State of the Industry - Q2
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Registration is free to FICP members and hospitality partners and is $50 USD for non-members. FICP members, please complete the online registration form to attend the State of the Industry – Q2 Talk Radio session. If you are not an FICP member, please download and complete this registration form and return to FICP headquarters via e-mail: info@ficpnet.com or fax: (312) 673-4609.
Confirmed Panelists: John Branciforte, Director of Sales and Marketing, Cheyenne Mountain Resort; Sean Hennessey, CEO, Lodging Advisors LLC; Patrick Sullivan, President, PRA Destination Management New York
Moderated by: Jennifer Squeglia, CMP, Independent Contractor, Boston Private Wealth Management Group
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Time: 11:00 am - 12:00 pm PST (1:00 pm CST, 2:00 pm EST)
Summary:
In February, FICP hosted a State of the Industry program. Participants had the opportunity to hear from key industry partners and discuss what was happening within the hotel and airline industries. The call featured a CEO of a major financial services institution regarding his position on the current issues facing the meetings industry.
FICP’s newest offering, State of the Industry – Q2, will focus on how individual members can get involved to support the industry and jobs during this unique economic time. Panelists will review current tactical initiatives, updates on national industry efforts and what they mean to you, as well as how you can make an impact on the current state of the industry.
Panelist and Moderator Biographies and Learning Objectives
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John Branciforte
Director of Sales and Marketing, Cheyenne Mountain Resort
John Branciforte brings more than two decades of sales and marketing experience from a multitude of markets. Prior to joining Benchmark Hospitality International at Cheyenne Mountain Resort, he worked at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate and the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas.
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- Session Highlights from John Branciforte:
- Overview of the "criminalization" of the resort meetings industry
- The need to create a new definition of a "resort" (Tom Tolve - NovoNordisk)
- Current definition is a combination of:
- Any 5 Star/5 Diamond property
- Property has two of the following: Golf, Spa, Beach, or Casino
- A destination that is the main attraction combined with 50 Sq. Ft. or less per guestroom
- Miami or Vail with 500 rooms and 10,000 Sq Ft of meeting space
- Email - Is it your primary way to communicate?
- Customer relationships suffer
- Information more likely to be read with inference - leads to errors
- "To err is human to forgive is divine" - Alexander Pope
- Communication is the key to sucess!
- A tale of two industries
- Planners - Site Selection: Shotgun Method vs. Scope Rifle
- Hotel Sales 101: Are we making ourselves a commodity or a resource?
- How the two intertwine
- A commitment to the future!
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Sean Hennessey, CEO, Lodging Advisors LLC
Sean founded Lodging Advisors in 2004 and has been a hotel consultant since 1983. Sean began his career in daily operations with companies such as Marriott and Disney. Sean has a culinary degree from Johnson & Wales and a hotel degree from Cornell.
Sean is active with the Lodging Industry Investment Council and the International Society of Hospitality Consultants; he has appeared on numerous TV and radio programs, spoken to many groups including the Council on Foreign Relations, and has been quoted by the Wall Street Journal, Barrons, Forbes, and many others.
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- Session Highlights from Sean Hennessey:
- An update on economic conditions and how they will affect the hotel industry
- Gain some perspective on the expected length and severity of the current downturn
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Patrick Sullivan, President, PRA Destination Management New York
Patrick Sullivan has worked in the meeting and incentive industry as both meeting planner and supplier partner. He currently serves as the Site 2009 President, formerly known as the Society of Incentive Travel Executives, and was previously Chair of the FICP Hospitality Partner Committee, serving from 2005-2008.
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- Session Highlights from Patrick Sullivan:
- The importance of motivational programs
- Creative programs begin with a plan
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Jennifer Squeglia, CMP
Jennifer Squeglia's career began in the hotel industry working in operations and conference services. She moved to corporate meeting planning 10 years ago and has worked for John Hancock Financial Services, Fidelity Investments, and now Boston Private Wealth Management Group. Squeglia has been a long-standing and active member of FICP since 2000, participating on various design teams and most recently as the former Chair of the Northeast Chapter.
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- Session Highlights from Jennifer Squeglia:
- Update on the current state of the industry
- Provide useful takeaways and suggested action steps to implement at the office
- The need to remain active and involved in the industry - as a group, we will make a difference
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