Denice Waldhuetter, vice president of PEC Meetings Company headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, never underestimates the power of keeping attendees well fed. “Food and beverage is such an engaging entity of every occasion,” she notes. “(We’re always asking) How can we make it unique? How can we make it different?”
IMEX America 2014 exceeded my expectations and has inspired me to reach out to prospects and clients for their upcoming meetings to share what I learned. I discovered so many opportunities for our associations and corporations looking to bring their meeting experience to a higher level. Tremendous exposure was provided on destinations that are sure to increase delegate attendance. Destinations that engage, while at the same time are cost effective.
Not too long ago, a Force Majeure Clause traditionally covered only limited situations in which holding a meeting would be impossible. Now, given the times and circumstances, the clause should include much more. The list of events to be included is a matter of negotiation between you and the hotel, however, the following elements should be addressed in a force majeure clause:
A pool of world-class athletes will compete in the USA Triathlon Age Group National Championships in Milwaukee this weekend, supported by a renewed partnership between Milwaukee-based PEC Meetings Company and USA Triathlon.
Many hotel contracts have a food and beverage (F&B) clause that requires a group to generate a minimum amount of food and beverage revenue through the course of the meeting. The F&B clause goes on to state that if the minimum amount of revenue is not generated, the group is responsible for making up the difference. The F&B clause will require the shortfall plus the tax.
The deciding factor when booking a venue isn’t always “location, location, location.” That’s a given, along with adequate space and a fair price. Here are some of the other things planners consider important when deciding where to hold their events.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MILWAUKEE, WI – August 5, 2014 – PEC Meetings Company Opening Second Location
PEC Meetings Company just announced the opening of a second location in Northern California, just outside Napa. The additional location is due to open late October, 2014 and will provide representation on the west coast for the dynamic meeting and event company. Due to the increase in hotel site selection and contract negotiation services, as well as a need for west coast representation, PEC will operate from both their Milwaukee office and soon to be open office in Northern California.
When it comes to hosting a meeting or convention, an unattractive and ill-equipped location can spell disaster for an event that you have taken considerable time to plan. The site selection process is a crucial piece of planning, and inspections of viable hotel properties are mandatory. You are seeking to ascertain that the destination including hotels, off-site venues, also air and ground transport, can host your meeting exactly to your specifications.
Sometimes even the most thoroughly planned events have unexpected incidents that are beyond anyone’s control.
In the past several years, Americans have experienced unthinkable disasters resulting from terrorist activity. We’ve just been lucky that nothing serious has happened during our meetings or conventions so far. When it comes to terrorist threats, many planners maintain a “see no evil attitude”. We don’t talk about terrorism or other factors that could disrupt our meetings because we think it won’t happen again.
Meetings done right.
