Onsite newsletter jan 14 ffr

january/february 2014

OnSite

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In this issue

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

What’s New At MPI-NJ? Page 4

Meeting Move Us Forward Page 5

Behind the Scenes of Superbowl 2014 Page 6 ­ 9

Food Fight!

A Game Without All the Mess Page 10 ­ 12

Satisfaction Survey Page 13

GBTA and MPI Launch New CMM Designation Program Page 14 ­ 15

MPI Got Melissa Winfield Her Job Page 16 ­ 17

Standing for Hours and Enjoying it Page 18

MPI­NJ Strategic Partners Page 19

MPI­NJ Executive Board Page 20

MPI­NJ Board of Directors Page 20

MPI­NJ Committee Chairs Page 21

H

appy New Year NJ Chapter Members!

I hope the Holidays were full of joy and new memories with friends and families.

As President, I wish you much success in 2014 and thank you for continuing with your NJ Chapter membership!

As we begin 2014, I am sure many of us have thought and/or written down goals we want to accomplish in the New Year. The NJ Chapter is here to assist you in your profession with educational, motivational and networking programs. I encourage you to visit the website for upcoming programs and register early.

total of 140 members participate in the survey. Of those that responded, 49% scored the Chapter high, 36% medium and 16% low. The Chapter’s average score was 6.97, slightly better from 2012.

Our goals for the February 14, Survey is to achieve a score of 7.91 or higher! We can make this a reality if we all do our part. If you have attended 1+ Education Programs since September 2013, please take the survey!

What is at stake for membership? First, additional funding for the Chapter, second, ranking amongst all MPI Chapters and the most important knowing what you think the chapter is doing right and what we can improve upon to make the Chapter the best it can be.

Every year, MPI conducts a Membership Chapter Survey. This Survey will begin February 14 and end February 28. The survey has a two week window and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. On February 14, each member will receive a link to the survey. This link is unique to you and cannot be shared.

In the coming weeks, we will be providing additional details via Social Media, phone calls and email blasts. I look forward to your participation and feedback making this a highly productive 2014 for us all.

I would like to take the opportunity in this President's Message to emphasize how essential this Survey is to all of us as Chapter members. In 2013, we had a

Julia Ramos, CMP

2014 MPI-NJ Events

I wish you much success, optimism and strength in 2014!

MPI NJ Chapter President 2013-2014

OTHER INDUSTRY EVENTS

January 24, 2014

June 26, 2014

9:30 AM – 12:00 PM Educational Program Say It Better with Kare Anderson The Heldrich Hotel New Brunswick, NJ

Annual Golf Outing Royce Brook Country Club Hillsborough, NJ

6:30 PM – 9:30 PM NJ­BTA Charity Gala Waterside Café North Bergen, NJ

REGISTER NOW

OTHER MPI CHAPTER EVENTS

REGISTER NOW

February 12, 2014

January 17, 2014

February 23 – 25, 2014

11:00 AM – 3:00 PM MPI­Greater New York Chapter Education Program: Live & Learn or Die presented by Dave Mitchell

European Meetings & Events Conference Istanbul, Turkey

Educational Program Portrait of an American Traveler With Peter Yesawich College of Saint Elizabeth Morristown, NJ

February 7, 2014

May 20 ­ 22, 2014 IMEX Frankfurt, Germany

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What’s New At MPI-NJ?

I

t is just the beginning of January 2014 and the question I receive most at the MPI-NJ Chapter office is “when is the MPI-NJ Golf Tournament?”

Attention Sponsors! You DO NOT have to wait until June to PARTNER with MPI-NJ Chapter.

Let’s start right now!

We have several GREAT and COST EFFECTIVE ways for YOU to reach OVER 2,000 meeting professionals who are searching NOW for exciting properties, unique venues, excellent meeting services, new products, technology and If you are new to MPI-NJ Chapter, you will soon more! come to realize that this is the biggest and best MPI-NJ Chapter is offering advertisements on fun event of the year. We are lucky to have all our website (www.mpinewjersey.org) for as little the support of our fabulous sponsors and as $95.00 a month or color advertisements in volunteers! Details will be posted on our digital online newsletter, OnSite, for only www.mpinewjersey.org shortly. For more $625.00 an issue (1/4 page ad) and many other information, please contact our golf chair, Melissa Ullmann at Melissa@discoverPHL.com options. You can also choose just one issue to send out a special promotion or you can choose or call 215-636-3333. Melissa is looking for a golf Co-Chair. If you can STEP UP and help out all six issues! at this fabulous event, we would really For a sample of OnSite, please click here. appreciate it.

The official date of the MPI-NJ Chapter Golf Tournament is Thursday, June 26, 2014 at Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough, NJ. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!

For a complete advertising kit/rate sheet/order form, please click here.

LARGEST CONFERENCE CENTER IN THE ROCKIES (BOOYAH)

Please contact me at the MPI-NJ Chapter office by January 20th to place an advertisement on our website by February 1.

Or call me at 201-875-2476 or e-mail at rmarion@mpinewjersey.org any time to discuss all your options!

Happy New Year 2014! We look forward to partnering with you in 2014 and making this the best year to date!

Rut h Marion, CMP

MPI-NJ Chapter Administrator

201-875-2476

rmarion@mpinewjersey.org A mountain of possibilities.

KEYSTONECONFERENCES.COM | 877.625.1539

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MPI-NEW JERSEY - MEETINGS MOVE US FORWARDSM

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PI is launching our Meetings Move Us ForwardSM grassroots effort this week, which includes the unveiling of a new section of our website and resources for promoting our industry. Our goal with this effort is to help teach members how to talk about the meeting and event industry in a consistent and meaningful way using a common language.

As you may recall, the grassroots communications effort began in July 2012 when MPI formed a task force to explore ways to tell our industry's story and promote the value it delivers in the U.S. That group determined it was critical to define our industry and show the diversity, breadth and impact as well as the important role it plays in our economy. So, a core message platform was created, validated, refined and put into action by the MPI Marketing & Communications Team.

Over the past year, we have integrated this core message platform into MPI publications, marketing and communications – all in an effort to tell our industry’s story.

Now, we are launching the Meetings Move Us ForwardSM grassroots effort so members can tell their own story and help garner recognition for our industry and the work we do. As part of this effort, conceptualized in late 2012, we have created a number of resources for our members and the broader meeting and event community, including the following .

• Brief Industry Documentary Video • 1-Minute Television Commercial • When We Meet, We Change The World Video • Print and Web Ads • Core Message Platform • Fact Sheet • Presentation • Articles & Studies • Relaunch of I Am MPI Initiative • Storytelling Template • Link to U.S. Travel Association MPI invested $25,000 towards the production and distribution of the documentary and commercial, which will reach 60 million and 84 million households, respectively. An edited version of the documentary will be aired on public television in January 2014, with introductory and closing segments featuring award-winning actor, Martin Sheen. The television commercial will air nationwide starting in January as well. We’ll share more details on the timing of these television appearances in the next couple of weeks.

In the meantime, we encourage you to check out the different Meetings Move Us ForwardSM resources online at www.mpiweb.org/forward.

Also, we have created a presentation to help you promote the Meetings Move Us ForwardSM grassroots effort among our membership during chapter meetings. You can find this presentation as well as supporting talking points on the Chapter Leader Resources page in the Marketing & Communication section. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 972-702-3044 or cjohnson@mpiweb.org. As always, thank you for your support.

Caroline Johnson Senior Director, Marketing & Communications Meeting Professionals International

PETER C. YESAWICH

Vice Chairman, MMGY Global Come hear Peter Yesawich speak: MPI NJ Educational Program Portrait of American Travelers 2013 Wednesday, February 12, 2014 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM College of Saint Elizabeth, 2 Convent Road, Morristown, NJ Peter C. Yesawich is vice chairman of MMGY Global, America’s leading marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure and lifestyle clients. The agency represents clients in every category of the travel industry through offices across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe.

MMGY is an integrated marketing communications company that is known for its strategic thinking, breakthrough creativity and innovation in marketing practice. The firm’s Research & Brand Strategy Group is also regarded as one of the most respected sources of insights on the emerging travel habits, preferences and intentions of Americans and coauthors the widely acclaimed Portrait of American TravelersSM survey with Harrison Group, LLC. Yesawich is a frequent commentator on travel trends in such publications as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Time, Newsweek and Business Week. He is also featured on the CNN, CNBC, MSNBC and BBC World television networks and National Public Radio. He serves as a featured columnist in several industry trade publications and has authored numerous articles on marketing and advertising strategy in professional journals. He is also a coauthor of Marketing Leadership in Hospitality published by Prentice Hall.

Listed in Who’s Who in America, Yesawich is the recipient of the World Travel Award from the American Association of Travel Editors, The Albert E. Koehl Award from the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Silver Medal from the American Advertising Federation. He was also named one of the 25 Most Extraordinary Marketing Minds by HSMAI and is a former member of the board of directors of the U.S. Travel Association.

Yesawich received three degrees from Cornell, including a doctorate in applied psychology, and is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program at Yale.

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BEHIND THE SCENES O

Y

es! We are ready for some Football - Super Bowl XLVIII, February 2, 2014 is being played at MetLife Stadium. This is the first time the Super Bowl has ever been held in the NY/NJ area and is being hosted by two teams.

With Super Bowl XLVIII being only a few weeks away, I had the opportunity to find out from several key business executives involved with the Super Bowl, just how they are preparing for all the events/activities leading up to game day.

Mayor Michael Gonnelli Secaucus, NJ This is a very exciting and busy time for the Super Bowl Events Planning Committee and me as Mayor. With Super Bowl XLVIII on the horizon, Secaucus will be hosting a Winter Blast which will incorporate three separate events: Saturday, January 25, a Super Ball Gala where attendees will enjoy cocktails, appetizers, silent and live auction items of jewelry, sports memorabilia, fantasy adventures, trips, and designer handbags, as well as live entertainment and a fashion show.

Monday, January 27, The Syncronetts, 2013 Junior U.S. Synchronized Ice Skating Team will perform in the 200 ft. x 85 ft. indoor ice skating rink followed by skating lessons,

pictures, and autograph signing.

Thursday, January 30 Saturday, February 1, the PreGame Before the Big Game in Buchmuller Park will be underway. There will be a variety of hockey games, Food Truck Mash Up, Beer Garden hosted by Charlie’s Corner Bar, radio stations on site Friday and Saturday nights providing great music, giveaways and prizes, family friendly activities and games on the little league field, vendor village, fashion trucks as well as live musical performances and open skating during nongame times.

We created these events to appeal to the large number of visitors staying in Secaucus's 15 hotels, approximately 7,125 residents, and the nearly 400,000 commuters and visitors that pass through Hudson County on a daily basis. With all of this additional traffic and excitement in our area, during this historical time, there is a tremendous opportunity for Secaucus to showcase the town, it's 30 restaurants appealing to diverse pallets and cultures, as well as 13 designer outlets and retail stores, our recreation center and parks. My hope is that people visiting Secaucus will like what it has to offer and they will come back and visit, stay in our hotels, eat at our restaurants, shop in our stores and jump on the train and be in NYC in 10 minutes.

Putting together these events has been very exciting.

However, there have also been challenges, as with any undertaking this large . The

good news is that we have worked through the difficulties and are moving forward with a very exciting line up of events, that will be fun for the whole family to enjoy. The proceeds of these events will benefit three worthwhile 501c3 organizations Secaucus Emergency Fund, K & S, and Spectrum Works. This is what makes all of the effort it takes to organize an event like this worthwhile.

CM: Mr. Mayor, What does Super Bowl 2014 mean to NJ businesses (hotels, restaurants, etc.)?

MG: Added revenue and exposure.

CM: How will the Super Bowl effect transportation and traffic flow in the areas surrounding Super Bowl?

MG: I feel transportation and traffic flow in the areas surrounding MetLife Stadium will increase to a degree.

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OF SUPERBOWL 2014 Ron Simoncini President at Axiom Communications and Owner, MRCC Venture 1 CM: Ron, what is your role in preparing for the Super Bowl?

However, because of added security measures, this Super Bowl is going to predominately be a commuter event. We are planning for shuttle bus services to and from Buchmuller Park, the location Secaucus Winter Blast will take place, in order to help eliminate any potential traffic flow problems in our town.

CM: Snow or no snow? I have heard some people say that they want a little snow to make it a real NJ/NY winter Super Bowl experience while others say no. Your thoughts?

MG: Definitely snow! I would like for people who are visiting to get to experience the excitement of a snowy game day.

CM: What are you most looking forward to on game day?

MG: Sitting home relaxing and watching the game with my family.

RS: My role in the super bowl is to represent the Meadowlands Regional Chamber as it seeks to brand the region. I am the co-chair of the Meadowlands Huddle Zone marketing committee, which is a locally authorized group promoting the game within our region. I have been somewhat entrepreneurial and developed programs that take advantage of the large group of people associated with the game, in particular advising my clients on opportunities to utilize their assets and developing events to create business opportunities for local businesses.

CM: What are the opportunities for hotels, restaurants and businesses in the NY/NJ area?

RS: When the Super Bowl comes to your town, the hotels, major meeting spaces and preferred restaurants get booked early or are part of the bid package and they have a very good week. It might be a good enough week to create an exceptional quarter and perhaps even make the difference between a good and a great year.

The larger parties and events already have producers, either working directly with the NFL or the annual hosts of those events. The good news is, there is a lot of activity that happens around the game that “local businesses� can be part of, because the NFL is not the only source of business related to the game. There are all sorts of organizations looking for opportunities to address their local constituencies and the 150,000 people who want to celebrate but have no connection to the game itself.

CM: How have you promoted the Super Bowl in the NY/NJ area?

RS: Some of the things we have done include the Big Game Experience, a showcase for local entertainment and event-oriented vendors. We captured these providers at a website, www.thebiggameexperience.com, which then became a reference resource that could be used by the host committee or visiting organizations or even primary vendors looking for support.

We also encouraged nonsponsors of the game to develop opportunities to serve or benefit from the game outside of the authorized participants.

For example, Meadowlands businesses helped develop ticket brokerage solutions, parties, concerts, educational programs and other activities — all the while maintaining a welcome posture to the Host Committee to address any needs for which it reaches out.

Continued on page 8

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BEHIND THE SCENES OF SUPERB Frank J. Vuono Partner 16W Marketing, LLC. CM: Frank, are you and your team ready for Super Bowl XLVIII? FV: With Super Bowl only a few weeks away, the focus will turn to our backyard in East Rutherford, the location of this year’s pinnacle of all sporting events in our country - Super Bowl XLVIII. For an entire week, a wave of sponsors, team executives, media and fans will gather together to celebrate what has become in essence a national holiday. It’s always fun to catch up with longtime friends in the industry who we don't see throughout the year.

CM: What events are happening in the NY/NJ area?

FV: The events that accompany the game throughout the week are second to none and are not experienced anywhere else.

For example, Bud Light has rented a massive cruise ship on the Hudson to host and entertain thousands of guests.

DirecTV will throw its seventh annual Celebrity Beach Bowl (in Jan/Feb no less!) featuring celebrities and athletes at New York City’s Pier 40. On our side of the river, the NFL will hold Media Day, which has amazingly evolved into a fan attended event, at Newark’s Prudential Center.

For my partner Steve Rosner and I, and our company 16W Marketing, it is the single busiest week of the year,

beginning with multiple appearances for some of our high-profile talent including Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason, Howie Long, Cris Collinsworth and others. We will be hosting/attending many events we helped organize for our corporate clients, as well as "official" events run by the NFL, the Host Committee, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Our 16W annual Super Bowl party will be held in our backyard in Carlstadt, NJ for our clients and friends in the industry.

NFL Films fame, will somehow arrange for that dramatic setting.

CM: What about Game Day?

SB: The NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee has selected North Jersey Media Group to help publish the Committee’s Commemorative Magazine.

North Jersey will assist in editorial, design, ad sales, printing and distribution.

FV: Game day will be something local businesses have never experienced before, with a multitude of morning and afternoon events leading up to the game. Local game day headquarters and events will include StubHub at Harmon Meadow in Secaucus, NFL & Host Committee at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, Pro Football Hall of Fame at Redd’s in Carlstadt and many other events in and around MetLife Stadium.

CM: Your thoughts about snow on game day?

FV: Maybe the only variable the NFL will not be able to control is the weather. While cold weather is inevitable, the League and Host Committee is hopeful that no inclement weather paralyzes the region in the days leading up to game day. However, it would make for some great viewing on television if we had a light snowfall on Super Bowl Sunday. I am hoping my good friend, the late Steve Sabol of

Stephen Borg President North Jersey Media Group CM: Stephen, how is North Jersey Media Group involved with the Super Bowl?

150,000 copies of the magazine will be distributed at hotels and other select locations in the days prior to Super Bowl XLVIII, played at MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014.

The magazine will provide behind-the-scenes access to the making of the big game, the first ever played in the New York/New Jersey region and in an open-air venue in a coldweather city. The magazine will also help visitors know where to eat, shop and visit during their stay.

Proceeds of the magazine will benefit the Host Committee’s NY/NJ Snowflake Youth Foundation, whose purpose is transform after-school facilities for youth in the New Jersey and New York metro area.

The Host Committee’s mission is to create a memorable Super

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BOWL 2014

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Bowl week for all – including residents, visitors, businesses, the NFL, team owners and sponsors and partners — and establish the New York/New Jersey region as the place to go for big events.

North Jersey Media Group publishes The Record, northjersey.com, bergen.com, more than 40 community newspapers and several magazines including (201).

We are excited. The magazine is fully sold out. Finishing touches are being made on the editorial. The cover is great.

We will go to print in early January so there is plenty of time to make sure it is perfect.

We thank the Host Committee for this wonderful opportunity.

I would like to thank all my contributors for taking time out of their busy schedules to let us know all that is happening behind the scenes and leading up to Super Bowl XLVIII.

“Mark Your Calendars” The 2014 MPI -NJ Golf Tournament will be held June 26th at Royce Brook Country Club

Carol Malinky, CMP Director of Internal Communications C.A.Malinky Communications 201-232-0110 tmalinky@aol.com

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for more to come on our favorite June Event and Fundraiser!

DESTINATION DESTINA ATTION TIO INNOVATION. INNOV VATTION. At Sands At Sands Bethlehem, Bethlehem, w we’ve e’ve a assembled ssembled the the best best and and tthe he brightest brightest to to assure assure meetings meetings and and tradeshows tradeshows go go beyond the expected. Our 12,000 sq. ft. of meeting space and 14,000 sq. ft. of tradeshow space merge seamlessly with our exceptional accommodations and exquisite catering. We offer the latest in technology, 10 dining choices, legendary entertainment, outlet shopping, rejuvenating spa services and so much more.

Simply stated, we’re at the top of our game so you can be at the top of yours.

Book your meeting or conference today by calling Alyssa Lippincott at 484.777.7497 or email Alyssa.Lippincott@PaSands.com.

Must be 21 years of age or older to enter the Sands Casino.

GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER.

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FOOD FIGHT! A GAME W

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hen we meet we usually eat‌but not very well.

Eating is a major life activity. The food we eat fuels our bodies and minds. It is vital for our survival and performance. Meetings are vital too, in a different way.

They provide opportunities to learn, collaborate and conduct business.

But until recently we didn’t think much about the food we served at events. A hotel banquet menu from Des Moines looked just like the one from DC, San Diego, Dallas and Las Vegas. Our main consideration was making sure we didn’t serve the same thing we did yesterday.

And, eating in our time has gotten a bit complicated.

Countless experts tell us to eat this, not that. Shun carbs. Cut back on red meat. Dodge grains. Reduce sodium. Avoid high-fructose corn syrup. Eat more plants.

At events, these practices make providing F&B even more complicated. From accommodating guests conflicting diet regimens and food allergies to sourcing locally and feeding participants brains, it is hard to figure out what to serve and to whom.

But with the growing number of dietary needs being requested at events, it's about time we understood what they are and how to incorporate them into our menus because it is becoming standard fare.

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WITHOUT ALL THE MESS At your October 2013 meeting I had the opportunity to provide you education on the needs and the opportunities of feeding guests with dietary needs.

The 30-minute presentation and subsequent “Jeopardy�-style trivia game reinforced the education in a fun, and interactive way.

Hopefully what you learned will help you look at menus differently, ask your participants about their needs, and work with your food and beverage service providers to create menus that are healthy, safe and delicious for all.

Food Fight Q&A A: Eggs, Milk, Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Tree Nuts, Peanuts Q: What are the 8 Foods Cause 90% of all Allergic Reactions?

A: A serious allergic reaction that occurs rapidly and may cause death.

Q: What is Anaphylaxis?

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FOOD FIGHT!

(CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11)

A: Honey, dairy, eggs, chicken, pork, red meat Q: What are foods NOT in a vegan diet?

A: This dietary practice aligned with Cross-Fit and designed around a caveman’s diet avoids all grains Q: What is Paleo?

A: Quinoa, lentils, legumes, nuts & beans are good sources of this for vegetarians and vegans Q: What is protein?

A: This activity was added to the ADA’s list of major life activities in 2008 Q: What is Eating?

A: A common ingredient in Twizzlers, Pretzels, Snickers, Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream Bars and Biscotti, favorite afternoon break items.

Q: What is Wheat?

A: At this final planning meeting, all special meal requests should be reviewed & confirmed and service procedures verified.

Q: What is the Pre-con?

A: Some wines may not be acceptable for vegan guests or those with food allergies because these items may be used in the filtering process Q: Eggs or Fish Skin Article by: Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC

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MPI CHAPTER SATISFACTION SURVEY

K

nowing how to best meet your needs and exceed your expectations is important to your NJ Chapter leaders and MPI staff. As a MPI member, we appreciate your input and want to know what is important to you as part of the chapter and the industry. Sharing your feedback about your MPI experience is extremely important to MPI and takes just 15 to 20 minutes.

If you have attended more than one education program, we want to hear what you have to say to help us continually improve and grow the NJ Chapter.

Out of respect for your time, International and Chapters have collaborated to only issue one satisfaction survey to the membership. We’ve done this because your feedback is important and enables MPI to improve programs and services to better meet your needs. We will use your input to make adjustments, refine and deliver greater value to you.

On February 14, you will receive an email from MPI with a unique link to you. Please fill the survey out as soon as possible. The survey will be available for only two (2) weeks. The 15-20 minutes to fill out the survey is time well spent and appreciated.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete our survey.

MPI-NJ Chapter Board of Directors

New, Transfer & Affiliate Members NEW MEMBERS MERVAT ALSAYED Student Brookdale College 172 Townsend Dr Freehold, NJ 07728 FELICIA DAVIS Sales Atlantic City Convention & Visitor Authority 2314 Pacific Ave Atlantic City, NJ 08401 MICHELLE ELEJALDE Corporate Sales Manager Hilton Woodcliff Lake 200 Tice Blvd Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07066

TOSHAMALLA McCLOUD Division Meeting Manager Kessler Institute for Rehablitlation 1199 Pleasant Valley Way West Orange, NJ 07052

REBECCA PLAUT Director, Global Accounts Omni Hotels Global Sales Office 551 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10017

ABIGAIL OLOFIN Student Brookdale College 47, Beamway Dagenham, Essex, RM10 8XR, UK

LORI RABON General Manager Nassau Inn 10 Palmer Square E Princeton, NJ 08542

This listing contains all New Members, Chapter Transfer Members and Affiliate Members from November 1 to December 30, 2013.

If you should not be listed please contact: rmarion@mpinewjersey.org

TRANSFERS MICHELLE DOMINGUEZ Director of Corporate National Sales Manager Venetian/Palazzo Resort & Casino 3355 Las Vegas Blvd S Las Vegas, NV 89109

AFFILIATE MEMBER RYAN THOMPSON Sales Manager Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island 130 Shipyard Drive Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

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GBTA AND MPI LAUNCH NEW C “GBTA is pleased to join forces with MPI to offer this new program that will quickly become the business standard of excellence for both meeting and travel professionals,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO of GBTA. “The new CMM Designation Program with MPI will offer our collective members the opportunity to learn new skills and grow their careers.”

Path to Designation

Collaboration Delivers Robust Business Education for Meeting and Travel Professionals

Management program created by MPI in the mid-1990s and pays homage to the highly regarded CMM designation.

DALLAS, TX and ALEXANDRIA, VA, December 18, 2013 — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced today that they have joined forces to create the new CMM Designation Program, the business standard of excellence for meeting and travel professionals.

The program, which is the first and only collaborative designation for meeting and travel professionals, features an intensive business management study program led by highly esteemed university professors from renowned business schools.

“We are pleased to offer the new CMM Designation Program in partnership with GBTA to meeting and travel professionals around the world,” said Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI. “Over the past year, MPI has been transforming in order to better serve our members and part of this transformation involved taking the Certificate in Meeting Management program to the next level. CMM has been a revered designation within the meeting and event industry for some time, and we believe the value CMM has established will translate well within the travel industry and as a standalone trademark.”

Together, GBTA and MPI designed the CMM Designation Program to help meeting and travel professionals strengthen their business acumen and advance their careers. Participants will learn critical business skills such as risk mitigation, business analytics and compliance, strategic negotiation and more.

The program is an evolution of the prestigious Certificate in Meeting

The development of the new CMM Designation Program originated when GBTA and MPI formed a limited liability company (LLC) and developed an executive steering committee tasked with creating the leading global business management education program for the meeting and travel industries.

To achieve the new designation, participants must complete three distinct phases. Phase 1 includes 3.5 days of rigorous onsite business education sessions administered by university professors. It also requires participation in two self-led webinars During phase 2 of the program, participants must attend a oneday boot camp at which they will partake in either meeting or travel focused sessions taught by industry-leading subject matter experts. The boot camps will initially be offered annually during both GBTA and MPI conventions.

The third phase involves the development of an independent work-based project. Thereafter, program participants are granted the CMM designation.

While continuing education credits are not required to maintain the designation, existing and new CMM holders are encouraged to attend CMM conclaves hosted by both GBTA and MPI annually starting in 2014. At the conclaves, new CMM holders join the outstanding community of CMM leaders to refresh their business skills, network and become part of the CMM legacy.

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CMM DESIGNATION PROGRAM With the launch of this new program, all current CMM designations will continue to be supported by MPI and now by GBTA as well. As such, professionals that achieved the former Certificate in Meeting Management designation will retain the CMM designation.

“Our combined vision was to evolve CMM to mean more than a certificate for meeting professionals, so it is no longer defined as an acronym. CMM is now a designation for distinguished meeting and travel professionals with business excellence,” explains Van Deventer.

GBTA and MPI will publish detailed program information and the full schedule of offerings in January 2014. In the meantime, visit www.mpiweb.org/CMM to learn more or to register interest.

and event industry association.

The organization helps its members thrive by building human connections through knowledge and ideas, relationships, and marketplaces.

MPI membership is comprised of approximately 20,000 members belonging to 71 chapters and clubs worldwide. For additional information or to join, visit www.mpiweb.org.

CONTACTS: Sonya Thorpe +1 972 702-3098 sthorpe@mpiweb.org Colleen Lerro +1 703-236-1133 clerro@gbta.org

NJBTA CHARITY GALA February 7, 2014 6:30 - 9:30 PM Waterside Café North Bergen, NJ

Kellie Gleason +1 212-446-1869, kgleason@sloanepr.com

About GBTA The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings organization.

Collectively, GBTA’s 6,000-plus members manage over $340 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually. GBTA provides its network of 21,000 business and government travel and meetings managers, as well as travel service providers, with networking events, news, education & professional development, research, and advocacy. For more information, visit gbta.org.

About MPI Meeting Professionals International (MPI) is the largest and most vibrant global meeting

ACTE

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MPI GOT MELISSA W

I

am a manager of Global Sales for the sports market for the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel companies.

I am responsible for a threshold of business, projects, maintaining relationships with customers and peers as well as many other sales activities. I am active within my community, enjoy participating and watching all athletics, have a great interest in the lives of my family and friends, and continue to learn about the world around me. I am also a member and committee chair of MPI-NJ. My career was not handed to me, and to be honest, during high school, if you told me this is where I would be, I wouldn’t believe you. My journey to the present day was not the typical route when it came to education.

I did not stay at the same university four years, and reflecting on it now, I wouldn’t change any of it.

I started 10 hours away from home at a small school in southern Virginia and quickly

realized that this option was not for me. I returned home to attend Sussex County Community College where I majored in Business Administration.

Although home, I was at a new school where I only recognized a couple familiar faces from high school. I knew the only way to make my experience the best was to become involved with student groups on campus. I joined the Rotaract Club, the collegiate chapter of Rotary. I was appointed Vice President then President during my year and a half at SCCC. It was through Rotaract that I was blessed with the opportunities to speak at the Newton Rotary Chapter as well as other neighboring chapters to share what projects the SCCC chapter was doing. Because of Rotaract, I was nominated and received a scholarship to attend the World Conference in Birmingham, England where I

shared experiences with 200 other students from 35 different countries. Needless to say, this was a life changing experience and still something I hold very close to my heart. This was also the moment in my life when I realized I had a love of traveling and a thirst to understand the global market.

Through my membership of Rotaract I became friends with other students who were also part of the Hospitality Club. The club was working on a project that would benefit the local adult day care center. There were not enough students to assist so I volunteered to assist in the outing. This first meeting led to further meetings and coursework opportunities. I was able to take hospitality courses as my electives to graduate. I became more involved in this area of study.

Little did I know that this was just

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WINFIELD HER JOB! the first stepping stone into the world of hospitality.

Understanding where I wanted the final two years of my collegiate path to take me, I researched institutions that had a respectable Hospitality Program.

Fairleigh Dickinson University was the perfect fit: FDU had an articulation agreement with SCCC in which all my credits would transfer, close to home, athletics, and scholarship opportunities.

Similarly to my extracurricular life at SCCC, I decided to do the same at FDU. I was an active board member of Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society, Rotaract Club, and Phi Sigma Sigma. I also took part in on-campus athletics, the Hospitality Society and other hospitality organizations, to include MPI. The hospitality community at FDU was almost like a family.

The student and faculty all knew one another, which were friendships that lasted post graduation. It was because of this, and my involvement with MPI, that I am where I am today.

The October after graduating from Fairleigh Dickinson University, I received an e-mail from my college professor and MPI member, Kirstin Tripodi. It was a job opening for a temporary position with the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group under Kaaren Hamilton. I took this opportunity and contacted Kaaren immediately. It was only a few days later that I was in for an interview and a few days after that in which I was offered the position. From my time as a temporary hire as sales coordinator, to full time sales coordinator, to my present

position, I am forever grateful for the mentorship from Kaaren and her guidance through my career.

Without the education I received and the relationships I maintained, it is safe to say I would not be in the position I am in today.

Today, I am a MPI NJ Member and Student Leadership Chair. I work with a committee to build relationships with NJ Colleges and Universities. It is within this committee that I hope to inspire a hospitality student to allow MPINJ into their career as I have in mine.

We are grateful to Melissa for sharing about her journey with MPI. When asked to comment, Kaaren Hamilton had this to say.

“Melissa’s story exemplifies the value of my MPI membership.

She is not the first employee I have recruited through our chapter relationships, but certainly our greatest success story to date. Our student

members are the future of our chapter and our businesses.

Knowing that to be successful working in the Global Sales Organization, I need people that are interested in many aspects of our business and have a desire to be an industry professional so MPI would be the most logical place to turn.

When I first reached out to Kristin Tripodi at Fairleigh Dickenson, I told her I needed a smart ‘go-getter’ who wanted to build a career in the hotel business. She delivered a few excellent candidates and in the end, Melissa had the spirit I look for. Skills can be taught, attitude is god given. Melissa has both, with a maturity and grace beyond her years. “ Thank you, Melissa, for your continued support and contributions to MPI-NJ.

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STANDING FOR HOURS - AND ENJOYING IT! goal here is to share helpful tips that really do make a difference when participating in a trade show.

W

hen you think of a trade show, do you inwardly groan about all the hours you’ll have to spend in a small “cell” (uh booth)? Long hours in a booth over a few days can be daunting, tiring, and maybe even boring, unless you have a plan.

Know exactly why you purchased that space. Are you there to show your company has a presence? Are you rolling out any new products or services? Are you looking for new sales reps or new customers? What is your overall company goal for being there? Have you determined the objectives you want to achieve during those trade show hours? The plan is “make a plan, then work the plan.”

The foundation of my professional experience comes from growing up in a family owned and operated business. This afforded me the opportunity to attend shows and travel throughout the country. Sure, the travel part to different locations was fun and exciting, but the trade shows entailed a great amount of work. The hard work was well worth it, as our family business was a great success and the lessons I learned have served me well in my professional endeavors. Below, you will find a culmination of my experiences with trade shows. The

When someone approaches a booth, you have about five seconds to get their attention, to make a good impression, and to entice them to walk into your booth. That means you must have a creative booth design that gives the “WOW” experience for your prospects.

Featuring and showing sample products encourages touching and comparing. There should always be plenty of literature, catalogs, samples, and sales materials on hand. Keep your space layout clean, uncluttered, and allow your company name and your message to be the main focus. This approach gives visitors an unobstructed view of the booth, catches their attention, and draws them into the booth.

Once they are in the booth, make those minutes count to make a positive impression!

The longer an attendee stays in your booth, the less time they spend in your competitor’s booth.

Let me share the Rules of the Booth: Number one – No sitting, ever.

In fact, we were always standing.

Sitting implies boredom. If we were tired and felt we really needed to sit, we left the booth for a few minutes and returned refreshed and ready to stand more.

Number two -- No using cell phone, headphones, or laptops (unless it is critical to making a presentation for a customer) during booth hours.

We left the booth if we had to take or make an important call.

Number three – No eating or drinking at the booth.

It is uninviting for a prospect to step into a booth and see mouths munching or someone trying to talk and eat at the same time. Instead, take a lunch break.

Number four –If a business card was exchanged during a conversation, notes were taken on the back of the card about what the visitor was interested in. You would have these notes to defer to when making follow

up phone calls.

We had another goal and that was to gather as many leads as we could.

A few name-gathering ideas: 1. Encourage prospects to drop a business card into a fish bowl to win a prize.

2. Be part of a ‘passport’ – a card of some kind that must be signed or stamped if someone comes to your booth. Ask for their card before signing. Make sure your booth number can be clearly seen from the aisles.

3. Host a “Spin the Wheel” contest at your booth to encourage prospect participation. Ask for a business card to participate. There are plenty of places to buy colorful turn wheels which can be customized with your products, services as well as your logo.

Giveaway items should be utilized as an additional avenue to market your brand and philosophy. Select items that enhance your company image and are relevant and useful to your prospects.

A few giveaway ideas: 1. A flash drive that brands your company. The more memory, the better –1 GB, 2 GB. 2. A cloth bag with a side holder for a bottle of water. This may seem like an old idea but the value of an attendee walking the trade show floor with your name on the bag is an invaluable way to market your business.

From the moment the trade show doors open, to the moment the show closes, you are on stage. Come prepared with product knowledge, company objectives, lots of energy and most importantly, comfy shoes.

If you follow these few simple steps, your show will surely be a success!

Feel free to email Cece with any questions or comments: cmp@peabodygrp.com

Article by: Cece Peabody, MAT, CMP

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MPI-NJ CHAPTER would like to acknowledge and thank our Strategic Partners for their Support of the Chapter

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Wynn Las Vegas 702­770­7000 www.wynnlasvegas.com

Pocono Mountains 570­421­5791 or 1­800­POCONOS 1­800­762­6667 www.PoconoMountains.com

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem 866­825­5361 www.pasands.com

Hilton Short Hills 973­379­0100 www.hiltonshorthills.com/de­ fault­en.html Ocean Place Resort & Spa 732­571­4000 www.oceanplace.com

Skytop Lodge 855­345­7759 www.skytop.com

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EXECUTIVE BOARD President Julia Ramos, CMP JR Global Events Associates, LLC 201­333­8834 juliaramos@comcast.net

President­Elect Pam Wynne, CMM, CMP Carlson Wagonlit Travel 609­771­0415 pwynne@carlsonwagonlit.com

Past President Michelle Wescott, CHSP Skytop Lodge 570­595­8937 mwescott@skytop.com

VP Administration Kaaren Hamilton, CMP Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 908­448­7804 khamilton@carlsonrezidor.com

VP Communications Mary Lou Pollack Ocean Place Resort and Spa 732­571­5739 mpollack@oceanplace.com

VP Education Kellie Ann Cahill, CMP New York Hilton Midtown 212­261­5966 kellie.cahill@hilton.com

VP Finance Todd Steinberg, CMP Sonesta Collection 862­228­7079 tsteinberg@sonesta.com

VP Membership Chet Jasinski, CMP 908­234­1481 vpmembership@mpinewjersey.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Director of Internal Communications Carol Malinky, CMP C.A.Malinky Communications 201­232­0110 tmalinky@aol.com

Director of Education Nancy Sutta Berns Nancy Sutta Berns, LLC. 973­886­8852 nsuttaberns@optonline.net

Director of Finance Michael Brill MEDALS LLC (Medical Education Delivery, Advisory and Logistics Support) 732­659­1133 medalsllc@aol.com Director of Strategic Partnerships John Pursel Hyatt Regency Jersey City 201­469­4763 John.pursel@gmail.com

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COMMITTEE CHAIRS Awards & Scholarship Committee Jamie Keith, CMP, Chair Hilton Woodbridge 732­603­7790 Jamie.keith@hilton.com

Education Committee Lisa Kelly, Chair The Westfield Group lkelly@westfieldgroupusa.com Rhonda Moritz, Co­Chair Cadaret Grant and Company 973­770­2300 rmoritz@cadaretgrant.com

Golf Committee Melissa Ullmann, Co­Chair Philadelphia CVB 856­228­7079 melissa@discoverphl.com

Membercare Committee Rebecca Wakefield, CMP, Chair KPMG LLP 201­307­7259 rlwakefield@kpmg.com Bruce Boillotat, Co­Chair Royal Coachman 973­400­3204 bruce.boillotat@royalcoachman.com

OnSite Committee

Special Events Committee

Paula Dellaluna, Chair GEM Limo 732­618­8485 pdellaluna@gemlimo.com

Merlene Wilder, CMP, Co­Chair UniRec 973­325­9111 merlene@unirecgames.com

PR/Marketing Committee

Dagmaris Graziani, CMP, Co­Chair 917­620­2762 Dagmaris.graziani@gmail.com

Patty Stern, CMP, Chair DMM Group Communications 973­669­2891 patty@groupdmm.com Michele Ross, Co­Chair FRHI Hotels and Resorts 709­883­9808 michele.ross@frhi.com

Social Media Committee

Student Leadership Committee Melissa Winfield, Chair Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group 973­919­9125 mwinfield@carlsonrezidor.com Linda Santangelo­Mosley, Co­Chair Santangelo Consulting, LLC 973­615­1398 lsantangelomos@optonline.net

Lisa Drake, Chair Ocean Place Resort & Spa 732­571­5739 ldrake@oceanplace.com

Chapter Administrator Ruth Marion, CMP MPI NJ Chapter Phone: 201­875­2476 rmarion@mpinewjersey.org

Don’t Forget to mark your calendars and make your reservations for our Annual Golf Outing on June 26th.