.rimrockresort.com
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| 1-888-RIMROCK (746-7625)
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GIFTS GEAR
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5. Made in Canada by Walton Wood Farm, Week From Hell Sugar Scrub is made from real brown sugar, sunflower oil, coconut oil, organic beeswax, Shea butter, Vitamin E, pink grapefruit and phthalatefree fragrance. $22.00. orangefish.ca
6. Put the right foot forward at your next event with these socks, which are made from cotton (75%), nylon (23%) and spandex (2%). Available in two lengths, designs can incorporate up to six colours. Optional custom band, tag or box. Price per pair is $14.28 for a minimum of 120 pairs. sigmapromotions.com
7. Modular 3-in-1 Work/Gym Tote includes a lunch cooler, a professional tote and a gym tote, which can be used together or as standalone pieces. Notable features include a dedicated tablet/iPad pocket; bottom-zippered drop pocket for shoes; and adjustable straps for a yoga mat. Per unit price starts at $62.50 ($66 setup). sourcingcentral.ca 44
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+DESTINATION
DUBAI BY LORI SMITH
MEETING IN THE OASIS CONTINUED
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It takes just 77 seconds to reach the 148th floor of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, home to the highest observatory deck in the world. During the speedy ascent and descent a video plays on the walls of the darkened elevator. It describes the tower’s construction and its role in the city’s development. The Burj Khalifa, the narrator says, is a symbol of success, progress and hope in the Arab world. A transportation and business hub, Dubai sits on the shore of the Persian Gulf at the southeastern end of the Arabian Peninsula. From Burj Khalifa’s observation deck, one has a 365° view of the city, which is the most populous and cosmopolitan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is a landscape of towering buildings and modern roadways cloaked in sun and sand. And no matter which way one faces, there are cranes. Dubai is building its future and that future includes a significant slice of the global meeting pie. I am with some 70 planners and 15 journalists from around the world on a five-day FAM visit to the city and from the trip’s beginning to its end one thing is clear: Dubai means meetings business. On the first evening, an introductory talk and reception are held at the Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre (341 guestrooms and multiple event spaces including a 15,000-squarefoot ballroom). There, we learn from Steen Jakobsen, director of Dubai Business Events, that it is the city’s goal to be the one of the world’s premier MICE destinations. Dubai has the infrastructure to support this goal, he explains. Dubai International Airport has overtaken London’s Heathrow and Frankfurt International as the world’s leading passenger airport. This is in large part due to Emirates Airline’s roster of nonstop flights from countries around the world. Its hotel inventory is increasing and its convention centre has 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space. More details are relayed at an afternoon education session on the third day. We are told that Dubai’s second airport—Al Maktoun International—will complete an expansion in 2017 that will allow 2.5 million passengers to pass through its gates each year. Almost 90 percent of the world’s population can reach Dubai on a non-stop Emirates Airline flight. There are currently 94,936 hotel rooms available in 667 properties and 20,000 new rooms in the pipeline. The Dubai Convention Centre is adding more than 160,000 square feet of event/exhibit space and an on-site hotel with 588 rooms. 48
In addition, as part of its growth strategy, Dubai is developing 20 economic zones, all set up with the objective of offering tax-free opportunities to foreign investors. These zones will focus in fields like medical education and research, technology, biotech, international finance, logistics, and more. Dubai is home to 200-plus nationalities. English is the lingua franca. Every type of cuisine is available. There’s even a Tim Hortons in the Dubai Mall. Another clear plus is its array of incentivelevel hotels and resorts. We visit the Armani Hotel Dubai, which sits at the foot of the Burj Khalifa. Defined by understated elegance, it has 160 guestrooms and suites as well as a black marble-accented ballroom and an al fresco entertaining area overlooking The Dubai Fountain. The JW Marriott Dubai, which hosted the FAM, is the tallest hotel in the world. It has 351 guestrooms and suites and a plethora of meeting and event spaces, the largest of which has a 1,500-person capacity. A highlight is seeing The St. Regis Dubai just days before its official opening. It is one of three properties (a Westin and a W are the other two) in a new “integrated urban resort” called Al Habtoor City being built “on the banks of the soon-to-be completed Dubai Water Canal.” It is the first time Starwood has put three brands on one footprint, and there will be seamless access between the hotels, with shared back house services such as accounting, banquet kitchen, etc. On our penultimate evening, we visit the Madinat Jumeirah. The property, which is being expanded, currently has two grand boutique hotels (Jumeirah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Mina A’Salam), 29 traditional summer houses (Jumeirah Dar Al Masyaf), seven Jumeirah Malakiya Villas plus more than 40 restaurants and bars. Its conference and banquet facilities include two grand ballrooms and a 1,000-seat amphitheatre. All of these parts are connected by three kilometres of waterways and landscaped gardens. You never have to leave its grounds. Which brings us to a point that must be considered when assessing Dubai for a program: It is an Arab culture and there are rules that go along with its famous hospitality. We are told that it is a “G-rated” city that asks visitors to dress modestly and act with proper decorum in public spaces, i.e. outside of hotels and resorts. Within those confines, the dress rules are relaxed. Alcohol is served. It’s MICE business as usual.
DESERT SIGHTS
An experiential highlight of the FAM was a desert safari organized by DMC Arabian Adventures. It included racing up and down dunes in Toyota 4x4’s, a hawking demonstration, camel rides and belly-dancing and whirling dervish performances—all under the wide desert skies.
AT THE SOUK
Dubai is synonymous with shopping. The must-see Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates are filled with hundreds and hundreds of retailers from around the world. Are there bargains? Not really. Those can be found in the souks located in the old part of the city. There you can barter for spices and gold by the pound as well as souvenirs and pashminas.
SO CLOSE...
The seven-star Burj Al Arab was not on the FAM itinerary. At the Madinat Jumeirah, I stood knee deep in the bath-like waters of the Persian Gulf with some fellow journalists and gazed at the famed property. It was so close I could have walked (or swam) to it. However, I would not have been let in.
PHOTOS PAGE 47: (clockwise from top left): Burj Khalifa and downtown Dubai. Photo courtesy of Fares Jamal/Dubai Tourism; Boulevard Suite Terrace, Vida Dubai Downtown: (l-r) Ballroom, JW Marriott Dubai; Abra on Dubai Creek. Photo courtesy of Dubai Tourism; Exterior of The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor City; (Second row from bottom of page, l-r) Hallway, Park Hyatt Dubai; Lobby staircase, The St. Regis Dubai; Suite Room, Armani Dubai Hotel; Hawk in Desert. Photo courtesy of Dubai Tourism; (Bottom row, l-r) Exterior, Jumeirah Madinat; Lobby, Sofitel Dubai; Suite, Jumeirah Madinat.
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BusinessEventsToronto.com
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Quebec Day Toronto 2016 5
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CSAE Tete-a-Tete 8
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Freeman AV + Chelsea Hotel Event 10
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See more Event Photos on meetingscanada.com
(Left to Right) QUEBEC DAY TORONTO 2016 | 1. Lynn Chiasson, Quebec City Convention Centre; Tracy Blyth, CAE, CSAE Trillium Chapter. | 2. Juan Pablo Suarez and Deborah Edwards, Destination Quebec, represented by VoX International. | 3. Mike Miguel, WestJet Airlines; Ethel Hansen Davey, Uniglobe Enterprise Travel. | 4. Mark Kelly, Meetings + Incentive Travel; Joanne Langevin, CMP, The College of Family Physicians of Canada. CSAE TÊTE-À-TÊTE 2016 | 5. Christine Otsuka, Meetings + Incentive Travel, Adam Gerle, Northern Vision Hotels; Meredith Kenzie, Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre; Nicolas Fournier, Tourisme Laval. | 6. Alissa Hurley, FMAV; Debbie Manthafor, BBW International; Doreen Ashton Wagner, Greenfield Services. | 7. Lori Wagner, Porter Airlines; Ursula Belanger, Global Cynergies; Regis Fleury, Quebec City Business Destination; Sandra Moniz, CMP, Meetings + Conventions Calgary. FREEMAN AV + CHELSEA HOTEL EVENT | 8. Catherine Teixeira, Marinelle Matuvanga and Emilie Gaulthier, Ministry of Education; Ken Hewitt, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. | 9. Romeo Loparco, Jay Lanchbury and Derek Anderson, Freeman Audio Visual Canada. | 10. Trudi Reaume, ACLCO; Ryan McDermott, Capreit. | 11. Natalie Ciarallo, TD Bank; Nasrine Kamal, Fenix Events; Lauren MacFarlane, TD Bank. | 12. Tiffany Gilmore, CMP, Chelsea Hotel, Toronto; Jolyn Mascarenhas, Scholastic Canada.
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CanSPEP 2016 Conference 16
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CAEM 8th Annual Awards Gala 20
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MPI Toronto Awards Gala (Left to Right) CANSPEP 2016 CONFERENCE | 13. Sarah Nagawa Sekalala, CMEP, Bash Divas; Kevin Robitaille, Porter Airlines; Rose Timmerman-Gitzi, CMM, RTG Special Events. | 14. Chelsea Galloway, Conventions Regina; Sherry Lucia, Tourism Hamilton; Mark Awad, bb Blanc; Sandra Moniz, CMP, Meetings + Conventions Calgary; Sheila Wong, BBW Event Staff. | 15. Caroline Aston, Aston Events & Communications; Kathy Tavares, Starwood Hotels & Resorts; Wendy Turner, Skyline Resorts and Hotels. | 16. Tina Wakeford, Caesars Windsor; Jason Toner, Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island. CAEM 8th ANNUAL AWARDS GALA | 17. Sonia Moffatt, CEM, Freeman; Carol Le Noury, ERIS. | 18. Mike Russell, Toronto Congress Centre; Tina Holmes, BILD; John Le Roy, JC Le Roy Security Consulting; Rocky Mele, Showtech Power & Lighting. | 19. Jennifer Holland, CEM, David Chisholm and Eleni Papakonstantinou, CEM, MTCC; Nicole Sampson, PDAC; Maria Bava Chisholm, Mendelssohn Commerce Events Logistics. | 20. Susan Prophet, MPI; Steve Dempsey, Diversified Communications Canada. MPI TORONTO 2016 AWARDS GALA | 21. Joseph Laplante; Lia Laplante, recipient of the 2015 Norm Neill Student Award; Theresa Laplante. | 22. Rita Plaskett, CMP, CMM, Agendum Inc.; Bill Brown, FMAV. | 23. Trevor Lui, The International Centre, recipient of the 2015 President’s Award. | 24. Mariella Irivarren, CMP, BMO Financial Group; Carly Silberstein, Redstone Agency. | 25. Stephanie Rapko, CMP, Meetings + Incentive Travel, recipient of the 2015 Volunteer of the Year Award; Diane Julien and Daniela Cegar, The Really Fabulous Event Co.
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+ADINDEX Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) IFC, 3 www.alhi.com Banff & Lake Louise Tourism www.banfflakelouise.com
42, 43
meetingscanada.com/HallOfFame
Calgary Stampede 45 www.calgarystampede.com Celebrity Cruises 15 www.celebritycruises.com Club Med 20 www.clubmed.ca Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau OBC www.miamiandbeaches.com Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel 7 www.marriott.com/yhzmc
Who Will you nominate? Boss • Colleague • Friend • Yourself
Hilton Worldwide Connect+ 18 www.hiltonworldwide.com
Categories
IncentiveWorks 2016 28, 29, 39 www.meetingscanada.com/incentiveworks International Centre, The www.internationalcentre.com
17
Living Water Resort & Spa www.livingwaterresort.com
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Metro Toronto Convention Centre www.mtccc.com
27
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Oak Bay Beach Hotel www.oakbaybeachhotel.com Pacific Gateway Hotel – Vancouver Airport www.PacificGatewayHotel.com
11
Planner Builder Innovator Volunteer
Mentor Rising Star The Big Idea
Call for nominations closes FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2016
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Posadas Fiesta Americana 49 www.fiestamericanagrand.com/meetingsmexico Rodd Hotels & Resorts www.roddvacations.com Scottsdale Convention & Visitors Bureau www.VisitPhoenix.com
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Tourism Kelowna www.tourismkelowna.com
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Tourism Toronto www.seetorontonow.com
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Tourism Winnipeg www.tourismwinnipeg.com Visit Phoenix www.visitphoenix.com White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa www.whiteoaksresort.com
4 21 IBC
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+NEXTGEN From stockbroker to incentive travel planner I got my start in the meetings industry… as an attendee on a few President’s Clubs’ incentive trips in my previous career, in banking. I worked as a stockbroker and was lucky enough to be invited on the trip every year. As a young professional just starting out, I was blown away by the kinds of experiences that were created for us. Being known as a savvy traveller amongst my colleagues, I was often asked by other teams to help arrange excursions or local dinners outside of the group itinerary, and found I really enjoyed the planning and organizing involved. After some careful consideration, I talked to a few trusted mentors who gave me the confidence I needed to give it a shot. Three years later, I have zero regrets and absolutely love the life I lead and career I’ve pursued. Name Sean Hoff Title Managing Partner Company Moniker Age 31 Education MSc International Management (HEC Paris), Masters of Marketing (ESADE Business School), Bac. Finance (Western University) Associations SITE, SITE Young Leaders
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When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them… I help companies plan and organize the kind of “once-in-a-lifetime” travel experiences that really “wow” their people and teams. It’s so much more than event planning, or being a travel agent (both of which I get compared to a lot). We create memories that leave a lasting impression on people, and just so happen to take place in beautiful locations around the globe. The most challenging thing for me when I began my career was… figuring out the in’s and out’s of the industry, and familiarizing myself with the way things are done while still having the confidence to question why it had to work that way. I was an investment broker by training, so the learning curve was steep. Each day I felt like I was trying to drink from a fire hose of new information. There is a unique language in the meetings and incentive world that took a while to navigate, but I had a great mentor (Julia Williams) who showed me the ropes, while demonstrating great patience. I also had to learn a lot about “client management.” I learned very quickly that setting expectations and being clear, candid, and honest in communicating with clients and suppliers can go a long way to ensuring
everyone walks away happy and satisfied with the outcomes. The most valuable lesson I learned was… from another valued mentor of mine, Grant Snider of Meeting Escrow (formerly of JPdL), who taught me that building relationships based on mutual trust, respect and honesty is the most important thing you can do when starting out in your career. You never know where those relationships might lead, be it referrals, introductions, or even to personal friendships. In addition, Grant taught me that creating a good reputation for yourself is the most important asset you own and certainly worth the investment. I think our industry could truly benefit from… giving young people a shot, even if they may not have the right resume or experience. I’m a big believer (and proof) that it’s not always about your background or education when it comes to determining how well suited you are for a job. One of our best hires was someone whose only experience was tree-planting and running a catering business. I have found that a passion for exploring the world, the charisma and enthusiasm to share that passion with people, and a genuine curiosity to continually turn over stones and keep digging for ways to enhance the experience are the best traits for being a successful part of our team. I plan to make my mark by… changing the way things are done as much as I can. My goal is to make this industry a much more client-driven process, with collaboration, shared-input, and education being integral to creating programs and throwing away assumptions of how “it’s always” or “supposed to” be done. We’ve already introduced several new initiatives that aren’t “the usual” for incentive programs or planners, such as the way we craft and share budgets and our approach to agendas and attendee communications. Ultimately, it comes down to the question, “how can we make this a better experience from the client’s perspective?”
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Meet in the Centre of It All.
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