Meetings + Incentive Travel October.November 2014

EDUCATION IN BUSINESS EVENTS+TECHNOLOGY+PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT+DESTINATIONS+REWARDS+

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OCTOBER.NOVEMBER 2014

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EDUCATION IN BUSINESS EVENTS+TECHNOLOGY+PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT+DESTINATIONS+REWARDS+

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OCTOBER.NOVEMBER 2014

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Left to right: INDUSTRY VOLUNTEER: SANDRA MONIZ, CMP, MEETINGS + CONVENTIONS CALGARY INDUSTRY BUILDER: JOHANNE R. BÉLANGER, CPA, CA, FREEMAN AUDIO VISUAL | CANADA RISING STAR: KYRA WHALE, MERIDICAN INCENTIVE CONSULTANTS INDUSTRY VETERAN: CYNTHIA RICHARDS, EVENT SPECTRUM INC. THE BIG IDEA: PATRICIA BRUSHA, A COUPLE OF CHICKS | ONLINE REVEALED INDUSTRY MENTOR: (seated) JANET L. JAKOBSEN, CMP MBA, NIAGARA COLLEGE INDUSTRY PLANNER: JULIE CALVERT, CMP CMM, THE CANADIAN PAYROLL ASSOCIATION INDUSTRY INNOVATOR: BOB VAEZ, EVENTMOBI

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REMINDER: THE ONLY DAY PLAN YOU NEED IS THE SU

Meet in Alberta With meeting facilities that span two major cities, the Canadian Rocky Mountains and many smaller rural hubs, the infrastructure behind Alberta’s Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Event sector is unparalleled.

Combine this with no provincial sales tax, two international airports and spectacular scenery and you’ll soon discover why Alberta is such a desirable business destination.

Alberta’s dramatic landscape is shaped by its diverse destinations – each with unique offerings, cultural amenities and state-of the-art meeting facilities. The cosmopolitan gateway cities of Calgary and Edmonton are well experienced in hosting large international events.

Or, choose from a long list of memorable meeting locations, from authentic alpine lodges to full-service luxury resorts with destination spas, championship golf, world-class skiing and five-star amenities.

Watch your meetings soar to new heights in Alberta.

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+51째 25' 0.43" N -115째 13' 3.38" W travelalberta.com/meetings

PLANNER THE SUN

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+CONTENTS

47 features 19 INCENTIVEWORKS WRAP-UP! 700 exhibitors, 2000 attendees, world-class education and more—IncentiveWorks 2014 delivered a world of opportunities and unlimited inspiration. Did you miss it?

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA SANTOS TEXT BY LORI SMITH

47

2014 HALL OF FAME

PHOTOS DONNA SANTOS

A celebration of this year’s eight inductees into M+IT’s Hall of Fame.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONNA SANTOS TEXT BY LORI SMITH

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MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+CONTENTS destination 58

HELSINKI

48 hours in Finland’s capital

BY LORI SMITH

62

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

PEI is no small potato

BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA

19

columns 29

EXPERT OPINION

40

Digging into meeting design

BY TAHIRA ENDEAN, CMP

Meet Mandy Pravda, Project Manager, Marketing & Communications, On Purpose Leadership Inc. AS TOLD TO CHRISTINE OTSUKA

30

LEADERSHIP

What stories define you?

Your business?

BY DOUG KEELEY

32

CONVENTION FILE

3 steps the meetings industry can take to gain support

BY ROD CAMERON

34

ASK AN EXPERT

Getting your ideas across; handling attendee food poisoning AS TOLD TO CHRISTINE OTSUKA

36

BUSINESS MATTERS

How to hire the perfect intern

BY MARK WARDELL

38

POWER POINTS

PHOTOS DONNA SANTOS

20 things to start and stop doing with email

BY AUDREY THOMAS

58

TWENTYSOMETHING

41

GOOD FOR YOU

Are we enslaved to our smartphones?

BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA

departments 8 What’s New on MeetingsCanada.com 11 Contributors 13 Editor’s Note 14 Agenda 15 Event Wrap-Ups 77 Gifts & Gear 80 Snapped 84 Find

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t h

what's new on

NEWS

SPACES

A recent national survey conducted by Choice Hotels Canada found that nearly one-in-four Canadians would not pursue a

ELBOW BEACH BERMUDA RESORT RE-OPENS MEETING ROOMS

new job opportunity if it didn’t include travel. Fifty-five

F&B

per cent say they

HOTEL

“secretly enjoy the break from family.”

QUOTABLE

WESTIN HARBOUR CASTLE HIRES CELEB CHEF

MAJOR EXPANSION PLANNED FOR LOEWS ROYAL PACIFIC

BLOG

Jill Harrington Selling Smarter “Can You Hear Me?”

“Let’s face it… few human beings are excellent listeners. Sales people, according to many customer surveys, stink at it.”

Listen in on the conversation or better yet, join in! Follow us on Twitter for the latest breaking industry news and updates @MeetingsCanada 8

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)

“Business-to-business exhibitions are time compressed marketing opportunities. To assure exhibit staff engage with as many target attendees as possible, a systematic disengagement approach is key.”

Brian Casey, CEM, president & CEO of Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) “CEIR Report Offers Advice for Exhibit Booth Staff,” September 17, 2014

th an Co

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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It o s W co w go ev th pl ou If th

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there’s teamwork happenIng here!

It’s ImpossIble to convey all the strengths of our exceptIonal team In just a hundred words, so we Included a pIcture to add a thousand more.

Why do clients love our team so much? It’s a combination of collaborative spirit, a ‘whatever it takes’ tenacity and decades’ worth of know-how. Every event we host is different, each client’s goals unique. But no matter how challenging or enormous the event may be, our team sees to it that every aspect exceeds the expectations of clients, participants and attendees. Event planning, promotion, hospitality, food, drink and beyond – our people manage it all with professionalism and efficiency.

If your event is too important to trust to just any venue, talk to the team at The International Centre.

InternationalCentre.com 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga 905.677.6131 / tf 1.800.567.1199

Follow us!

3 450+ EvEnts a yEar 3 $7 M rEnEwal Plan 3 500,000+ ft2 EvEnt faCIlIty 3 5,000 frEE ParkIng sPaCEs

the International centre staff (from left to right) Ron Bentley, Director of Event and Client Services; Sandra Martin, Sales Manager – Trade and Consumer Show; Trevor Lui, Director of Operations and Sustainability; Lee-Anne Leckie, Sales Manager – Meetings and Conventions; Raiman Dilag, Manager of Information Systems and Technology; Rita Medynski, Sales Manager – Trade and Consumer Show; Kevin Parker, Sales Manager – Corporate; Tawfik Shehata, Executive Chef; and Nadena Singh, Director of Events Management

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VOLUME 43, NUMBER 5 OCTOBER.NOVEMBER 2014

HOW DO YOU DISCONNECT FROM THE CONNECTED WORLD?

Publisher 416.510.5226

CHR IST IN E G IOV IS CGiovis@MeetingsCanada.com

EDITORIAL LO R I S MIT H

“I keep misplacing my phone so disconnecting isn’t a problem.”

Editor 416.442.5600 x3254

Associate Editor 416.442.5600 x3255

LSmith@MeetingsCanada.com

CHR IST IN E OTS U KA COtsuka@MeetingsCanada.com

ART ELLIE ROBINSON

Art Director 416.442.5600 x3590

“I turn my phone off and watch a favourite movie.”

“Spend time reading and teaching the ABC’s to my two-year-old daughter.”

ERobinson@bizinfogroup.com

“I go for a long walk and leave my phone at home.”

SALES CO R I-A N N CA N U E L

Account Manager 416.510.6819

CCanuel@MeetingsCanada.com “I go to the cottage - it’s off the grid!”

“Early morning walks along the lake with my two canine kids before the day’s battles begin.”

International Business Development Manager 416.510.5144

A LA N N A MCQ UA ID AMcquaid@MeetingsCanada.com

INCENTIVEWORKS General Manager 416.510.5141 “Read a book… or sleep!”

Event Coordinator 416.510.5231

R O B IN PA IS LE Y RPaisley@MeetingsCanada.com

ST E P HA N IE HILTZ SHiltz@MeetingsCanada.com

EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Rod Cameron, Don Douloff, Tahira Endean, CMP, Tyra Hilliard, CMP, Ph.D., Doug Keeley, Scott Kellner, Mandy Pravda, Audrey Thomas, Mark Wardell, Jonah Wolfraim

BIG MAGAZINES LP Vice-President of Canadian Publishing President of Business Information Group

ALEX PAPA N O U

BRUC E C R E IG HTO N

“I find it easy to disconnect when I am playing with my kids – they get 100% of my focus!”

CIRCULATION + PRODUCTION + ONLINE Circulation Manager 416.442.5600 x3543

B E ATA O LEC H N OW I C Z BOlechnowicz@bizinfogroup.ca

Market Production Manager 416.510.6762

T RACE Y H AN SO N

IT Business Support Manager 416.510.6898

LAU RA MO F FATT

THanson@bizinfogroup.ca

LMoffatt@bizinfogroup.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@businessinformationgroup.ca, SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: Canada $77.50 per year, Outside Canada $108.00 US per year, Single Copy Canada $13.00, Buyers Guide $60.95. 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 BIG Magazines LP, a division of Glacier BIG Holdings Company Ltd. 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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contributors

29

30

36

40

TAHI RA END EAN There is No Box

D OUG KEE LE Y What’s in a Story?

MA R K WA R D E LL Hiring the Perfect Intern

MA N DY P RAVDA TwentySomething

“Spa. Hike head-up. Read the old-fashioned way. Cook – you cannot stir and text!

Hug someone.”

“I go to a hockey rink and watch my son play, ignoring the ringing phone in my pocket.”

“At work I block time to completely unplug. At home it’s the opposite.

We’re always unplugged, except for the occasional ‘power hour’.”

“I normally hop on a plane.

Leaving everything behind is the only way to truly disconnect.”

Contact Tahira at: Tahira.Endean@quickmobile.com

Contact Doug at: dougk@themarkofaleader.com

Contact Mark at: mark.wardell@wardell.biz

Contact Mandy at: mpravda@onpurpose.ca

MEETINGS AT

CINEPLEX Auditorium rentals at 161 locations across Canada

SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS TOWN HALLS ROAD SHOWS

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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72% OF CALGARIANS FEEL THE CALGARY TELUS CONVENTION CENTRE WILL BE TOO DO WE SMALL WITHIN WHERE GROW FROM HERE? A DECADE WHAT’S NEXT AT THE CENTRE OF ENERGY? –

calgary-convention.com

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+EDITOR’SCOMMENT

SHARING KNOWLEDGE

COMING NEXT ISSUE Event Spectrum’s “Stand Up and Stand Out” winner reports on Jamaica FAM; Allan Lynch looks at airlift; and Christine Otsuka writes about Ireland.

STAY IN THE KNOW

Sign up for our newsletters, delivered right to your inbox.

Weekly The top five must-read stories of the week, plus industry blogs and important dates.

Monthly In case you missed it, we recap the most-read industry news of the month. meetingscanada.com/newsletters

I am writing this editorial on my flight back from a press FAM trip to Las Vegas, an established destination where a lot of new things are happening. One of the developments the Las Vegas Convention & Visitor Association (LVCVA) was eager for us to check out was the Downtown Project, the movement spearheaded by zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh to reinvigorate the city’s old downtown—the original Strip. We visited the innovative Container Park, stopped in at the ultra-cool Golden Spike and flew down Fremont Street on the Slotzilla Zoom line. Along the way, we were filled in on the Project’s history as well as its present and future initiatives. Over gourmet doughnuts at O Face Doughnuts, the Project’s rep shared that there had been a change to Hsieh’s three “Cs,” which I wrote about in this space in the last issue. Collision and connection remain. However, community has been replaced with “co-learning.”

On the Downtown Project’s website, it’s explained that “co-learning” is measured by the “hours where people in the neighborhood are learning from each other, through mentorship, classes, talks, workshops, etc.” This sharing of knowledge— give and take—has been key to the Downtown Project’s current successes and will be central to its future triumphs.

I mention this because magazines are vehicles of co-learning, as are trade shows and conferences. And we are proud that M+IT and IncentiveWorks are major

education conduits for the industry. But I know there’s more we can do. In the last year, the IncentiveWorks’ team introduced M+IT University, a series of one-day conferences held in cities across the country. In 2015, M+IT will be hosting four invitationonly roundtables that will give planners the chance to share their industry knowledge with me so I can, in turn, share it with our readers. Incentive travel planners, thirdparty planners, association planners and corporate planners will all have an opportunity to discuss the challenges they face and weigh-in on where the MICE industry is headed. It will be co-learning on steriods.

In addition, a statistics expert will soon be revamping the annual market report survey, with the goal of streamlining the questions while increasing the value of the information collected. Once that is done, I need as many of you as possible to complete the survey so we have enough aggregate data to create meaningful industry benchmarks and grow our market intelligence. It’s a lot of work on your part, and on our part, but what we can learn from one another is invaluable.

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.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+AGENDA event spotlight Keep on top of professional development and networking opportunities in the business events community.

NOVEMBER EIBTM: The Global Meetings & Events Expo More than 15,000 international industry professionals are expected in Barcelona, Spain for this year’s edition of EIBTM. The Expo will feature some 3,000 exhibitors representing global destinations, venues, hotels, products and services. Special features include the Innovation Zone, an area showcasing “entertaining, educational and inspirational” products and ideas, and

EIBTM Technology Watch. The show’s education will cover trends, research, meeting design and more. eibtm.com Canadian Innovation Conference (CIC) The PCMA Canada East Chapter is hosting its second annual Canadian regional education conference at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, Quebec. The two-and-a-half day event is offering several educational tracks, including: Management & Leadership Skills, Innovation in Event Design & Technology, Personal Growth and Development, Marketing, Risk Management, and Innovations and Issues in Food and Beverage. The opening keynote will be delivered by Olympic medalist Mark Tewskbury and Olympic coach Debbie Muir. 400 event professionals from across Canada are expected to attend. pcma.org/CIC

ADDITIONAL INDUSTRY EVENTS: NOVEMBER ++ 5 ISES Toronto Gala, Atlantis Pavilions – Metropolitan Ballroom, Toronto, ON DECEMBER ++ 1 MPI Toronto Holiday Gala, Delta Toronto, Toronto, ON ++ 2 MPI Atlantic Canada Holiday Networking Reception, Murphy’s on the Water, Halifax, NS ++ 11 MPI Ottawa Festive Luncheon, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel GatineauOttawa, Gatineau, QC ++ 16 Site Canada Holiday Social 2014, InterContinental Toronto Centre, Toronto, ON FOR MORE INDUSTRY EVENTS, VISIT MEETINGSCANADA.COM

ISES – International Special Events Society, MPI – Meeting Professionals International, PCMA – Professional Convention Management Association, Site Canada – Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (Canada)

Have the most interesting conversation of your day.

Call us to discuss the perfect speaker for your next event.

SPEAKERS CELEBRITY L&D DIGITAL

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+WRAPUPS Photos: Jacob Slaton Photography

PCMA EDUCATION CONFERENCE 2014 PCMA’s education conference was held June 22-25 in Toronto. The three-day event began with a relaxed evening reception in the city’s historic Distillery District. Held in a beautifully renovated fermenting cellar, the event included dinner and networking while also providing die-hard soccer fans with the US vs. Portugal World Cup game projected on the wall—a small detail that made many happy.

Following the theme of “disruption,” the two days of education delivered a powerful experience that truly differentiated the Education Conference from traditional conferences including its own, larger Convening Leaders meeting held earlier in the year in Boston. PCMA’s mid-year meeting success can be broken down into three key elements: focus, design and continuity.

FOCUS As technology shifts thinking to a more personalized experience rather than a focus on “the masses,” there’s a tendency to personalize the event experience so everyone has different takeaways. This makes it exceedingly difficult to ensure everyone finds equal value in a meeting. Instead, the PCMA team focused on one theme: disruption. The key takeaway: stop what you’re doing and rethink your approach to your work. The personalized aspect of the event was how each and every attendee chose to arrive at that core message using different tracks and sessions.

DESIGN Despite the different session topics, PCMA practiced what they preach by having all the sessions, speakers and attendees in one large conference hall. Using material from their first day of sessions, speakers led workshops and roundtable discussions providing participants with real, actionable results.

Though noise was an issue at times, it was just another learning experience that PCMA will no doubt consider and adjust.

CONTINUITY With one underlying theme over a twoday arc, the PCMA team expertly selected speakers to tie together their core theme.

Using industry examples like Isadore Sharp

and the rise of Four Seasons, speakers were able to take non-industry concepts and apply them to the industry in a relevant way.

Compared to the 20 other industry events I have attended in recent years, I can confidently say, the PCMA Education Conference 2014 sits at the very top.

With a single focused theme in mind, PCMA delivered its message through a powerfully designed meeting held together

by relevant thought-leaders and attendee participation. —JONAH WOLFRAIM, EVENTMOBI

CAEM 2014 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

CAEM’s annual conference headed west to Edmonton, Alta. this past June. With a theme of “Blazing Trails, New Horizons” the conference committee created an education program that touched on all facets of the industry.

The sessions started strong with a powerful keynote address by Doug Keeley, CEO and chief storyteller at Mark of a Leader. Doug’s keynote was energizing, thought-provoking and emotional. The CAEM crowd was moved by his message. Jill Harrington, president of SalesSHIFT, delivered two powerful sessions to help sales professionals solve their biggest selling challenges and win over clients. And show managers enjoyed collaborative sessions like the Horseshoe Exchange where attendees shared ideas and success stories, all with the goal of

bettering trade and consumer shows.

Throughout the program there were opportunities to participate in fundraising activities that benefitted Kids Healthlinks Foundation—a program that provides children in medical care with technology to alleviate stress, isolation and loneliness. More than $1,100 was donated to this worthy cause.

Each night of the conference was capped-off with a networking event that showcased great places around Edmonton. My favourite was the closing night event at The Red Piano, a dueling pianos bar. Not only was the entertainment topnotch, they got everyone singing (and dancing) along. The energy was electric!

In 2015, the CAEM conference returns to the east, running June 14 – 16 at the Hilton Lac Leamy. — ROBIN PAISLEY MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+WRAPUPS

When Doreen Ashton Wagner called me up to invite me to the first-ever Engaging Associations Summit, I was intrigued. It was Greenfield Services’ first event and I had high expectations, because I know Doreen and her team have high expectations for themselves. And they did not disappoint.

About 70 attendees, from association planners, marketers, executives and membership directors, arrived at the Museum of Nature in Ottawa on July 24th and were treated to two days of thought-provoking and revealing conversations on the issues facing associations today.

The event space was divided into two distinct learning areas. The “Business Exchange” was the more traditional of the two. Think long rows of chairs, set theatrestyle, LCD screens and generally more lecture-like presentations with small group

Photos: Ryan Steele Photography

ENGAGING ASSOCIATIONS SUMMIT

discussions. On the other side of the room, Doreen’s team created a mock living room with coffee tables, couches, flowers and comfy chairs. It was a space more conducive to conversation and creative thinking, which is why it was dubbed the “Creative Lounge.” We toggled back and forth between the two spaces to great effect.

Each session was punctuated by a longer than usual break—45 minutes—and attendees were encouraged to check email, snack

or chat in the Summit’s café, or wander around the museum.

We were also encouraged to fill out an “Aha!” card and attach it to a faux wall of bright blue and lime green ribbons that created a centre corridor in the room. In the final session of the day, we talked about some of the greatest lessons learned and everything came full circle.

The Summit covered everything from strategy, marketing, technology and value creation, conference loyalty, sponsorships, membership engagement and a new membership model for associations. I left with 18 pages of notes based on our conversations and inspired by the openness of those around me. By all accounts, it was a hit! I can’t wait for the next Engaging Associations Summit, held in Ottawa, July 2324, 2015. —CHRISTINE OTSUKA

MPI WORLD EDUCATION CONGRESS (WEC) Nineteen hundred event professionals took over Minneapolis this August for the 2014 edition of Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC).

The Congress, which ran from Saturday, August 1st to Tuesday, August 5th at the Minneapolis Convention Centre (MCC), offered a full slate of sessions on topics ranging from RFPs, social media, meeting design and contract negotiation to innovation, wellness and giving back. It also featured a roster of great keynote speakers including Dr. Deepak Chopra, the world-renowned wellness expert; Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari; and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

According to Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI, the conference was designed to—and delivered—opportunities for attendees to network, develop partnerships and learn. Some of the show’s innovative features included: FlashPoint General Sessions, which gave speakers 15 16

minutes to present mini-versions of the Deep Dive sessions they would be holding later in the day; CSR Central, a full-day corporate social responsibility event hosted by Meet Minneapolis Convention & Visitors Association benefitting eight local charities; and Puppy Cuddling, an opportunity for attendees to interact with therapy dogs—and vice-versa.

One of the benefits of attending the conference is learning what’s ahead at MPI. Looking forward, Van Deventer said the association will be introducing a 5K run program to benefit its charitable arm (MPI Foundation) and it will be working to adopt Canada’s National Meetings Industry Day initiative in the United States and Mexico.

W 19 w o Next year’s edition of WEC will be held July 25-28, 2015 in San Francisco, California.—LORI SMITH

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A quick 9 holes is a

FAIR WAY to start a meeting

E S C A P E TO AT L A N T I C C A N A D A’S

M A G N I F I C E N T LY R E-I M A G I N E D A L G O N Q U I N R E S O R T. When you host your business meeting or corporate event at the Algonquin Resort, inspiration is par for the course. With over 19,000 square feet of sunlit meeting space, attentive staff, and cuisine compliments of our own Braxton’s Restaurant & Bar, we offer everything your event could need. And with our stunning seaside setting, nearby beaches, winding hiking trails, and of course award-winning signature golf course, we have your wants taken care of too. See for yourself why meetings at the Algonquin are anything but business as usual.

Contact Denise Bradbury: 506 921 0507

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denise.bradbury@algonquinresort.com

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algonquinresort.com

TRAMPOLINE Contact: La Project: 11 Client: The Publication Size: 8.125 Insertion D Photos/Log

NOTE: All tra

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M

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE EVENT!

CLUB MED IXTAPA PACIFIC

If

you’ve ever enjoyed an exciting, all-inclusive Club Med vacation, you already know how great it feels to have all the details taken care of, so you can relax and make the most of your trip. Well, Club Med Business is all that and more – our expert meeting specialists will take care of everything to make your next event unforgettable.

One of our resorts is Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, on the southwest coast of Mexico tucked between the Sierra Madre Mountains and the majestic Pacific Ocean. Getting there is easy, with direct flights from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver to the Ixtapa Zihuatanejo International Airport, just a short half-hour drive away.

Ixtapa Pacific’s beautiful new convention centre features nine (9) meeting rooms, offering a total of 9,000 square feet of meeting space. The resort offers a total of 300 rooms and suites, in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.

But it wouldn’t be Club Med without a host of exciting and fun team-building adventures or relaxing amenities after a day of meetings. We’ve got three3 (3)restaurants and three3 (3)bars onsite, and a whole host of activities from flying trapeze lessons to tennis, kayak, sailing, and beach volleyball. Recharge at Spa L’Occitane, or take a relaxing stroll along our 800 metres of breathtaking Pacific Ocean beach – it’s practically out our back door.

Our G.O.s, Club Med’s world-renowned team of meeting professionals, will help take care of every detail, and of course, provide Club Med’s legendary all-inclusive and worry-free travel expertise, all for one price. Visit us online at www.clubmedgroups.com to find our full range of services, or call your Club Med representative at 1.888.567.1777, ext.4, email us at Montreal.groups@clubmed.com for a quote, or visit canada.clubmedbusiness.ca. We look forward to welcoming you!

WORLD CLASS SERVICE IN DREAM LOCATIONS Club Med Business offers a complete business infrastructure balancing efficiency with a rich experience.

Nothing is overlooked and everything is set in advance, from meeting facilities to an all-day gourmet dining.

CLUB MED BUSINESS AVANTAGES : • Complimentary meeting space

• Complimentary Wi-Fi

• 1 complimentary land-only stay for every 20 paying adults

• 2 complimentary coffee breaks at selected resorts

• Complimentary cocktail reception

• And much more! (2)

GROUP OFFER ALL-INCLUSIVE

$

125

*

PER NIGHT PER ADULT Book by October 28, 2014 for travel by April 30, 2015.

For more information or to book, please contact us at 1-888-567-1777, extension 4, montreal.groups@clubmed.com or visit www.canada.clubmedbusiness.ca.

Follow us on @clubmedbus * Canada only. Caller must ask for the All-inclusive Incentive Offer Package at time of booking. Must have a minimum of 20 adults (age 16 years and older). Sample price is per adult, per night based on double occupancy in a Club room at Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico from 18 to 25 April 2015, or Punta Cana, Dominican Republic from 11 to 18 April 2015, or Sandpiper Bay, Florida, from 11 to 18 April 2015. A minimum of 3 nights is required.

Valid only for new group bookings and must be booked by October 28, 2014 and travel by April 30, 2015. Previously contracted groups are not eligible. Promotion may be withdrawn at any time and is subject to capacity restrictions. Booking must be made as a group through the respective Canada Club Med Business department only. Other restrictions apply, including standard Club Med Business terms and conditions. Not responsible for errors or omissions. Void where prohibited or restricted by law. Offer cannot be combined with another Club Med Business offer. Membership fees of $60 per person are additional. The 21st adult staying for free pays only the membership fee. The meeting space, the beverages for the offered cocktail/coffee break, the Wi-Fi are not convertible into cash and cannot be reimbursed if not taken. For travel services booked with a Québec Travel Consultant, prices exclude the client’s contribution to the Indemnity Fund, which amounts to $1 per $1,000 of travel services purchased. (2) Upgrade to 4 superior category room are subject to availability while the request is asked. 10% off on visual equipment rental at Sandpiper Bay and Ixtapa Pacific.10% off on spa treatments and Discovery tours valid for a minimum of 20 packages.

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2014

PHOTOS BY DONNA SANTOS PHOTOGRAPHY

WRAP UP!

HOSTED BUYERS FROM CANADA AND THE U.S. MET, MINGLED AND DID BUSINESS.

This August IncentiveWorks™ brought the business events industry together to share ideas, make new connections and push their boundaries.

Conference attendees enjoyed two days of worldclass education offering business-building solutions and professional development. Visitors to the tradeshow floor met with 700+ exhibiting companies.

They received expert advice on topics ranging from successful tweeting to strategic thinking in the Coaching Corner and Knowledge Pods. They networked through the new #IWnetwork, and had the chance to try innovative activities they can add to their own events in the show’s new Discovery District.

IncentiveWorks 2014 was a world of opportunities. ~ Lori Smith, Editor

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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M+IT’S HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES GATHERED FOR DINNER ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE THE SHOW.

ON TUESDAY, EIGHT MORE INDUSTRY STARS WERE WELCOMED INTO THE GROUP.

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ES E

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS MARK BOWDEN AND JACKIE HUBA WOWED ATTENDEES. CONFERENCE SESSIONS BROUGHT 800+ EVENT PROS TOGETHER TO LEARN AND EXCHANGE IDEAS.

NEW! #IWNETWORK CONNECTED OBSERVERS, SOCIAL BUTTERFLIES AND AMBASSADORS CREATING CONVERSATION, INTERACTION AND VALUE FOR ATTENDEES.

1

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MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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FIFTEEN HUNDRED L U X U R Y

H O S P I T A L I T Y

S U I T E

A NEW LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION

F O R C O R P O R AT E A N D P R I VAT E E V E N T S 1 KING STREET WEST

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TORONTO, ONTARIO

416.548.8200

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THE NEW DISCOVERY DISTRICT FEATURED COOL INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, PUZZLES, MIXOLOGY AND MORE! GREAT IDEAS FOR PLANNERS TO “STEAL” FOR THEIR OWN EVENTS.

THE TRADE SHOW WAS ELECTRIC WITH ENTERTAINMENT, FOOD TRUCKS, ONFLOOR EDUCATION AND EXHIBITORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

24

W At all be to cu

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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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.

LOOK CLOSER.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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EXHIBITORS AND PLANNERS TWO-STEPPED THE NIGHT AWAY AT INCENTIVEWORKS’ MODERN WEST CLOSING PARTY AT ROCK ‘N’ HORSE SALOON.

B T Y A I G

DON’T MISS INCENTIVEWORKS 2015!

AUGUST 18 + 19, 2015 TORONTO, ONTARIO

Ed Th le St D D

SEE MORE INCENTIVEWORKS PHOTOS AT MEETINGSCANADA.COM/ INCENTIVEWORKS

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MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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BECAUSE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO AFTER A DAY OF INSPIRATION IS GO TO YOUR ROOM. Edmonton has everything you need to successfully host a conference – large or small.

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/University

14-10-17 8:37 AM

+EXPERT OPINION

THERE IS NO Digging into meeting design

BOX

BY TAHIRA ENDEAN, CMP Meeting design is a term with many meanings across our industry.

According to Mary Boone’s definition it is simply “the purposeful shaping of the form and content of a meeting to deliver on crucial objectives.” This is deceptively simple though and requires thoughtfulness, research and yes, creativity to bring to life. The first step is, of course, clearly defining the objectives of all the stakeholder groups, including internal clients, your host, your Csuite and the people you will market to showing the value of your meeting, including participants, presenters, sponsors or exhibitors, each with their own needs.

It is easy to stay with the status quo. Your numbers remain good and your evaluations are steady, as people get what they expect. But, what we are learning now about the neuroscience of participants is showing us that positive surprises impact the immediate experience, and also switch on your brain and fire up the neurons to increase retention and make new relevant connections—two key success factors for any meeting. Including elements that spark the five senses from subtle scent, to lighting that changes the mood, adding texture and form in the environment, brain-friendly food that inspires conversations and music that layers in ambience are all simple tools we will look at during M+IT University in November.

As one example, general sessions set the tone and usually feature a stage set, one to three screens, and rows of theatre seating facing the front. Changing up the seating to include soft seating, or levels using risers, or mixing up high and low tables allowing people to choose where they are comfortable changes the tone immediately. Imagine if you have top performers in your organization and you reward them with front-row seating in lounge chairs and provide a beverage service to them during the general session—it’s a mind shift.

What happens on the stage, how you tell your story is also a critical piece. Are you deciding on your entire program six to nine months out as you prepare your marketing materials and pre-show ramp-up? Curating content is seen as a critical function, and this timing is a norm for many meetings. Becoming

more popular now is a combination of curated and participant-driven content with the agenda determined by the people once they are together. This takes a combination of process and planning, and we will look at examples of when this can work for your needs.

We are seeing how rapidly participant expectations evolve and experiences are no longer just archived but are shared immediately on a variety of channels. Some you control such as your livestreamed broadcast, and some you don’t such as Twitter or Facebook, and staying ahead of the curve becomes ever more crucial.

Every element of your event is now available for scrutiny from those who are there and those who are following along.

Then there is the fun stuff—the new, fresh ideas which will surprise and delight, will set your meeting apart, and will ensure in the eyes of the client that this was once again “the best event ever” and becomes the must-attend event to put in the calendar for next year. Creativity, discovery, exploration—these are the buzzwords that underlie developing the “best” experience for your participants and as planners and producers this can be one of the most difficult and also one of the most satisfying elements of our role and our toolkit requires constant updating.

Time and money are critical resources and if your event design doesn’t stand out and draw in participants and sponsors year over year, your event may cease to exist. During the session I’m presenting at M+IT University next month, we will look at key elements of meeting design across all budget ranges and share successes and challenges to implementation.

—Tahira Endean, CMP, is manager of events at QuickMobile and co-host of the Event Alley Show. She will be leading the session Meeting Design: Breaking from Tradition at M+IT University in Vancouver on November 12. www.meetingscanada.com/university

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+LEADERSHIP

“The story is one of the most basic tools invented by the human mind for the purpose of understanding. There have been great societies that did not use the wheel, but there have been no societies that did not tell stories.” – Ursula K. Le Guin, Author What are the stories that define you? What are the stories that define your organization?

When we ask new clients these questions, few can answer.

When we dig into their past and their culture, we usually find story gold, buried beneath mountains of data and decks of (usually bad) PowerPoint.

FedEx will tell you its commitment to “absolutely positively on time” was defined by the driver who rented a helicopter to get a package through an avalanche. Nordstrom might tell you it was giving a full refund to a customer who returned a set of tires—a product it does not sell. Apple’s 1983 MacIntosh team will tell you it was the ritual of hanging a pirate flag off the top of the developer building, a symbol of who they were.

All organizations have these stories. The great startup 30

WHAT’S YOUR STORY?

stories. The “going above and beyond” stories. The incredible teamwork stories. The “winning against all odds” stories. If you aren’t finding, crafting and telling them, over and over, you are doing your people and organization a huge disservice.

When I started The Mark of a Leader 10 years ago, our whole approach to leadership being based in stories, some CEOs thought it was woo woo. “What, you want us to sit around the fire, sing Kumbaya and tell a few stories? Ha ha ha.”

Those same CEOs today, their people’s imaginations and hearts bludgeoned into submission by too much data and endless presentation snoozefests, are singing a different song. In fact, they’re asking for help in creating a culture where stories play a critical role. As well they should.

Stories in any culture—a company, a family, a community, a team—define the behavior of that group. Those behaviours collectively form its culture. That culture drives performance.

No siree bub, stories are not woo woo. Stories have a direct impact on the bottom line. The

Crafting a narrative is key to business—and event—success

BY DOUG KEELEY

story of the Federal Express driver and the avalanche was in every newspaper in the land, and in no small way helped the company become one of the world’s greatest brands.

And what does that have to do with meetings and incentive travel? Absolutely everything.

When people come together, as they do at meetings, they should be sharing stories. Their stories. Each other’s stories.

The team-back-home’s stories.

The competition’s stories. Their craziest clients’ stories. All the stories. They should dig them out and share them as much as they can. Tell stories on the main stage, in the breakouts, in the bar, at dinner, in the hospitality suite and the hot tub. Make it a competitive activity if you want!

If you are a leader, I believe one of the most important tasks you have is to create a culture founded on and bound by stories.

Take your instantly forgettable data (which most of it is) and turn it into stories. Craft the stories. Capture the stories. And then tell them to new recruits, clients, potential clients, the media—darn well anyone who will listen.

Steve Jobs was one of the

best CEO storytellers of all time. His famous “and one more thing” line was like magic fairy dust for an audience. Winston Churchill spent an hour working on every finished minute of speech. And he saved the world as a direct result.

I am not asking you to save the world. But on behalf of audiences everywhere, I am asking you to become better storytellers. It might save your audience’s souls. It will definitely impact your bottom line if you do it right.

—Doug Keeley is CEO & Chief Storyteller of The Mark of a Leader, www.themarkofaleader.com.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+CONVENTIONFILE

BY ROD CAMERON

MOVING CLOSER TO A NEW VALUE PROPOSITION

SECOND THIRD

A significant step was taken at the recent Politician’s Forum in Frankfurt this year with the issuance of a joint statement reflecting an agreement for cooperation between the meetings industry as represented by the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC) and the two most important global travel and tourism organizations WTTC (the World Travel and Tourism Council) and UNWTO (the World Travel Organization).

The statement reinforced the distinction between the two sectors, and in particular their very different value propositions. In doing so, it paved the way for a much more productive form of interaction in areas where our interests overlap.

But most important was the way it recognized the legitimacy of the meetings industry as a key element in the overall global economy, and the fact that its incremental values are all about factors such as knowledge transfer, economic advancement and professional enhancement that go beyond the already recognized benefits of tourism. While this is something already well accepted by the vast majority of our industry, it has—in spite of a rapidly growing awareness amongst governments in many parts of the world—remained largely unacknowledged in the broader community.

Now, the question turns to the more practical matter of what exactly we can do to translate such a redefinition of the industry into better recognition of, and support for, the meetings industry. There are at least three things that should be considered in that regard and all relate primarily to the local community level.

FIRST

Three practical steps the meetings industry can take to gain support

We need to create mechanisms for an ongoing interface with other sectors beyond the local hospitality interests like the hotels and tourism organizations that have occupied so much of our attention to date. If we are, in fact, facilitators of knowledge transfer, economic growth and professional development, we should have at least as strong a set of connections to business groups, professional organizations and academic institutions as we have with the tourism community—yet many don’t.

We should be familiar with local government policy priorities around these same areas. Governments are huge supports of our industry, both in terms of investment and of sanctioning participation by government staff in the events we host, so it only makes sense that we demonstrate some awareness of their priorities in the areas where we interface—and that includes such things as economic development, training and education and inward investment. However, once again, these are areas often only dimly understood, even by those in our industry who would most directly benefit from a better appreciation by local and regional governments of how we are supporting their policy aspirations in a very tangible way.

We need to press for an adjustment of destination branding to emphasize those attributes that support our claims for a broader role in overall community development. Many still focus largely or exclusively on leisure qualities at a time when both organizers and delegates increasingly need more ammunition to support their contention that meetings and conventions are all about business and professional development rather than an excuse for a paid holiday. At the same time, such an approach would further help to emphasize the important role we play in advancing the broader interests of the community.

None of these represent huge challenges to those of us who interact on a regular basis with our respective communities—yet all need a lot of attention if we are able to capitalize on the potential benefits of a more accurate industry value proposition. Let’s hope we can find the time to start addressing these as we move forward.

Exhilar

M

Give Reso the p conf prog to en

Mee

• Ad pr • Fr • C • O • C an

—Rod Cameron is the executive director of the Joint Meetings Industry Council, www.the meetingsindustry.org.

Cal 32

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Exhilarating Activities

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Updated Meeting Venues

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Creative Theme Events

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Meet at Deerhurst Resort and Horseshoe Resort and enjoy: • Adventures in Excellence signature teambuilding programs exclusive to Skyline Hotels & Resorts • Freshly renovated accommodations and meeting venues • Customizable theme dinners and live entertainment • Onsite Adventure Parks, off-roading and trail activities • Choice of stunning waterfront setting or thrilling ski hill and terrain park

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+ASK AN EXPERT

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON ISSUES OF INTEREST

Getting your ideas across; Handling attendee food poisoning

Q. A.

I feel like I have good ideas, but when I pitch them to higher ups they’re often rejected. Yet when colleagues present something similar, they get approved. What am I doing wrong?

your focus on the company’s goals: building a [3] Reiterate lead funnel which will generate new revenue

Try this: turn your idea into a complete business proposition.

Why? Because decision makers are often inundated with ideas. Those that rise to the top do so because they form a complete picture.

Here are four steps to follow:

ture events and other marketing communications. This will underscore the idea that you’re thinking about promoting the business, not just your idea.

The last point is a critical element often left out of new idea presentations. Too often we get wrapped up in tactical issues and forget that decision makers are looking at broader strategic implications.

Last, don’t give up! Idea generators are a valuable addition to any company.

your audience, the decision [ 1 ] Assume maker, is skeptical. Acknowledge

M+IT EXPERT

that they get all sorts of ideas and many of SCOTT KELLNER George P. Johnson them are half-baked. Start out with a state- Experience Marketing ment about your objective, your desired outcome, and connect it with your company’s goals. For example, if the company is seeking new sales leads, start off your business proposition with this as your stated objective—this will orient the listener and cue them to take you seriously. Let’s say your idea is to host a new business event or participate in a trade conference to build sales leads. show how your idea is both meaningful to the tar[2] Next, get audience (potential sales leads) and how it will result in new leads. This will involve thinking through the entire cycle: pre-event, during the event, and post-event. What are the tools and techniques you’re going to use to ensure you: an generate the right audience—make some claims [a] C about who and how many will attend [b] Can engage the audience—explain how you will entice them to consume or interact with your content [c] Can capture the lead data your sales team will need for follow up—explain your vision to show you’re thinking about the company’s return on investment [d] Have a plan for sales enablement—present how you will provide the information to sales for follow up and what materials you suggest they use to do so

34

present your ideas for using the feedback [4] Finally, from the event you’re planning to improve fu-

Q.

If a group of attendees develop food poisoning from food served at an event I organized, what am I required to do? Or more importantly, what should I do?

A.

Upon being informed of this situation, you are required to use due care in identifying and recommending appropriate medical care for the M+IT EXPERT people who are sick. “Due care” is the legal TYRA HILLIARD, CMP, PH.D, ESQ. standard that is typically used to determine Dr. Tyra Consulting whether someone was negligent in their duty to someone else.

As a meeting professional, you are not required to go to the hospital with sick attendees and you are not required to force them to go see a doctor if they choose not to after being informed of how and where they can get medical care (e.g., hospital, emergency clinic). However, being caring and expressing concern (but not fault) to sick attendees can go a long way towards preventing ill will (and sometimes even lawsuits!)

As a meeting professional, your proactive duty to meeting attendees starts at the point of site selection and continues through the entire meeting planning and management process. That is, you must use due diligence in choosing a destination, venue, and (possibly in this case) a caterer. Some steps that should be taken include:

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+ASK AN EXPERT a destination where reasonable medical care is [ 1 ] Choosing available OR making other arrangements to have medical care available or accessible; for references for any food providers that [2] Asking are selected;

[c] F ollowing the venue’s procedure for contacting emergency services (e.g., are you supposed to call the hotel’s security office who will then contact emergency services?) when you reasonably can; [d] Acting promptly once the situation becomes known.

[4] Arming yourself with appropriate information such as:

Meeting professionals are not expected to be medical specialists. Your job is to act as a reasonably prudent meeting professional would in the planning and management of the meeting and to act swiftly in the face of an emergency, including communicating with attendees. From there, it is perfectly acceptable to let the medical professionals handle it. As a practical matter, it would be wise to also contact your organization’s attorney (if you have one) or risk management department. It is also recommended, if not required, to contact the local health department and inform them of the situation.

[a] Where the nearest hospital/emergency care clinic is located; [b] Knowing the number to call to get emergency services (it is not 9-1-1 in every country);

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? Email cotsuka@meetingscanada.com and M+IT will call upon an expert to answer it in an upcoming issue.

[3]

Having procedures in place with the venue to ensure that appropriate steps will be taken if a guest/attendee becomes sick. This step should include informing the meeting professional immediately if it is one or more of the meeting attendees;

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+BUSINESSMATTERS

YOUR CHEAT SHEET TO

HIRING THE PERFECT INTERN

BY MARK WARDELL

Your business is expanding, your team is working full tilt and you have more projects on your hands than ever before. At Wardell, we call this “growth mode,” and it’s a great (albeit challenging) place to be. On the one hand, you’ve got a ton of projects underway, which are going to take your business to the next level. On the other, you haven’t quite reached the revenue stream to justify hiring additional staff. The solution? An ambitious, capable intern.

An intern? Don’t balk at the idea of bringing on someone who lacks experience. When budgets are tight, an intern can help your business complete all of those projects on your plate (you know, the ones that aren’t quite making you money yet) in the most affordable way.

So, how do you find the right intern?

First, look to your local colleges and universities to find out what types of internship placements they’re facilitating, relative to specific programs i.e. event management, hospitality, marketing, business, etc. Connect with the program coordinators directly to ask about and set up a work placement. Sometimes this can be as simple as letting them know your business is accepting placements.

Next, you’ll need to conduct interviews in the same manner as you would any potential new employee. But look for “smart and motivated” rather than “experienced and connected.” Take them through your standard hiring process, ask what they hope to learn and contribute, and, above all, check references. (I’ve seen countless businesses go through several interns before finding the right one simply because they didn’t screen meticulously.)

A big reality check to keep in mind is that today’s young Gen Yers don’t tend to strive to impress the way Gen Xers do, yet they do tend to interview really well. It’s a common complaint among business owners that their interns weren’t actually willing to do the 36

job required, i.e. they had other loftier goals in mind. To avoid this, be especially clear about what their day-to-day work will look like.

Don’t assume anything.

Developing a system is the most efficient way to give your intern a successful start. Develop a crystal clear strategy for projects your intern will manage, along with detailed training for how exactly they should proceed, including details for how they should measure results. By developing a system that your intern can follow, you’re automatically setting them on a path to success. Plus, you can easily adapt this system to be used for other future hires in a similar role.

One way to inspire your intern to excellence is to ensure you’re making the opportunity as valuable as possible. To do this, find out about your intern’s goals for the future early on, and try to make the experience an exceptional one. For example, if your intern is interested in marketing, you could give them access to some of the behind-the-scenes work involved in that position at your company, such as pitching media, chatting to industry professionals and managing campaigns. Provide additional inspiration to your intern whenever possible and it will pay off in loyalty and performance.

In addition to coming at a bargain, an intern can bring a fresh perspective, idealism and drive to your business and the projects they take on. Depending on your industry or profession, a studentintern can also bring you access to the most current research and perspectives in their field. And perhaps the best part about bringing on a fresh young recruit, is the possibility that they’ll one day come back to be a part of your all-star team.

—Mark Wardell is president and founder of Wardell Professional Development (www.wardell.biz), an advisory group that helps business owners plan and execute the growth of their companies.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+POWERPOINTS

20 THINGS TO START AND STOP DOING WITH EMAIL

BY AUDREY THOMAS

I PROMISE TO Make my subject line descriptive

1

and meaningful.

Get to the point of my email within

2

the first two sentences.

3

Copy only those necessary.

4

Use the BCC (Blind Courtesy Copy) feature when sending an email to a group of individuals who do not know one another.

5

Only send emails to those who need them.

6

Proof my message before hitting send.

7

Put requests in bulleted or numbered format, along with deadlines.

Pick up the phone when I need

8

a quick response.

Communicate clearly to my reports my

9

expectations on being copied on their email.

10

Use a professional, standardized signature block at the end of each email.

I PROMISE TO STOP 1

Overusing the High Importance (!) symbol.

2

Attaching a Read Receipt unnecessarily to emails.

3

Copying my boss on all of my emails.

4

Using smiley face emoticons as a way to communicate sarcasm.

Sending emails that simply say “Got it,”

5

“Thanks,” or “FYI.” Sending email late at night or on weekends

6

when I’m trying to clean up my Inbox.

I had the good fortune to attend Audrey Thomas’s session on Outlook at Meeting Professionals International’s (MPI) World Education Congress (WEC), which was held August 2-5, 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Thomas, aka Organized Audrey, shared best practices so attendees could deal with today’s email onslaught with minimum stress and maximum efficiency. Throughout the threehour session, she polled the audience about how they use email and how others use email. Judging from their responses—and complaints—I thought it was time for everyone (myself included) to examine how they’re using and misusing email, and take the pledge Thomas outlines here. ~ Lori Smith, Editor 38

7

Sending long, rambling emails.

8

TYPING IN ALL CAPS.

9

Hitting “Reply to All” when only the sender of the email needs my response.

10

Sending emails written with text messaging abbreviations.

—Audrey Thomas, known as Organized Audrey, is a national speaker, author and lean office expert. She can be reached at Audrey@OrganizedAudrey.com, 1.866.767.045, www.OrganizedAudrey.com

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

Mtg&IncentiveT

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#myphx

This is where you abandoned expectations and began to embrace each moment.

You wouldn’t have guessed it. But you’ll never forget it.

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+TWENTYSOMETHING ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Name: Mandy Pravda Title: Project Manager of Marketing and

Communications

Company: On Purpose Leadership Inc. Age: 29 Designation: N/A Education: University of Saskatchewan, College of Arts and Science

Associations (past and present): N/A

++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PHOTO: Mark Tiu

When people ask me what I do for a living, I tell them…

I am an event planner and social-media marketing specialist working on large-scale events and festivals that attract between 2,000 and 60,000 people. Over my 10 years in the industry, I have worked on high-profile events and conferences such as the Saskatchewan Country Music Awards, PotashCorp Fireworks Festival, RiderVille North Grey Cup Celebration, Symposium for World Association of Veterinary Lab Diagnosticians, and many more. In addition, I cofounded the Saskatoon Fashion and Design Festival (SFDF), an event promoting Saskatchewan’s local designer community.

The most challenging thing for me when I began my career was…

learning the ins and outs of the event industry by trial and error.

In my first position at The Odeon Events Centre I was hired as the event director and quickly adapted to the language, fast-paced nature, and constantly evolving music, meeting and fundraising industry. I learned best practices and grew my reputation and that of the Event Centre. I was very young when I started, but am proud to say that my education came through job experience.

The most valuable lesson I learned was…

real-life experiences are just as enriching and important as those that come from the classroom. When I was faced with whether I should continue my post-secondary education or direct my efforts into growing my company, Mane Productions, my business partner Jacqueline Conway gave me the confidence to make that decision. Rather than spreading my focus too broadly, I pursued what came naturally and flourished. Following your passion may not guarantee your success, but it will help identify opportunities that will result in a solid career.

40

I think our industry could truly benefit from…

encouraging people to take risks. Take a chance not only on yourself and your instincts, but on an innovative idea. No matter the outcome you will learn from the experience and grow personally and professionally. Push the limits and try new things, whether implementing new technology into your logistics plan or a new registration platform that people may not be familiar with, be an innovator in every way possible.

I plan to make my mark by…

establishing Saskatoon as a forward-thinking and innovative centre for the event and fashion industries. Saskatoon is full of entrepreneurs and innovators who are driven to improve the cultural landscape of our city. I have witnessed and contributed to designers, models, photographers, artists and stylists growing and developing as a community. With every event that I am involved in, I discover endless opportunities for professionals to flourish. I have helped many entrepreneurs in the fashion industry advance their careers outside of Saskatchewan and Canada, for example in New York Fashion Week, international fashion magazines, and many more.

One thing most people don’t know about me is…

I have built my entire career on saying “yes” and dedicating time and energy to developing my processes and craft as an event planner. Although I now work with On Purpose Leadership, I started my event planning company, Mane Productions, at the age of 24.

It was difficult to move from running my own company to being part of a bigger team, but building my own business helped me understand that whether I worked on a volunteer or paid project, I thrived when I was part of a strong community. For any career, putting in time and grunt work is essential to building a strong and meaningful portfolio.

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+GOOD FOR YOU

OVERCONNECTED Enslaved by our smartphones.

BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA I spent a few days at my family cottage in Saskatchewan this summer. It had been ages since I had been up there, and I was uncontainably excited to sit lakeside, get out on the boat and hike through the woods.

But on the first morning, I awoke to a room full of family members staring intently at their mobile devices. There were eight of us and 12 of them and by “them” I mean smartphones and tablets.

Having travelled more than 3,000 kilometres for some quality time with my relatives, I was a bit disappointed. That’s when my mom piped in, in usual mom fashion, to suggest we ditch the devices and go outside. And whether it was her words, my pouting, or the spotty WiFi that we were borrowing from our cottage neighbour, I was able to get a few people off their butts and away from these electronic distractions for a full hour.

But the sans-smartphone time was short-lived. Whether it was work emails, checking the score on a soccer game, sharing photos via iCloud or simply sending a text, no one could—or more importantly, no one really wanted to— disconnect. And so family time was often interrupted by buzzing or beeping and if we were keeping track of the number of games played on a physical board versus Smartphones are sneaking their way those played on smartphones, I think the devices would If you’ve ever into our private time as well. Consider win 100 to 1. thought you’ve how just a few years ago people were heard or felt your shocked to find out as many as 75 per HYPERCONNECTED phone vibrate or cent of people used their phones in As much as I cursed the smartphone during my family ring, and after the bathroom. Today, one in 10 owners vacation, I can’t fault anyone for being attached to their looking at it, realized it was a of these devices admit to using their device. It’s hard to remember life before it. After all, false alarm, you’ve experienced phones in the bedroom during intimthe smartphone plays a pivotal role in our lives. It’s our Phantom Vibration Syndrome. ate activities with a partner, according camera, our iPod, our newspaper, our GPS, our personal Don’t worry, you’re not alone. to Jumio research. In addition, the 2013 assistant, our banker and our main line to our families, Studies show anywhere from 68 Mobile Consumer Habits report found our friends, the office and, well, the rest of the world. to 90 per cent of respondents that 12 per cent use their devices in the So when I came across a statistic on smartphone have experienced it. shower. The shower! usage that says we check our smartphones an averThese kinds of stats support the age of 150 times in the waking day (that’s the equivalent to once every six and a half minutes), that outrageously high idea that we cannot be apart from our devices. Whether it’s the fear of missing out, or the pressure to be reactive to every personal or number didn’t seem so outrageous.

After all, it’s become commonplace for people to check their phones professional request we receive is moot.

Our need for connectivity has left the vast majority of us—nearly over dinner or during the workday. Look around a bus or an elevator and you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t “plugged in.” As three quarters—feeling anxiety when we leave our phone at home, much as it’s a faux pas, more and more people are checking emails or misplace it even for a few minutes, or lose access to the Internet. We don’t want to be without our phone so we keep it as close to us as texting in movie theatres, during their child’s recital and in church.

Did You Just Feel That?

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+GOOD FOR YOU possible. In fact, 75 per cent of respondents to a SecurEnvoy poll said they keep their smartphones less than five feet from them at any given time and another 66 per cent say they feel separation anxiety when their phones aren’t by their side.

This fear of being smartphone-less is so prevalent there’s a name for it—nomophobia, or quite simply no-mobile-phone-phobia. It’s not a clinical diagnosis, by any means, but since being coined in 2010 during a UK study, the term “nomophobic” has come to describe an increasing number of people.

So if this need to always have our phones with us is becoming the norm, when does our desire to post, tweet or text cross the line?

good for your group Attendees constantly checking their smartphones can be bad news for event organizers.

What good is creating programming if they’re distracted or not engaged? One tip for curbing smartphone overuse at your events is to create dedicated time periods or areas for use. Consider creating longer than usual breaks (45 minutes instead of 30 minutes) and encourage attendees to check emails, make phone calls and tweet during these time periods. Be vocal at the beginning of the event that there will be dedicated time for smartphone activity. It will help attendees mentally disconnect with their phones during presentations and education sessions if they know they’ll have various times throughout the day to respond to emails and messages. Designating a tweet zone at your event may also provide attendees with an incentive to hold their tweets until scheduled breaks to help them focus during presentations and speeches.

WHEN IT’S TOO MUCH To find out, I spoke to Dr. David Greenfield, an internationally recognized psychologist and authority on Internet, digital addictions and related compulsive behaviors who runs the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction.

By his account, the Internet itself is highly addictive. Using it gives us a perception of anonymity, lowers our inhibitions and as anyone who has been sucked into a Wikipedia hole can attest, it distorts time. It’s also readily available and easy to access. Enter the smartphone, and accessing the Internet just got easier.

But the smartphone’s beeps, blinks and notifications add in another complex layer that keeps us constantly checking our devices. Add in the unpredictability factor, and we’re hooked. Not only do we not know when someone will try and contact us with a tweet, text, or email, we don’t know how pleasing that interaction is going to be. It’s the difference between getting an email from your boss that says you’ve been nominated for a promotion, or a text message from your mom telling you the family dog died. It’s this unpredictability that makes checking your smartphone highly addictive, according to Dr. Greenfield.

“The bottom line is the smartphone is the world’s smallest slot machine stuck in everybody’s pocket,” says Dr. Greenfield. “Because you’re receiving intermittent bursts of dopamine just like a slot machine, you’re going to keep checking and picking up that phone way beyond reasonable means.”

So at what point does your need to check your phone develop into an actual problem?

The main thing to watch for is when your smartphone usage creates imbalance in your life or negative consequences for your relationships, parenting, health or financial status, says Dr. Greenfield.

FINDING BALANCE While we might think we need our smartphones to do our job, the truth of the matter is that 80 per cent of what we do online is not related to work. The vast majority is nonproductivity based, says Dr. Greenfield. So we are all in a position to scale back.

The easiest way to do that is simply by limiting usage, by keeping your smartphone out of sight, out of mind. Consider removing social media apps or games from your phone to avoid the distraction, or removing push notifications. After all, do you really need to know each time someone comments on your Facebook photo?

And if you aren’t comfortable regulating your own behaviour, then you might want to try a mobile app designed to get your phone usage under control.

Moment (available for iPhone for $4.99) will track your iPhone usage throughout the day and alert you when you’re spending too much time on your device.

BreakFree is a free app (currently only available for Android) that monitors time spent on your smartphone, alerts you when your usage goes overboard and reminds you to take a break. You can also schedule downtime where the app will block calls and notifications to help you “break free” from your phone.

It seems only fitting that a smartphone app could be an ally in limiting our smartphone use. After all, technology is supposed to work for us, not the other way around.

—Christine Otsuka is Associate Editor of Meetings + Incentive Travel

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Client: Marriot Job Number: 4043 Meetings & Incentive Travel Magazine

AN AFFAIR TO R E M E M B E R

+CUISCENE

Vegging Out Chefs get creative with meatless dishes.

Photo: The Yum Yum Factor (Pukka)

BY DON DOULOFF

Photo: L’eat Catering

Photo: L’eat Catering

Iconoclastic movie star Mae West once observed, “the only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.” If Ms. West had ever experienced meatless menus on par with the creative fare now available to groups, she surely would have changed her anti-vegetable tune.

Indeed, this is a vegetarian Golden Age. Craving variety and healthier options, groups are requesting meat-free dishes, but also expect originality and flair—and chefs are meeting the challenge.

“Vegetarians are tired of being treated as second-class citizens,” says Tawfik Shehata, executive chef at the International Centre, in Mississauga, Ont. He has seen a “great increase” in demand for inventive vegetarian dishes—often from meat eaters who want meat-free options.

Tony Loschiavo, executive chef and owner of Toronto-based L-eat Catering, estimates the company has seen an increase of about 500 per cent in clients’ veggie requests during the last five years.

“Historically, if a customer wanted a vegetarian dish, they were given the same as the clients who ate meat, just minus the protein on the plate,” says Loschiavo. With today’s discerning groups, however, that won’t cut it.

“Most chefs are becoming more in tune with the needs of vegetarians, providing more creative and satisfying choices than the standard pasta with tomato sauce,” says Heidi Wilker, CMP, 44

principal of Blessed Events. “This is especially important for fundraising dinners where patrons are paying higher ticket prices for the event. Although people realize that the money is primarily being raised for charity, they also don’t want to be served a boring or unsubstantial meal when others around the table are getting an upgraded menu.”

Sandra Wood, CMP, manager of the Canadian Medical Association’s annual meeting and herself a vegetarian, says she’s been served enough boring vegetable dishes “to warrant driving more exciting menus and ensuring that whether you are vegetarian, gluten free or some other restriction, you still get an interesting meal served.”

Creativity takes many forms. L-Eat Catering’s chef Andrew Loft, for instance, offers macaroni and cheese accessorized with cauliflower salad topped with shaved broccoli and cauliflower.

Loft also created, as a main course, a Mexican-themed black bean salad with red cabbage slaw topped with cubes of golden beet and butternut squash. Another Loft-created entrée sees curried chickpea potpie lavished with parsley root puree and sweetpotato gravy.

The International Centre offers, as an hors d’oeuvre, a vegetarian take on pulled pork built from roasted spaghetti squash, caramelized onions, herbs and a house-made barbecue sauce served on a slider bun.

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+CUISCENE

Photo: The Yum Yum Factor (Pukka)

Photo: imps.ca (Culinary Capers Catering)

Photo: Toronto Life (Pukka)

Grains, increasingly, are finding favour on vegetarian menus, says Shehata, whose kitchen offers a pan-fried Alberta barley cake jazzed with Ontario cheddar and mozzarella and paired with beets, Swiss chard and red-pepper salsa.

Indian cuisine, with its fragrant spicing and sumptuous sauces, lends itself to exotic yet accessible vegetable options.

“Whether you’re a carnivore or not, there’s an awareness of overeating red meat,” says Derek Valleau, co-owner and principal of Pukka, a Toronto restaurant specializing in modern Indian food. Executive chef Kirti Singh brings a lighter touch—no cream or butter; subtle aromatics. “People’s impression of Indian food is greasy, heavy and spicy,” says Valleau.

Thus, Pukka’s Swiss chard with paneer cheese, onion and Singh’s garam masala spice blend; paneer with spinach and mushrooms in pistachio-enriched korma sauce; and pan-sautéed seasonal vegetables with coconut curry. Pukka offers catering for offsite meetings and events.

Nirvana Indian restaurant, in Mississauga, Ont., serves up aloo gobhi masala (cauliflower and potatoes in tomato gravy); dal makhni (stewed black lentils) and yogurt-marinated tandoori mushrooms. Nirvana provides meeting and event catering featuring a portable, charcoal-fired tandoor oven.

In Vancouver, at Culinary Capers Catering, CEO Debra Lykkemark says about 10 per cent of guests at corporate events request

Photo: Executive Chef Margaret Chisholm, Culinary Capers Catering

a vegetarian option. In fact, meatless dishes are so popular that “in the proposal process, we don’t even ask any more and always include a vegetarian entrée option for a plated menu.”

Furthermore, the caterer’s kitchen team, led by executive chef Margaret Chisholm, “sets out to create alternate meals that satisfy and capture a bunch of special diet/allergy criteria—gluten free, vegan, nut free—within vegetarian options. We will create a vegan appetizer and entrée courses that will also be vegetarian and cover off lactose intolerance.”

Additionally, “our chefs are getting more creative with vegetarian/vegan choices because for the most part, our clients are more sophisticated in their culinary knowledge and palates,” says Lykkemark. Particularly popular among her corporate event clients are Mediterranean-inspired veggie options highlighting regional ingredients animated with West Coast flair.

Examples include Culinary Capers’ Yukon Gold potato gnocchi served with roasted artichokes, smoked tomato sauce, bell peppers two ways and caramelized onions; saffron-scented vegetables in a crisp chickpea tart with pinenut parsley gremolata, roasted sunchokes and asparagus in smoked tomato sauce; and crostata pastry filled with button, porcini and morel mushrooms served with Yukon Gold potato cake and seasonal vegetables.

—Don Douloff is a food and travel writer based in Toronto.

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Now in its sixth year,

2014

Meeting + Incentive Travel’s Hall of Fame recognizes suppliers and planners who have made invaluable contributions to Canada’s meetings, events and incentive travel industry.

The 2014 inductees were revealed at a live presentation during IncentiveWorks, the country’s leading MICE conference and trade show.

Honours were given in the categories of Industry Planner, Industry Mentor, Industry Volunteer, Industry Innovator, Rising Star, Industry Veteran and Industry Builder. In addition, M+IT selected its first inductee in a new category, The Big Idea, which was created to salute an individual who developed and implemented an idea that significantly improved their company or the industry. On the following pages, we celebrate our eight 2014 Hall of Fame inductees.

— Lori Smith, Editor

Portrait photos: Donna Santos

Nominate a peer or yourself for entry into M+IT’s Hall of Fame. Learn more at www.meetingscanada.com/HallOfFame

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INDUSTRY BUILDER JOHANNE R. BÉLANGER CPA, CA President Freeman Audio Visual Canada

Johanne’s impact on the industry is wide-ranging. She has volunteered to increase local tourism, developed industry standards for live events, and created companylevel corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Under her leadership, Freeman was the first audio visual solutions company to receive InfoComm International’s Green AV Award and has been identified as a pioneer of the Green AV movement. Johanne has also championed women’s rights in the male-dominated audio visual industry. In addition, she spearheaded a partnership with MPI chapters to bring CSR initiatives into their community. The Events for Communities of Sustainability (ECOS) Project is a five-year commitment between Freeman and MPI to give back to Canadian communities. It’s an industry changer.

CATEGORY SPONSOR: CATEGORY SPONSOR:

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INDUSTRY PLANNER JULIE CALVERT CMP, CMM Manager of Events & Regional Programs The Canadian Payroll Association

Julie impressed the judges with the depth and breadth of her experience and her passion for planning. She has put together incentive travel trips on land and sea, organized high profile corporate meetings and planned major trade shows. She has created and finalized master service agreements to support strategic meeting management initiatives, standardized RFP templates and developed a best practices manual for her planning team. She served as the vice-chair of the FICP 2013 conference and sat on the planning committee for the 2014 conference. Julie says that her journey through this wonderful profession has connected her with some inspiring mentors and great business partners, and that she continues to be inspired by her industry peers.

CATEGORY SPONSOR:

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INDUSTRY VETERAN CYNTHIA RICHARDS President Event Spectrum Inc.

Cynthia has demonstrated vision, integrity and leadership every day of her 30 years in the event management industry. As president of her own company since 1997, she has been celebrated as one of Toronto’s Best Bosses and been on Profit Magazine’s list of the top Canadian Women Entrepreneurs for seven years. She has mentored—and continues to mentor—many members of the industry. Recognizing the need to give young people meaningful work experiences, she launched the innovative “Stand Up, Stand Out” competition this year. It gives a recent event management grad the chance to participate in a FAM to Jamaica and the opportunity to stand up and stand out from the competition. Cynthia preaches—and practices— coaching, collaboration and celebrating an industry she believes in passionately.

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THE BIG IDEA PATRICIA BRUSHA Co-Founder & Principal A Couple of Chicks Online Revealed for “Game Changer: Meet - Mentor - Educate”

Patricia’s “Big Idea” was inspired by a comment from her daughter about the number of people she knew after working in the industry for 36 years.

The remark got her thinking about non-intimidating ways to introduce recent grads to the faces behind the big brands. She identified three elements that formed the foundation of her own success: Meet, Mentor and Educate. “Game Changer” launched on April 7th, 2014.

It gave attendees access to mentors from companies like Google, Caesars Entertainment and more. Created to run alongside conferences or as a standalone event, colleges and associations have already committed to running Game Changer in the coming year.

The surprise, says Patricia, is that the mentors got as much out of the day as the students.

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INDUSTRY INNOVATOR BOB VAEZ CEO EventMobi

For Bob Vaez frustration fueled innovation. An engineer by training, he grew tired of not being able to access information and connect at events with the same ease he could in his daily life. In 2009, he launched EventMobi and built one of the first mobile apps for events. His mission was to understand and remove the barriers that kept planners and attendees from adopting new technology, specifically the use of smartphones at events. Five years later, EventMobi has produced event apps for more than 4,000 planners in 40 countries, and has offices in Paris and Berlin. Bob recognizes that the industry is only at the beginning of the mobile, social and digital event revolution. He says, “In the grand scheme of things, we have only seen the tip of the iceberg.�

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INDUSTRY MENTOR JANET L. JAKOBSEN, CMP, MBA Professor Niagara College

Janet says that from her earliest years, she was challenged by her grandmother to live up to John F. Kennedy’s famous assertion: “To those whom much is given, much is expected.”

Her career achievements include being one of the first Canadians and first suppliers to earn a CMP, and returning to school for a MBA. She was also the first Canadian and the first supplier to chair PCMA’s International Education Committee, and she is the longest serving member of MPI Foundation Canada.

But she is most proud of her impact on others and their impact on her. Throughout her career, she has advised and aided countless colleagues, students and even, bosses. And in turn, they have helped her. Mentoring she has learned, is non-directional, and always rewarding.

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INDUSTRY VOLUNTEER SANDRA MONIZ, CMP Business Development Manager, Eastern Canada Meetings + Conventions Calgary

Encouraged by one of her first industry mentors to “be as involved as possible,” Sandra has been a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) for more than 15 of her 20 years in the industry and has explained the importance of MPI to her role and the industry to every manager she’s worked for. She has volunteered on a wide variety of MPI committees, held a seat on the board of directors for multiple years, and championed her local chapter’s mentorship program. She is also chair of the CSAE Trillium Chapter’s Summer Summit, sits on CanSPEP’s partner advisory board and is an active member of the Meetings Industry Euchre Tournament’s organizing committee, an industry event that raises monies for cancer research at the world renowned Princess Margaret Hospital.

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RISING STAR KYRA WHALE Program Manager Meridican Incentive Consultants

Kyra won over the judges with her energy and enthusiasm. While earning a Bachelor of Commerce in hospitality and tourism management, she organized events including an Orientation Week for 800 students.

After graduation, she went to work as a program manager for a major incentive house, where she spent two years planning and executing programs. She then crossed the industry street to the supplier side. Working at a leading luxury hotel, she was able to build her knowledge of the industry. This spring, she returned to her planner roots.

An active member of MPI, she serves on committees and contributes to her local chapter’s magazine. Grateful for the support she’s received in her career, she works hard to ensure that she is just as helpful to others looking for direction and assistance.

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RECEPTION KLAUS K. PHOTO: KLAUS K/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO: SUOMEN MESSUT/VISIT HELSINKI

p58-61 Helsinki Report.indd 58 PHOTO: RADISSON BLU PLAZA HOTEL/VISIT HELSINKI

MARKET SQUARE. PHOTO : EWAN BELL/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO : MAIJA ASTIKAINEN/MONDO/VISIT HELSINKI

AERIAL VIEW OF HELSINKI. PHOTO: SUOMEN ILMAKKUVA OY / VISIT HELSINKI

48 HOURS IN

HELSINKI

BY LORI SMITH

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4:30 P.M. After freshening up, I head out to explore Helsinki. The Esplanad, the city’s Champs Elysée, is a five-minute walk from the Klaus K. The grass park that runs down the centre of the boulevard is teeming with locals and tourists enjoying a warm, sunny afternoon. Cyclists—every street has a bike lane—fly by. The coffee shops and ice cream kiosks (Finns are world leaders in the consumption of coffee and ice cream.) are doing brisk business. The patio bars are packed.

Both sides of the street are lined with smart shops including the usual retail suspects—Gant, Kiehl’s L’Occitane le Provence, Hugo Boss, Sony, etc.—found in any cosmopolitan city. But sprinkled among them are the flagship stores of some of Finland’s great design houses: Marimekko, Iittala and Artek.

PHOTO: EEVA TULENHEIMO/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO: HOSTELING INTL FINLAND/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO; ELISABETH HEINRICHS/VISIT HELSINKI PHOTO: COMMA IMAGE OY/VISIT HELSINKI

2:45 P.M. Our group, which also includes two journalists representing consumer publications and the editor of a website and magazine for travel professionals, arrives at Helsinki’s international airport wellfed and well-rested from our seven-and-a-half hours in the business class cabin of a Finnair widebody Airbus 330, the plane that has replaced the narrowbody, single class Boeing 757s previously used on the carrier’s seasonal Toronto to Helsinki route. In short order, we clear customs and board a mini-bus for the half hour drive to the Klaus K Hotel, a design hotel in the city centre.

There are 12,000 rooms available in the Helsinki area. Not surprisingly, accommodation options range from five-star properties to hostels. Five-star hotels in the city centre include the Hilton Helsinski Strand, located by the harbour; Hotel Haven, a 77-room property that is Finland’s first member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World; and Hotel Kamp, the first deluxe five-star property in the Nordic countries. The Klaus K (139 rooms, seven meeting spaces) is located in the Helsinki Design District, a 25-street area with more than 200 shops, restaurants and hotels representing the past, present and future of design in the city.

PHOTO: NINA IJAS/VISIT HELSINKI

JULY 9, 2014

PHOTO: PALACE KAMP/VISIT HELSINKI

Finnair’s invitation to try out its new business class service from Toronto to Helsinki meant travelling more than 13,000 kilometers in a two-day time frame (time differences included)—a distance to timeat-destination ratio that made me pause. But a conversation with a colleague who attends an annual conference in the city coupled with a quick Google search tipped the decision scale to “yes.”

My colleague, the publisher/editor of a B2B site targeted at health and research laboratories, had nothing but good things to say about Helsinki. Great food. Great accommodations. Great location for pre- and post-conference trips (St. Petersburgh, Stockholm, etc.). Safe, she said. Google revealed that it held the #24 spot on the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) 2013 list of top meeting cities in the world. A representative from Visit Helsinki shared that on average the city hosts 150 international conferences annually, with the majority of the events being in the fields of social science, geography, natural science and medicine.

However, in 2012 when it was the World Design Capital, it hosted 254 conferences. And in 2013, 288 international conferences were held in the city. Clearly, Helsinki’s worth a visit.

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6:30 P.M. Allister Paterson, Finnair’s chief commercial officer, is the group’s host for dinner at Gaijin, an Asian fusion restaurant, which is a short walk from the Klaus K. Gaijin is helmed by Tomi Björk, one of Finland’s most famous chefs and the creator of Finnair’s business class food and wine service. Over a tasting menu of shared plates that includes pork belly with kimchi mayonnaise and pickled cucumber on soft buns, a selection of sashimi, and baby back pork ribs carmelized with soy and mirin, Paterson explains that the city is both a great destination in itself and a gateway to other parts of the world.

We learn that Helsinki’s international airport serves 40 airlines, with direct flights to and from more than 130 destinations. In addition, it is a gateway to Asia, with more than 80 direct weekly flights. It is also a facility known for the speed of its connection times. Paterson tells us that the airport’s business class lounge has just been completely renovated and expanded. It’s a beautiful space, he says, but travellers from Toronto won’t be spending a lot of time in it thanks to scheduling that ensures quick connections throughout the carrier’s network, particularly in the Nordic-Baltic region, Eastern Europe and Russia.

JULY 10, 2014 9:30 A.M. Professional tour guide Raila Kylmala meets us in the hotel lobby and directs us to a waiting mini-bus for a day of sight-seeing. As we drive around, she gives us a brief history of Helsinki. The city, she says, was founded in 1550 and became Finland’s capital in 1812. It has been under Swedish and Russian rule. Its population is approximately 600,000. It has five large universities. Education, including post-secondary education, is free in Finland, she explains. Entrance is determined by passing exams. Finns, she says, are more modest than their Swedish and Norwegian cousins. They are egalitarian in nature and a bit reserved.

Nearly everyone speaks three languages: Finnish, Swedish and English.

It’s a good city to live in, work in and visit.

It’s also a beautiful city. Its main thoroughfares pinwheel out from the harbour, which is its heart. We wander through the recently reopened Market Hall (Wanha VanhaKauppahall), a food market offering delicacies such as canned bear meat, reindeer meat and sauteed wild boar along with more usual proteins and vegetables.

We check out the Helsinki Music Centre, a first-class concert venue and meeting point. We stroll around Senate Square. We see the park and statue dedicated to Jean Sibelius, the country’s famed 60

PHOTO: EERO KOKKO/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO: SAKKE SOMERMA/VISIT HELSINKI

PHOTO: NIKLAS SJOBLOM/VISIT HELSINKI

That design is one of Finland’s greatest industries is a gift to planners holding events in Helsinki. The list of beautiful, functional, well-crafted products from world-renowned brands that also double as souvenirs is long. Examples? A tote in any of Marimekko’s boldly-coloured designs would make a great delegate bag. Iittala’s iconic Alvar Aalto vase would be an appropriate present for a CEO. Magisso’s stainless steel cake slicer would delight foodies in any group. The Princessa tealight holder from Aarikka would be a perfect thank you for a speaker.

classical composer. We visit a prison converted into a Best Western Hotel. We ride in the VIP Veuve Cliquot-sponsored car on the Finnair Skywheel (available to groups), a giant Ferris wheel on the east side of the harbour. We have lunch at Sunn, a restaurant in the trendy Tori Quarter. Then at 3:00 p.m. we board a Royal Line boat for a cruise around Helsinki’s archipelago.

7:00 P.M. Dinner is at Restaurant Juuri, an eatery in the Design District that specializes in Finnish cuisine, specifically sapas, small Finnish appetizers. The mandate at Juuri is to preserve and celebrate Finnish culinary traditions and the raw ingredients the country’s lands and seas provide. We share wild mushroom terrine with beetroot and sour cream, trout sausage with roe and horseradish, and a couple of other sapas before moving on to mains and dessert.

Helsinki is actively positioning itself as a player in the world of food tourism. In addition to four restaurant days, the city hosts some 17 f&b related festivals each year, any of which could be incorporated into a group program. There is a Champagne Festival, a Chocolate Festival (Finland is home to Fazer Chocolate), a Local & Organic Food Festival, a Baltic Herring Market, and more. To help visitors—and planners—figure out the food scene, Visit Helsinki has released “Food Helsinki? Hel Yeah!,” a brochure that reveals the secrets of the city’s food culture.

JULY 11, 2014 – 9:45 A.M. We take the ferry across the harbour to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open year-round, this fortress island has protected Helsinki and its inhabitants from foreign invaders since the 18th century. Now it’s open to visitors and groups from around the world. Tourists hike its hills and climb on old cannons and walls. Groups have a choice of nine venues of different types and sizes that are suitable for a range of events including seminars, conferences and banquets.

While Suomenlinna is considered the crown jewel of the city’s archipelago, several other islands have restaurants or other facilities that are available for group business. Luoto Island has Klippan Restaurant, a villa that is popular for weddings and other celebratory events. Saunasaari or Sauna Island is available for parties of two to 40 looking to experience a real Finnish sauna in a private setting.

Restaurant Särkänlinna (on Särkän Island) is housed in a converted fortress that can now accommodate groups of up to 150 people.

And in 2015, a historic mine warehouse on Lonna Island will be converted into an event venue with a capacity for up to 200 people.

2:45 P.M. We are checked in and waiting in the Finnair business lounge to board our flight back to Toronto. I ask my fellow journalists if they would return to Helsinki. The unanimous response is “yes” and they’d all stay longer.

— Lori Smith is the editor of Meetings + Incentive Travel.

Crea throug

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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PHOTO PEI Convention Centre / Delta Prince Edward

PHOTO Tourism PEI

PHOTO Tourism PEI

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

PEI is no small potato

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BY CHRISTINE OTSUKA

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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PHOTO Ann MacNeill

PHOTO Tourism PEI

PHOTO Tourism PEI

PHOTO Ann MacNeill

PHOTO PEI Convention Centre / Delta Prince Edward

PHOTO PEI Tourism

PHOTO Ann MacNeill

PHOTO Holman Grand Hotel PHOTO PEI Tourism PHOTO PEI Convention Centre / Delta Prince Edward

MAKING AN IMPRESSION A day spent on Prince Edward Island will convince you to ditch the fast-paced city life for the beauty Islanders have known and loved since our country’s birth. At least that’s how I felt having spent close to a week in Charlottetown and surrounding area this summer. This year was the 150th anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, the meeting that led to Canadian Confederation, and there were more than 150 festivals and celebrations all year long.

And the Island’s capital city, Charlottetown, has never looked better. The Delta Prince Edward has nearly completed its $6 million makeover and we were treated to a little preview of the Delta’s chic new room design on our visit. Smart desks, builtin luggage racks, all-new furniture and spa-like bathrooms with custom stone caught our attention. The Delta’s renovation came on the heels of the adjoining Prince Edward Island Convention Centre, which opened last year. And from the looks of it, it’s already bustling with a capacity of up to 1,500 people, and a fabulous food and beverage offering which we tasted firsthand on their beautiful waterfront outdoor space.

PHOTO PEI Tourism

Prince Edward Island is one of those destinations that draws you in. It’s small in stature but rich in heart. It may be known for rustcoloured soil and a little girl named Anne who loves ice cream, but what’s most captivating is how the island delivers those over-thetop experiences in a way that’s uniquely theirs.

I had the pleasure of seeing this firsthand, with about a dozen meeting planners this past July on a FAM organized by Meetings & Conventions PEI. After a day of sites around Charlottetown and beyond, we pulled up to a house near the water in Fortune. I peeked out the window, and saw a couple of ladies waving at us from the lawn and a very tall man towering over the others. That’s when I heard an excited shriek from one planner who was already off the bus. “It’s Chef Michael Smith!”

To our surprise, we had arrived at the home of the famed Food Network chef. Wearing a bright orange t-shirt, cargo shorts and sandals, this six-foot-seven celebrity chef was as humble as any Islander we had met so far. You would have never guessed he was born and raised in New York.

After meeting his team and shaking off the initial excitement, we headed into his backyard for an interactive kitchen party. There were multiple stations set up, each designed to help us learn about the food we choose, prepare and eat. We made gin and tonics with herbs picked from his yard, created our own salad dressings and shucked Malpeque oysters—the ones PEI is famous for. We were taught how to saber champagne, whip our own cream using a mason jar and some elbow grease, and were treated to the chef’s own apple wood smoked salmon with potato lovage salad and chive horseradish, and wood-grilled pork loin in a wheatberry broth with red onion relish, all of which was cooked outside in his smoker, and a cauldron over the fire pit. It was rustic and personal. Not only did this celebrity chef prepare a meal for us, we dined together at a picnic table in his backyard. Talk about a truly intimate experience.

We left Chef Michael’s house with much more than a full belly and a signed copy of his cookbook. We all had a greater understanding of food and a bond based on this remarkable experience.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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THE SCENIC ROUTE As we set out on the trail for adventure, I found that everywhere we went was a scenic drive. Not because we were covering long distances but because there was so much pristine countryside to admire on the way—lush green hills, bright white clouds amidst a stunning blue backdrop. At times Prince Edward Island’s well-manicured green space compared to that of New Zealand’s—picturesque, peaceful and unpretentious.

Our travels took us to Red Shores Race Track, which was recently featured on Amazing Race Canada. It’s the only horse race track east of Toronto and a few of the planners were suited up for a spin around the track. Next, we took to the water and boarded a working lobster boat to learn about lobster trapping in the relaxing ocean breeze. Finally, we hit the links at Fox Meadow Golf Course, one of 26 golf courses on the island, and after a putting contest (of which I was not victorious) we set our sights on spotting red foxes on the green—that’s how Fox Meadow got it’s name, of course.

During my experience I learned that the province is home to the Culinary Institute of Canada, where visitors can participate in a culinary bootcamp; more than 50 lighthouses (one of which you can rent out and sleep in); and some of the most pristine and distinctive beaches in the world, due to their red sandstone cliffs.

HONOURARY ISLANDERS So it’s really no surprise that our final night on the Island would be spent on the beach. After settling in at the colourful and expansive Rodd Crowbush Golf & Beach Resort, we wandered down to the water. There, we dined on fresh lobster, oysters, and watched as custom sandcastles were created right before our eyes. As the sun dove behind the ocean horizon, we were serenaded by a group of bagpipers, and later gathered around a beach bonfire. We sat in 64

PHOTO PEI Tourism

PHOTO PEI Tourism

PHOTO PEI Tourism

At present, Charlottetown has 700 hotel rooms within a 10-minute walk of the convention centre (1,100 total in the Greater Charlottetown Area). One standout property for me was the former department store turned hotel, the Holman Grand. It re-opened in 2013 and its 10th floor penthouse rooms with glass walled balconies offer stunning views of the city and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean.

The Great George hotel is also a popular second-visit stay for VIPs and celebrities. It’s made up of 17 heritage homes that have been painstakingly preserved on the exterior and offer understated elegant interiors, in a classic styling.

A walk down the pedestrian street, Victoria Row, offers a glimpse of downtown Charlottetown with restaurants, cafes and galleries as well as historic buildings, a bandstand and archway entrance. Finally, after a stop at the Prince Edward Island Brewing Company and a taste of its famous blueberry ale, we discovered a real gem in the brewery’s rustic event space. With five-tier chandeliers, reclaimed wood and high-tops made from barrels, it was easy to imagine an off-site dinner or reception here.

Planner Impressions I spoke to meeting planners who attended the PEI FAM in July to find out what they thought of this Canadian destination.

“I absolutely loved Charlottetown…so much in fact I am sending one of my small associations of 30 delegates there in June 2015. It’s a walkable seaside town with great restaurants, theatre, and venue spaces and hotels. The Delta surprise renovation was unexpected and beautiful, as was the dinner on the patio. The lobster dinner and seaside fire at Rodd Crowbush was unbelievable but the highlight for me personally was the visit and cooking class with Michael Smith.”

–Erin Cimino, Detail Defined “I believe that small- to medium-sized events would work best in Charlottetown; anything from a small Board retreat to a mid-sized conference would fit best. Overall, I fell in love with the vibrant energy of the city of Charlottetown, and I loved that a quiet, beachside dinner was never that far away. It’s a fantastic destination for any event, and sure to be a huge draw.” –Natalie Wallace, Real Estate Institute of Canada “I was especially interested in seeing the new Charlottetown Convention Centre—and it did not disappoint! It is a beautiful new facility, with state-ofthe-art features, and most definitely capitalizes on its oceanfront view! We were treated to a fantastic meal on the outdoor terrace of the Centre—giving us all a flavour of the unique experiences their facility can provide. I look forward to bringing my clients to this new venue—it is sure to be a fabulous choice!” –Heather Reid, Innovative Conference & Communications

multi-coloured Muskoka chairs, sang songs and chatted for the remainder of the night. It was the perfect way to sum up our time in PEI and seal a lasting memory into our minds.

From the moment we landed in that quaint Charlottetown airport and were welcomed by the Meetings & Conventions PEI team (armed with chocolate covered potato chips that were nearly impossible to resist), the people and surroundings made us feel like we belonged, even if we were simply visiting. And at the end of the experience we were presented with official ID cards, suggesting we had relinquished our “come from away” status and were now certified “Honourary Islanders.” Expiration date: Never. Talk about a parting gift.

— Christine Otsuka is Associate Editor of Meetings + Incentive Travel.

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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The STorieS Begin here

Experience the Newly Renovated Historical Cloister Rooms With views of the intracoastal waterway, the resort’s tropical courtyards, or gardens, the new rooms are a minimum of 290 square feet and feature elegant contemporary decor, expansive bathrooms, rainfall showers, and luxurious furnishings inspired by the design of the waterfront Mediterranean village. The vision for the renovation began with Richmond International of London and the result was an investment of over $100,000 per room.

Book N oW 1-800-445-8667 or BocaResort.com

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SPECTACULAR SPACES MEET IN NIAGARA

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM

NATURALLY RESOURCEFUL Niagara Falls Tourism – Business Events Team: (l-r) Joanne St-Pierre, Vittoria Wikston and Paula Racher.

N

iagara Falls Tourism (NFT) is the official destination marketing organization for Niagara Falls.

This highly professional team is comprised of individuals who have experience on both sides of the fence: as special event, corporate, government and association planners and as property representatives.

They walk the talk! They’ve got the resources and the partners to ensure your success. Just ask them.

Here’s how the NFT team is able to help you.

PREPARING YOUR EVENT BID The NFT team will not only assist you with all the paperwork that accompanies your bid, they’ll also be there to assist you with your official bid presentation.

SITE SELECTION SIMPLIFIED Based on your requirements, the team will ensure they match you up with the best options available, saving you both time and money. They’ll do all the coordination—you just show up.

ACCOMMODATION AND MEETING CO-ORDINATION The team will assist in securing your accommodations, meeting and banquet space and ensure seamless coordination with your selected venues.

ONLINE ATTENDEE HOUSING MODULE

PRE-EVENT PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS

Free of charge! Niagara Falls Tourism clients will have exclusive access to the internal attendee housing system.

A dedicated event webpage will be created offering your delegates direct, secure online access to available accommodations. As a special bonus, event planners will have personalized administration access for customized performance reports.

NFT understands how important it is to attract as many delegates as possible to your events and do so on a timely basis. Regularly available marketing tools include: Niagara Falls & Regional Images Lure Brochure Promotional Videos Postcards and Posters

IMMEDIATE LINKS TO INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS The NFT team does more than send you a listings guide. They’ll actually make the connections for you and ensure there’s a perfect match for your event.

PROGRAM AGENDA DEVELOPMENT Let Niagara Falls Tourism inject some regional flair into your program agenda.

We can help you find: Professional World Class Keynote Speakers Workshop Leadership Programs Experiential Corporate Team-Building Programs Companion Programs Children’s Programs And fill you in on what to see, what to do, where to eat and more.

DELEGATE PROMOTIONAL GIFTS NFT buys promotional giveaway gifts and souvenirs in bulk on behalf of its clients. As a special thank you for selecting Niagara Falls as your destination of choice, you can be certain that our preferred suppliers will gladly extend savings to your event. Niagara Falls Tourism will also assist in sourcing out items that are signature to the region.

NIAGARA FALLS VISITORS GUIDE Welcome your attendees with the all-encompassing Niagara Falls Visitors Guide. Shopping and dining listings, city and regional maps as well as discount coupons are available in one handy publication.

NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM IS PLEASED TO OFFER UP TO $10,000 WITH ITS IN-KIND SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM FOR GROUPS BOOKING BUSINESS EVENTS IN NIAGARA FALLS. The NFT team believes that a true “partnership” means both parties share in risk and gain. The team also believes that one size does not fit all. For complete information on NFT’s in-kind sponsorship and customizing your business event, contact Niagara Falls Tourism at 905.356.6061; www.fallsmeetings.com.

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SPECIALADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SPECIAL SECTION

VINTAGE HOTELS:

TRUST THE EXPERTS WITH YOUR BUSINESS With amenities that have been recognized and awarded over and over again by leading travel publications and business planners, unmatched conference and corporate getaway planning, and some of the most beautiful scenery and attractions in Canada, Vintage Hotels’ three unique Niagara-on-the-Lake destinations are the venues of choice for an unforgettable event.

Each of the hotels feature unparalleled business amenities, including expert staging, multimedia, and high-speed internet and wireless capabilities.

Expert planners will work closely with you to plan your event down to the smallest detail.

Team-building programs will enhance your team’s productivity and confidence with activities that are imaginative, effective and highly engaging.

A short drive from the GTA and Pearson International Airport, each of their 3 venues offer quick access to spectacular attractions that range from world-class theatre, sightseeing and shopping to magnificent wine-tasting tours.

QUEEN’S LANDING

for smaller business functions, executive retreats or board meetings, and some 110 individually decorated guestrooms. The hotel’s concierge team are renowned for their peerless expertise in providing exceptional and personal service.

The Prince of Wales has received many prestigious accolades over the years, including a CAA/AAA’s Four Diamond rating for accommodations and dining at Escabèche Restaurant for 14 years; Top Ten Resort in Canada from Travel + Leisure Magazine; and No. 5 on Spas of America’s List of Top 50 Spas for the Secret Garden Spa.

Space and grace sum up Queen’s Landing, one of the country’s most beautiful hotels, set in a stunning waterfront locale where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario. The Grand Georgian Ballroom accommodates up to 300, along with more than a dozen smaller rooms suitable for breakouts and more intimate gatherings. As Vintage Hotels’ most popular conference hotel, the staff and meeting planners are well experienced and fully skilled in the art of event management, and continue to earn praise from clients, and their repeat business.

Just a few of Queen’s Landing’s many awards include CAA/AAA’s Four Diamond rating for accommodations and dining in Tiara Restaurant; TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence; and Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List, including two recognitions as No. 1 Hotel in Ontario and No. 3 in Canada.

THE PRINCE OF WALES

PILLAR AND POST

Built in the late 1890s as a canning factory, Pillar and Post has been carefully and painstakingly transformed into an intimate, world-class hotel with thoroughly modern comforts. The stunning restoration extends from its expansive skylights to its handsome terra cotta floors, with architecturally stunning exposed brick walls and original post and beam construction, creating a truly inspiring setting for your next conference. Choose from 11 meeting rooms in a warm, country ambience, comprising over 11,500 square feet of meeting space, then retire to one of our 122 cozy guestrooms.

After a day of meetings, be sure to set aside time to visit the hotel’s exotic hot springs and spa – voted No. 1 in Canada by Spas of America.

That’s only one of the many awards the hotel has earned over the years: from CAA/AAA’s Four Diamond rating for accommodations and dining; TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the Cannery Restaurant; No. 5 Hotel in Ontario by Conde Nast Traveler; Travel + Leisure Magazine’s No. 9 Top Resort in Canada, and many more.

The stately Prince of Wales is among Ontario’s most treasured landmark hotels, offering an oasis of Victorian elegance combined with 21st century comforts and amenities. The hotel offers over 4,400 square feet of meeting space, with seven meeting rooms ideal

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To find out more, or to book your next Niagara conference, contact the Vintage Hotels’ Sales Team at 1-888-669-5566, 905-468-2123, or visit www.vintage-hotels.com.

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After thousands of successful conferences our talented, experienced conference managers and support staff know a thing or two about executing the perfect meeting or event.

Trust us to go above and beyond. Trust us to wow you and your attendees. Trust us to do each job right, the first time you ask.

Host your next conference with the experts at Vintage Hotels.

“Amazing Staff and Venue” Queen’s Landing - July 2014

“The staff could not have been more helpful and accommodating! Kristi was our services manager and she was great to work with. With all the back and forth she made sure every detail was executed as planned...The hotel is just beautiful and all our attendees enjoyed the hotel, their rooms and of course the food.”

3,

www.vintage-hotels.com | 1-888-669-5566 | salesinquiry@vintage-hotels.com | Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

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P

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The real deal with:

CONVENTION CENTRE

FOOD

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It’s never as good as it is in a restaurant: It’s bland. It’s always cold.

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Yikes, rubber chicken!… Yeah we heard it all before, but not around here. At the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls the team of food & beverage professionals from Centerplate take pride in delivering a boutique style service, where locally sourced ingredients, flavours and aromas combine to create a unique Niagara culinary

B o w at

experience. Our team is committed to upholding a high level of quality; whether it is for 16 or 1600 guests. We prepare each meal as if it was the only meal. It’s not easy, but we believe that our

H o in fa ye th m th te to o

clients will taste the difference.

“Contact us and learn how our team can be part of your event’s success.”

SCCNIAGARA

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Chef Shaun Goswell

| 1.888.997.6222

Executive Chef, Centerplate Scotiabank Convention Centre

091814-001-A

fallsconventions.com

A in ar p ti w

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

PROFILE

Keeping it Fresh Year Round It takes a lot of work to keep your menu fresh and innovative, and for Executive Chef Shaun Goswell at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls, it’s both a fun and rewarding challenge.

B

ringing flavours from local farms and fields to the dinner table is what Shaun does best.

Executive Chef Shaun Goswell brings a unique culinary flair and an East Coast down-to-earth personality to Niagara. Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Shaun graduated with honours from the Culinary Institute of Canada in Charlottetown, PEI, where he nurtured his culinary talents and expertise, developing a series of signature recipes and dishes that he later came to perfect in Niagara.

By fusing his East Coast fares with Niagara’s abundance of local flavors and an unmatched selection of award winning local wines, Shaun showcases his unique dishes at the Scotiabank Convention Centre.

His passion for fresh, local ingredients is evident well outside the kitchen. “A dish is only as good as the ingredients you use,” says Shaun. “Partnering with local farmers is an important part of our success. Our year-round relationship with Niagara growers ensures the availability and quality of the ingredients in our menus. During the summer months, I take advantage of the region’s abundance of fresh fruit and produce. My team and I take to canning berries, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes and many others, sealing their flavours for the off-season.”

It’s his holistic approach that delivers mouth-watering culinary experience from Niagara’s fields and orchards, through Shaun’s kitchens, right onto guests’ plates.

Main Course - Black Cod, Toasted Millet, Celery, Organic Caviar, Sweet Potato

“My team and I devote great attention and energy to planning and executing each and every meal [...] we don’t cut corners because we believe that our clients will taste the difference.”

“We avoid many of the norms that limit most large meeting facilities and large-volume cuisine. My team and I devote great attention and energy to planning and executing each and every meal. At every stage of the process, we don’t cut corners because we believe that our clients will taste the difference. We take pride in delivering a boutique style service as if you’re at a restaurant; where flavours, aromas, and presentation combine to create unique personal experience.”

Chef Shaun Goswell’s wonderful culinary masterpieces are just one of the many ways that Scotiabank Convention Centre can make your next corporate function both enjoyable and memorable.

To learn more, please visit their website: fallsconventions.com/foodandbeverage

Salad Course - Smoked Beluga Lentil, Sous Vied Kale, Natural Pickled Vegetables, Beet Fluid Gel

Dessert (Top Right Corner) Heirloom Beet Halwa - Milk Chocolate, Raspberry Pate, Candied Grimos Nuts

091814-001-A

An on-site garden also plays an important part in incorporating local flavours. Chef Shaun and his team are always actively working on the fertile 3,600 sq.ft. plot of land; they design and plan the growing season, timing the harvest of vegetables and herbs to coincide with scheduled events.

Shaun’s appreciation of Niagara’s bounty guides his menu planning. “I keep flavours in season. My menu designs take advantage of the dynamic complexity of flavours, colours and textures constantly changing throughout the year. And I plan far ahead – this way my ingredients are ordered well in advance ensuring that they are as fresh as possible for any given future event.”

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Exce

by J and

Jamie Kenn

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Indulge in Selection

1 5 CHOICE No.

Exceptional cuisine

by Jamie Kennedy and Massimo Capra

Jamie Kennedy

CHOICE No.

State of the art spaces for productive meetings

3 CHOICE No.

Expect the unexpected for on-site venues

Massimo Capra

NIAGARA FALLS FALLSVIEW

905 374 4444 fallsavenueresort.com

Meetings Like Nowhere Else!

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+THE IDEA LOFT

SPECIAL SPECIALADVERTISING ADVERTISINGSECTION INSERT

Catering to the left and right sides of your meeting

Our industry is always buzzing about newly-renovated meeting rooms, up-to-date colors, wall coverings and flooring – it’s all essential to attracting new business. Not enough attention, however, is paid to the functionality of a meeting space. Are we providing the optimum meeting environment?

WHITE OAKS CONFERENCE RESORT & SPA took a serious look at functionality this past year when we renovated our under-utilized amphitheatre. “We listened to our planners who were clearly asking for our traditional spaces to be converted in a new and exciting way for their clients. Could we clear rooms and bring in more casual furnishings to create a relaxed atmosphere for certain meetings? It was a request we heard repeatedly so we listened,” says Richard Reid, Executive Director of Sales and Hotel Operations.

Last year, White Oaks began renovations to the amphitheatre with some ambitious goals: to provide a flexible environment that optimizes left brain and right brain thinking; to encourage delegates to collaborate and share ideas; and ultimately to achieve great results from this well-designed and extremely comfortable meeting space.

Gone is the amphitheatre – we’re now proud to introduce The Idea Loft, a space concept that combines a state-of-the-art amphitheatre screening room with an urban loft-style living room. It’s a full-spectrum learning environment, with uniquely targeted areas designed to encourage both your right and left brain to take flight. Featuring a tiered seating theatre with ergonomic seating flanked by two raised platforms with stylish, comfy furniture, this exciting space also boasts a modern kitchen table, a fireplace, and a big screen TV. Bright colours and a

, IT S A FULL-SPECTRUM LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, WITH UNIQUELY TARGETED AREAS DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE BOTH YOUR RIGHT AND LEFT BRAIN TO TAKE FLIGHT.

variety of textures have been blended to provide the backdrop for stimulating brainstorming sessions.

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WE BLURT OUT IDEAS, GO OFF TOPIC AND GET REALLY CREATIVE - OUT OF THOSE SESSIONS SOME PRETTY AMAZING NEW IDEAS ARE BORN. “There many types of meetings, so it only makes sense that there be completely different environments and tools required to host them. Finance meetings may call for a boardroom setting with a laptop LCD projecting reports on a screen. Serious business calls for a formal setting. A marketing department meeting, on the other hand, is all about brainstorming new ideas, creating content for the website, coming up with concepts for our magazine, or dreaming up a completely new concept for an ad campaign. We blurt out ideas, go off topic and get really creative - out of those sessions some pretty amazing new ideas are born.

The best space for that kind of session is definitely not a boardroom table!

We went to work and created a new space at White Oaks that embodies the spirit of creativity. The Idea Loft is comfortable – a place where you can walk around, grab a snack, toss a ball in the air or scribble a thought on the wall. The beauty of the space is that it’s made for breaking off into little groups, and it’s welcoming for those who need to tuck themselves into a corner to think an idea through. When thoughts are ready to be shared, the group can come together for presentations in the theatre/stage section. It’s a truly flexible, creativity-inspiring space and we are thrilled to be launching it at White Oaks.” says Julie Lepp, Director of Marketing at White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa. Looking for a uniquely creative space for a uniquely creative group? Ask about The Idea Loft packages now available at White Oaks Conference Resort & Spa... Always Innovative.

We believe that from extreme comfort will come lofty ideas.

FIND OUT MORE: 1.800.263.5766 | WWW.WHITEOAKSRESORT.COM

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The Great Wolf Lodge Difference.

At Great Wolf Lodge® we truly believe that our people represent our competitive advantage. And we believe that you deserve a great partner during the intricate process of crafting a meeting or event. From planning to closing remarks, you’ll feel confident knowing that you are supported by an entire team of meeting professionals fully vested in your success.

Meeting & Conference Group Rate

99

$

* .99 Per Night.

Family Friendly Meeting & Conference Group Rate

Based on single occupancy.

119

$

* .99 Per Night.

Based on double - quad occupancy.

When you book your next 2014/2015 meeting or event on or before January 10, 2015 receive*: • Complimentary upgrades to our Premium Suites • Complimentary meeting room

Start the conversation at 905.354.4888 ext. 5701 or sales@greatwolfniagara.com. greatwolf.com/meetings 3950 Victoria Ave • Niagara Falls, ON L2E 7M8

*Rates are valid for new bookings only. Rates are based on groups with a minimum of 30 people. Offer is based on availability and minimum counts apply for each meeting package. Offer is valid for midweek meetings booked in 2014/2015. May not be valid during holiday or blackout periods. Offer may end at any time without notice. Terms and conditions apply.

GROUPS & MEETINGS

COMING IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF FEATURE ARTICLES ON AIRLIFT

MILLENNIALS

Getting groups from here to there

Are they really changing incentive travel?

DESTINATION REPORTS ON JAMAICA

IRELAND

Standing Up and Standing Out

Comeback of the Celtic Tiger

PLUS… Business Matters, Power Points, Hard Wired, Good for You and more

ele e.

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Unique Venues

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by innovation

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IW PRODUCT PREVIEW

Great gift and promotional products from IncentiveWorks’ exhibitors

+GIFTS & GEAR

1. Carry-all tote has an open main compartment, open front pocket with Velcro closure, two large side pockets, D-ring and a handle drop height of 10.5 inches. Available in black, navy, purple, red and royal.

Price as low as $11.47 per unit.

Setup charge extra. brandblvd.ca

2. Men’s and women’s customizable, shawl collar cardigans are made in Canada.

Available from Two Crazy Ladies. Price as low as $56.00 (men), $54.00 (women). twocrazyladies.com

3. Sticker You is an online platform that allows customers to upload artwork to create their own custom stickers, labels, wall decals, floor decals, temporary tattoos, iron-ons and more. Price as low as $9.99 plus shipping. stickeryou.com

4. S’mores Kit in a Box comes with nine graham cracker sheets, two Hershey’s® milk chocolate bars and eight marshmallows. Set up: $58.50 (full-colour box); per unit prices range from $11.64 (250) to $11.12 (2,000). universallinksinc.com

5. Maui Jim sunglasses wipe out 99.9 percent of glare and block 100 percent of harmful UV rays. Maui Jim’s has a team available to fit people with their Maui Jim sunglasses at events. Prices vary. mauijim.com

6. Customizable cufflinks are made from pewter with silver plating and hand-filled enamel. $20.00 per pair. foxyoriginals.com

MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+GIFTS & GEAR

1. James Hart’s Haida “Dream Time” Wool Blanket features a design licensed from The Canadian Museum of Civilization. Made in Canada.

Per unit price as low as $91.67. twocrazyladies.com

2. Cross® quality executive pen has a stylus tip. Includes lifetime mechanical guarantee, Cross® gift box and microfiber cleaning cloth.

Set up: $61.60; per unit prices range from $44.06 (6) to $32.27 (750). universallinksinc.com

3. Brand Boulevard’s Maple Leaf 50ml Maple Syrup can be used as a thank you gift, destination souvenir or room drop present. Price as low as $28.95. brandblvd.ca

4. Tea Party Mug – Loose Leaf Tea Set is available in a range of tea blends: Maple Crush, Kiwi Kiss, Italian Latte and more. Set Up: $65.00 (one location imprint); per unit prices range from $22.99 (72) to $20.99 (504). universallinksinc.com

5. Customize by Foxy created this unique paddle-shaped medallion for The Sporting Life 10K for Camp Ooch. Made from zinc with silver plating and hand-filled enamel.

Prices available on request. foxyoriginals.com

6. Two Crazy Ladies offers a range of custom awards in acrylic, crystal and glass. Prices vary. twocrazyladies.com

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+SNAPPED Partner + Supplier Events IncentiveWorks 2014 IncentiveWorks’ official partners and industry suppliers added to the action around the show with a full slate of special events and parties.

Site Canada’s annual golf tournament was a sold-out success. MPI Foundation’s fundraiser, Canada Rocks, headlined by Suzie McNeil, lived up to its reputation of being a party so big it covers the country. And on the supplier side, MGM Resorts International launched its meeting planner cook-off competition while Starwood, Hilton, Banff-Lake Louise, Marriott, New York & Co., the InterContinental Toronto, Wynford and more kept planners partying on Tuesday evening with fabulous soirées at some of the city’s best venues. ~ Lori Smith, Editor

Site Canada 6th Annual Golf Tournament

Want to see more Snapped?

Visit www.meetingscanada.com and click on “Photos”

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+SNAPPED

Marriott Party

Banff Lake Louise Tourism Party

MGM Resorts International Cook Off

New York & Co Party

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+SNAPPED

InterContinental Toronto Centre Party

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Party

Wynford Party

Hilton Hotels & Resorts Party MEETINGSCANADA.COM

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+SNAPPED

MPI Foundation’s Canada Rocks

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Visit www.meetingscanada.com and click on “Photos”

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Thank you For anotHer suCCessFul year

Hosted Buyers registration opens FEBRuARY 9, 2015

Mark your Calendar

August 18 + 19, 2015

general registration opens ApRil 1, 2015

Metro toronto Convention Centre

eXHiBit spaCe on sale now

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+FIND

The Drake Hotel, one of Toronto’s bastions of hip, opened an outpost in Ontario’s Prince Edward County this September. The Drake Devonshire meshes cottage with cool creating a unique venue for small groups looking to do out-of-the-box thinking.

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Owner’s Suite terrace, Drake Devonshire. Photo ©The Drake Hotel

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MAGGIE SCHOFIELD Executive Director, Calgary Downtown Association

Every day, there are more than 50 international flights to Calgary from Asia, Europe and the U.S.

18 km of interior walkways connect delegates to downtown shops, restaurants and arts venues.

HOSPITALITY

Calgarians embrace new people and new ideas with equal enthusiasm.

The city’s warmth and high energy are contagious, making it the perfect place to introduce the unfamiliar.

MEETINGSCALGARY.COM

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meetings are a real bummer*

NOT IF YOU’RE MEETING AT THE RIGHT PLACE!

ONE WITH BRIGHT INTERIORS, COMFY SEATING, ACCLAIMED SERVICE AND UNIQUE FOOD. THE WHITE OAKS MEETING SETUP IS DESIGNED TO FUEL YOUR EVENT AND FOSTER SESSIONS THAT TOTALLY KICK BUTT. ASK ABOUT THE NEW IDEA LOFT - A SPACE WHERE BRILLIANCE HAPPENS.

WWW.WHITEOAKSRESORT.COM 1.800.263.5766

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