SEO -- Maximizing your Website for Conversions
This session shares solutions to maximize your website design for web surfers. You will learn website design tips and tricks that improve visitor conversion rates. Plus, you’ll discover the hot trends for Internet marketing strategies to drive traffic to your website and add value for visitors. You’ll learn the most critical items to consider when optimizing or updating your website so it can be found by the search engines. At the end of the session there will be time for a site clinic – Gordon will take a volunteer and critique his/her website, offering advice for improvements.

Bretzel!
Learn to make fresh artisanal bretzels with natural starter and locally milled flour. Chef Aimee Altizer of Zermatt Resort & Spa’s, Backerei & Eis, will share the secrets of bretzel making. Authentic bretzel are soft and salty, only a distant relation to the American style pretzel. In this class you will learn how to make your own natural sour starter at home, the essentials of mixing artisan dough, and have a great time forming your own bretzels to bake and eat. Join us and you will take home the recipes, tips and tricks for easy and impressive handmade bretzels.

Presenter: Chef Krisman, Pastry Chef, Zermatt Resort & Spa
Additional Information: http://zermatt.dolce.com/fandb/BackerieEisMenuSample.pdf

Point/Counter Point – Today’s Hottest and Newest Event Contracts Issues
Effective contracts are a fundamental part of any event. Key issues of concern must be addressed during the negotiations and drafting phase in order to protect all parties to an event of any significant size. Thus, in this brief session, industry experts will address some of the newest "hot" contract topics impacting events contracts being negotiated today, including how to address branding, ownership or management changes; renovations occurring at the site of the event; and changes in the law related to attendees with disabilities.

What you will learn:

• Educate participants on how an anticipated or actual renovation project can have an impact on an event and the parties’ legal obligations.
• Educate participants on how the recent changes to the Americans With Disabilities Act can impact contracts, as well as the parties’ legal obligations, liabilities, and remedies.
• Educate participants on the impact either an anticipated or actual change in ownership or management can have on a contract, as well as the parties’ legal obligations.
• Educate participants regarding confidentiality provision, scope, use and traps to avoid.

The Complete Meeting Experience Package (CMEP) - it's not about Ergonomic Chairs!

For years IACC conference centers have focused their energies and financial resources on creating comfortable meeting environments through the use of ergonomic chairs, hard writing surface tables, tackable walls, appropriate lighting levels and temperature controls.  Not surprisingly, copy-cat non-IACC properties have sprouted up with many of the same amenities.  Going forward, the success of IACC conference centers may very well depend on their abilities to shift the lens and devote energies on creating complete meeting experiences which are both memorable and transformational. 

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what other conference centers are doing to create memorable learning experiences 
• Develop new strategies in design and service to distinguish your conference center from other venues 
• Create opportunities for your employees to impact the experience of your guests
• Utilize the surroundings of your location to create transformational meetings and events

Presenter:  John Potterton, Chief Santalogist, Summit Executive Centre

Webcasting: “The Future Is Now!” 

At the Friday morning general session, you experienced the live production of a webcast (and Saturday night you’ll experience the live broadcast of the Copper Skillet competition).  This workshop will let you know what it takes to produce a webcast and a fount of information for your customers!

Attendees will learn:

• What is a Webcast
  • Types – Audio, Video
  • Webcast vs. Web Conference
• ROI of Webcasting
  • Addressing the business needs
  • Success criteria
  • Measurement
• Solutions for Conferences and Conventions
• Virtual Conference - Vertical and Horizontal Experience

Presenter:  Brent Clepper, TalkPoint

2:00 - 3:30 PM

Remarkable Conference Dining Menus & Happenings

Conference Planning and Services -- The Basics
Conference Planning and Services is the unique part of a conference center.

This program will introduce the participant to the Client – Conference Center relationship and the large role that open and clear communication plays in the success of a program or event.

• Communication with the Client, Who’s Who in the Relationship.
• Servicing the Client.
• Promises, Promises, knowing your property capabilities.
• Pre-cons and Post-cons, they do have value.
• Technology, its role in servicing the client and supporting their program.
• Rebooking the client.

Participants will…

• Understand the Conference Planning and Services organization and the roles each position has in a client’s success.
• Realize the importance of good listening and clear communication.
• Understand how to use technology as a tool in planning and servicing the client.
• Understand how planning and services is crucial in rebooking business.

Who should attend:

This program is designed for the brand new conference planner or conference services employee or an employee who wishes to move into this area from another department or part of the hospitality business.

Bakery Tour & Discussion
Chef Aimee Altizer of Zermatt Resort & Spa’s, Backerei & Eis, will share the operation and production secrets of an artisan retail pastry shop and gelateria.

Backerei & Eis, having been open less than one year, was awarded "Best of State" for its outstanding European style baked goods. Join us as we tour the bakery facilities, take a behind the scenes look at operations and discuss the profitability of the gelato program.

Class Size Limited to Twelve (12)

Presenter: Chef Krisman, Pastry Chef, Zermatt Resort & Spa
Additional Information: http://zermatt.dolce.com/fandb/BackerieEisMenuSample.pdf

See description under Part 1 above.

Who is Looking Back at You in the Mirror? The Ethics and Best Practices in the Meeting Industry
Diverging practices and business ethics have always been an issue confronting the industry. Issues concerning, for example, the payment of commissions, the relationships with vendors, FAM trips, meeting points or rewards, and other types of non-monetary gifts or items of value, have raised and continue to raise concerns. In this session, ethics advocates will discuss the issues and topics which can result in a "gray area" as it relates to professionalism and ethics in the meetings industry and provide thoughts as to guidelines for consistency.

What you will learn:

• To evaluate the current practices in the industry that create or give rise to ethics discussions and define "gray" areas that participants frequently encounter.
• To educate the participants of the legal implications and obligations of certain practices and the impact of those practices should a dispute arise.
• To facilitate the creation of practices or guidelines within each participant’s area of control to address consistency in addressing practices and ethical behavior.

Presenter: Kristin Kurie, The Wilderman Group

Tired of Cookies and Crudités?
In this workshop attendees will learn how to create innovative meeting breaks that stand out from the coffee-and-cookie norm. We will discuss the shift in the philosophy of meeting breaks from a quick sugar fix to a stimulating, learning environment that rejuvenates attendees. Using the latest trends in food and design, including display and creative serve ware, you will take your meeting breaks to a new level of relaxation and innovation.

As an Event Designer for over nine years, Kimberly Fink has been designing and producing memorable events, including galas for two American Presidents! From the pages of Vogue to local vintage stores Kimberly is constantly looking for ideas, trends, and inspirations to make each event fabulous.

She’ll help you learn how, too!

Presenter: Kimberly Fink, Event Designer, University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

Leveraging Technology in Your Group Reservation Process
This workshop will be a collaborative session focusing on streamlining the management of group reservations and how to capitalize on incremental revenue opportunities.

Learner Objectives:

• Gain a better understanding of the state of the industry as it relates to managing group reservations.
• Increase awareness of the issues planners experience when managing groups.
• Identify the key technology and techniques that will enhance your current process and increase incremental revenue.
• Use technology to create a seamless and collaborative environment with your meeting planners and elevate service levels.

Presenter: Courtney A. Jones, Regional Director, Business Development, Passkey
Additional Information: www.passkey.com

How to Implement Green Meetings

Learn how to establish what green practices work best for your organization, how to negotiate with suppliers to implement such practices, what to include in the contracts, and how to measure the return on investment of green meetings.  If want to be successful in greening your meetings, enhance your expertise and improve your meeting’s bottom line, this is a must attend session for you.

Learner Outcomes:

• Identify green practices best suited for your organization.
• Discover how to negotiate green meeting practices with suppliers.
• Discuss wyas to measure the return on investment of green practices.
• Interactive discussions, sample contract language and case studies of implementing green meeting practices.
   

Presenter: Amy Spatrisano, CMP, Meeting Strategies Worldwide

Additional Information:  http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com/

7 Steps to Building Brand Value
Why will you pay three bucks more for Starbucks than a cup of coffee at your local diner? Why will you drive past convenient gas stations to fill your tank with your favorite brand? What was the secret that helped Apple sell over 100 million iTunes while Microsoft has only sold one million Zunes? How can you put the answers to these questions to work for you?

Bruce Turkel runs a brand marketing firm that has made its clients rich by using these secrets and more to build brand value. Spend an entertaining and enjoyable hour and a half with Bruce while he shows you the proven techniques that built Miami’s RevPAR to the highest in the nation, Discovery Channel Latin America the top cable channel in the region and much more.

You’ll learn:

• The seven simple techniques to building brand value.
• The least expensive way to raise your meetings and convention prices.
• What Johann Sebastian Bach can teach you about building your brand.
• What the latest research says today’s travelers and conventioneers are looking for.
• Why the impact of travel and tourism matters more today then ever before.

Presenter: Bruce Turkel, CEO/ECD, TURKEL
Additional Information: http://www.turkel.info/ and http://www.bruceturkel.com

No-Ropes Culinary Teambuilding
Does the thought of hanging precariously from a high rope give you indigestion? Take heart! Other forms of teambuilding can be just as effective as the high ropes — and certainly gentler on your stomach.

You may have read about Culinary Teambuilding and wondered what it’s all about. Now, you can experience it!

Join IACC colleagues as they team up to compete in a "mystery" culinary category. You’ll learn how to work with others who have diverse leadership skills and styles and you’ll take away a phenomenal program that you can use in your own organization.

Participants will discover a new way to:

• Provide a value-added enhancement to meetings at your property.
• Increase supplemental revenue.
• Set yourself apart from the competition.
• Keep groups in-house.
• Allow your staff to interact more informally with guests.
  

Join us for educational - and tasty - fun!

Presenters: Linda Ferrer, General Manager, Davis W. Gregg Conference Center; Paolo Stefani, Regional Executive Chef, James L. Allen Center

APEX - Is it Worth all the Hype?

Imagine what you would do with more time to think creatively, less time spent on repetitive work, and the ability to establish better relationships with your customers?

APEX is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council that brought together all stakeholders in the development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices to create and enhance efficiencies throughout the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry.

The vision of APEX is that "The industry will operate at the highest level of efficiency and professionalism through the use of collaborative accepted practices."

This workshop will give you an understanding of how APEX is streamlining systems and processes on which the industry depends, resulting in these deliverables for those who implement the APEX practices:

• Time and cost savings.
• Eased communication and sharing of data.
• Increased operational efficiencies.

Presenter: Amy Spatrisano, CMP, Meeting Strategies Worldwide
Additional Information:  http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com/

CMP Boot Camp

Thinking about taking the CMP test?  This session will help you understand the benefits of the CMP, the application process, what you need to have to qualify to sit for the exam, who is eligible and what you need to do to recertify if you are already a CMP.  Come ready to test your knowledge!

As a result of this workshop, participants will be able to:

• Recognize the 27 areas of the body of knowledge of the CMP .
• Determine if you are eligible and ready to sit for the exam.
• Identify your next step in achieving or recertifying the CMP designation.

Relationship Selling
Effective sales professionals understand the importance of building profitable relationships with their clients and turning them into repeat buyers and spokespeople for their companies.

Relationship Selling is a highly motivating program for sales professionals and sales managers that combine sales training, sales coaching and group activities to build long-term client relationships. This training program presents researched and tested skills that sales professionals use to be successful. Participants will:

• Understand and apply tactical selling skills to win the business they envision.
• Apply tools and techniques to understand client business issues.
• Build an effective sales presentation format to build profitable relationships

Presenters: Calvin Ellison, Pete Rome; 3p Business Solutions

Planning Sustainable Food & Beverage

The choices meeting managers make about food and beverages are critical to the well being of their guests, budget, and planet.  Meeting managers have the responsibility for making these food choices for the large number of people attending their meetings and events.  These choices have become increasingly complicated as guests have come to expect food that fits their daily way of life, whether that is low-carbohydrate, organic, or one of the many other options.  Not only do meeting managers make choices about the food and beverages served, but also about how it is served.  This session will provide key skills for creating sustainable food and beverage for your events as well as resources to assist you.

Learner Outcomes:

• Understand terminology and goals related to sustainable food & beverage.
• Have the resources for making informed food choices.
• Understand the issues and learn how to arrange for food donations in a variety of locations.
• Understand how you can save your organization money by the choices you make.

Presenter: Amy Spatrisano, CMP, Meeting Strategies Worldwide

Additional Information:  http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com/

Incident Management System
Have you ever had to deal with an emergency? The Incident Management System (IMS) is a management tool for dealing with all different types of unplanned incidents. Regardless of the crisis this management tool, when used, will help to compartmentalize how to use the people affected by the emergency and how to keep them safe. This systematic management process removes the dilemma of who is responsible for what during any type of crisis, natural disaster or man made terror. Developing, writing, understanding, educating, and implementing the system are all the essentials for a well-managed incident plan.

Learning objectives:

• Describe the different types of crises that can affect your event.
• Determine the types of incidents that warrant an incident plan.
• Design an incident plan that can be implemented at a moment's notice.
• Determine the process and structure for implementation.

Presenter:  Joanne Corby, MA, MPA; President, U Expansion, Inc.
Additional Information: www.uexpansion.com