March 27-30, 2008
Zermatt Resort & Spa
Midway, Utah
Although nearly 400 delegates attended the 27th Annual Conference of the International Association of Conference Centers, the spotlight truly shined on one member who’s familiar to those in every segment of the meetings industry.
Rodman Marymor, CEO of San Rafael, Calif.-based Cardinal Communications, who developed ground-breaking meetings industry software and the websites of IACC, major hotel chains and many MPI chapters, walked away with the association’s highest award, the Mel Hosansky Award for Distinguished Service.
“Rod and his talented staff brought IACC Online [www.iacconline.com] into the 21st century and built it into one of the most respected, state-of-the-art websites in the hospitality community and the association world,” said Neil Pompan, president of IACC, North America and COO of EMC- Venues.
Cardinal Communications is currently putting the final touches on its ScheduleFlex software, a scheduling tool for large multisession events. The Web-based application will allow users to dynamically update their meeting session schedules through a “drag-and-drop” interface.
Other award winners included Kristin Kurie, vice president of operations for Johns Island, S.C.-based event management company The Wilderman Group, who received the Award for Excellence, and Joe Sebestyen, past president of IACC-North America, who accepted the Pyramid Award for his contributions to conference center education.
Other highlights of the Annual Conference, held at Midway, Utah’s Zermatt Resort & Spa, included the following:
- The unveiling of a new branding logo, symbolizing a mountain peak—or pinnacle—while evoking concepts of achievement and leadership, according to IACC Marketing Committee Chair Steve Sackman.
- Marc Suennemann, of the Atlanta area’s Chateau Elan Winery, Resort & Conference Center, was the winner of the association’s popular Copper Skillet Conference Chef of the Year contest. Chateau Elan will be the site of next year’s IACC Annual Conference.
- The association held its first Town Hall Meeting, which featured seven IACC leaders who fielded questions from the audience and via Internet submissions.
- IACC Global announced it will hold its first European Annual Conference at the U.K.’s University of Warwick, part of the Warwick Conferences facilities, Aug. 28-31.
The state of the slogging U.S. economy, and its effect on the hospitality industry, were of major concern to many participants of the conference, which was made up of leaders of the top worldwide conference center companies.
“People are still dancing closer to the door because they’re not sure about the economy and gas prices,” said Sam Haigh, president and COO of Benchmark Hospitality International. “[As far as] short-term meetings, my sense is they are increasing. Companies are planning more meetings, but shorter in nature.”
Haigh advises meeting planners to stress the importance of face-to-face gatherings at a dedicated conference center to c-level members of their organizations.
“Make sure the president or CEO understands how important it is that these discussions occur,” he said. “When you have a meeting that is a roaring success, make sure the CEO understands that, because when the economy turns, the first thing is they’ll cut these meetings out, or have them at a limited-service property with stacked chairs—and they’ll have to get out by five because that’s when a wedding comes in
