IT's NOT EASY BEING GREEN
President's Message
By Brian Stevens
Meeting Planners International (MPI) had a forward-thinking president during the mid-1990s who started bringing up the notion of "greener meetings”. She tried and tried to get our attention as a board of directors and, for whatever the reason; the subject just wasn’t a priority then.
Fast forward ten years and she’d be very pleased that the “green” topic seems to be front and center everywhere. Recently, I asked several key customers about current hot topics at their respective headquarters – almost uniformly, subjects around corporate responsibility and sustainability were the replies. I think that’s to be expected at a time when successful CEOs, opinion leaders, and even celebrities are opting to drive hybrids as alternatives to expensive luxury vehicles.
Like the ‘no smoking’ movement that really gained energy some years ago, I think this return to environmental sensitivity is taking hold in our industry. But there will be challenges. Transportation pollution has been cited as a primary culprit harming the environment. Certainly those of us in the business of face-to-face meetings would have a difficult time substituting air travel.
One of the biggest issues with meetings is the volume of printed materials we consume unnecessarily in this age of technology and virtual communications. Even water – which health-wise, we’re encouraged to consume more now than ever – in its bottle form is now a taboo for the environmentally sensitive.
One easy step we can each take is to begin to ask ourselves:
Given the resources available to me, what can I do to help the environment?
That consideration, in and of itself, will help bring change. Maybe it’s just resetting the copier to ‘double-sided’ or maybe it’s opting to use a continuous water source versus single-use bottles.
ConferenceDirect has two more IndustryInsights seminars addressing sustainability and other pressing topics scheduled for Denver, during October and in Atlanta during November. (For details, see shaded box below.) If you would like to attend please let us know.
As Kermit the Frog is fond of lamenting, “It’s not easy being green.” – But we owe it to this fragile earth to be better stewards of this island home – and we can take steps to show leadership in this area.
LEARNING: IndustryInsights Customer Seminars 2007
They’re one-day educational seminars designed for ConferenceDirect customers – tackling issues such as increasing attendance, sustainability and environmental issues, saving money on meetings, and learning from key trends within the meetings industry – and they’re coming to a major market near you. Locations and dates are as follows:
Denver, October 30 – Marriott Denver Tech Center
Atlanta, November 29 – Hilton Atlanta
To learn more about attending or participating, please contact your ConferenceDirect Associate.
If you were not able to attend one of the four US-wide seminars, please email brian_stevens@conferencedirect.com for instructions on accessing the virtual content.
Industry insight: details, details, details!
By Jerry Horan
People in our industry know that the success of any large event rests on the alignment of many tiny components.
During a hotel event pre-planning process, you will have numerous conversations with your hotel sales, convention service, and catering representatives about specific event-related issues such as room block, staff rooms, F&B requirements and meeting space. These are critical conversations that ultimately will lead to a successful event.
When you have such conversations – that are specifically related to your event – it’s vitally important that you keep notes of the conversations and follow up in writing to your hotel representative. If you want to add 100 rooms on Saturday night that were not contracted, this would materially alter your contract with the hotel. You will find in most hotel contracts a prevision or clause that stipulates “…changes to this agreement must be made in writing and signed by both parties”. By adding 100 rooms that were not part of your original contract you have in fact changed the terms of the contract and which would require an addendum executed by both parties. While it may seem like a simple adjustment to add the 100 rooms – since the sales representative said the hotel is “wide open” and that you can definitely use the rooms – it may cause issues for you down the road.
It raises important questions such as:
Will these 100 rooms add to your room block commitment to the hotel?
Will you be liable for attrition on these 100 rooms?
Since the 100 rooms are not part of your contract terms, the hotel is not obligated to take the rooms. You have the right to negotiate the terms for additional rooms such as asking the hotel to add the rooms without altering your liability as it relates to the performance clause.
While generating an addendum to your contract may feel like a miniscule extra step, it’s a wise caution that will avoid altering your organization’s liability. And that’s an important little detail.
Jerry Horan is a Senior Vice President with ConferenceDirect.
ON OUR RADAR
Upcoming Industry Events
American Hotel & Lodging Association Annual Meeting
Javits Center
New York, NY
November 9-13, 2007
IAEM Annual Meeting and Exposition
Mandalay Bay
Las Vegas, NV
December 10-12, 2007
