May 2005
Volume 7, Issue 5

Newsletter for the
Indiana Chapter of
Meeting Professionals International

Winner of "Best Layout & Design" Online Newsletter from Meeting Professionals International -- 2003

In This Issue:

From the President
ICVA Charges Ahead With Future Plans
Board Article
June Meeting
New Members
Planner Spotlight
CMP Question of the Month

IMPI Contact Information

IMPI Chapter Services
MP Records Communications
9840 Westpoint Drive,
Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46256
Phone:(317) 841-8205
Fax: (317) 841-8206
mailto:info@mpi-indiana.org

Chapter Vision Statement
MPI-Indiana shall be the leading voice committed to shaping and defining the future of the meeting and event industry in the State of Indiana.

Glenn Brooks
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
General Hotels Corporation

WE’RE ALL IN THE I.T. BUSINESS

You are probably assuming I.T. stands for information technology. In this particular case, that is incorrect. I.T. stands for integrity and trust. These are two of the most important words in our business.

In its simplest terms, our business is about suppliers and planners working together to ensure success in meetings and events. We obviously have many different personalities with many different styles working with each other in this industry. Regardless of personality and style, if integrity and trust shine through, then all is usually well, and meeting success is the final outcome.

Is it always easy to stand by integrity and trust? No. Our business is not cut and dry. There are numerous elements that can turn easy decisions into hard decisions. One of the strongest tests of integrity and trust is how situations are handled when there is opportunity to go the right way or the wrong way.

An example might be: a hotel salesperson is in the negotiating process of booking a great meeting with a planner. Everything looks like it will be a go except there are a few too many people for this meeting than can fit in the hotel’s largest meeting room. I don’t have to go further to explain that the hotel salesperson needs to be honest about this situation with the planner. It doesn’t mean there can’t be another solution to this challenge, but the solution is absolutely not to neglect explaining the true situation to the planner in order to secure the business. This is integrity and trust in its rawest form. We certainly have numerous other situations that arise in our industry testing both planners and suppliers in the areas of integrity and trust on a daily basis.

If one wants a long and successful career in our industry, then I.T. is what it’s all about. It will never fail you!

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By Monica Woods, CMP

In an April 7th presentation at the University of Indianapolis, Bob Schultz, Director of Communications at the Indianapolis Convention Visitors Association (ICVA) outlined to his audience the challenges and opportunities to shape Indiana’s future as a top-notch travel destination.

Indianapolis has long been successful at bringing visitors into the city and state, thereby helping Indiana’s economy thrive. But maintaining and growing our economy, said Schultz, hinges on three key initiatives: 1) expanding the Indianapolis convention center, 2.) extending our relationship with the NCAA to host high profile sporting events, and 3.) keeping the Indianapolis Colts.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers was engaged by the Capital Improvement Board to conduct market demand, financial, and economic analyses related to a potential expansion of the Indiana Convention Center & RCA Dome. The report showed that an expended center would create at current rates, increased state and local tax revenues of $11.1 million annually.

The Indianapolis Convention Center is at 70% practical maximum capacity hosting 387 groups annually including 40 major conventions. But space and availability limitations produced 68 “no-bid” situations for the facility, said Schultz. “People are waiting in line for our convention space if we expand,” he said. Expanded facilities will attract 18-23 more conventions and trade shows. This, said Schultz, translates into 8,700 jobs, up from 6,000 now, and potentially two new headquarter hotels or expansions to existing facilities. “If we build it, they will come,” Shultz added.

Equally important to the future of Indiana is maximizing our great relationship with the NCAA organization. “Hosting major sporting events like the men’s and women’s preliminary rounds and final four basketball tournaments bring $85 million in revenue to central Indiana. No small chump change indeed.

And finally, how do the Colts play into this scenario. Indianapolis became a major league city when the Colts moved here from Baltimore. The previous images of Indy being a sleepy Midwestern naptown city have quickly faded. “There’s not much that happens that can unite a cab driver and a CEO like when the Colts are playing,” said Schultz. “It’s a topic that is of interest to everyone and is on the news more than the weather,” he said. The question isn’t why keep the Colts; but rather how to keep the Colts, he said.

A new stadium will not only help to keep the Colts a competitive NFL team, but it will also serve as a multi-use venue for a variety of spectator and convention-related events. “The current dome is used by the Colts only 16% of the time”, said Schultz. If Indianapolis were to get a new stadium, it’s likely that hosting a super bowl would be in its future. Experts estimate the economic impact of a super bowl to be around $250-$350 million.

The Future of Indiana initiatives bode well for Indiana meeting professionals. An expanded convention center will bring revenue for the entire state as well as keep Indiana as a destination for large and small conventions and major sporting events. For more information about the Future of Indiana plan, visit http://futureofindiana.com.

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I’ve written several articles for this space in the past, and I doubt there’s much you don’t know about me. Here’s my very abbreviated background information:

• Grew up in St. Louis
• Married to Larry, a Chef (he never cooks at home)
• Truman State University in Kirksville, MO
• General Mills scholarship
• No children
• Active volunteer with IUPUI, Girl’s Inc., Friends of Garfield Park
• Lots of hobbies, and an avid bicycle rider
• Work for Accent on Indianapolis, Inc., a DMC

Rather than give you more background, I would rather tell you about my anticipation of becoming IMPI President in 77 days (gulp). I’ve been carefully watching Presidents for several years especially the IMPI Presidents. From past presidents I’ve learned some very important things:

From Linda McNairy I learned the power of inclusion. Most people want to play an active part in their association, but they need to be asked. If you ask, most people will say “yes”, and will welcome a chance to join committees and activities.

From Beth McGuire, I learned professionalism in all IMPI areas. She truly represents the 7 principles of MPI. Beth would never repeat gossip, darn it!

From Kim Wilkeson I learned to always smile and be positive. Kim approached her IMPI Presidency as if no job is too difficult or unpleasant. Have you ever seen Kim without a smile?

From Glenn Brooks I’ve learned “what if, and why not”? If you don’t take a chance, you’ll never know what might have happened. Think about the fabulous speakers we’ve had this year. If Glenn hadn’t said “why not” the programs wouldn’t have been as exciting, our membership might not have grown as quickly, and our retention rate would might have been different. Our current membership is 250+, and our retention rate is 77%. The buzz concerning IMPI Meetings says that we are the meeting to attend.

My 5-year old neighbor also taught me about being a President. My neighbor, a kindergartener, told me that she “got to be the President of her class” recently. When I asked her what being the President meant, she told me that as the President you got to sit in a special chair for the day. She also said you get to serve water to the other kids. I remember thinking that she really “got it”. While I don’t want a special chair, and I don’t plan to serve water, the clear message is to serve the members of your group. My hope is to serve you, in all ways possible. Like the IMPI Presidents before me, I’d like to be remembered for responding to you as a joiner, a professional, a smiling and positive leader, and a person who dares to take chances to see what can happen.

I’m looking forward to working with you this year, and if you need water just let me know.

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Thank you Omni Severin for hosting our April meeting! We enjoyed seeing your newly renovated space. The Wine Diva, Christine Ansbacher, shared practical tips, amusing wine lore and food and wine paring hints.

As central as food and wine service are to the hospitality business, many members and their clients are often uncertain in putting together the right matching of foods and wines. Chris’s presentation allayed those concerns and gave some useful guidelines on how to make successful pairings.

Foods that are served raw, deep fried or cooked in water should be paired with lighter, un-oaked wines. Foods that are cooked “brown” (roasted, grilled, BBQd) need a heftier style of wine – oaked whites or reds. “Browning” also caramelizes the juices in the meats which really mirrors the caramel flavors in an oaked wine.

Leaner meats are blander and need fruitier, less tannic wines – Pinot Noir or Shiraz. Fattier meats – roast beef, steak and lamb - can stand up to the more tannic Cabernets because the fat in the meat coats the palate and protects us from getting that “dried out” feeling in our mouth from a young, tannic Cab.

“It’s not that complex,” says Chris. “Just think about the weight of the food and the weight of the wine. Unlike Jack Sprat and his wife who liked opposites, foods and their wine partners should be similar.”

The Wine Diva also encouraged the planners to be more adventuresome in their wine selections. “Get off the Chardonnay and Cabernet Highway. Explore the back roads (and lesser known wines) from places other than California. With a little adventurous spirit you can find some great values and your clients’ estimate of your savvy will rise accordingly.”

The assembled guests got a little “pop” quiz on The Wine Diva’s tips. Winners got some really nifty gifts, especially the gas-injected Cork Pop that opens a wine bottle in one second. Christine’s practical tips will come in handy for all of us! Again, thank you Omni for a wonderful lunch.SUIT DRIVE.

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How much have you learned to enhance your legal IQ? Do attrition provisions in hotel contracts keep you up at night? Are you worried whether your organization’s indemnification provision will stand the test of time? Join industry attorney Barbara Dunn as she conducts a quiz to test your legal IQ using wireless, handheld technology. Don’t miss this lively and informative session.

Barbara Dunn, Esq. is an attorney and partner with Howe & Hutton, Ltd. in Chicago, a law firm which specializes in the representation of trade associations and other not-for-profit organizations, and in the representation of individuals and organizations in the meetings, travel and hospitality industries. Barbara received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate degree from the John Marshall Law School where she was a member of the Editorial Board of the John Marshall Law Review.

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Be sure to welcome IMPI's newest members!

Spotlight article provided by
Vicki Jo Lee
Director of Sales
Marriott Center

Jane Eisele
Sales Representative
Cummings Meeting Consultants

Our planner spotlight this month is Jane Eisele, Sales Representative responsible for new business development, for both Cummings Meeting Consultants and their affiliate, Lew White Tours, Inc.

Jane believes that IMPI is a wonderful organization for many reasons including…. professional development, educational and networking opportunities and personal growth. Jane states “With Pete Tinsley, CAE as our founding President and a core group of individuals, I was privileged to be serving on the Membership Committee at the inception of our Chapter’s formation and received the Supplier of the Year Award in 1992. My years of involvement with IMPI have been very rewarding .”

Jane is an Indianapolis native who received a B.S. degree from Purdue University in 1986. She has 14 years of experience within the meetings industry. Her first 8 years included Sales Management positions within the hotel industry in Washington D.C., Knoxville, Tennessee and at University Place Conference Center and Hotel in Indianapolis. Jane went on to gain an additional 6 years of meeting planning experience at Navigant Meeting & Incentives prior to joining Cummings Meetings Consultants in 2003 .

Cummings Meeting Consultants, Inc. offers professional consulting, project management, meeting planning and special event services to a variety of clients hosting meetings, conventions, incentives and events in many destinations. Their affiliate, Lew White Tours, Inc., specializes in organizing and managing transportation programs for conferences, conventions and meetings.

During college, Jane had summer jobs at the Hyatt Regency downtown and the Residence Inn North. Jane decided that she wanted to pursue a hotel sales position after working at both properties. Upon graduation from Purdue, she was offered a Sales Management Trainee position with Radisson’s flagship hotel in DC. This was the perfect opportunity for the career that she was seeking.

Some of her most humorous moments were shared in her years at University Place . Jane shares “We had a good sales team and had such a great time while working together. One of my colleagues was famous for standing on her head in our office….she really knew how to liven up our afternoons of telephone prospecting, etc! “ (I am really interested in knowing who this is and if they are still in the industry, aren’t you?)

Jane’s advice for someone considering this industry is “ Explore jobs in the industry that are of interest to you and make appointments with professionals in these positions. Ask them if you can work with them for a day or do an internship. Determine which company is the best, for the type of position that you seek and set your goal to secure a position with them.” (Great advice Jane and thank you being a contributor to the success of this chapter.)

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Planner Spotlight
Submitted by Stephanie Garwood
Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International

Rita Stewart
Director of Conferences and Special Events, Ball State University

When asked what she enjoys most about her job, Rita Stewart replied, “Certainly the people! Those who are coming to Ball State University for a conference are taking a break from the routine of daily life and are enjoying an enriching learning experience. They are happy to be on campus, and there are no better people to work with than happy, excited people!”

Four years ago, Rita came to the conferences and special events office to direct conference programming throughout the campus community. The most fascinating program she ever worked with is Ball State’s biennial academic festival, UniverCity, It is a weeklong festival of intellectual interchange, featuring scholars, innovators, creators, leaders and celebrities. The process of bringing this world-class event together is a true collaboration of university and community, and to be involved is a meeting planner’s joy, Rita says.

Before becoming a planner, Rita worked as a substitute teacher and a radio announcer. Then, for more than twenty years, she was the resident director of the BSU Kitselman Conference Center and director of the KICS learning program, a series of non-credit classes designed for off campus study. Rita’s background in family and consumer sciences led to the position at the BSU Kitselman Conference Center, since the primary function of the early job was to direct the internal catering business. She delved quickly into meeting planning and conferences, and as that business expanded, it became her vocation.

Rita believes that networking with MPI colleagues keeps planners and suppliers fresh with new ideas and effective approaches. “We become enlightened and rejuvenated through our association with other professionals in this business. Learn from others and share what you know,” she says.

Rita has two grown sons, Jon and Rob. Jon lives and works in Indianapolis, and recently blessed her with her first daughter-in law. Rob resides in Denver, Colorado. Both are graduates of Ball State University! Where else?

A conference has fixed costs of $50,000 and variable costs of $75 per person. What registration fee should be charged to achieve a 20% net profit with 1,000 paying attendees?

A. $90
B. $125
C. $155
D. $175

Correct answer is C, $155

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Submitted by Carol A. Paddock, CMP

As part of The Multicultural Initiative focus on multiculturalism within the meetings industry, MPI conducted a research study which will be a basis for a future four-part series on recognizing multiculturalism in all aspects of business. The purpose of this research project is to:

• Explore leading issues which can enhance the success of the multicultural meetings
• Collect and communicate demographic information which enhances the industry’s understanding of multicultural characteristics
• Prioritize key issues to improve the success of multicultural meetings
• Gain direction regarding the Initiative’s role in addressing multicultural meeting market needs.

The most significant finding of the baseline study was the difference between the perceptions of the term “multicultural” when used to describe a meeting to residents of the U.S. compared to the perceptions of “multicultural” when used to describe meetings to respondents living in other countries. From respondents living the U.S., “multicultural” meetings are often described as meetings of people from various ethnic backgrounds, including religions and races. Respondents living outside the U.S. more often described “multicultural” meetings as meetings of people from various nations.

Other key findings of the study include:

• Respondents projected a 20% annual growth rate in the number of multicultural meetings. There was a unified perception that meetings are not as homogenous as they were in the past. Therefore, the importance to meet the growing needs of diverse delegates is imperative for a successful multicultural meeting.
• Respondents ranked a number of services and practices according to the greatest importance for success of multicultural meetings. Six items were indicated as the aspects requiring the greatest attention and will require the greatest amount of resources from the meeting industry in order to improve the success of multicultural meetings. The six items are:
• Speaker/presentation screening
• Awareness and recognition of social cultures (customs, traditions, etc.)
• Awareness of dietary requirements
• Cultural education and awareness training for organizations
• Understanding regional cultural differences
• International cultural differences
• The other services and practices of importance for successful multicultural meetings are:
• Universal communication and signage
• Social functions as part of business
• Awareness of religious preferences
• Understanding racial preferences
• Appropriateness of venue
• Meeting protocol/the order of business
• Selection of entertainment
• Multilingual staff
• Alternatives for various budgets
• Staff members who identify with attendees
• Décor, color and lighting

The four-part series following this report will specifically address services and practices organizations can use to recognize multiculturalism in all aspects of their businesses. The next four parts in the series will include:

• Why it is Important for Organizations to Embrace Multicultural Needs
• Are you Prepared for Today and the Future? Planning and Implementing Successful Multicultural Meetings
• The Importance of Cultural Sensitivity & Multicultural Business Protocol
• International, Domestic, Regional Meetings…Key Success Criteria.

The Multicultural Initiative is about doing business in a changing world where multicultural markets are economically viable and make a difference. This Initiative addresses the needs of, and provides leadership opportunities for, untapped markets (currently African-American, Asian and Hispanic) in the meeting industry.

For more information regarding this study or The Multicultural Initiative, visit www.multicultural.mpiweb.org

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The Convention Industry Council (CIC) announced 443 new Certified Meeting Professionals (CMP’s) who passed the most recent exam in January 2005. Please congratulate the following CMP’s from Indiana:

Stephanie Agan, VMS, Inc.
Linda Beckwith, Networks Financial Institute
Heather Easterling, Crowne Plaza Hotel
Lynn Erdmann, Eli Lilly & Co.
Kimberly Giles-Migut, Engledow Group
Erin Manuel, VMS, Inc.
Carol Paddock, Sigma Theta Tau International

Regarded as the premier certification program in the industry, the CMP examination tests the candidates’ knowledge of meeting management. In addition to passing this rigorous exam, candidates must also demonstrate employment in the field as well as responsibility and accountability for successful meetings.

The next CMP exam is scheduled for July 9, 2005. If you are interested in joining the Indiana MPI personalized study group, please contact Kelly Favory at kfavory@agcin.org.

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