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Green Meetings Interest Increases By Kori Gassaway Visit Pittsburgh Green…has a color ever meant so much to our lives? Green has become a trendy aspect of our lifestyles (and truly necessary to sustain our precious natural resources) and a best practice that leading Fortune 500 businesses are incorporating into their company values and operations globally. It was so exciting to learn that our meeting on March 11 featuring Green Meetings was sold out! Just a couple years ago when Green Meetings was the featured topic the interest was not nearly as high. Green Meetings have been featured on the cover of every magazine in our industry and here are a few other facts that demonstrate that hospitality has continued to become more green! GMIC (Green Meeting Industry Council) was invited to be a member of the Convention Industry Council, APEX is currently establishing “green” best practices and the EPA now has a green planning guide. Green Meetings have been a personal passion since I started representing Pittsburgh five years ago. I saw the opportunity for us as a destination (going from a steel mill town when I was growing up there to a thriving city of innovation and technology) and for planners and our clients. I have attended the Green Meeting Industry Council’s annual conference the last two years where I have seen many people speak on the topic and Amy Spatrisano, CMP, of Meeting Strategies Worldwide, is definitely one of the leading Green Meetings experts in the world and she shared many helpful tips when she presented to us at the Peninsula in March. Why should you care about making your next meeting green? It will save you money and anything that will save your company or client money will give you a competitive advantage and increase your personal value! A ton of resources and tools exist online... I would be glad to email you a list of them if you contact me at kori.gassaway@visitpittsburgh.com. Complimentary reception is free for first hour of event only. Available to group bookings contracted by 6/30/08 to be consumed before 12/31/09. Winner must be present at time of the prize presentation. All prizes may be exchanged for cash equivalent as outlined by resort. Prizes are not transferable. Resort reserves the right to award a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize is unavailable. Unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All taxes and other expenses related to any prize are the responsibility of the prize winners. Amount of room revenue produced by group determines prize awarded. Prizes to be awarded at the conclusion of the event and only after final billing has been paid. Actual prizes may differ from the items shown. Other restrictions may apply. Available for group bookings only. Not available to previously contracted groups. Cannot be combined with other offers. With the Caribbean’s largest oceanfront conference center, 600 spacious guest rooms, and award-winning catering team, we ensure a successful meeting, so YOU come out the winner. With a palm-lined beach, two championship golf courses, Mandara Spa and endless recreation, we ensure much-needed tropical down-time, so THEY can enjoy the rewards. Rio Mar Beach Resort. Be Inspired. Be Accomplished. Be Well. Visit www.wyndhamriomar.com/grandprize for more information. 24 news & views | may-june 2008 www.mpicac.org
MPI-CAC GMC PCMA Joint Educational Program By Merle Hedland GMC-PCMA You hear about Facebook and blogs and podcasting and all this stuff people call “social media,” but what does that have to do with you as a meeting planner or supplier? You’re a busy professional without enough time in your day already, and isn’t this all just kid’s stuff? More and more professional organizations are using social media tools internally for improved collaboration and workflow, and externally for everything from improved networking to lead generation to advanced marketing to providing educational content. Come learn from social media business strategy expert Chris Brogan, Vice President of Strategy & Technology at CrossTech Media, a professional events and education organization. Brogen turned his 16 years of enterprise technology and telecommunications experience upside down to build a personal brand, develop strategies, and now teach everyone from the novice to the seasoned organizational veteran how to get the most out of tools like blogs, social networks, wikis, podcasts, video, and a whole lot more. Chris is co-founder of the PodCamp unconference series, and writes regularly on social media strategy at www.chrisbrogan.com. You will leave this experience understanding these new types of media and knowing how to better use them to your advantage. Meet outside the box. New ideas flourish in new surroundings. Book your next event at The Westin Roco Ki Beach & Golf Resort, where transformation is always on the agenda. Opening fall 2008. • Bury your toes into the white sand of Punta Cana • Navigate each hole on our magnificent Nick Faldo-designed course • Relax in our exclusive Jungle Luxe® guestrooms For more information or to make a reservation, please call 800.723.5680 or visit westin.com/rocoki. ©2008 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 08WRO070-MPI_CHICAGO.indd 1 www.mpicac.org news & views | may-june 2008 25 1/22/08 8:46:57 AM
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