Last week, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) met in Seattle for their annual educational conference. One of the goals for the 3,400 person, 4-day event was to have a “negative carbon footprint,” or be as environmentally conscious as possible. While the Seattle convention didn’t match PCMA’s 2007 Annual Meeting in Toronto as being a “zero-waste” event, the association and the Washington State Convention and Trade Center (WSCTC) undertook a wide variety of green initiatives for the show.
· To reduce plastic waste, individual bottled water was not served--all attendees were provided with a reusable water bottle to fill at several water stations located throughout the WSCTC.
· The 2008 registration bags, produced by BrandAdvantage, were made from organic jute and recycled nylon. Extra/unwanted bags will be donated to a local charitable organization.
· All trash cans in the PCMA meeting space were removed and replaced with recycle bins.
· Most pre-event marketing was done online or piggy-backed on partner mailings.
· All PCMA Annual Meeting printed material was printed/copied on post-consumer recycled paper.
· Print-on-Demand stations for handouts reduced the paper waste in the concurrent sessions.
· Programs were only distributed to those who requested one.
· Plastic name badges and Expocards were being collected and recycled.
· All excess food were donated to a local food rescue program.
· Menu selection focused on locally grown produce and featured some organic food items free of environment-harming pesticides.
· Live trees were used for décor, centerpieces and as giveaways, to be planted later.
· PCMA’s partners were encouraged to print on recycled paper and to print and ship a reduced quantity of marketing collateral and amenities to reduce waste.
· PCMA collected and stored any unused/excess partner collateral as inventory for future events, thus reducing future print requirements. If partner collateral was not reusable, PCMA said it would recycle it.
· Evaluations for each session were still paper, to better ensure attendee completion.
· According to PCMA, green tactics that have been implemented by the WSCTC include:
· An overhaul of the Center’s lighting system was conducted to replace outdated equipment with new and more-efficient fixtures.
· New touchless faucets and self-flushing toilets were installed to reduce water consumption.
· The WSCTC recycling program recycles paper, wood, metal and plastic products. As a result of the recycling initiative, the WSCTC has recycled: 174 tons of cardboard; 2,460 lbs of aluminum cans or 79,200 individual pop cans; 186 tons of mixed paper, plastic and glass recycled; 12 tons of scrap metal were recycled; an estimated 8,000 wood pallets were shipped to the WSCTC and sent back with the shipper to be reused; all computers and office machines that are updated are recycled; all spent fluorescent bulbs and ballasts are recycled; all spent AA, AAA and 9V batteries are recycled; 3,328 gallons of kitchen grease was recycled and reused by a rendering plant; and 23,968 meals were sent to local charities this past year.
· The WSCTC also partnered with a local company to recycle PCMA meeting banners.
· Buses ran on bio-diesel fuel.
While Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest in general, is considered a leader in the green meetings movement, PCMA said planners should expect a similar level of “greening” at the two upcoming Annual Meetings, held next year in New Orleans and in Dallas in 2010.
Interestingly, PCMA will explore a variety of community-building programs for the New Orleans convention. Attendees are asking if they can come early to the annual meeting on Friday and Saturday to work in community programs to help the people of New Orleans.
Information obtained primarily from Meetings West Magazine online
Coming soon: 2008 Trends from the ISES “The Special Event” international conference in Atlanta, and Entertainer Hiring and Contract Tips.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
We’re Not Laughing
What do you do when the hired entertainer is such a bomb or so inappropriate that you have to pull him from the stage? How can you avoid this happening to you?
At a recent sales meeting in Las Vegas this week, the comedian MC was pulled from the stage during the awards program for inappropriate speech and behavior. Not to mention that he was not prepared nor professionally fulfilling his duties. He couldn’t pronounce the company name correctly; he didn’t know anything about the company, its products or personnel and kept telling the audience that; he used swear words even though the client made that taboo, and despite repeated reminders on the teleprompter; the final straw was when he verbally abused an executive on stage, to the point that the executive returned verbal fire.
The microphones went dead, the stage lights went dark and a stage hand escorted the comedian from the stage. Music began to play and the overhead voice indicated that the awards show would resume shortly. What would you do at this point?
Check back next week to see what happened and who the comedian was, plus tips for hiring and prepping entertainers…….
At a recent sales meeting in Las Vegas this week, the comedian MC was pulled from the stage during the awards program for inappropriate speech and behavior. Not to mention that he was not prepared nor professionally fulfilling his duties. He couldn’t pronounce the company name correctly; he didn’t know anything about the company, its products or personnel and kept telling the audience that; he used swear words even though the client made that taboo, and despite repeated reminders on the teleprompter; the final straw was when he verbally abused an executive on stage, to the point that the executive returned verbal fire.
The microphones went dead, the stage lights went dark and a stage hand escorted the comedian from the stage. Music began to play and the overhead voice indicated that the awards show would resume shortly. What would you do at this point?
Check back next week to see what happened and who the comedian was, plus tips for hiring and prepping entertainers…….
Friday, January 11, 2008
Lucky Strike Lanes Opens in Bellevue, WA
Catherine Springman, our Sales Manager reports on the hot, new venue in Bellevue:
Last night, I attended the grand opening of Lucky Strike Lanes in downtown Bellevue, WA. The lines were long when they first opened at 7 pm, but the people watching was great. This posh bowling alley in Lincoln Square (across from high end shopping mall, Bellevue Square) will surely be popular with the Microsoft and Eddie Bauer crowds working just upstairs in the office tower. It feels like a night club with a forty-foot bar and plush contemporary lounge area, state-of-the-art bowling lanes in a separate area, two billiards tables in yet another small area, as well as a huge VIP Lounge for private parties, with its own bar and four bowling lanes. Huge video screens run films at the end of the bowling lanes, over the pins, which my party of bowlers found distracting. This night, they were showing a nature film with lots of wild animals eating other wild animals. Hmmm, foreshadowing of what was to come for all the 20 and 30-somethings cruising the crowd? P.S. The video system is customizable.
Much nicer than the Denver, CO venue, Lucky Strike Bellevue actually opened to the public last weekend. But they pulled out all the stops for this grand opening with media, City VIP’s (the Mayor and the President of the Bellevue Downtown Association, among others), event and hospitality industry guests and assorted beautiful people. They flew in experienced staff from their Hollywood location, including a dj who spun tunes from the permanent booth (but no dance floor), and hired models in tiny black dresses. The service and the food were great. The appetizers were a hearty size, and they had some imaginative nods at the stereotypical bowling fare, like fried macaroni and cheese balls. Our favorite were the bowls of self-serve molten brownies with whip cream! We hung out in the VIP room, where they served us giant drinks, brought us brand-new bowling shoes and taught us the high-tech automatic score machine. This baby even measures the speed at which you throw your ball! The balls – they were the wildest bowling balls I’ve ever seen – were psychedelic, transparent, and crazy colors. This is not your papa’s bowling alley!
The drawbacks I saw were that the areas are very separate, so non-bowlers cannot sit at the bar or in the lounge area and watch the bowlers or the billiards. There isn’t much room for spectators in either of those areas. Again, the videos above the bowling lanes are distracting, all guests must be 21 years of age or older after 8:00 pm, and it is pricey. On weekends, bowling costs $65-75 per person per hour between 5 pm and 2:00 am. Shoe rental is $4.50 and billiards are $14 per hour after 5:00 pm. On the plus side, the pricing and the dress code should keep out the “riff raff” and keep the venue upscale and nicely maintained. Parties of 8-24 guests run $55-70 per person, including drinks, food, bowling and shoes, depending on the package. Private parties are available for groups of 25+. For more details and contact information, visit http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/
Last night, I attended the grand opening of Lucky Strike Lanes in downtown Bellevue, WA. The lines were long when they first opened at 7 pm, but the people watching was great. This posh bowling alley in Lincoln Square (across from high end shopping mall, Bellevue Square) will surely be popular with the Microsoft and Eddie Bauer crowds working just upstairs in the office tower. It feels like a night club with a forty-foot bar and plush contemporary lounge area, state-of-the-art bowling lanes in a separate area, two billiards tables in yet another small area, as well as a huge VIP Lounge for private parties, with its own bar and four bowling lanes. Huge video screens run films at the end of the bowling lanes, over the pins, which my party of bowlers found distracting. This night, they were showing a nature film with lots of wild animals eating other wild animals. Hmmm, foreshadowing of what was to come for all the 20 and 30-somethings cruising the crowd? P.S. The video system is customizable.
Much nicer than the Denver, CO venue, Lucky Strike Bellevue actually opened to the public last weekend. But they pulled out all the stops for this grand opening with media, City VIP’s (the Mayor and the President of the Bellevue Downtown Association, among others), event and hospitality industry guests and assorted beautiful people. They flew in experienced staff from their Hollywood location, including a dj who spun tunes from the permanent booth (but no dance floor), and hired models in tiny black dresses. The service and the food were great. The appetizers were a hearty size, and they had some imaginative nods at the stereotypical bowling fare, like fried macaroni and cheese balls. Our favorite were the bowls of self-serve molten brownies with whip cream! We hung out in the VIP room, where they served us giant drinks, brought us brand-new bowling shoes and taught us the high-tech automatic score machine. This baby even measures the speed at which you throw your ball! The balls – they were the wildest bowling balls I’ve ever seen – were psychedelic, transparent, and crazy colors. This is not your papa’s bowling alley!
The drawbacks I saw were that the areas are very separate, so non-bowlers cannot sit at the bar or in the lounge area and watch the bowlers or the billiards. There isn’t much room for spectators in either of those areas. Again, the videos above the bowling lanes are distracting, all guests must be 21 years of age or older after 8:00 pm, and it is pricey. On weekends, bowling costs $65-75 per person per hour between 5 pm and 2:00 am. Shoe rental is $4.50 and billiards are $14 per hour after 5:00 pm. On the plus side, the pricing and the dress code should keep out the “riff raff” and keep the venue upscale and nicely maintained. Parties of 8-24 guests run $55-70 per person, including drinks, food, bowling and shoes, depending on the package. Private parties are available for groups of 25+. For more details and contact information, visit http://www.bowlluckystrike.com/
Thursday, January 3, 2008
New Seattle Venues for 2008
Arctic Hotel – Opening June 2008.
Boutique hotel in a former exclusive men’s club in a landmark building in Pioneer Square. Northern Lights Dome ballroom (4,800 sq ft) is renowned for architectural details including a stained glass ceiling dome (reminiscent of Spanish Ballroom at Fairmont Olympic Hotel here in Seattle). Seats 350-375 for sit-down dinner. Most of July & August already booked with weddings.
Four Seasons Hotel – Opening summer 2008.
The 21-story structure will house 36 private residences, 149 guest rooms and several spaces for group gatherings, including a ballroom with floor to ceiling views of Puget Sound. No general manager yet, so no staff yet, so we don’t have further details about the hotel.
Want to see something kind of wacky? Check out “Molly’s birds” (no quotes) on YouTube. This is the current sales contact for the 4 Seasons Private Residences, Molly Gleason. She moved to Seattle from CA, but the house you see in the video was her California home. She now has 16 of the little critters!
Seattle Aquarium – Remodeled, expanded and New Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Opened late June 2007.
The Great Hall is a dramatic, light-filled space distinguished by its grand staircase, beautiful wooden beams and trusses that arch overhead, and striking art elements that grace the walls. More details can be obtained directly, but I know they’ve had a sit-down dinner for 150, stand-up reception for 450 and auction for 600. Check out photos of the new space at seattleaquarium.org.
Seattle Art Museum – the remodeled and expanded SAM reopened late last spring. Receptions for 1,500 and banquets for 300, but many spaces available only after public hours.
FYI – Science Fiction Museum loses their event space in April. They are adding 2 more floors of exhibits to open in early 2009.
More hotels are scheduled for 2009, so keep your eye on our blog!
Boutique hotel in a former exclusive men’s club in a landmark building in Pioneer Square. Northern Lights Dome ballroom (4,800 sq ft) is renowned for architectural details including a stained glass ceiling dome (reminiscent of Spanish Ballroom at Fairmont Olympic Hotel here in Seattle). Seats 350-375 for sit-down dinner. Most of July & August already booked with weddings.
Four Seasons Hotel – Opening summer 2008.
The 21-story structure will house 36 private residences, 149 guest rooms and several spaces for group gatherings, including a ballroom with floor to ceiling views of Puget Sound. No general manager yet, so no staff yet, so we don’t have further details about the hotel.
Want to see something kind of wacky? Check out “Molly’s birds” (no quotes) on YouTube. This is the current sales contact for the 4 Seasons Private Residences, Molly Gleason. She moved to Seattle from CA, but the house you see in the video was her California home. She now has 16 of the little critters!
Seattle Aquarium – Remodeled, expanded and New Window on Washington Waters exhibit. Opened late June 2007.
The Great Hall is a dramatic, light-filled space distinguished by its grand staircase, beautiful wooden beams and trusses that arch overhead, and striking art elements that grace the walls. More details can be obtained directly, but I know they’ve had a sit-down dinner for 150, stand-up reception for 450 and auction for 600. Check out photos of the new space at seattleaquarium.org.
Seattle Art Museum – the remodeled and expanded SAM reopened late last spring. Receptions for 1,500 and banquets for 300, but many spaces available only after public hours.
FYI – Science Fiction Museum loses their event space in April. They are adding 2 more floors of exhibits to open in early 2009.
More hotels are scheduled for 2009, so keep your eye on our blog!
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