SPIN: Senior Planners Industry Network launched SPIN: Small Business Community to offer members educational resources geared toward independent planners and small business owners.
“The recent commission cuts by the major hotel chains has hit many of our members hard,” said Tracey Smith, executive director of SPIN. “Based on a recent survey we conducted, 36 percent of our members rely on a commission/fee structure. In order to keep their doors open they need to change and develop new ways to market their services. Our Small Business Community will offer tools and tactics to help them pivot.”
On-demand educational offerings will be free for SPIN's VIP/Plus/Supplier Members and $99 for Virtual Members.
Education sessions are not available for non-members.
Among the offerings will be on-demand educational programs from experts on business growth strategies. According to SPIN, current offerings include “Mindset Strategies for Business Growth” with Debbie Peterson and “Strategies to Fill Your Pipeline” with Charlene DeCesare.
SPIN noted that more education sessions will be added throughout the year and there will be an entire track devoted to business growth at its annual conference, SPINCon 2018, which will be held Nov. 11-13 at The Don CeSar hotel in St. Pete Beach, Florida.
Smith said that SPIN has also begun monthly conference calls with its members to discuss ideas for improving revenue streams.
According to Shawna Suckow, founder of SPIN, the new educational programming fits right in with a key demographic of the group.
“46 percent of our members are small business owners,” Suckow said. “We’re ensuring they have the strategies they need to not only survive but thrive despite a few major hotel chains’ unilateral decision to change their income model.”
Suckow added that another element of the new business services effort is the monthly Tracey's Book Club, focused on business books such as Blue Ocean Strategy, with a discussion at the end of each month.
SPIN: Senior Planners Industry Network is an association for senior level meeting planners and hospitality professionals with at least 10 years of industry experience.
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