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BY senior-level planners,
Monthly Journal of the Senior Planners Industry Network
Issue 46 – July 2014
SPiN:N
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SPIN:News
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Issue 66 – May 2016
Advice to Graduates and
a FREE Giveaway!
By Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP
It’s May and almost everyone I know has some kind of involvement in
graduation at some level. It starts early now at kindergarten, and then
continues on at intervals of 6th grade, 8th grade, high school and
various levels of college. Not to mention all the ‘other’ types of
graduation that happen this time of year like dance recitals and last-
game-played-on-this-field and shucks, even pre-k kids often get a
ceremony of some kind, so even if you are not a parent you probably
are invited to a party or know someone who is busy with graduation
activities at some level right now.
And that makes many of us pause to think about our own moments in
time when we proudly walked the aisle in that uniform cap and gown
smiling during our photo opps and grinning from ear to ear having just
been released from nightly homework! And responsibilities! And early
morning alarm clocks! And breakfast tarts while running out the door!
Or more to the point, perhaps graduation season makes us a bit
contemplative, wondering what our dreams were while sitting through
that ceremony way back when? I know I can’t hear the first bars of
Pomp and Circumstance without remembering that gorgeous sunny
Michigan day when my classmates from Kent City High School (GO
Eagles!) proudly walked the length of the football field and waited
restlessly for the ceremony to end so that we could move on to. . .um,
get going with. . .well, launch ourselves somewhere, right? I
remember vividly that my senior classmates and I were just full of life
and laughter and hope about what lie ahead.
(Continued on page 15)
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Issue 66 – May 2016
In this Issue
SPINCon 2016 Registration Now Open pg. 3
Welcome New Members pg. 4
Best Practices When Planning For Your pg. 5
Mobile Event App
Resources for Parallel Development pg. 6
Who Is In Your Professional Network? pg. 7
California Branch’s GMID Recaps pg. 8
The ABCs of Food Allergies at Events pg. 9
Spotlight on Wisconsin Dells pg. 10
SPIN:Twin Cities Event Recap pg. 12
SPIN:Ottawa GMID Recap pg. 13
Zika – Significant or
Sensationalized?
Read the blog here
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SPINCon 2016 November 13-15 - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FREE
Registration is
Now Open!
http://spincon.spinplanners.com
Check out the June
Newsletter to learn about
our Speakers
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First name Last name Organization Closest SPIN Branch
Michele Armstrong Mount Vernon/ Northwest Clean Air Agency Vancouver
Annette Barron AASB Meetings and Events Atlanta
Liliana Cardile UC Berkeley San Francisco
Catherine Chenevey American Institute of Aeronautics and Astro-
nautics
Washington DC
Angela Cox Northstar Travel Media Washington DC
Catherine Craglow American Express Global Business Travel San Francisco
Nancy Donovan Berkeley Law San Francisco
Jane Doyle JD Events Other
Maya Goehring-Harris UC Berkeley San Francisco
Sara Harmon University of California, Berkeley San Francisco
Lisa Hurst BCD M&E San Diego
Barbara Hutchison 1-N-Only Washington DC
Jamie Kamin Humana Chicago
Joanne Langevin The College of Family Physicians of Canada Toronto
Julie Laron Currently McDonald's, but job elimination on
6/10
Chicago
Karen McElroy RCI, Inc. Atlanta
Barbara McWilliams UC Berkeley San Francisco
Diane Mihalek DCM Event Management Toronto
Christina Northcott Canada Health Infoway Toronto
Diane Pearson Event BizNiz Minneapolis
Amy Pepin Intl. Assoc. of Amusement Parks & Attractions Washington DC
linda pereira CPL MEetings & Events Other
Laura Porter American Nurses Association Washington DC
Jennifer Seuferer UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education San Francisco
Susan Shaffette Team Dynamics LLC Dallas-Fort Worth
Niki Shapiro UC Berkeley San Francisco
ANDRE SKENAZI EAMTM Other
Karan Spanard Maryada Strategies New York
Joslyn Strock O'Design Production & Consulting Denver
Terra Thomas MITRE Washington DC
Tom Tolve MJH Associates New Jersey
Helena Weiss-Duman UC Berkeley San Francisco
Welcome New Members
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In today’s tech-dependent world, a mobile event app is crucial to the success of your
event. When adding a mobile app to your event, there are some things that you
need to consider in order to maximize the benefits that it can provide.
Plan
Don’t think of your mobile app as simply an add-on. To use the app to it’s fullest
potential and provide maximum benefits, be sure to integrate it fully into your overall
event marketing plan from the very beginning. Be sure to include ways to promote
the app before, during, and after the event.
Use It To It’s Fullest
In order for the event app to be beneficial to attendees, it must be robust and full of content. Discuss
the benefits that the app can provide with sponsors, exhibitors and speakers. Consider adding
suggestions or requirements in your contracts that include completing their mobile app profiles. This
could include logos, bios, contact information, handouts, slides, and links. To increase the value of
the mobile event app, provide content that can not be found elsewhere.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Mobile event apps are an excellent way to provide new benefits for sponsors. Each mobile app
company has different methods and options, so be sure to discuss what is available when selecting
the best app for your needs. Be creative when offering packages to sponsors and exhibitors. The
more beneficial it is to them, the more they will help promote the app and event!
Support It
While mobile event apps are becoming more user friendly, there are still critical situations to consider.
To be successful, the app experience should be smooth, easy, and positive. Having someone onsite
dedicated to mobile app support will ensure that the attendees have a smooth and positive mobile
experience and increase usage.
In Conclusion
A positive and smooth digital experience is crucial for overall event success in today’s world. Be sure
you have fully discussed the digital options so you can take advantage of everything that these new
experiences will bring with them.
Best Practices When Planning for Your
Mobile Event App By: Jeannie Power, CMP
Jeannie Power, CMP is Co-Founder and Event Technologist at Power Event Group, an event company specializing in event
technology integration. Jeannie enjoys the challenge of creating a customized and engaging attendee experience by
thoughtfully integrating event technology. She is also a social media fangirl and is addicted to sharing information to
improve the hospitality industry. Follow Jeannie via @evntgrrl.
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Resources for Parallel Development,
a.k.a. borrowing the best ideas
Dana L. Saal, CMP, CAE, has been a meeting professional since 1986. She is an expert in the design and execution of association
meetings, with a record of increased participant satisfaction and registrations. She designs training programs, meetings and
conventions for associations, specializing in helping associations rejuvenate underperforming events that target audiences want
to attend and are profitable for the stakeholders.
Last month’s article, Simple and Impactful Changes to Abate Shrinking Attendance, offered
ways to stimulate registration. Previously, Shrinking Attendance? challenged you to honestly
examine key event areas. I conclude with resources to inspire and educate. Yes, some are
obvious, but as long-time pros, we occasionally forget the obvious.
Industry Publications
There are more publications (paper, digital) than we can each month. However, they
are valuable for staying current with trends and technology.
Identify your key areas (e.g. exhibit management, corporate meetings) and subscribe to appropriate
publications.
Read them.
For future reference, bookmark articles by subtopic. Easy to find, easy to delete when outdated.
Others’ Events
Attend meetings to observe the attendee experience as an outsider. Choose meetings of similar size,
but in different industries. e.g. you plan medical; attend one for educators. Invite the other planner to
do the same and exchange constructive criticisms.
Attend meeting industry events to remember how it feels to be an attendee. It makes you
empathetic toward participants who wait in lines, discover empty coffee pots and eat food they
didn’t choose.
It is very easy to become a planner who knows only his/her meeting. That limits you.
Other Planners
Stay connected with other planners in person, via social media, and as buddies who toss ideas back
and forth.
Follow planners online. One to check out is Corbin’s ‘Favorites’ Bookmark File
Increase Google search success by using specific search terms. It works; I got 18,200,000 results for
“How to create an event marketing plan that excites.”
Connecting and continuing education will always be fruitful sources.
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Issue 66 — May 2016
Who is in Your Professional Network? By: Laura Howe, CMP
Did you know that SPIN has a blog? Here is a recent blog written by a SPIN member
just like you. Have something you want to talk about? Submit your write up today to
The hospitality industry is a magnet for networking. So why is it so hard to meet the
right people? When I say the right people, I mean the authentic kind. The type of
people who through genuine camaraderie become walking, talking advertisements
for one another.
Professional networking is more than just a LinkedIn profile or exchanging a business card. So, how do
you meet the “authentic” people out there? Join an association. Take advantage of the networking
prospects you have access to right now.
I’ve been a member of SPIN, for years. In the beginning, I was a LinkedIn member who would
occasionally read the posts but never engage. Years later, I elevated my membership and began
participating in the educational offerings. Amazed with the topics and candor from the members, I
knew this was an association that was building people up to succeed and I wanted more. Presently, I
have upped the ante again and have volunteered within SPIN as the Director of Membership. The
amount of like-minded, intelligent, professional and did I mention FUN people that I have encountered
and have access to is well…priceless!
I attended SPINCon for the first time last year (and now I am officially hooked.) Cultivating a
professional network doesn’t happen overnight. It sure didn’t happen like that for me. I am a firm
believer that you get what you put in - you must make an investment of time and effort in the
association and become involved. In the spirit of leveraging your network, I am reminded of a fellow
bloggers quote, “Learn to enjoy the networking for the satisfaction of helping others, the pride in seeing
your contacts succeed, the friendships that form. And learn that sometimes "paying it forward" has
rewards.” ¹ Be the “authentic” kind!
As the Director of Membership for SPIN, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to remind
everyone that SPIN has eliminated membership dues and registration fees for all qualified members until
the end of 2016. You can also register for FREE for SPINCon 2016 at http://spincon.spinplanners.com.
Laura Howe, CMP is the Owner of LH Global Events, LLC, an event management company based out of Massachusetts. Good at
wearing multiple hats, Laura also volunteers as SPIN’s Director of Membership. Contact her
at [email protected] and follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LHGlobalEvents
1. Source material can be found by Meghan Wier at http://businessdevelopmentandnetworking.blogspot.com/
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Twelve seasoned San Diego planners joined the sales and revenue management
team of the beautiful Auberge Del Mar in Del Mar, CA. The meeting kicked off
with a celebration and recognition of Global Meetings Industry Day with members
sharing their thoughts on how powerful this movement is and will be in the future.
The theme of the meeting was “Talk to an Expert” and we enjoyed open dialogue
with the Auberge Revenue Manager, Kristen Pinder. Following this Q+A, we had
an update from Destination Hotels & Resorts and then shared a poolside sunset
happy hour with the Auberge team.
Our California SPIN Branches
Celebrate GMID 2016
On a sunny afternoon, Northern California meeting planning associations
banded together to celebrate the 1st Global Meetings Industry Day. It was a
collaborative event between PCMA - NCC, ILEA - NCC (formerly ISES), MPINCC
and the SPIN San Francisco Branch. Over 200 members of these organizations
enjoyed networking, camaraderie, great food and cocktails in sponsored by the
Crystal Jade Restaurant.
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Issue 66 — May 2016
The ABCs of Food Allergies at Events - A Recap By: Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, CFPM
This month I, along with 225 million people around the world, celebrated Food Allergy Action Month.
Buildings turned teal to celebrate. Declarations were signed. Blab sessions were held and at SPIN, we hosted
the webinar “The ABCs of Food Allergies at Events.”
Understanding how to best manage food allergies at events makes us better event planners and elevates
our level of experience. And, as more and more attendees request allergy-free meals, our duty of care for
providing those attendees a safe and enjoyable experience escalates.
There are lots of facets that go into managing food allergies at events - I found at least 26 of them — I’ve
highlighted some of them below, including the letter of the alphabet attributed in my session.
Anaphylaxis (A), a life-threatening allergic reaction which can be triggered when an attendee touches,
consumes or inhales the food item to which they are allergic. Anaphylaxis is the most severe of all allergic
reaction symptoms (S). Others include hives, itching or skin rash, swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat,
wheezing or trouble breathing, abdominal pain, vomiting and anaphylaxis. Reactions will vary by person,
and can appear from within minutes to up to two hours after being exposed to the allergen, but they should
be treated immediately.
The first line defense for an anaphylactic reaction is Epinephrine (E), a synthetic version of adrenaline which
works to reduce the effects of the allergic reaction. It should be administered as soon as possible while also
calling the paramedics. Hopefully your food allergic attendees carry their own epinephrine pens (ask them
during registration), but 24 states now have entity laws that allow places of public accommodation
(restaurants, hotels, convention centers) to stock epinephrine and have a staff member onsite who is trained
in administering it.
Some Facts (F) to know about food allergies:
225 million people worldwide have food allergies
More than 160 food are known to cause allergic reactions, but eight foods (egg, wheat, milk, shellfish,
fish, peanuts, tree nuts, soy) cause 90% of all reactions.
Every three minutes someone in the US is sent to the emergency room for an allergic reaction
More than 50 percent of food allergy reactions in the US occur outside of the home and by food that
was not prepared by a loved one.
There is no current cure for food allergies…only avoidance.
(Continued on page 14)
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Why are meetings and conventions so great in Wisconsin Dells?
Planning a successful meeting is about more than just great facilities, it’s about
making the most of your experience. In “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” our
facilities can accommodate nearly any size group, and with 16 million gallons of
waterpark fun, championship golf courses, multiple spas, a 24-hour casino and over
90 area restaurants; your meeting won’t just be successful, it’ll be unforgettable.
What kind of meeting and convention space does the Dells offer?
In addition to being a top destination for tourism, Wisconsin Dells knows a thing or two
about running meetings, too. The Dells hosts more than 5,600 meetings and conventions
each year. Offering many unique meeting and convention venues, ranging in size from
250 sq. ft. to 90,000 sq. ft., with state-of-the-art-facilities and personalized planning
services, we make it easy to meet here. Feedback from business groups is that they find it
easy to move through their agendas thanks to newer conference facilities at many of the
area’s waterpark resorts and convention centers.
What are the accommodations like for attendees in the Dells?
With more than 8,000 rooms, ranging from hotel suites to lakeside condominiums to a
rustic retreat, Wisconsin Dells offers a wide variety of lodging options for groups of all sizes.
However it’s the waterpark resorts that are the biggest draw. They’re great fun for grown-
ups, and also a plus for attendees who want to bring along the kids and spouse.
How can I learn more about having my next meeting or convention in Wisconsin Dells?
Take advantage of our free personalized planning materials and assistance when organizing your next
meeting or convention. Call (888) 339-3822 ext. 345, or visit MeetInTheDells.com to start planning today!
A Spotlight on Wisconsin Dells
Original Wisconsin
Ducks
Ho-Chunk Casino
Wilderness Resort
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On May 12, 2016, the Twin Cities SPIN Branch met at the new JW Marriott Hotel at the Mall of America.
Our delightful hosts were the Executive Chef, Everton Clarke and the Director of Event Planning, Kristen
Tomasic. This JW Marriott property is newly built and has only been open for 6 months. It is attached to
the Mall of America, so is near retail and near the airport. They treated us to a special evening which
included a tasting menu along with great discussion during the tastings on several different topics,
including; budgeting, trends and tips, allergy concerns, and local food and beverage options.
Like most SPIN events, this is a safe place to ask questions, state concerns and share ideas. We had
some great questions and conversation over some wonderful food!
What did we learn?
“Souping” is the new “Juicing”. What this means is in recent years Juice Bars have been a popular
item to add to menus (think ‘health kick’), and now the new trend coming is is Soup Bars or adding
different Soups to the menus (or replacing Apps with Soups) in a wide variety of flavors and
combinations that you probably have never seen before.
A “Flying Buffet” is a thing. What? This new term represents a replacement for the traditional sit
down dinner, which is basically like heavy hors d’oeuvres where the “dinner comes to you” in small
bites (and you stand).
New Trends? Asian and Middle Eastern flavors are trending right now, according to Chef Clarke.
Marriott has its own “Pinterest” style board online that anyone can use where you can find
inspiration for new ideas for menus, photos and sets, even if you are not doing a meeting at a
Marriott. Website is http://www.meetingsimagined.com/.
When asked if the Chef really likes to work on creating things “off-menu” he said Yes, but planners
have to understand the budget. If they are asked to substitute high end meats (think filet instead
of chicken), they can’t always do it for the same price as a similar item on the menu. Planners
need to understand this and have budget flexibility, or give the Chef a price range and what you
are trying to accomplish and let them come with ideas that will work. It also helps them when you
can provide some details like the type of group (more men or more women, for example) and any
other details that can help them tailor the menu to your group needs.
After the great meal and conversation, we all had a tour of the new JW
Marriott Mall of America. This is another great addition to the Twin Cities
market.
Oh, and our favorite part of the night? Spinner’s flirting with Chef.
Quotable quotes of the night? “You are making my mouth cry” and
“Chefs are hot!”
Twin Cities Branch Recap
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“We need to start running unscripted events because we live in times of rapid, drastic and
unpredictable change, where scripts are becoming obsolete the moment that we write
them. We must embrace a whole new world of an unscripted mindset and learn how to
manage in the moment.” That was the main message of Jennifer Spear, the keynote
speaker at the MPI Ottawa unConference, which was expertly organized by Ashley
Craven, Katherine Craig, and Jessica Lalonde, and took place on April 14 prior to the
Chapter’s celebration of Global Meetings Industry Day 2016 (#GMID16).
The topic of “new challenges in the constantly changing world” was carried over by Dugas to the ceremonial
dinner celebrating the 20th anniversary of National Meetings Industry Day. He announced that the theme
would be “Improvisation: A key element for success”. There was an impressive line-up of speakers. Apart from
Watson (City of Ottawa Mayor), the podium was consecutively taken by the Gatineau Councillor Louise
Boudria, the Business Events Industry Council of Canada (BEICC) 2016 Chairperson Rose Timmerman. Dugas
presented the annual MPI Ottawa Chapter Influence Award to Bernie Ashe, the CEO of the Ottawa Sports
and Entertainment Group for its revitalization of an important Ottawa venue, Lansdowne Park. The real
highlight of the evening was the well-known Ottawa comedian Jessica Holmes. Together with the Crush
Improv group, they delivered a hilarious show, which was pretty much in line with the theme of the evening.
It was a long day, full of new learnings, experiences and fun. By the end of the night it was obvious that this
improv-based event went very well, even without the traditional script!
Un-Conventus and Ottawa GMID Recap
Provided by Ottawa SPIN Branch President, Marie-Louise Doyle
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Hidden sources (H) are probably one of the biggest contributors to food allergic reactions. Your chefs/
caterers should be able to provide a list of all ingredients in a dish, including the ingredients that are
prepackaged. The safety of attendees is too valuable not to.
Just because (J) an attendee has a food allergy should not preclude them from participating in an
event or being served a meal that is of equal value and quality as other attendees. In fact, in some
instances, food allergies may be covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act
(ADAAA). in 2008, the ADA was amended to include eating as a major life activity and providing
disability (D) coverage to those with food allergies.
And, finally, ask questions (Q). Lots of questions. Ask your attendees specific questions about their food
allergies, if they carry epinephrine, if they have an emergency action plan and how their food was
after the event. Ask your catering partners about their processes in the back of the house in avoiding
cross contact, who on their staff is trained about food allergies, who will manage the special plates
and if their front of house staff (servers) understand what is being served.
When it comes to managing food allergies at events, we (w) — attendees, planners, caterers,
servers— are all responsible for ensuring the safety of all guests. The more we know, the safer everyone
will be.
(Continued from page 9)
The ABCs of Food Allergies at Events - A Recap
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Don’t I look all happy and innocent and unsuspecting about what lie ahead?
Well, for sure it was a fun day for me, and just thinking about that moment in time
still puts a smile on my face. Oddly, I really don’t even remember my college
graduation that followed several years later. (Maybe because by then I had
already started to ‘figure things out’ about the sobering reality that lie ahead?!)
Anyway, now what I like most about graduation season is reading some of the
great quotes that come out of various commencement speeches from famous
people because everyone thinks they have something important to say to grads, right?
I mean think about it, what bits of wisdom would you impart if asked to give a commencement
address?
As senior planners I’m guessing we’d all have much to say to the incoming ‘class of 2016 meeting
planners’, so let’s share some of those meaningful thoughts with each other as we take this dialogue
to our on-line SPIN chat group on FB. As an incentive to start the discussion, I’ll send a FREE copy of
my book, Tried and True Graduation Tips, to the first five planners who post a comment or share a
thought about what piece of advice you’d give to college graduates of a hospitality management
program that hope to specialize in meeting or event planning.
So industry veterans, what are you waiting for? This is your chance to share some of those great
lessons you’ve learned, most likely the hard way, with industry newbies. Go to https://
www.facebook.com/groups/SPiNplanners/?ref=bookmarks and get the conversation started now!
Oh, and as for those graduation speeches made by famous people? Here’s one that should make
you laugh because it’s both true and memorable. Can you guess who said it?
“You know I sincerely hope you enjoy this next chapter in your life because it’s really going to be
great – as long as you pay your taxes. And don’t just take a year off because you think Uncle Sam is
snoozing at the wheel because he will descend upon you like a hawk from hell. Let’s just put it this
way: after some indiscretions with the IRS, my take home pay last year was $9,000.00.”
Cheers to the meeting planning class of 2016! PS - Who said it? Will Ferrell in a
2003 speech to Harvard grads
(Continued from page 1)
Advice to Graduates and
a FREE Giveaway!
Monthly Journal of the Senior Planners Industry Network
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FOR senior-level planners
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Our Mission
SPIN is a peer-led and peer-
focused community of senior-
level meeting and event
planners who create and share
the industry’s highest level of
education, networking and
engagement.
Our Vision
SPIN is the industry’s only supplier-
free association strictly serving
senior-level meeting and event
planners. We influence the future
of our industry through extreme
innovation, unparalleled
education, and a true sense of
community and collaboration
among peers.
Our Motto
By Planners, for Planners.
Our Membership Qualifications
Membership is strictly for
planners and you must have
10+ years’ experience to join.
Gold Partners
Bronze Partners
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Partner
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