News From the Event

I'll try to get online often and report throughout the day about the goings on at our State of the Industry Event (Feb. 3, 2009, at the Westin Edina Galleria).

11:00 a.m. Registration begins. This is a beautiful venue. I'm excited to see how this IML techology works. (Pictured: Managing Editor Amanda Fretheim Gates and Assistant Editor Marni Ginther work the Meetings: Minnesota's Hospitality Journal booth)

12:15 p.m. I'm writing to you from the event space of the Westin Edina Galleria. Our event is already underway. Editor Joel Schettler is giving a rundown of the status of the hospitality industry. Lunch at the Westin Edina Galleria was amazing. I had the salmon and some delicious green mashed potatoes. I think I'll head over to grab some dessert now.

1:20 p.m. Cynthia Lesher (RNC host committee president) just started her presentation with a neat video from the RNC. I'm excited to hear what she has to say about the RNC.

1:25 p.m. I just have to add that the Westin staff have been so helpful and I'm so impressed with their event space.

1:27 p.m. Why did the Republicans choose the Twin Cities? Cyndi says they mentioned "the great facility at Xcel Energy Center," "adjacency of the RiverCentre," "impressed with infrastructure" and that "you seem to be an area where people have a community spirit and get things done."

1:37 p.m. Cyndi says that from the RNC we got "8 billion media impressions."

1:41 p.m. Cyndi says people who were here for this convention always comment (unsolicited) when she sees them on the great people from Minnesota and the quality of volunteers. Five conventions have booked here since then because of the RNC. "Yeah, I absolutely believe it was worth it... we met all our goals... it was safe and secure... and not one dollar of taxpayer money was spent." 

1:49 p.m. Cyndi's taking questions. She called the RNC a "career high." (Pictured: Sales Associate Jessica Onarheim chats with attendees during a break)

2:22 p.m. Autumn Salamack from Aveda is up first for our green meetings panel. They manufacture with 100% wind energy. "Heart and soul of the company is earth and community care." They provide guidelines for green meetings. She recommends planners think about being green when they start planning. Key areas to think about: venue (location close to attendees, airport, public transportation, entertainment), seasons (more carbon emissions in January, people not walking), lodging (survey to ask Qs about recycling, linen and towel reuse, water conservation, chef working with local farmers, what do they do with food waste).

2:29 p.m. Thoughts on branding from Shawna Suckow in our other breakout session. Good conversation about why different companies sponsor events and which companies better fit different events.

2:42 p.m. Zack Hansen is up to talk about GreenGatherings. He says Minnesota has a reputation for being more green than other places. Zack points to the "greenwashing" sidebar in our State of the Industry article as a helpful guide if you have Qs. He says we can all do "shades of green" if we can't go all the way. He says that eventually there will be green meetings standards. He adds that green meetings are: good for business, for the earth, for the community. Zack says going green isn't necessarily a hassle or more expensive. (Pictured: Editor Joel Schettler leads the panel)

2:49 p.m. By the way, our green meetings panel, as well as a variety of our other speakers, will be available on the next podcast.

2:55 p.m. Now its Sheri Brezinka's (from US Green Buildings Council) turn to chat about LEED certification. 30% of the audience is unsure just what LEED certification means. Its a third party look at just how "green" a building is. LEED buildings have plaques that show that they are environmentally friendly and healthy. More hotels are getting the LEED certification.

2:57 p.m. We asked our panel to rate how green our event turned out. They complimented the Westin's use of real dishware, cloth napkins, bulk condiments and no water bottles. They noted that we compromised to have bottles of soda to keep our attendees caffeinated. Not a bad shade of green for our event. Thanks to Assistant Editor Marni Ginther and the Westin's Julie Broders for coordinating these and other green efforts at the event. We even finished the green panel with green eats (Pictured: The Westin's green snacks included guacamole, green M&Ms and green apples).

3:38 p.m. Our Industry Innovator Award goes to ... Matthew Trettel, one of "The Wedding Guys,"nominated by Lisa Marie Borchert, ISES.

3:47 p.m. Joe Pine, author of Authenticity: What Consumer's Really Want, begins his keynote speech. He has a lot to say related to his idea of The Experience Economy. "People are willing to pay the admission fees for the experience that they have." Make it worth the fee. Joe talks about companies that provide great experiences. Strategic Horizons (Pine's group) gives out Experience Stager of the Year Award (EXPY): The second one went to Geek Squad (now at Best Buy), First to American Girl, third to Joie de Vivre Hotel Phoenix (JDV hotels are themed to different magazines).

4:06 p.m.-4:40 p.m. Four things Joe Pine recommends to create real experience that set your business apart: (1) Theme your experience (harmonize impressions with positive cues, eliminate negative cues, mix in memorabilia and engage all five sense); (2) hit the sweet spot (four experience realms, of which Vegas has all: escapist, entertainment, aesthetic, educational); (3) render authenticity (What are authentic brands? Starbucks, but ubiquity is the death knell of authenticity. Corvette. Apple. Levi. Harley. Aveda.)--Three rules to be authentic: don't say you are authentic, but if you say you are you better be and its easier to be authentic if you don't claim it. Pine quotes Polonius from Hamlet "This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man"; and (4) go beyond the experience.

 4:45 p.m. We've reached the end of the day. Great speakers. Thanks to all who attended, to the Westin Edina Galleria, to the participating associations, to our many speakers and to our sponsors. Hope you can make it next year: Feb. 4, 2010, at the Saint Paul RiverCentre. I'm off to enjoy our reception. Bye!

UPDATE: New date for next event is Feb. 2, 1010.

--Ellie M. Bayrd
Associate Editor

Comments

[Geri Wolf]

Ellie,

Sounds like it was a great event! Sorry, I missed it...too many scheduled meetings that day!

Congrats!
Geri