Sign up for our newswire newsletter

 

Content Is King

December 14, 2011

Content Is King

Delivering the topics your attendees need is paramount to a successful meeting

By Tyler Davidson

Of course you want attendees to be excited about the destination they’re meeting in, whether it’s a cosmopolitan urban setting, a retreat in the mountains or a beachside affair. And getting there also has to be hassle-free. And the food? You know that’s got to be good or you’re going to hear about it.

But what about the most important item on the menu: the content?

While on the surface it may not seem like the Baked Alaska of meeting components, without it your event’s reason for existence is moot. And just offering great content is not the be-all, end-all, because you’ve probably got attendees from multiple generations who want their information—before, during and after the event—delivered electronically, or not electronically, with lots of peer input.

But where does the meeting planner fit into the puzzle? Planners are, after all, Jacks and Jills of all trades, so presenting, say, a high-level physician’s forum on the latest cardiology techniques may be a bit outside of one’s comfort zone.

The answer is that the meeting planner is the facilitator of information exchange, perhaps a herder of the cats who control the content, or the person who makes sure all of the supporting elements are just so.    Read more...

ROI RESOURCES    

Omnipress offers a variety of white papers that meeting planners can glean for content tips. The two featured here detail how content knowledge centers can drive association growth and the benefits of setting up online conference communities.

Eight Ways Content Knowledge Centers
Can Drive Association Growth

Solving Five Top Conference Concerns with an Online Event Community

Research your audience to gauge their learning style

Conduct an inventory of all available content

Are there revenue opportunities for existing content?

Go mobile

Be sure to measure results and survey the audience

Work closely with supporting suppliers, such as AV


Reno CVB Taps New Prez/CEO

RENO, Nev.—The Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority has appointed Chris Baum as the organization’s president and CEO. Baum currently works at the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau as senior vice president of sales and marketing, a position he’s held since 2006.    Read more...

Chicago Unveils New Marketing Efforts

CHICAGO—The first true branding effort highlighting the city of Chicago as a global visitor destination was launched today by the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau. The overall brand strategy incorporates a bold and confident “voice” casting aside the city’s old moniker “The Second City” by leveraging the it’s leadership position in a wide range of areas, including dining, theater and cultural attractions.  Read more...

Javits Center Finally Updating and Expanding

NEW YORK—It will take five years and over $400 million, but when it’s complete, the Jacob Javits Convention Center will have a whole new look.   Read more...

MedRec Ad


Gov. Planner Meetings May Be Slashed

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Business groups are slamming the Obama administration over a plan that would bar lobbyists and their employers from giving gifts to federal employees — including picking up the tab for government workers to attend conferences and trade shows.   
Read more...


Another AC Property Settles Labor Dispute

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J.—Meeting planners heading to a Trump property here can rest easy: After nearly two months of working without a contract, members of Local 54 of UNITE-HERE voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new three-year contract with Trump Entertainment. The new contract maintains health care and pension benefits for unionized employees.   Read more...


U.S. Senators Urged to Boost Tourism

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of Loews Hotels, urged members of the United States Senate to set a national goal to win back the nation’s share of the global travel market lost over the past decade. Tisch made his remarks during a hearing held by the Senate Subcommittee on Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion.   Read more...

Catalyst Performance Group: Case Studies

Jeff Hurt Blog: Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

Jeff Hurt: Seeing the Meeting Professional as Content Strategist and Conference Curator

Jeff Hurt: Five Steps To Become Conference Content-Strategist-Curators (Part 1)

Jeff Hurt: The Next Big Conference Job Of The Future: Conference Content-Curator-Strategist

Jeff Hurt: Three Infographics On Conference Content And Delivery

OmniPress: Big Ideas

Omnipress: White Papers

ROI of Engagement

MEET

The Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) has released the dates of its HSMAI's MEET series for 2012, building on the highly successful debut of HSMAI's MEET National in September.

Upcoming HSMAI’s MEET events:

HSMAI's MEET Mid-America
April 3-4, 2012
Navy Pier
Chicago, Ill.

HSMAI's MEET West
May 30-31, 2012
Anaheim Marriott
Anaheim, Calif.

HSMAI's MEET National
September 5-6, 2012
Walter E. Washington Convention Center
Washington, D.C.

Click here for more information.