Dec 2008 - Jan 2009

Having the right frame of mind

BY BARRY SISKIND ne pet peeve of visitors at trade shows is pushy booth staff. These are people who think everyone is interested in hearing about their newest product or service. They wait in their booth with the eye of the tiger for an unsuspecting booth visitor to accidentally make eye contact or ask an innocent question. Then they pounce.

The booth staff, on the other hand have difficulty working in a trade show booth when their manager is demanding so much and giving them so little to work with.

The quandary is finding a happy balance between being aggressive enough to produce the desired results and being the kind of person visitors want to do business with. The answer is all a matter of attitude. The right attitude at a booth is not as a hard-core sales person but rather as a host.

Let’s step back from the trade show for a moment and look at another scenario. Assume for a minute that you just moved to a new home. The moving truck has delivered all your furniture and your boxes have been unpacked. Now you quickly realize that you are a stranger in a brand new neighborhood. What can you do?

One technique is to hold an open house where you invite your neighbors over for some wine and cheese or a barbeque as an opportunity to get together. The invitations have been delivered and its time for your open house to begin. Your home looks perfect: everything is put away and dusted. Your front door has a sign that says, “Welcome.” Your first neighbor walks up the door and enters. What do you do? Do you jump up and immediately tell them all about you, your family and where you work not leaving the neighbor time to interject a word? Hardly. Rather the right approach is to act as a host, introduce your self and begin a conversation where you both have an opportunity to learn a bit about each other.

The role of a host is often easier to assume than the role of sales person. It is the perfect mind-set for anyone working a trade show booth. Your display is your place of business for a few days. When visitors approach, your job is to welcome them, make them feel at home and initiate a conversation where the two of you will learn a bit about each other. There is no difference between having your open house for neighbors and working a trade show booth.

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statement that show your genuine interest in your visitor such as, “Is this your first visit?” or “”What attracted you to our booth?”

2. Invite the visitor into your space.

Conversations that stay in the aisle are subject to constant interruptions.

3. Explain how your booth was developed to help make their visit easier.

Point out the demonstration areas, the section where oneon-one presentations will take place or the location of a new product or service.

4. Ask about their buying needs.

In the first few minutes of your conversation, the emphasis should be on asking rather than telling.

The right frame of mind will make the show experience more productive and fun for both your exhibit staff and your visitors.

••• Barry Siskind is North America’ foremost trade and consumer show expert. Visit his Web site: www.siskindtraining.com or e-mail him at: barry@siskindtraining.com.

HERE ARE FOUR STEPS THAT WILL HELP: 1. Try a fresh approach Get rid of the same old, tired greetings like, “How are you doing,” or “Can I help you?” Replace them with questions or December ’08

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THE CANADIAN EDITION

In this Issue

6 Joining associations > There are many good reasons to join an asso-

Out with the old in with the new “Anticipate change and improvise. Don’t rest on past achievements.

Never stop innovating.” – Seth Godin perfect example of Godin’s premise would be the collapse of Montreal’s F1 Grand Prix. Montrealers have enjoyed it for years but knew that F1 Czar Bernie Ecclestone was all about the money. Sooner or later, any relationship that is strictly about money will drift to where there is more of it. But the loss of business is not always bad – it forces change and renewal – we must learn from it and move on.

Blame it on Adam (or was it Eve’s fault?), but things have never been the same since the Garden of Eden. Planners know this instinctively; we mustn’t just wait for things to happen, we must make things happen. The consensus is 2009 will be a tough year, but by being creative and with a bit of planning new ideas can be generated. Suppliers should be more open to new ideas if they hope to get through the tough times unfazed.

So this is, in fact, a great opportunity to be done with the old and move forward with the new. We must just see it as such and seize the opportunities that present themselves.

Make a plan for yourself in 2009, what do you want to change and improve. Don’t wait – plan for it and do it now, don’t wait to be downsized to learn new skills, don’t wait to be broke to get your finances in order. Change is inevitable so plan for it.

All of us at The Planner wish you a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2009 and remember: anything we can do to help, let us know.

– Leo Gervais

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ciation including keeping current on industry issues and strengthening your knowledge and contacts. But Kathie Madden of Delta, BC cites one reason above all others.

7 Embracing challenges > Our longtime Associate Editor Jyl Ashton Cunningham had a busy 2008. She explains how planners need to present innovative and concise budgets to help in client retention and to compete successfully in a fast-changing and increasingly challenging industry.

10 Ask the AV expert > Audiovisual is often a large component of events, and it is worthwhile to know as much about this field as possible. Philippe Kwon of Inland Audiovisual answers your questions.

18 Five years! > The Planner recently celebrated its five-year anniversary. What better way to mark the occasion than to hear what you, our faithful readers, had to say about us?

20 What’s hot in 2009 > Every planner knows they need to keep up with the Joneses. Leslee Bell of Decor & More gives her interesting take on what trends will continue and what new styles, shapes and surroundings are coming up.

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The Planner is a monthly publication distributed to professional meeting and event planners across Canada.

M ANAGING E DITOR

A SSOCIATE E DITORS G RAPHIC A RTIST S ALES C IRCULATION EXECUTIVE

ASSISTANT

C ONTRIBUTORS

Leo Gervais lgervais@theplanner.ca Camille Lay clay@theplanner.ca Jyl Ashton Cunningham jashton@theplanner.ca Matt Riopel James Paulson jpaulson@theplanner.ca Tania Joanis, Patricia Lemus Debbie Barlow Leslee Bell, Philippe Kwon, Kathie Madden, Barry Siskind

Poste-publication No. 40934013 Colour printer: Litho Express, (514) 816-3865, www.lithoexpress.ca 2105 de la Montagne, suite 100 Montreal, Quebec H3G 1Z8 Telephone: (514) 849-6841 ext. 315 Fax: (514) 284-2282 Cover: Matt Riopel

The Planner uses 30% recycled post-consumer paper.

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Destination Halifax to host 2009 Annual Conference The Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners (CanSPEP) recently announced that its 13th Annual Conference will be hosted by Destination Halifax and will take place on November 12 – 15, 2009 at The Westin Nova Scotian Halifax Hotel.

CanSPEP (formerly the Independent Meeting Planners Association of Canada) is the only association in Canada’s event industry that offers an exclusive membership to independent event planner entrepreneurs.

The 2009 CanSPEP conference will explore economic attitudes and dispel the pitfalls of retracting during this time of opportunity. The four-day conference will provide educational seminars, discussions, workshops and social events to the Canadian event industry. Rita Plaskett, CMP, CMM of ASSET is the 2009 Conference Chair along with Co-chair Bettyanne Sherrer, CMP of ProPlan Conference Planners. Previous years’ annual conferences have been held across Canada and guest speakers have included leading event specialists and successful small business entrepreneurs who have lent their expertise to CanSPEP conference participants.

ABOUT CANSPEP CanSPEP is a professional network of more than 100 entrepreneurs across Canada in the meeting, conference and

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event management business. Formed in 1996, the association provides a forum in which members meet to exchange ideas, develop skills through educational programs, and share partnership opportunities that foster business growth.

For more info, contact Carol Ford at info@cspep.ca.

On the Web: www.cspep.ca.

Moose, mounties and mountains...

In just two short years, Canada has jumped from the world’s 12th most respected country brand to # 2. The ranking comes from the Country Brand Index by FutureBrand of New York, NY. The FutureBrand ranking comes on the heels of other significant brand recognition – the influential Lonely Planet guide book publisher recently named Canada one of the Top 10 Countries for 2009 – describing it as a place of “life-changing experiences, festivals and events, and cosmopolitan, cultured and foodie-filled cities.”

The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) was at last month’s World Travel Market to roll out its 2009 global marketing strategy, which focuses on inspiring travellers to choose Canada as their next vacation destination.

CTC is showcasing the emotion of real travellers having profound personal Canadian travel experiences, and is bringing these to life in its first-ever global TV and Internet campaign. The centerpiece is a series of video clips shot by actual visitors to Canada, one of the first countries to utilize user-generated content as part of its marketing strategy.

On the Web: www.canadatourism.com

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Association arithmetic: Does it all add up?

BY KATHIE MADDEN y advice when shopping around for an association that is a good fit for credibility and educational purposes is an organization within or related to your particular discipline. Additionally, try choosing a broader-based group that can expose you to further contacts and, potentially, increased revenues. The inevitable sign-up costs of joining any association surface in the decision-making process and for a large majority, the expectations of becoming a member are to convert networking into money. This can be a misconception, so let’s face the truth about this subject.

Recently, I witnessed the joyful celebration of the ISES Dallas Chapter as they accepted the award for ‘Chapter of the Year’. I questioned how they were able to accomplish this when, as individuals or businesses, there are such extraordinary demands in these extraordinary times. This prestigious award was earned through dedicated teamwork as well as creative and objective thinking and as I watched them congratulate each other I recognized the true benefits of belonging to the right association, the most powerful of all resources: energy in its membership. Measuring the power of this resource is not just the award, but how it translates into increased engagement, broader and fresher ideas, less burnout and, ultimately, a stronger association that fosters a spirit of alliance that members and prospective members desire to be attached to.

Any well-respected association has a mission statement, a code of ethics, by-laws, policies and procedures and clear cut objectives, but it is a fallacy to expect that by merely becoming a member it fast tracks you to success. In the long run, this way of thinking will actually cost you money because if you choose to sit back, you miss out on the hidden benefits of fully engaging in your association. What are those benefits?

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The benefits of being in an association are numerous 1. Involvement helps you to grow to the next level of professionalism, respect and credibility.

2. Strengthens your knowledge and confidence beyond your own business.

3. Valuably broadens your accessibility and exposure ultimately building stronger collaborative relationships.

4. Allows you to be action-oriented to motivate and articulate input into the strategic objectives.

5. Effectively demonstrates your commitment to your industry and business.

6. Keeps you current to new members, industry issues, and future competitors.

The true definition of an association is a society of partnership. It is no different than marriage – you get out of it, what you put in. As the Dallas Chapter demonstrated, the strength of any association is the energy and participation of its membership.

The majority of associations encourage your involvement, but what discourages members is the misconception that they can’t afford the time. In that case I advise to do what you can with boundaries, because in this increasingly collaborative business world, you really need to be part of the engagement equation.

Membership + Participation = Knowledge Knowledge = Competence = Success ••• Kathie Madden is a Delta-based event planner and is involved in the sales of promotional items. She can be reached at kmevents@telus.net or via her website at: www.kathiemaddenevents.com

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Predicting embraceable challenges in the meeting planning industry

BY JYL ASHTON CUNNINGHAM, CMP his was JAAC’s busiest year ever, the timing being exactly as Malcolm Gladwell predicted in his excellent book, Outliers-The Story of Success. We had reached, almost to the hour, the 10,000 hours of skill honing that Gladwell claims everyone needs, in order to achieve the economic success being strived for.

It’s been a pretty rocky and never dull road, starting out by force rather than choice in 2003, when events across Toronto were cancelled immediately after the SARS epidemic hit the GTA. The only possible career direction had to be up, since JAAC basically started from nothing. In order to survive, we pulled in every ounce of experience garnered from all aspects of a colourful career, and set out to conquer the world.

In the last six years we’ve planned huge conferences and not-so-huge incentive trips. We’ve marketed, promoted and managed fundraisers, trade shows and special events. We’ve worked with museums, universities, the Canadian military, non-profit associations and corporations. We’ve raised

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awareness, funds and tents on a regular basis and have often been found climbing 15-foot ladders hanging drapes and décor from countless ballroom ceilings. We have, to date, never refused a paying event and nobody has ever failed to pay us. In the early days, we even catered private parties to keep the business afloat.

The reason for sharing our experiences is to illustrate how much diversity is potentially needed when starting out, to stay ahead of the game. As we move into what looks like a very challenging year worldwide, such diversity will likely come into play again. JAAC is gearing up for some interesting changes and we’ll keep you posted on our progress throughout the year.

Meeting planning has never been for the faint of heart and 2009 is predicted to be a turning point in many planner careers. Recessions should not necessarily be considered with doom and gloom though. As more events are cancelled, downsized or reconfigured, clients will be looking to meeting planners more than ever to offer strategic and operational solutions,

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2009 is NOT the year to increase prices CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 to guide their teams through the coming months and to lower meeting costs by skilled negotiation with suppliers and venues. Competition will be fierce and client retention will become more important than ever.

As a meeting planner, be ahead of the game by presenting the most innovative and concise budgets possible, well ahead of time. Where conferences have been planned years in advance, budgets and contracts already carved in stone and attrition clauses firmly in place, other ways will have to be found to decrease the bottom line. One solution may be to recommend that clients merge meetings with other departments, or with business partners, which will provide an opportunity to renegotiate the original contract and bring costs down by increasing attendance, as well as providing new and refreshing networking scenarios.

Venues should be encouraged to lower room rental rates in exchange for marketing opportunities on the company website and on-line registration sites – it’s key to always offer something in return for a request, preferably at no monetary cost to the client. Contra deals and bartering will likely become more popular methods of negotiation where possible.

Negotiating lower prices with audiovisual companies, caterers and event designers will be more effective if multi

events are contracted at the beginning of the financial year.

The planner needs to demonstrate to the client how much can be saved by this practice. In this way, future business is guaranteed to all parties.

2009 is not the year to increase prices, double dip (taking commission from suppliers while also charging a management fee), as clients will likely be much more diligent in their management of funds and will ask for greater transparency and detail from planners, before signing off on third party contracts. Proving to clients that you run a tight ship will also work in your favour, although it’s not wise to undersell your expertise during lean times. If things get quieter than you would wish, send out a friendly note by mail to all of your past clients, letting them know what you are up to these days, reminding them of the great events you planned together and how you envisage being able to help them again.

ALWAYS HAVE A CONTRACT When times are tough, it’s dangerously tempting to try to be all things to all people and to work on the premise of a handshake or on the basis of successful past relationships.

Always have a contract and make sure the cancellation clause is clearly outlined. Keep insurance policies up to date and look on cancellation insurance as a necessity rather than a “Nice to have.”

John Bradley and Oscar Nobre of the Pinnacle Group, Toronto were in full agreement about how to manage the downturn, explaining how important it is for clients to maintain as high a level of incentives and meetings as usual. This will ensure that morale among associates remains positive, competition remains strong and productivity is maintained or exceeded as a result. What will be key to saving money, explained John, is to reduce the number of event days and fill the shorter time with as much content and activity as possible, so the participants don’t feel shortchanged by the time reduction.

Above all, don’t look on the economic situation as something to be feared. It’s happened before and it will happen again. If work does slow down, use the opportunity to hone skills, catch up on some relaxation and family time and plan how to ride the wave of recession more effectively in the future.

We will have a complete feature in our 101 Ways to Save in the upcoming February issue of The Planner.

Have a happy and successful 2009!

••• Jyl Ashton Cunningham, CMP is a corporate event planner and designer based in Oakville, Ontario. Jyl can be reached at info@jaacevents.com.

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Facing up to facial expressions Identity fraud hits 1.7 million In the past year, 6.5 percent of Canadian consumers – about 1.7 million people – experienced some kind of identity fraud, according to a recent national survey.

Identity theft includes unauthorized credit card purchases or account access, having new accounts or loans taken out in your name or being impersonated.

The survey by the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, found that online transactions were the source for 15 percent of identity theft cases while debit card skimming made up another 13 percent.

Victims spent more than 20 million hours and more than $150 million of their own money to resolve the frauds, the study said.

Despite the frequency of ID theft, the survey showed that Canadians are not going far enough to minimize the chance of fraud. Only 13 percent of identity theft cases were reported to the police and nearly half of respondents – 49 percent – have never requested a copy of their credit reports.

About 20 percent of those surveyed reported that they had stopped or reduced the amount of shopping they do online because of concerns about identity fraud, while nine percent reported that they have stopped or reduced online banking activities.

On the Web: www.safecanada.ca/identitytheft_e.asp

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder. But how we judge someone’s facial expression may depend on our... culture?

According to a University of Alberta study on how people in Japan and North America interpret different looks, the way people respond to a smile or a frown was largely dependent on how people react culturally to certain expressions. For example, it is common in North America for people to show emotions, and delight or revulsion is often expressed with the mouth, since that is the biggest feature on the face.

Japanese culture tends to be more restrained in emotional displays, so it’s more appropriate that people focus on the eyes, which are smaller and more subtle in their expression.

A big mouth seems not to be strongly appreciated, especially for women, who often hide their mouth when they laugh, said psychology professor Takahiko Masuda, a co-author of the study.

The research could eventually have large benefits for multicultural countries such as Canada, where it’s becoming increasingly important and challenging for people to learn how to understand each other, said Masuda.

Conducted jointly by scholars in Hokkaido and Ohio, the research was based on having subjects in Japan and North America look at facial images and then having them evaluate the level of happiness and sadness in each one. The images, which featured photos of real humans as well as computerized icons known as emoticons.

Aussies asked to take a break Attention tourism ministers: Maybe you need to take a page from the Australian government handbook.

Tim Ferguson, the Aussie Tourism Minister, recently urged the roughly 11 million Australian workers to use the average of 11 days of paid but untaken leave that each has accumulated to help reduce the effects of the coming recession on the Land Down Under.

The government’s so-called No Leave, No Life campaign is a good way of breathing new life into the tourism and hospitality markets. Both have suffered from a soaring Australian dollar that kept foreign visitors away and encouraged Aussies to use their high spending power abroad.

The Australian dollar has fallen from close to parity with its US counterpart to $.065 recently, raising hopes that if domestic workers are encouraged to take their leave, they may take their holidays in Australia.

Research suggests that, contrary to the national stereotype, many Australians do not take their full holiday entitlement – usually four weeks paid leave plus 10 public holidays – because of concerns about job security or falling behind in their work. A study commissioned by Tourism Australia found that 40 percent of employees cited workplace issues as the most significant barriers to taking leave.

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Ask the AV Expert...

Ed. Note: In this series of articles, InfoComm AV instructor Philippe Kwon (from Inland AV of Winnipeg) addresses audio-visual questions sent in by event planners. To submit a question on a particular issue, e-mail Philippe at: pkwon@inlandav.ca.

PRESENTATION TRENDS: Phil looks ahead at what 2009 will bring to the audiovisual industry: “The presentation industry is constantly changing and evolving,” says Kwon.

2009 is shaping up to be an interesting year for the AV industry. Many existing audiovisual products will continue to evolve. Some leading edge products will be embraced and become main-stream while other equipment popularity will wane. It will also be interesting to see what the year brings in terms of new, unique products.

In the world of audio, digital mixing boards will continue to grow in use. Rental companies, churches and other consumers of traditional, analog mixing boards are replacing their aging equipment with new, more powerful units. Some of the advantages of digital mixing boards include a smaller physical footprint with far greater capabilities. You now have the ability to save a “mix” and carry it with you on a USB stick and you can control the mix with a computer; even providing remote control from different parts of the room.

Another trend in audio (as well as video) is to record directly onto a hard drive recorder instead of recording to formats such as: audio cassette, compact disc, VHS and other digital tape formats. Recording to CD or DVD has more potential problems than recording directly to a hard drive. CD or DVD copies of the session can be burned after the fact. With audio formats, the general acceptance of the MP3 is important because the files take up considerably less space than traditional audio formats (.wav and .wma for example).

In the visual realm, there has been a noticeable growth in the use of High Definition (HD) technology. 2009 should see a greater predominance of HD cameras, HD LCD and plasma panels, HD projectors and 16:9 widescreen format projection screens. This trend will accelerate as the US Congress has ordered that the American broadcasting industry stop transmitting analog signals as of February 17, 2009. The days of the rabbit ears are finished!

The trend with LCD and DLP multimedia projectors has historically been ever-increasing brightness levels, smaller size and weight, while maintaining or even reducing prices. This trend will continue on into 2009 where we will see higher output projectors, such as the 3-4,000 lumen projectors, dropping in price.

You now have the ability to save a “mix” and carry it with you on a USB stick and you can control the mix with a computer; even providing remote control from different parts of the room.

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BOOK REVIEW

Disciplined for Life

BY LEO GERVAIS

by Bob Urichuck

eaders of The Planner will be familiar with speaker and “social entrepreneur” Bob Urichuck, whose columns have graced our pages several times during the past few years.

Bob’s new book, Disciplined for Life (a revised and expanded version of his earlier book Online for Life) puts his internationally-acclaimed and time-proven 12 Disciplines into book form, to help you understand what success, attitude, motivation and that most important person – you – are all about. Through a series of questions and exercises, you will commit first to yourself and then to your dreams. Bob makes it very clear that only you can be in charge of your dreams, and then explains the way to go about making them happen.

This book will literally guide you through the steps to author your own future and make your dreams a reality.

An example of Bob’s theory that you need to take ownership of your goals is at the end of each discipline, you have to list your action plan and sign your name to commit to it.

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One of the interesting things about the book is Bob’s use of his own experiences (including one unforgettable ski plane accident) to illustrate some of his ideas. The book is also punctuated with pithy quotes all geared to inspire the dreamer in all of us.

The book is a step-by-step process to develop discipline and create a plan of action allowing you to fulfil your dreams.

But it is much more than an action plan, which is developed in Discipline 8 where you create a goal log. The idea is to do each exercise as they appear, over a period of time. Slowly, discipline develops and you start doing things from the inside out vs. the outside in.

Bob has invested over 30 years researching why some people are more successful than others and has concluded that discipline – the key to success in every area of life – is lacking in most people’s lives. He defines discipline as “a commitment to the most important person in the world, to do what you have to do, even when you do not want to do it.”

This book will definitely help you develop more discipline.

Book: Disciplined for Life Author: Bob Urichuck Publisher: Creative Bound, 2008 Pages: 200 ISBN: 978-1-894439-43-5 Price: On www.bobu.com Web site: $29.95

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LED lighting is environmentally-friendly CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10 With higher standards of quality and brightness also comes a greater expectation with regards to the actual presentation content. As familiarity with presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint increases, so does the level of creative sophistication. Presenters are now incorporating animation, audio clips and embedded video clips on a regular basis.

The concept of “green”, environmentally-friendly meetings has grown over the last year and will continue to do so in 2009. One of the goals for the meetings industry is to decrease the use of paper in meetings and conferences. Using technology to achieve this goal involves solutions such as; digital signage, visual monitors for participants during the meeting and downloading of presentations after the meeting.

An audiovisual industry “green” solution has been the use of LED lighting. This environmentally-friendly option uses much less power than regular lighting, it also allows us to add some “pizzazz” to events with the ability to change the colour of the lights at will.

A second growing application of LED technology is the use of LED walls as stage backgrounds. These allow designs or images to be displayed directly behind performers or presenters onstage. The trend for 2009 is that LED lighting will be more widely used and the cost of the fixtures themselves will decrease.

Looking forward, LED lighting will be one of the primary lighting alternatives when incandescent bulb bans take effect in the coming years. Last October, 2008, EU energy ministers gave “final approval to an EU-wide ban on incandescent light bulbs that would begin in 2010.” (http://redgreenandblue.org/2008/10/11/eu-bans-incandescent-light-bulbs/).

The cost of fuel and transportation may be a contributing factor to the growth of the use of webcasting and videoconferencing. These technologies allow us to bring the meeting to the audience instead of the other way around. The incidence of use of these solutions has grown over the last number of years and that trend should continue into 2009. In fact, according to a study by Meetingsnet.com, “38 percent (of planners are) saying they plan to replace some live meetings with virtual meetings or conference calls.” VOIP technology is quickly reducing the ongoing costs of videoconferencing. Go to www.videoconferencingROI.ca to calculate potential videoconference savings.

With the recent economic downturn this fall, getting the best value for money is important. Part of getting that value is developing stronger relationships with suppliers. Strengthen your relationships in 2009 to encourage your suppliers to develop “out of the box” solutions that make your event a success.

Moving into 2009, the words of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus “Change is the only constant” are still true today.

E-waste can be a valuable resource Rapid technology changes, low costs and even planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing problem around the globe: We are creating a large amount of E-waste that is enlarging landfills and putting carcinogens and toxins like mercury into our environment.

Vernon Technology can dispose of your E-waste (e.g. old computers) according to industry standards and provincial regulations. They will also provide your company with a certificate as proof of safe disposal for your records.

To learn more about how Vernon can help you reduce your carbon footprint, visit: www.vernontech.ca.

Global recession hurts airline travel As the world economy goes down, so does airline travel: The number of business and first-class airline passengers dropped by eight percent compared with the same month in 2007, according to a recent International Air Transport Association (IATA) report. IATA predicted further declines in premium travel, whose high margins are crucial for main line, or legacy, carriers.

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TOUGH YEAR AHEAD SAYS MARRIOTT CFO

SHERATON VANCOUVER SET TO OPEN FOR THE OLYMPICS IN 2010 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has announced plans to open Sheraton Vancouver Airport in Richmond, British Columbia prior to the start of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. The 389-room hotel is set to debut as a Sheraton on or before January 1, 2010, following an extensive upgrade and refurbishment project.

Just minutes from the Vancouver International Airport, Sheraton Vancouver Airport will be one of the largest fullservice hotels with the largest meeting space in Richmond, B.C. and the Vancouver Airport market. The hotel will be one mile from Richmond Oval, which will host the long track speed skating for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Other nearby attractions include the shops, eateries and cinemas at Richmond Centre, Richmond Public Market, Dyke Trails and Fisherman’s Wharf. The hotel will also offer easy access to downtown Vancouver, as well as a 24-hour, complimentary shuttle to and from Vancouver International Airport.

Downtown Vancouver is 20 minutes by car or elevated rapid transit located one block from the hotel.

As part of its renovation, Sheraton Vancouver Airport is revitalizing its lobby, designing it as a dynamic, interactive destination for guests. The heart of the new lobby will be the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft®, the brand’s signature communications hub where guests can enjoy free WiFi, desktop computers, television viewing, newspapers, magazines and café offerings including Starbucks®. The property’s all-day restaurant – Harold’s – will also be re-conceptualized as part of the hotel’s comprehensive renovation. This new casual restaurant and lounge will offer contemporary cuisine in a fun and comfortable environment.

Sheraton Vancouver Airport offers 25,000 square feet of meeting space, which includes 21 meeting and event rooms.

The hotel has undergone and will continue with renovations to its meeting space. Once open, the hotel will offer a variety of flexible meeting and conference packages, as well as smart technology and innovative meeting services. The hotel will also feature a new, state-of-the-art fitness centre developed in partnership with Core Performance®, an organization that trains elite athletes and Olympians and is dedicated to providing breakthrough solutions to help individuals achieve their maximum performance.

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Hotel operator Marriott International Inc. expects “to have to navigate through a tough 2009,” the company’s chief financial officer Arne Sorenson said recently.

The company said in October that it expected revenue per available room, or Revpar, one of the industry’s key performance measures, to be down at least 3 percent in North America next year, and Chief Executive Bill Marriott said last month that Marriott’s business outlook had deteriorated further.

Consulting firm PKF Hospitality Research said earlier on Tuesday that it expects U.S. Revpar to drop 7.9 percent next year, citing “the initial stages of one of the deepest and longest recessions in the history of the domestic lodging industry.”

Sorenson added that Marriott’s pipeline of new managed and franchised hotels stood at 130,000 rooms at the end of the third quarter.

“One half of these are already under construction and another 10 percent, or so, are financed,” he said.

Overweight? You need to do aerobics Both obesity and physical inactivity increase the risk of chronic disease and premature death. But people who are fit (based on a treadmill test) live longer, on average, than those who are unfit, regardless of how overweight they are, according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In fact, “fat but fit” people had lower death rates than unfit normal-weight or lean people.

Checkpoint-friendly laptop cases make travelling that much easier You know the scenario: You’re at the airpoint security checkpoint and you have to go through the hassle of removing your computer from your carry-on. But what to do?

Well, there are several new bags on the market that address this very problem. Brands such as Aerovation, CODi, Skooba, Targus and Tom Bihn all sell a new checkpoint friendly bag that conforms to new guidelines from the US Transportation Securiyt Administration. All bags are usually in the $100-$200 price range. For a bag to be considered checkpoint friendly, it should meet the following guidelines: • A designated laptop-only section • The laptop-only section completely unfolds to lie flat on the X-ray belt • No metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on top of the laptop-only section • No pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section • Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself

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Sudoku

Sponsored by the Centre Mont-Royal Fill each square with a number from 1 to 9 so that every number appears only once in each row, column and cell.

SOME SUDOKU RESOURCES ON THE WEB: • www.websudoku.com •www.sudoweb.com •www.dailysudoku.com •www.sudokupuzz.com

LEVEL: EASY LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

December ’08

Solution, page 22 Solution, page 22

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• I’d wish for more time in my day to have fun, relax and be pampered. A separate block of time really, one that cannot be taken over by work!

• I’d wish for all my clients to have increased budgets!

Ed. Note: We recently asked our readers the following:

“As a planner, we would like to know your workrelated wish list for 2009.”

• I love the position that I have and hope that in 2009 my company prospers and that all the staff here keep their jobs and there are no cutbacks.

The following are some of your comments...

• More incentives by hotels.

• A Board that has time for the job.

• I wish for this current economy NOT to affect event planning.

• Lower airfare and hotel room rate.

• On-line registration database additional copies of graphic design software

• Definitely improved communications.

• Being in the Tourism sector since 1991, I would like to see more meeting planners discover new regions and new event types.

• Greater respect for the amount of work it takes to coordinate a professional and seamless event. It’s the hard work, planning and attention to detail at the beginning that makes it look easy at the end.

• Support staff.

• I would like to see the Canadian dollar at par again.

• I wish for cheaper flights out of Western Canada.

• Cleaner air, less traffic, parking for under $5.00, better over my desk, filter and. Oh, and in-house yoga classes.

•••

• An increase in salary.

Some eggsciting facts... ggs have a bad reputation because of their high cholesterol content: 210 milligrams in the yolk of a large egg.

But, in fact, they do not raise blood cholesterol in most people—and they may even be good for your heart in some ways.

A pivotal study from Harvard in 1999, of nearly 120,000 men and women, found no association between eggs—up to one a day—and heart disease, except in people with diabetes.

Nor did it find a link between eggs and strokes. Studies since then have similarly vindicated eggs, including a Japanese study of more than 90,000 middle-aged people in the British Journal of Nutrition in 2006, and a study in 2007 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, which both found no link between frequent egg consumption and heart disease.

1. One large egg contains 6 grams of high-quality protein (in both the yolk and the white.) An egg contains 80 calories – 60 in the yolk and 20 in the white. The yolk is also a source of zinc, B vitamins (including riboflavin and folate), vitamin A, iron, and other nutrients.

2. Designer eggs, from chickens fed special diets, usually contain more lutein, vitamin E, and/or heart-healthy omega-3 fats. But they rarely provide enough extra nutrients to be

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worth their higher cost. Eggs that claim to be rich in omega3s, for example, contain only a small amount compared to fatty fish such as salmon.

3. There is no nutritional difference between white-shelled and brown-shelled eggs. It is the breed of hen that determines the color of the shell.

4. The carton acts as a barrier preventing odours from penetrating the shell, and they keep fresher longer if stored in their carton instead of on the refrigerator door, where vibrations and temperature changes affect them. The proper storage position for eggs is large end up. Remember: Eggs, once taken out of the refrigerator lose one day’s freshness per hour.

5. To determine whether an egg is hard-cooked, spin it. If it spins round and round, it is hard-cooked. If it wobbles and will not spin, it is raw.

6. Pierce the end of the egg with a pin, it will not crack when placed in hot water.

7. A word to the wise: Eggs are good food. Most people can eat one or two a day. Just don’t mess them up with by preparing them with fatty, salty ingredients or serving them with unhealthy side dishes.

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December ’08

Independence in the meeting planning industry is thriving Who’s got it, who wants it

BY JYL ASHTON CUNNINGHAM, CMP he hospitality and meeting industries have undergone some pretty interesting changes over the last couple of decades. As incentive travel, conferences and special events continue to grow in size and number across the world, the demand for branding, rewards and being recognized in an anonymous environment as a “Regular” client has become the norm. While not altogether a bad thing, the downside is that many hotels and other businesses are swallowed up in mergers, takeovers and alliances, as the multi-billion dollar conglomorates strive for their own level of recognition. It has been mentioned before by The Planner team that it becomes increasingly more difficult to even say the name of some hotels as corporate branding precedes original names.

Look closely though and independence can be seen to be thriving throughout the industry. CanSPEP (Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners) has its largest membership since being founded over 11 years ago, with more than 130 independent planner members from across Canada. The actual number of independent planners in the country must be in the tens of thousands and one of the fastest growing industries in Canada. Each CanSPEP member has a different story to tell on how they decided to become independent. Some were forced into the position by weak economies, some were encouraged by clients to set up on their own, some eased into the consultancy side of corporate business and some just prefer to be autonomous.

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Whatever the reason, there is a huge market out there for the one-on-one service provided by independent planners, who make client business their business, working from home-based offices or from state of the art downtown locations. Personally speaking, I come from a family of entrepreneurs and working in a group environment proved to be less successful than being my own boss. It’s not for everybody.

Little or no health and dental benefits, no EI during times of crisis, no performance bonus and no guaranteed paycheque at the end of each month. Lack of structure in the workplace is one of the most common remarks heard in the anti-independent debate. Like visual artists and Bed and Breakfast owners (with no connection between the two), it helps the independent planner to have another source of income, at least initially, to supplement pursuing the dream of independence and creativity.

Independent suppliers in the industry are far more common. Chains of linen companies, décor consultants and caterers are relatively unusual and small businesses in these industries are still the norm across Canada. Planners for the most part remain loyal to their preferred suppliers, as do many venues where in-house catering is not provided. Typically, lists of preferred vendors will be local and independently run companies. Unionized catering giants, such as Aramark, generally only work in unionized environments and the Dolce group is arguably one of a rare breed providing high-quality catering and event management services in select venues across North America.

A recent first visit to Nassau in the Bahamas proved to be a real awakening.

Expecting to find all kinds of elegant boutique hotels dotted along the coastline, it was a bit of a culture shock to encounter the incredible Vegas style THE

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Atlantis, engulfing tiny Paradise Island and all but a handful of properties built there prior to the stunning reincarnation of the famous Lost City.

A wide choice of restaurants and entertainment provides everything needed for a vacation without leaving the complex. In direct contrast, one of the few remaining independent properties in Nassau – Graycliff Hotel – boasts 20 olde worlde bedrooms and suites, a 250,000 bottle wine cellar (some with $20,000 price tags) and a gourmand’s menu to die for.

The atmosphere when arriving is exactly how one might envisage the hayday of Bahamian lifestyle, exquisite gardens, stunning conservatories, elegant antique furnishings, incredibly polite staff at all levels (one of the best and most informative site visits encountered to date, was conducted by the bus boy) and the heady scent of cigars gently wafting through the air.

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Five years already – planners speak their mind!

Ed. Note: This past September, we were excited and honoured to celebrate our fifth anniversary. While it is a quite an achievement for any publication, we take special pride in knowing that it was because planners liked and wanted our magazine. We have received too many messages of thanks and encouragement to mention, but here is a sampling from our readers. And keep them coming – we really do read them all and have used many of your ideas over the years…

It’s an excellent source of information. I am always looking forward to the next edition.

Johanne Dandurand, Bell Aliant

I really enjoy your articles and advertisements for the venues and services. Keep up the good work!

Patricia Muss, Muss Eventworks

I read the magazine front to back and still refer to it. Thanks for all the great info!

It just gets better with every issue. Enjoy all your articles. The Planner appears less commercial and “slick” than many others – that’s good, “keep ’em coming.”

Mary Sessa-Lipsey, Lexis Nexis

J. Duff Shaw, Ryerson University

Keep them coming, there is a lot of useful information.

Sandra Del Gaudio, La Senza

Great publication. I love all the little tips, helps and related topics. This publication talks directly to me – good work!

Peter Humphries, RBC Life Insurance Company

The Planner is an excellent document. It’s full of interesting articles that help us with our planning.

Anne-Marie Deslauriers, HRG North America

Good magazine. I enjoy the variety of information that it gives me – lost luggage, PowerPoint, beds and entrepreneurs. As a planner there is so much I need to know as a Jack of all trades!

Easy reading! It’s great.

Kathy Nelles, Toyota Dealer Communication Team Tracey Tse, CGA Association of B.C.

I wish we had this type of information and support when I began planning 30 years ago! Truly, truly, helpful!

Jennifer Kapsch, Bravo Rentals

I find The Planner very helpful. The industry news in the planner is very informative and what I particularly like is that the articles are not written to market/sell me something or someone but focussed on passing information. Short and informative articles get to the meat!

Tuesday Johnson-Macdonald, TAP Resources

I always look forward to reading The Planner. The content is always relevant and useful. I also love the “grassroots” feel of The Planner.

Sharda Sukdeo, Maritz Canada Inc.

The Planner often gives me ideas to share with my colleagues.

I find the practical and humourous nature of your publication refreshing. I am particularly interested in the airline-related industry news as I frequently plan and book flights for department members.

Kimberly Pickering, Blue Giant Equipment Corp.

It’s an excellent reference guide. I enjoy the professional development articles in particular.

Mary Comfort, Maritime Travel Conventions

Relevant, quick, easy to read and fun! The Planner really stands out from the glossy publications that I put aside until I have time (hah!) to plow through them. Keep up the good work!

Diane Dodds, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada 18

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December ’08

I just finished reading my second copy of The Planner. I receive so many magazines and they seem to pile up on the floor of my office until I throw them away because I do not have time to read them. I so enjoy your magazine; the topics are pertinent, informative and easy and enjoyable to read.

Plus, your magazine itself is easy to carry and read while traveling. Congratulations on a great job.

Love it – a must read. It is more relevant than The Meeting Professional.

Joanne Wallace, Drug Information Association, USA

Lesley Hiscoe, Community Living St. Catherines

Wonderful communication, information-packed piece and I always look forward to receiving my next issue. Keep bringing it!

Your information is very helpful and I would like to see an article written pertaining to events for the Pharma Industry.

Heather J. Payne, TD Canada Trust

As a person new to this type of job, The Planner gives me a wealth of information necessary to my success. I have learned a lot from you!

Vita Brody, Berlex Canada Inc.

Mary Del Vecchio, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada

The Planner is an extremely useful tool for conference/event planning. Every issue provides useful, common sense tips.

Jaroslaw Grod, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College

The Planner is an excellent publication that I look forward to and it provides great information and tips. I always learn something new that I can apply or use – continue the great work.

I am always amazed how each issue contains useful, relevant information. Love the format – it is easy to read on airplanes!

Dallyce Macas, The Navigant Performance Group

Debbie Ross, Canadian Nurses Association.

The Planner is very informative – lots of interesting articles.

Debbie S. Montes, PricewaterhouseCoopers

It would be nice to see some Top 10 lists e.g. Top 10 hotels, Top 10 hotels in Toronto, Top 10 restaurants, Top 10 travel agencies.

Linda Mountford, McKesson Canada

Good Canadian publication. There’s a nice balance of information and “nerve.” Well done!

Maureen Marquardt, Ontario Painting Contractors Assoc.

The Planner is a great tool of information about hotels, from info to procedures along with airlines and how they operate.

I really love it!

The Planner provides helpful hints as well as articles that pertain to issues I am, at times, confronted with.

Antonia Arcliesi, Le Chateau Inc.

Rosemary Naccarato, Sun Microsystems of Canada

I really enjoy reading The Planner. I look forward to each issue as it’s a great source of information, advice and good suggestions on everything pertaining to the meeting process.

I find your newsletter extremely upbeat and helpful, keep up the good work. Thanks.

Peninah Zilberman, Canadian Environmental Markets Assoc.

Joe Ragonese, Hitachi Canada Ltd

I love this magazine. It’s the only one I read cover to cover!

Good Job.

I just received the (Venues) guide and its priceless! This is great, congrats on a great job.

Elissa Hayek, L’Oreal Paris

Nancy C. Coll, Canadian Pharmacists Association

It is really interesting and covers a lot of ground, businesswise as well as good humour. I enjoy receiving every copy.

Great read! It is concise, interesting and always has something new.

Jane Wallbridge, Carlson Marketing Group

Bernice Holman, Volkswagen Canada

This is an excellent product. I have been using information you’ve gathered in your publication to plan my next meeting in Montréal.

There is a lot of very interesting and very useful information in The Planner. I enjoy reading each publication.

Susan Garland, Panasonic Canada Inc.

Constance McKnight, National Network for Mental Health

I love this publication. It is a great read and has lots of great tips.

I am a new reader of The Planner and really appreciate the range of articles included in each edition. There are always at least 4 or 5 that I make the time to read.

Kristen McCausland, College of Physiotherapists

Elizabeth Katchen, Autodesk Canada

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What’s hot on the horizon for 2009

BY LESLEE BELL s 2009 looms on the horizon, it is apparent that some trends which were set earlier in 2008 are about to change. The big change in design is “perception” driven.

While there will still be lavish events with fabulous colour and texture, there will now be numerous events that will be driven by simple, clean lines, more architectural and structural than lush and voluminous; not necessarily being less expensive, but being perceived as money being allocated appropriately and not frivolously.

There are so many companies with chairs on the marketplace that chivaris in every different colour and the acrylic ice, latest to market, have saturated the social scene. The ghost chairs, once only for the high-end client, have been made more accessible with knock-off versions, so clients are pushing designers to look for new alternatives. Despite the clean lines for 2009, chivari chairs are being “dressed to impress” with “chair shrugs”, feathered boleros, fur jackets, tuxedo tops, woven backs and rouched chair backs with jewels, all to get away from the predictable.

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MORE AND MORE, WE ARE SEEING BARE RECTANGULAR TABLES Communals with plexi-glass, mirrors, or mosaic tops enhanced with nothing at the cocktail hour but candlelight; and modular centrepieces, designer “placemats”, of mirror, or unique mediums, with florals rigidly lined down the centre of the table for more formal dining. Reflection is everywhere, whether through sparkling crystal, candlelight, mirrors, glass or ice… it is definitely a big look for 2009. Colourful glassware from wine and water glasses to votives and vases will be an added feature to the tables for later in the year and into 2010. As well, couches on raised legs are paired with glass dining tables for Vegas-style seating.

Colours are bright and bold with persimmon and aubergine being hot, and paired with copper or with celadon, they are very “au courante.” Grey and brown were the hot neutral colours paired with blues and greens for 2008, however, they are just beginning to fade in popularity, not because they are not still stunning but they have been almost over used. Black and white, paired with various shades of red, is going to be stealing the scene for 2009.

Animal prints are still on the prowl and are blended in to the exotic looks inspired by Asian, Middle Eastern, and South American palettes even if they are not indigenous to the region.

Lighting of every kind, from LEDs to slow diffuse projection,to incredible ceiling lamps, both chandelier style and modular are popular.

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Oversized tiered lamps and the new 36” crystal spheres, are all part of designing environments.

Going “green” or being “eco-sensitive” is gaining ground with some companies insisting on leaving no carbon footprint from their event. This is already in the works for many companies and can easily be initiated if a client wants to do such an event. To take an event and make it a zero carbon footprint, translates to about 2% to 3% more than a normal event.

Signage is being done on mirrors which is a truly eco friendly savings and allows for an impressive sign and marginal waste at the end of a conference.

Events are tending to be more about a colour, a word, or an emotional response, rather than the predictable themed events. Whether a monochromatic event, bold with a singular colour palette in its various hues, or a single word like “Luxe” or “Verve” which conjures up all manner of images they are becoming great vehicles for events. A pristine white on white bathed in blue, creates a serene setting evoking a contemplative emotion which is powerful in branding an event or setting a moment to be cherished. Water elements from walls to towers, waterfalls and fountains are still very popular as well.

Projecting onto fog, holograms, and moving words flying through the air can be “imprint” moments that guests will remember long after the event has ended.

Lounges are still very “in” and will continue to be, as clients love the formal, yet laid back approach to cocktail parties. There are lots of companies in this marketplace so the accessories and enhancements are constantly changing to keep it fresh. The clients requests go from Kartell (high end) to Crayola (intense color) we get them both and the looks are ever evolving.

Branding an event is becoming more important that ever.

Corporate dollars must be perceived as having a great ROI. Marketing dollars must be maximized and an event that is well branded serves two masters. It gives both a chance to reward, to celebrate, and to imprint the corporate message.

Branding, whether subtly or boldly, needs to let the event serve as the “medium” that delivers the message. Too much branding, however, can take an event and make it look like a trade show. It should be like a whisper with a thousand echoes.

Whatever 2009 holds for the event industry, we all know one thing, to do what you love and to get to design unique and exciting events, shows, and launches is truly a dream career and most of us can’t imagine doing anything else.

Wishing one and all a Happy and Event-filled New Year.

Leslee Bell is Co-President of Decor & More Inc., in Oakville, Ont. She can be reached at: (905) 844-1300 ext. 222 or on their Web site: www.decorandmore.com.

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The Inn at Laurel Point is a real gem in Victoria, B.C. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17 A true gem from the past in a rapidly-developing culture.

On the web: www.graycliff.com

A HOTEL FILLED WITH NATIVE ART A trip earlier in the year to historic Victoria, BC, took us to an independent property, The Inn at Laurel Point (the hotel recently changed its name from the Laurel Point Inn after a huge renovation and upgrade that was completed in June this year). The hotel was owned by Artie Arsens, who sadly passed away just two months ago, aged 94. Mrs Arsens lived in a private suite at the hotel and was very hands on with the running of the place when her husband was still alive a decade ago, with decreasing involvement as her health deteriorated.

The hotel is unique in both management style and appearance. Designed to look like a cruise ship, each room and suite has floor to ceiling windows and a balcony. The views of the harbour are stunning and a day could happily be spent watching the float planes, ferries and private yachts come and go.

Inspired heavily by Asian design, the room decor is clean, crisp and minimalist. In eclectic contrast, the hotel is filled with native art from all over the world, with quite a few pieces by Mrs Arsens herself. Apparently there is no secret to the success of running one of the few remaining large independent hotels in BC, surrounded by the top international brands.

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Everybody just loves to work there and it shows in the friendly and efficient service, the pleasant greetings in hallways and restaurants and the high standards throughout the property.

Definitely worth a visit before it one day loses its charming independent status.

On the web: www.laurelpoint.com.

INDEPENDENCE SHOULD BE SALUTED While it cannot be argued that independently-owned hotels are any better or worse than their heavily branded counterparts, there is something quite refreshing about seeking out properties that choose to hold out, against all odds, for that uniqueness that sets them ever so subtley apart. Likewise, no-one can really judge whether an independent planner or supplier is a better choice than a large specialist company.

Geographical, cultural and economic factors may result in completely different service levels in any capacity, however development and modernization do not necessarily bring success to a region. It all comes down to the people in the end – without good people, nothing will work right.

••• Jyl Ashton Cunningham, CMP is a corporate event planner and designer based in Oakville, Ontario. Jyl can be reached at: info@jaacevents.com.

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Websites of Trading points www.points.com Looking to trade hotel points for mileage points (or vice versa)? Then this is the site for you. It brings together Points.com, a loyalty reward management Web site that runs Global Points Exchange, a free trading marketplace for points and miles, and Priority Club Rewards, the world’s largest hotel loyalty program. Some popular airlines featured are American and Delta and the hotels include chains like InterContinental and Holiday Inn. It’s free to join.

Getting a great seat www.seatplans.com This useful site was created by the editorial staff of Business Traveller magazine and its popular Web sites (Businesstraveller.com as well as Businesstraveller.asia). For more than 30

interest

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years, Business Traveller has published reviews of economy and business class products on airlines. These well-regarded reviews are the basis for the new editorial reviews on Seatplans.com.

Whenever a new review is posted on Businesstraveller.com, it will also be posted on Seatplans.com.

There is also information on whether you should choose a window or aisle seat, taking a day flight or night flight, and which seats to avoid.

The following are some upcoming MPI chapter meetings in Canada. Why not drop in? See Web sites for more info:

Save money on flights www.yapta.com Did you know the average flight price can fluctuate as much as 400%? Using your personal preferences, Yapta will send you an alert when prices drop.

••• If you have a website that you think might interest planners, please send it to lgervais@theplanner.ca

Toronto Chapter, Jan. 8 www.mpitoronto.org

BC Chapter, Jan. 7 www.mpibcchapter.com Greater Calgary Chapter, Jan. 15 www.mpi-gcc.org Greater Edmonton Chapter, Feb. 18 www.mpigec.ca Manitoba Chapter, Jan. 21 www.mpiweb.mb.ca

Ottawa Chapter, Jan. 15 www.mpiottawa.ca Montreal Chapter, Jan. 22 www.mpimontreal.com Atlantic Canada Chapter, March 5 www.mpiatlanticchapter.org

February 26, 2009 Destination Marketing Association, International Destinations Showcase, Washington Convention Centre, Washington, D.C. Contact : www.destinationmarketing.org

March 17-18, 2009 National Business Travel Association, I5th Annual Conference & Exhibitor Showcase, Hilton Toronto, Toronto, Ont. Contact : www.nbta.org January 11-14, 2009 Professional Convention Management Association, Annual Meeting, Ernest N. Memorial Convention Centre, New Orleans. Contact : www.pcma.org

February 7-10, 2009 Meeting Professionals International, MPI’s 2009 MeetDifferent, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Contact : www.mpiweb.org

••• If you have an event you would like us to consider listing, please send it via e-mail to: info@theplanner.ca.

ANSWER EASY SUDOKU FROM PAGE 15

ANSWER MEDIUM SUDOKU FROM PAGE 15

February 24-26, 2009 Green Meeting Industry Council, Greening the Hospitality Industry, David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. Contact : www.greenmeetings.info

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