Speaker(s): John Foster, JD, CHME

1 Clock Hour | Domain A: Strategic Planning

Negotiation is essential but the key is to ensure your contracts are legally clear, inclusive and enforceable, and the parties don’t end up in court. This advanced level workshop will discuss critical clauses and their hidden risks. Learn how to prepare or revise your current agreements to be fair and effective. The session will be hands-on, interactive with participants discussing clauses for: attrition (guest rooms and catering F&B), cancellation, force majeure and several more.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify and understand the practical and legal principles applicable to all contracts.
• Explain the hidden problems in attrition, cancellation and force majeure clauses and how to amend them to avoid potential problems and expense.
• Explain the hidden problems in attrition, cancellation and force majeure clauses and how to amend them to avoid potential problems and expense.

Speaker(s): James Spellos

1 Clock Hour | Domain I: Marketing

Still unsure how to best utilize social media tools Facebook and Twitter to promote your events and facilities? Want to get more from these services, and understand how a little knowledge (and customization) can go a long way? This hands-on session will provide you the secrets of using these tools to help you in your communications, promotion and marketing, while showcasing best practices in the use of these tools.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify over 6 Facebook and Twitter tools customization tools
• Explore and use little known services that lie within Facebook and Twitter
• Create your own daily customized digital newspapers from your Facebook wall and Twitter feeds

Speaker(s): Brad Goldberg | William Daggett

1 Clock Hour | Domain C: Risk Management 

Controversial topics and speakers, challenging locations, gate crashers, crime, passion, alcohol and human frailty can lead to an interesting meeting if even one of them rears its ugly head. Among the issues to be discussed will be: how to work effectively with public safety officers before, during and after an issue arises, tools for training staff and clients to address crises, strategies for working with staff and clients during an incident, what law enforcement cannot do for you, and what you must do for yourself and your event.

Learning Objectives:

• Implement techniques to mitigate potential security issues including methods recommended by law enforcement
• Develop methods for training staff and clients in handling security concerns, including communication with first responders and the press
• Formulate meeting security plans and identify measurable strengths and weaknesses

Speaker(s): Karen King

1 Clock Hour | Domain B: Project Management 

In this challenging economic environment, it is crucial that you do not have budgetphobia. After all, it is just math!

Speaker(s): Eli Gorin

1 Clock Hour | Domain H: Site Management 

Learn to differentiate between perception and reality when doing site selection.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn to differentiate between perception & reality when doing site selection.
• Research and present the facts of a destination to overcome misperception
• Prepare a plan to educate attendees and stakeholders on destination facts.

Speaker(s): Susan Radjevic

1 Clock Hour | Domain A: Strategic Planning

Why are meetings and events, more often than not, viewed by corporate executives as a cost centre and having little strategic business value? Because they are focused on effective and measurable organizational performance. If we show key decision makers that meetings and events are a strategic business tool that can be aligned to effectively and efficiently meet goals, it will help us gain respect as a group contributing to organizational success.

Learning Objectives:

• Help professional planners and suppliers present a compelling case for the strategic business vom and events to key decision makers
• Gain insight into Portfolio Management, Meeting Design and Measurement and come away with a wealth of material you can immediately use
• Hear why Advanced Logistics (meeting services and facilities) is critical to the future of meetings and event

Speaker(s): Jonathan T. Howe, Esq. | James Spellos

1 Clock Hour | Domain I: Marketing 

Your business finds that social media is the best way to stay connected with customers, but do you understand the legal ramifications of your social media involvement and set policies to protect yourself? Jim Spellos and Jonathan Howe, Esq. discuss the various Web 2.0 tools available to you and the legal perspective behind each.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify critical Web 2.0 sites that impact how you do business today.
• Understand the legal risks of implementing and using social media and Web 2.0 applications.

Speaker(s): Midori Connolly | Jessica Levin

1 Clock Hour | Domain G: Meeting or Event Design

In this exploratory workshop, event planners will be able to evaluate and experience some of the latest tech tools in the events industry. From RFID to Augmented Reality to digital lighting, the world of event technology is in constant flux. Event professionals know how difficult it can be to determine which technologies have a place in our stable and which are just toys. This session will focus on how to work through the excitement and wow-factor of technology, from RFID devices to AudioVisual to QR Codes, to deliver value to a client or employer. The session is presented by two females who believe in creating a no-fear zone where any question about technology is always okay to ask, all levels of experience are welcome!

Learning Objectives:

• Find out more about the most useful and inspiring technologies now available.
• Use a tool to evaluate which technologies you need and those you don't.
• Develop skills to assess and relate value to a client or employer for introducing new technologies.

Speaker(s): Joshua Grimes, Esq.

1 Clock Hour | Domain B: Project Management 

Learning Objectives:

• Identify cutting-edge contracting trends affecting the meetings industry
• Draft contract provisions to help you adjust to economic uncertainty, swine flu, and other critical issues
• Protect your meetings against future developments that could affect room rates, quality of services, and other aspects of a meeting’s success