Carolina Blitz, Spring 2023

Carolina Blitz Spring 2023

Join Us: 2022-2023 Annual Awards Gala The Stockroom at 230 | Raleigh, NC June 1, 2023

CAROLINAS CHAPTER Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 1

WHERE GREAT IDEAS

Take Flight

Inspire camaraderie where endless coastal vistas welcome creativity and captivating breezes invite spirits to soar.

| Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 2 844.958.0670 MeetatKiawah.com

SOUTH CAROLINA

In This Issue FEATURES Meet the Member. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Meetings Matter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Diversifying Your Sales Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 2023 Annual Meeting Recap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

IN EVERY ISSUE Our Annual Sponsors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Our Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Monthly Meeting Planner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 MPI-CC Board & Committee Chairs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Look Who We Spotted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 1

Carolina Blitz Calling All Writers!

Do you dream of being a published author?

If so, the Blitz is looking for you! While we’re not the Wall Street Journal, getting published in the Blitz is a great way to share your ideas with fellow MPI-CC members and earn points toward your CMP certification. The Blitz is always accepting original articles and great topic ideas. To submit your articles or ideas, please contact Cathy Mauldin, CMP, at CathyMauldin@gmail.com or submit via our website at www.mpi.org/carolinas.

The Carolina Blitz is the official publication of the Carolinas Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is published quarterly. All contributions, articles, and photographs should be submitted to Publications Committee Chair/Editor.

Send to Cathy Mauldin, CMP - CathyMauldin@gmail.com EDITORIAL AND NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE VP of Marketing and Communications Nicole Filippo, CMP • Duke University Editor Cathy Mauldin, CMP • DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith Contributing Writers Brandon Crumpton, Key Signature Entertainment; Nicole Filippo, CMP, Duke University; Mitch Savoie Hill, CPC, SavHill Consulting, LLC; Rachel Whitten, CMP, Greenville-Pitt County CVB; Kathryn Short, Visit Raleigh; Najauna White, CMP, CDE, Miles Partnership; Cathy Carpenter, Le Meridien Sheraton Charlotte Photographer Mica Parekh, CMP (for the Business Exchange photos) Catch Light Studio (for the GMID photos) Proofreaders Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office; Nicole Filippo, CMP, Duke University; Nancy Lowe, CMP, NC Medical Society; Peggy Anderson, CMP; Teresa Palmieri, Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport; Jake O’Dare, Aloft Greenville Downtown; Stephanie Trimble, GCT Chauffeured Services Publisher Christine Irwin, CMP • The Management Office 704-377-5648 • Fax 704-333-6927 • Christine@themanagementoffice.com Advertising Christine Irwin, CMP • The Management Office • 704-377-5648 Design Kistin Creative Studio • 704-724-9188 • kistincreative.com MPI-CC Web Site: www.mpi.org/carolinas

Volunteers are the heart of our organization.

Help make a difference in our chapter and shape its future. Volunteering on a committee is a great way to elevate your membership, engage with fellow planners and suppliers, develop your leadership skills, and learn new professional skills.

Visit mpi.org/Carolinas or email Jean Travers, MPI-CC Director of Professional Development, JTravers@HelmsBriscoe.com for more information on getting involved.

2 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

ADVERTISING RATES AND DEADLINES AD SIZE FREQUENCY MEMBER RATE Quarter Page 1X $220 (3 1/2”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $200/issue 6X $160/issue Half Page Horizontal 1X $420 (7 1/4”W x 4 3/4”H) 3X $400/issue 6X $360/issue Half Page Vertical 1X $420 (3 1/2”W x 9 1/2”H) 3X $400/issue 6X $360/issue Full Page 1X $640 (8 1/2”W x 11”H) 3X $620/issue 6X $580/issue Full Page Insert 1X $700/issue 3X $680/issue 6X $640/issue (Produced and provided by advertiser)

NON-MEMBER RATE $290 $270/issue $230/issue $550 $530/issue $490/issue $550 $530/issue $490/issue $840 $820/issue $780/issue $910/issue $890/issue $850/issue

There are four issues of the Carolina Blitz published yearly.

January, March, June, and September NOTE: Rates are published as of January 2011, and are subject to change without notice. All published rates are net non-commissionable. Any cost incurred by the BLITZ for art that is not fully press ready (e.g. reductions, halftones) will be billed to the advertiser, or art that is not press ready may be refused.

DUE DATE: Due by the 15th of the month prior to publication. Artwork is due to the publisher within 10 days after deadline for space reservations.

SEND MATERIALS TO: Christine Irwin, CMP, The Management Office, 1307 West Morehead St, Suite 207, Charlotte, NC 28208 Christine@TheManagementOffice.com • Fax: 704-333-6927 For more advertising information contact Christine Irwin, CMP, at Christine@TheManagementOffice.com or 704-377-5648 Visit our website at www.mpi.org/carolinas for additional advertising and sponsorship opportunities!

THANK YOU

TO OUR ANNUAL SPONSORS We Appreciate Your Support!

Platinum Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Convention Center & Visitors Bureau

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 3

With all the freedom to move beyond the surface of your meeting destination. Deeply connect to signature experiences that leave lasting impressions.

Fully embrace the feeling of coming together in a place rich with intelligence, creativity and expertise.

Jump into Raleigh, N.C. 4 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

visitRaleigh.com/meetings

President’s Message Thank you.

It has been an honor and pleasure serving as your president this year.

At the beginning of my term at the July meeting in Chapel Hill, I laid out my vision for this chapter. I said I would do my best to try and turn this ship called MPI Carolinas in a direction we agree to go in. I have to admit that this ship was easier to turn than I expected and that is because of all of you. Past leaders, volunteers and members rallied behind chapter changes and supported our continued growth. I was prepared to face some pushback on proposed changes, but it appears that you were ready for it.

Brandon Crumpton Key Signature Entertainment MPI-CC President

I did my best to focus on the people that make our chapter great. I did that by just being present. It’s amazing how much can be achieved by just being present. I attended all of our chapter meetings, board meetings and as many committee meetings as I could. If I can attend five or more meetings in a month, then leaders and volunteers showing up for one shouldn’t be too bad. The next thing I know, leaders and volunteers started showing up for multiple meetings. Committee meetings they weren’t originally serving on.

Our level of engagement increased and that led to a greater flow of ideas and implementation. If you add simple and repetitive to present, then that’s the formula for success.

Our board of directors will finish our term just the way we started…together.

We held each other accountable and stayed a cohesive unit. We didn’t lose any board members even when a couple switched jobs and things with work got really busy. In fact, we gained some board members early! The more ideas and strategy, the better. We took a gamble combining the Business Exchange tradeshow with GMID and both were a huge success. I feel we’re back to being the meetings and events professional organization to be a part of in the Carolinas. It’s been a tough couple of years and I think our identity and culture are speaking for themselves.

Thank you to our past presidents for your experienced guidance. Thank you to our board members for your commitment and execution of our business plan this year. Thank you to our committee members and volunteers for joining the process and I look forward to you being future leaders of this organization.

Thank you to the TMO crew for being our constant.

Soon I’ll be passing the baton to Najauna White. I hope she finds comfort in the momentum, dedication and work this chapter has done and is ready to do more of. The ship has turned, but there is more work to be done. Based on what I’ve seen these past couple of months, we’re definitely ready for it. It’s been fun and thanks for having me.

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 5

Our Members Welcome New Members!

The Membership Engagement squad would like to welcome all of our new members! You should have, or should soon be, receiving a few things: • A welcome email from me, I serve as your VP of membership engagement.

• An email/phone call from your personal chapter ambassador to help you get connected with the folks who will help you get what you are looking for out of the chapter and help get you plugged into the right volunteer role.

Kay Clark, CMP KBC Planning, LLC kaybrookmanclark@outlook.com Jazmine Corbin Relias jcorbin@relias.com Lisa Corley Lumina Resort Wrightsville Beach lcorley@luminaresortwrightsville.com Kurt Darland Prestige Global Meeting Source kdarland@meetprestige.com Wonderland Dawson, MSHTM, MATD wddawson3@gmail.com Amy Devlin Marriott Myrtle Beach at Grande Dunes Amy.Devlin@MarriottSales.com

• An invite to a virtual BYOLunch and Learn. This is a short intro to our chapter that happens about 2 weeks before each in-person event.

Kelleye Eller Sunbelt Rentals Inc. kelleye.eller@sunbeltrentals.com

As an organization that is relationship-fueled, and whose leadership is volunteer-based, we are excited to have you, your energy, your experience and your thoughts here!

Chelsey Faircloth South Carolina Association of Realtors chelsey@screaltors.org

We look forward to learning more about you and answering any questions that you have! You can reach out to your chapter ambassador or me (Rachel@VisitGreenvilleNC.com) at any time* with questions or thoughts!

Until our next adventure, I hope you have an EPIC day!

Sarah Fuchs Greenville Convention Center sarah@greenvilleconventioncenter.com Twyla Garrett AMI Inc twyla@hireami.com

*there is also an anonymous suggestion box on our website that you can submit to 24/7!

Chris Grace, CMP Association Acumen, LLC cgrace@associationacumen.com

New Members September 1, 2022 - April 18, 2023:

Amber Gray Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina Amber.Gray@bcbsnc.com

Chelsea Andujar Carolinas AGC, Inc. candujar@carolinasagc.org Lauren Ansley Ansley Corporate Entertainment lauren@ansleyentertainment.com Tammie Ardolino Narsi Hotels tammiea@narsi.com Atavia Barnes Ashworth College ataviabarnes@gmail.com Colleen Birney The 5th Street Group colleen@churchandunion.com

6 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

Debbi Boudreau boudread@email.sc.edu Matthew Boyer Unscripted Hotels mboyer@unscriptedhotels.com Kaitlin Briggs Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina kaitlin.briggs@bcbsnc.com Amanda Busey Amanda@82South.com Amanda Carlson Fête Games, Inc. arc@fete.games Randi Cashion Hilton Charlotte Uptown randi.cashion@hiltoncharlotteuptown.com

Renee Hall Hilton Garden Inn Mooresville renee.hall@hilton.com Melissa Haycock Concord Hospitality melissa.haycock@concordhotels.com Adrian Hee ahee@newsoutheventrentals.com Brad Helton Cardinal Health bradley.helton@cardinalhealth.com Kristie Hicks Tech Factory Productions khicks@techfactoryproductions.com

Lekenna Hicks Tech Factory Productions lhicks@techfactoryproductions.com

Marsa Musha Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina marsa.musha@bcbsnc.com

Gabe Hogan Crowne Plaza Asheville ghogan@ashevillecp.com

Breanne Nelson Dentsply Sirona Inc Breanne.J.Nelson@gmail.com

Kevin Holland Richmond Region Tourism kholland@visitrichmondva.com

Danica Norris The Foundry Hotel dnorris@foundryasheville.com

Kristen Houpt The Rizzo Center kristenhoupt@gmail.com

Derrick Norris Kash Hotels derrick@kashhotels.com

Nolan Jack The American Board of Anesthesiology nolan.jack@theaba.org

Brie Perkins brie@lbhrestaurant.com

Lynne Krekelberg Windsor Hospitality Group lynne.krekelberg@windsorhospitality.com

Jacquelin Reid-DiRoma The Magic of Rob Lake jackie@roblake.com

Katherine Kurdziolek Troutman Pepper katherine.kurdziolek@troutman.com

Angela Rodgers Winston-Salem Marriott & Benton Convention Center angie.rodgers@twincityquarter.com

Angus Lamond Chetola Resort angus@chetola.com

Traci Rowan Great Wolf Lodge - Concord/Charlotte trowan@greatwolf.com

Sesley Larson Sheraton & Le Meridien Charlotte Hotel Complex slarson@ lemeridiensheratoncharlotte.com

John Self American AV jself@americanav.com

Nancy Lindemer IACC Rizzo Center nlindemer@destinationhotels.com Anna Llewellyn The Beyond Collection anna@wearebeyond.com Maria Lopez Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau mlopez@visitraleigh.com Patrick Lynch ASM Global plynch@asmglobal.com Sarah Meister SM Event Co sarah@smevent.co Erica Meyer AAA Corporate Travel emeyer@aaa-alliedgroup.com Eve Mordetsky CHG Healthcare Eve.mordetsky@chghealthcare.com

David Shirley davidshirley96@gmail.com Joe Smith Sheraton & Le Meridien Charlotte Hotel Complex jsmith@ lemeridiensheratoncharlotte.com David Sonntag Decibel Events david@decibelevents.com Cesar Tellez The 5th Street Group cesar@churchandunion.com Candice Torain candice@gainsfit.com Lindsay Warren N-able Technologies Inc. lindsay.warren@n-able.com Kate Wilkinson kate@churchandunion.com Melissa Woodruff, CMP, CGMP Maritz Global Events melissa.woodruff@maritz.com

Anniversaries 30 Years Colleen Schwoerke, CMP, HMCC PlanIt Right Anna Conley, CGMP, CEM Myrtle Beach Convention Center Danny Treece American Meetings & Events Inc

25 Years Ursula Pavlik, CEM Myrtle Beach Convention Center

20 Years Melissa Barney Schaufler, CMP, HMCC bioMerieux, Inc. Lisa Elliott American Board of Pediatrics

10 Years Heath Kelts, CMP IQVIA Rich Phaneuf Association Executives of North Carolina (AENC)

5 Years Meredith Dillon Crown Hotel & Travel Management Kate Jansen The Raleigh Convention Center Melanie Mason, CMP, MSHTM EnsembleIQ Tya Bolton Brian McArtan Your Conference Connection

Rachel Whitten, CMP Visit Greenville NC MPI-CC VP of Member Engagement

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 7

Monthly Meeting Planner June 1, 2023 Annual Awards Gala The Stockroom at 230 Raleigh, NC

November 2, 2023 November Chapter Meeting The Ritz Raleigh Raleigh, NC

August 17-18, 2023 August Chapter Meeting

April 11, 2024 Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID) Reminder: Deadline for submissions for the next Carolina Blitz is Friday, June 9, 2023. Please submit any articles or photographs to be considered for publication to Editor-In-Chief Cathy Mauldin, CMP, at cathymauldin@gmail.com.

Let's honor our peers who are doing amazing work in the industry and for MPI Carolinas.

Call for 2022-23 Award Nominations 8 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

Submit your nominations by May 15! Awards include Planner of the Year, Supplier of the Year, Tomorrow's Leader, Hall of Fame, Volunteer of the Year and Chapter Event of the Year. Contact Ricardo Hicks, Tech Factory, MPI-CC Immediate Past President with questions.

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS

MPI-CC 2022-2023 Board of Directors and Chairs Leadership

President Brandon Crumpton Key Signature Entertainment brandon@keysignatureonline.com

President-Elect Najauna White, CMP, CDE Miles Partnership Najauna.white@gmail.com

Immediate Past President Ricardo Hicks Tech Factory Productions rhicks@techfactoryproductions.com

Director of Professional Development Jean Travers HelmsBriscoe JTravers@HelmsBriscoe.com

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Mitch Savoie Hill, CPC SavHill Consulting LLC Mitch@savhillconsulting.com

Awards Committee Chair Chair needed

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee Chair Kathryn Short Visit Raleigh kshort@visitRaleigh.com

Chapter Administrator Christine Irwin, CMP The Management Office Christine@ themanagementoffice.com

Publications Committee Chair Cathy Mauldin, CMP DESA, Inc. Onsite at CDM Smith cathymauldin@gmail.com

Social Media Committee Chair Melanie Mason, CMP EnsembleIQ Melanie.mason35@gmail.com

Education Committee Chair needed

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Jessica Garrett, CMP streamlineevents jessica.garrett@streamlinevents.com

Communications VP of Marketing and Communications Nicole Filippo, CMP Duke University nicole.filippo@gmail.com

Education VP of Program Development Cathy Carpenter Le Meridien Sheraton Charlotte ccarpenter@ lemeridiensheratoncharlotte.com

Professional Certifications Committee Co-Chair Tessa Barrier, CMP MHI TBarrier@mhi.org

Finance VP of Finance Seth Macchi Live Events Media Group (LEMG) seth.m@lemg.live

Tradeshow Committee Chair Christian Schroeder Visit Winston-Salem Christian@visitwinstonsalem.com

Auction Committee Chair Nicole Keshler Visit Raleigh Nkeshler@visitraleigh.com

Member Engagement VP of Member Engagement Rachel Whitten, CMP Visit Greenville NC RWhitten@greenvillenc.gov

Member Engagement Chair Melissa Woodruff Maritz Global Events melissa.woodruff@maritz.com

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 9

Welcome Following a $200M modernization, Memphis’

The Gastonia Conference Center, located in the revitalized downtown and adjacent to the boutique Esquire Hotel, is a state-of-the-art facility providing 30,000 square feet of tech-savvy space accommodating groups of up to 450 and located only minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Renasant Convention Center is open and ready to host your group for boutique, affordable meetings featuring flexible space, natural light and Mississippi River views ... all in the legendary home of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll.

Following a $200M modernization, Memphis’ R E N A SA N TC O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R .C O M

Renasant Convention Center is open and ready to Following $200M modernization, Memphis’ host your agroup for boutique, affordable meetings

Renasant Center is open to featuring Convention flexible space, natural lightand andready Mississippi host group boutique, affordable Riveryour views ... allfor in the legendary home ofmeetings blues,

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE & ON-SITE SUPPORT

featuring flexible space, natural light and Mississippi soul and rock ‘n’ roll.

River views ... all in the legendary home of blues, soul and rock ‘n’ roll.

R E N A SA N TC O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R .C O M

E XH I B ITOR MAGAZ I N E , 2022

GoGastonNC.org

R E N A SA N TC O N V E N T I O N C E N T E R .C O M

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE & ON-SITE SUPPORT BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE & ON-SITE SUPPORT

Wonderfully eclectic meeting spaces served with a side of fun E XH I B ITOR MAGAZ I N E , 2022 E XH I B ITOR MAGAZ I N E , 2022

Cathy Carpenter, Director of Sales | 980-447-0666 | cathy@visitmooresville.com 10 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

Meet the Member Lena Sanok

Hampton Inn and Suites Charlotte SouthPark at Phillips Place Where do you currently work and how long have you been there?

What advice would you give someone interested in pursuing a career in our industry?

Hampton Inn and Suites Charlotte SouthPark at Phillips Place. Director of Sales and Marketing for the past 2 years.

Network! This is such a close-knit community that the best way to get started is to meet as many people in the roles that you are interested in pursuing.

Tell me about your position and the organization you are with.

I am the Director of Sales and Marketing for the hotel. I handle all corporate accounts in both group and transient. I also manage all marketing, advertising and social media.

What is your ideal vacation spot?

London! I studied abroad in London and it will always hold a special place in my heart.

What are your hobbies?

I love to eat out at fun local restaurants with my girlfriends or stay home with a glass of wine and watch a movie with my husband, Steve, and two sons - Owen and Colin.

Traveling is and always has been my passion and led me to my career in hotels!

Why did you join MPI Carolinas?

My good friend Cathy Carpenter has finally convinced me! LOL. After seven years in the business travel world, I have moved back into meetings and events and knew that joining MPI was a no-brainer!

Rachel Whitten, CMP Visit Greenville NC MPI-CC VP of Member Engagement

"Traveling is and always has been my passion..."

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 11

Look Who We Spotted

32

exhibitors

39

planners

Business Exchange

March 29, 2023 • JW Marriott Charlotte Photos by Mica Parekh, CMP

12 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

March 30, 2023 • Bank of America Stadium Photos by Catch Light Studio

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 13

14 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

MEETINGS MATTER On March 30, MPI Carolinas, along with Association of Executives of North Carolina, Charlotte Area Hotel Association, Destination Marketing Association of North Carolina, HSMAI North Carolina Chapter, International Association of Exhibitions and Events Southeastern Chapter, International Live Events Association Greater Charlotte Chapter, National Association of Catering and Events Charlotte Chapter, North Carolina Travel Industry Association (NCTIA), PCMA Southeast Chapter, SITE Southeast, and Tourism Education Foundation, gathered at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day (GMID), an international day of advocacy championing the benefits of professional meetings and events.

Powered by the U.S. Travel Association’s Meetings Mean Business Coalition, GMID spotlights the proven value that business meetings, conferences, conventions, trade shows and exhibitions bring to people, businesses, communities and the economy. This year’s theme - #MeetingsMatter highlighted the economic and societal importance of faceto-face meetings.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, GMID 2023 saw record engagement, with 45 million impressions worldwide on social media and 70 events held in 35 countries.

At the Bank of America stadium, 250 industry members came together to connect, learn and support the industry.

The event kicked off with lunch sponsored by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority and a “Legislative Session” hosted by NCTIA. Andrew Schmidt, president and CEO of Greenville-Pitt County CVB and president of NCTIA; Mike Butts, executive director of Visit Charlotte and VP of sales for Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority; and Joe

Bost, chief advocacy officer for Charlotte Regional Business Alliance; spoke about North Carolina politics and the effects it has on the meetings industry.

In “The Future of Meetings,” Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, discussed several current topics, including remote work, inflation, RevPAR, distribution of household wealth, employment rate, tech sector layoffs, turbulence across the banking sector, as well as how the media’s influence affects how we perceive information.

During the “Moving Forward Together” panel discussion, moderated by Alison Harding, CMP, CMM, Medical Leverage, panelists Christian Schroeder, Visit WinstonSalem; John Bradford, Curated Events; Patty Richbourg, CHSE, CMP, CASE, GTP, POP, DES, HelmsBriscoe; Robyn Davis, CMP, CITP, Global Eventures; and Jennifer Holt, CMP, Caesars Entertainment; explored how to effectively partner with hotel, CVB and other vendors to source and plan meetings and special events in the current climate.

The day concluded with a reception sponsored by Caesars Entertainment in the stadium’s Vault.

Thank you to our partners – Tepper Sports and Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment, Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, The Management Office, Tech Factory, Key Signature Entertainment, Spark by Design, Experience Bold, Curated Events, Vision Entertainment, and Shutter Booth – for making this event possible!

Nicole Filippo, CMP Duke University MPI-CC VP of Marketing and Communications

Mark your calendars to join us next year for GMID – April 11, 2024.

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 15

We want to hear from

Share your feedback with the MPI-CC Board of Directors on ways we can enhance your membership at the chapter level. Visit our digital

Meet over cocktails ...or spreadsheets.

YOU’RE WELCOME.

You’re welcome to work hard and play hard in Greensboro.

suggestion box

VISITGREENSBORONC.COM

Work has never looked so

THERE’S MORE TO US

Plan your next event at our newly renovated facility and you’ll find all the amenities you need for a new way of doing business.

203 S Front Street New Bern, NC (252) 637-1551 www.RiverfrontConventionCenter.com 16 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

JOHN POOLE 704.456.7968 • johnpoole@explorecabarrus.com

ExploreCabarrus.com

Our Latest Expansion

is a Work of Art

Centrally located in North Carolina, Winston-Salem is a welcoming meeting destination with a history committed to reinvention and innovation. Named one of the South’s Best Cities on the Rise by Southern Living, Winston-Salem boasts the recently expanded 150,000-square-foot Benton Convention Center in the heart of our vibrant, walkable downtown. Elevate your next event in Benton South’s reimagined meeting space featuring the 24,000-square-foot Gallery Ballroom. Winston-Salem will have you looking forward to playing, meeting, and staying in our hip and historic city.

5,300 HOTEL ROOMS

100+ DOWNTOWN

UP TO $3,000 IN

1, 200 Downtown

Restaurants & Shops

Meeting Incentives

Create your next meeting masterpiece at VisitWinstonSalem.com Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 17

Photo by fauxels on pexels.com

Diversifying

Your Sales Strategy 18 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

2. Create a Feedback Loop

In the last two years, we’ve heard that we need to pivot, shift, and ultimately test new sales strategies to get in front of the planners and clients we’ve missed.

But have any of those changes included diversifying your existing practices?

Recently, we looked at our association, our members, and your needs and realized it was time to make inclusion a priority, not only for MPI Carolina’s but also for your teams.

Reach out to diverse planners, attendees and partners you trust and ask for feedback about their experience with your team and in your destination. What experiences are missing for diverse visitors you may have for everyone else? What could your team or community partners do better? Would they return to your destination?

3. Collect Data Use the internal system audit and feedback loop to start a data collection process for areas you can target right away to make changes. Once you have those areas of instability, create some internal task forces to tackle quick and simple changes. Some of these task forces may include: a. Collateral audit and changes b. Inclusive imagery bank c. Update blog/website content d. Include your marketing and communication teams in the above three task forces for support.

In general, we understand that there’s no “how to” guide for diversifying your sales strategies. However, we included five steps below to get your team on the right path to new markets, greater economic impact for your destinations, and, ultimately, a more inclusive and equitable experience for your visitors.

e. Inclusive hiring and retention Include your HR and operation teams. Often, planners and attendees want to work with and support organizations and destinations with team members who look like them. This builds trust and psychological safety, which ensures transparency throughout the sales process.

1. Conduct an Internal Audit

f. Develop inclusive community champions

What can you examine immediately to assess where your visitors are coming from? The best way to do this is to pull some tags in your system. Look for tags that be related to: a. Multicultural b. Women c. LGBTQ+ d. International If you don’t already have these tags, this is a great place to start categorizing your diverse businesses, meetings, and clients.

g. This is a great place to engage your board, local partners and visitor services.

4. Engage! Engage! Engage!

Start engaging in inclusive conferences and events.

On average, the multicultural tourism market brings in $100B+ each year (Black travelers alone). Reach out to associations and partners in our space to ask how to participate, partner, or sponsor events to get in front of new audiences. Our very own DEI committee is a great place to start! We can connect you with different organizations, conferences and practitioners for you to be involved.

Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023 | 19

5. Reach Out for Help If you took the time to read this and thought, “Whoa, there’s no way we have the capacity for this!” I get it!

We’re all jumping back into the in-person events with sometimes new team members, new budgets, and new goals.

If this is you, reach out for external help. Hire outside consultants who understand our industry and the goals that can move the needle forward for you.

These steps above are just a start; sometimes, you may find that you may implement them at different times throughout the year and not in this format. However, if you’re looking for more ideas to help your sales team develop inclusive and equitable practices, reach out to the Miles Partnership DEI team at DEITeam@MilesPartnership.com and mention this article!

International Civil Rights Center & Museum, Greensboro, N.C.

DEI CONNECTS

Interview with Mitch Savoie Hill, MPI-CC Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Kathryn Short, MPI-CC Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

What is DEI Connects?

The “DEI Connects” event series is a way to gather industry colleagues to connect, learn about each other, discuss industry and personal challenges, and share ideas and inspiration in an informal safe space.

Previous DEI Connects events have included a meet up at Bitty & Beau’s, a coffee shop creating a path for people with disabilities to become more valued, accepted and included in every community, and a tour and discussion at the International Civil Rights Center and Museum.

Why did your team implement this event series?

MPI Carolinas values the importance of fostering a sense of community and networking among our diverse membership.

Gathering together and sharing our stories, experiences, challenges and best practices is a wonderful way to enrich every member’s professional and personal life. So the MPI Carolinas DEI Committee created the “DEI Connects” series as opportunities to gather in an informal setting, at locations that give back to the community, to do exactly that – connect with your fellow MPI friends or friends-to-be!

Najauna White, CMP, CDE Miles Partnership MPI-CC Pesident-Elect

20 | Carolina Blitz | Spring 2023

Who can I contact for more information or to send suggestions?

Kathryn Short at Kshort@visitraleigh.com or Mitch Savoie Hill at info@savhillconsulting.com.

WE ARE

Breaking Ground

N E W E X PA N S I O N A N D R E N O V AT I O N COMING TO THE H I C KO RY M E T R O CONVENTION CENTER +35,000-sq-ft for meetings, trade shows & sporting events +Renovated meeting rooms

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sarah Davis Jones, CMP, TMP Director of Sales & Marketing Sarah@hickorymetro.com 828.322.1335 visithickorymetro.com

Meet at a spot that has been launching businesses for more than 300 years.

While our hotel may be new, our location has been a hub for thriving businesses for as long as we can remember. Originally a fishing ground for American Indians, it became a center for the Menhaden fishing industry after the Civil War. Today, our site continues to inspire business with expansive waterfront views, natural light, luxurious accommodations and tempting cuisine. Stimulate your business at Beaufort Hotel.

Where your Outer Banks adventure begins.

2440 Lennoxville Road | Beaufort, NC 28516 | (252) 728-3000 | BeaufortHoteINC.com

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2023 Annual Meeting Recap MPI Carolinas hosted its 2023 Annual Meeting February 5-6 at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Day 2 Located in the perfect location to combat the winter doldrums – beachside – we started off the morning session with a wholesome way to rise out of winter in a wellness and self-care reset with National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coaches Rosy Crumpton, owner of Sophrosyne Wellness, and Debbie Brinckman.

Given the opportunity to assess one’s personal health inventory, attendees answered questions in a wheel of health, personalized their wellness journey and set meaningful goals for fast tracking to their ideal health.

We were then given the opportunity to choose a topic we felt best suited our main focus and broke out into groups for a deeper discussion.

What resulted were so many shared takeaways and ideas, and ways to regularly evaluate progress. Each group chose a lead person who would organize a weekly or bi-weekly check-in with everyone in their group. All groups were determined to set forth and succeed.

Armed with purpose, the session came to a close in a most peaceful and enlightening way – with Crumpton’s calming voice and peaceful demeanor, she led the group through a mini-mindfulness/meditation practice with “Leaves on a stream,” reflecting, letting go and looking forward.

Day 1 The meeting began with a riveting session from lawyers Matt Villmer, Villmer Caudill, PLLC, and Lori Keeton, Lori Keeton Law, discussing hot topics in the new world of contracting in meetings and events. Topics covered included risk management tools, business entities and insurance.

Villmer is a business and litigation attorney with 14 years of experience representing clients in the hospitality and events industry. Keeton is an award-winning attorney who has been named one of the top 50 female lawyers in North Carolina.

After the session, we enjoyed a reception at the new restaurant and tap house Black Drum Brewing, which features a tap list including 40 taps, showcasing local breweries from the Carolinas. The delectable catered event was exclusive for our attendees.

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Storyteller, sales trainer and positive thinking strategist Gina Trimarco then revved up the energy in the room with her “Oh Yes You Can!” keynote address.

With whimsical interaction from the group, Trimarco showed the group how to maneuver through the most trying of times with humor, agility and the power of improvisation.

After lunch, in another fascinating session, Villmer and Keeton took the attendees through more contract hot topics: the changing labor market, contract negotiations and a changing regulatory landscape. They provided many thought-provoking comments and tips.

Cathy Carpenter Le Meridien Sheraton Charlotte MPI-CC VP of Program Development

SPACES DESIGNED TO MAKE AN IMPACT

CaesarsMeansBusiness.com | 855-633-8238

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WH E R E M O D E R N WOND E R S M E E T TH E WO ND E R S O F O UR WO R L D.

MAKE YOUR MEETINGS

Boricua [boh-ree-kwah] is more than a word to identify a person from Puerto Rico.

It’s a way of life that means f inding inspiration wherever you look and sharing it with whomever you meet. From our ultra-modern convention center to our incredible beaches, history and culture, every attendee will be as inspired as we are.

Learn more at DiscoverPuertoRico.com/meetings.

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