August 2013
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Aug 19: Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Sandusky, OH

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Aug 26: DoubleTree Dallas

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Numbers Say: "Meeting People Getting Smaller, Cooler and Less Sensitive...We Think"

Please excuse the headline. Our new editor's last job was with the Weekly World News. After years of following the exploits of Bat Boy and UFO aliens, he tends to err on the side of sensationalism.

 

The actual news we want to convey is the findings from MPI's most recent Business Barometer.

 

As for the shrinking of meeting planners, the real facts are that despite the number of events rising by 2.8 percent last year, the length of meetings decreased by a half an hour. In addition, meetings have shifted to smaller venues. Says the Barometer, "As global economies moved during the past several years, so have the event facilities preferred by meeting professionals. Notably, they're using convention centers and smaller venues, while using fewer resort, city and airport hotels."

 

Okay, the headline writer wasn't too far off.

 

How hip are we all getting? MPI reports that it's getting cooler to be responsible. "Overall, 25 percent of meeting professionals say their organizations are 'very active in CSR (corporate social responsibility).' An additional 59 percent say their organizations are 'somewhat active in CSR.'" That is cool.

 

In the past, meeting planners were concerned about the perceptions of destinations, venues and hotels. But, "that sensitivity has significantly declined. Only 14 percent of meeting professionals say public perception is now a factor in selecting a destination. And only 9 percent say public perception is a factor in the selection of a venue or hotel."

 

There's more fun stuff in the Barometer that we couldn't fit in the headline. We'd love to let you know how you can use this trendy data to your advantage when planning your next meeting. Just give NHS Global Events a call at 847-213-5555 or send us an email at [email protected].

A Very Special Rededication

September 15 marks the 50th Anniversary of a tragic event. It was a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement. Four African American girls - Carole Robertson, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Denise McNair - were killed when a bomb exploded at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama.

 

Every five years, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning (CRCL) holds a Rededication ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing. This year's ceremony at the Center will be held on the evening of Thursday, September 19. Click here for more information and to register for the event.

 

The Rededication event is open to everyone in the community. Volunteers, civic leaders, donors and politicians on the local, state and federal level will be in attendance that night.

 

The Carole Robertson Center has become a special place to volunteer for the employees and clients of NHS Global Events. We hope you will join us at this special ceremony.

 

Rosemary DuMais is Office Manager/Executive Assistant at Tecta America Corp. She was introduced to the Center by NHS Global Events four years ago. The work done there has had a profound affect on her. "Sean Lynch invited us to volunteer there once," explains Rosemary. "I was so touched by what I saw that I decided I wanted to donate more of my time to the Center. Those of us who have so much need to reach out to others and do what we can top help them get ahead."

 

Rosemary is proud of the work volunteers do at the Center, including tutoring the children, playing with them on the playground or looking after the infants.

 

If you're not familiar with CRCL, Rosemary says, "I would like people to know that from the parents of the kids, to the staff members and  the volunteers, everyone at the Center is so focused on the welfare of the kids, to give them an edge in learning English as a second language or to rise out of poverty. People here are amazingly dedicated to that goal." 
 

Everyone at NHS Global Events would be happy to tell you more about the Center and the Rededication Ceremony.  For more information on NHS Global Events Corporate Social Responsibility, please click here

Thoughts About Conferring at a Conference Center

We live in a world of limitless options. And while it may seem that all the choices are just too overwhelming, think back to earlier times. In the '60s, ice cream choices were so limited, most families bought Neapolitan (before you Google it, that's vanilla, chocolate and strawberry). Today, the choices are far-ranging and extreme.

 

Now let's set that bowl of ice cream aside. Our goal today is to help you decide when a conference center is the right option for your group.

 

NHS Global Events Meeting Planner Melissa Swakow says, "Conference Centers can offer tremendous value and pricing is one component. It makes budgeting easier as the guestroom, meals, breaks, standard AV and service charges are included in a single CMP/delegated rate."

 

Melissa also notes that these centers have high standards for meeting space, including tackable walls, multiple hard-walled breakout rooms, ergonomic chairs, built-in screens and climate controlled rooms. And she says, "There are less distractions because they are more dedicated 'meeting' hotels than non-conference centers that also target leisure business."

 

A drawback to conference centers is that meals are usually served cafeteria style and it can be expensive if the group opts to serve private meals instead of eating in the dining room.

 

Melissa has found that small to mid-sized groups are best to book conference centers and that they are great for training and content-heavy programs.

 

And she points out, "When considering a conference center, it is important to know exactly what is included in the package before committing. The contents should be clearly listed within the proposal and the subsequent contract."

 

To learn more about the best venue option for your next conference, give NHS Global Events a call or email [email protected]. And go ahead. You can finish your ice cream now. Mmmm, Cherry Gracia.


NHS Global Events | 847-213-5555 | [email protected] | http://www.nhsglobalevents.com
5215 Old Orchard Road
Suite 620
Skokie, IL 60077
NHS Global Events is a site selection, meeting management, and consulting company headquartered in Chicago, IL. With over 100 years of combined experience, NHS Global Events consultants source over 500 programs and manage over 50 meetings a year.

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