Event Promotion "Tricks of the Trade"

Bethany Curtis, Director of Sales, Bavarian Inn Lodge - Frankenmuth, Michigan

Event Promotion "Tricks of the Trade"
by Bethany Curtis, Director of Sales, Bavarian Inn Lodge and Geri Root, President Root Management & Consulting, LLC

Bethany Curtis, Director of Sales for the Bavarian Inn Lodge, recently sat down with meeting professional, Geri Root, President of Root Management & Consulting LLC to talk about event promotion. It seemed fitting since Bethany was attending the Michigan Chapter of MPI's Annual Education Conference planned by Geri herself. Here are a few "Tricks of the Trade" that Geri shared:

Bethany: Most of us know that event promotion depends on the size of the event and the area of reach you are marketing to. For a state association like MMPI how much time is really needed in advance to start your event promotion?

Geri: Ideally for small events 60 – 90 days before the conference, for larger events a save the date should be sent at least 6 months prior and the full program sent 3 months prior. Meeting professionals are taught a full year in advance but that is sometimes difficult to pull off.

Bethany: What is the first promotion that you like send to your potential attendees? (email, Face Book, mailed postcard).

Geri: An email or postcard because it is a quick and inexpensive way to get the word out. It is always a good idea to get the event on your organizations social media site but that does not reach the entire audience.

Bethany: Do you feel that your promotional plan needs to be comprehensive to include all forms of media?

Geri: Yes, definitely.

Bethany: How have you used Social Media to increase attendance?

Geri: We have used social media to get the word out not only to those on our mailing list, but those that keep in touch with the association through social media. Also, we use it to build excitement for the event, for quick promotions, to give out teaser info on session and exciting new details about the conference.

Let the event promotion beginning!

MPI Mid-America 2012 by Kim Corcoran, CMP

Meetings Michigan recently attended MPI Mid- America in Sandusky, Ohio.  We attended with 8 partners, including Boyne Resorts, The Henry Ford, Ann Arbor Area CVB, Traverse City CVB, MotorCity Casino Hotel, Great Lakes Bay Region CVB, DoubleTree by Hilton Bay City and Bavarian Inn Lodge.   It was a great conference with two themes emerging for me:  Collaboration and Leadership. 

Angela Rampin from The Henry Ford is posing in front of their latest and greatest exhibit: Driving America!

Those that know me know I have always been a big fan of collaboration.  I truly believe you can accomplish more by partnering with other individuals and other organizations.  It certainly rang true for the MPI Mid-America Conference with the partnering chapters of Ohio and Kentucky.  They pooled their resources, had an outstanding committee of volunteers and worked together in every aspect of the event.  They put on an impressive regional conference with national caliber speakers.  The host hotel, Kalahari Waterpark and Resort, did a phenomenal job as well.  The food and beverage was out of this world!  Even “foodies” were impressed by the culinary prowess of these folks!

I was hard leaving the shores of beautiful Grand Traverse Bay on an 80-degree March day, but Sarah Barnard packed up to join Meetings Michigan at the recent MPI Mid-America Conference.

Leadership was another key theme I took away from this conference.  Several speakers honed in on our need to be leaders within our organizations and within our industry.  My favorite was Dr. Todd Dewett.  He is a professor, a scholar, a leader… but he is also a real person.  He boasts about his tattoos and his Harley.  While I’m not a huge fan of tattoos, he helped me break through the typical stereotype one might acquaint with those who choose to don their body with tattoos.  He opened my eyes to many different aspects of leadership through his unique stories and engaging rapport.  I would highly recommend him if you are ever in need of a speaker on leadership!  For your reference, www.drdewett.com

Patti Ingleson & Kristy Poore from Visit Ann Arbor joined Meetings Michigan at the recent MPI Mid-America Concerence. Above is Patti at Zingerman’s Deli. One of their biggest fans is Oprah Winfrey, who bit into one of their sandwiches and remarked: “On a scale of 1 to 5....11!”

The conference concluded with our closing luncheon hosted by Meetings Michigan.  Everyone loved our Meetings Michigan t-shirt promotion.  Attendees will be taking their t-shirts home to find a creative and fun place to take their photo of themselves.  We look forward to seeing all of their photos on our Meetings Michigan facebook page and notifying our winners in each of the unique categories!

-Kim Corcoran, CMP

MPI-CAC TechCon Chicago 2012

Earlier this month, Meetings Michigan traveled to Chicago to sponsor the 2nd Annual MPI-CAC TechCon 2012 Conference held at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza on February 8th, 2012. We were joined by 6 of our partners: Marina Grand Resort, Discover Kalamazoo, Great Lakes Bay Region CVB, Westin at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the Traverse City CVB.

During the General Session, all 7 of us went on stage in front of the 200 attendees to do a "Michigan Trivia" presentation.  Similar to what we've done in years past at the CMP Boot Camp and MPI Mid-America, we did a PowerPoint Michigan Trivia presentation with Michigan Fun Facts. Numerous folks came up to us after the presentation to say how much they enjoyed seeing such a large, unified team promoting Michigan.  They also enjoyed hearing unique fun facts instead of a traditional promotional presentation on hotel rooms, square footage, meeting space, etc.

Throughout the conference, we met with Chicago area meeting planners from various companies including Sara Lee, Avon Products and Abbott Nutritional Products. We also had the opportunity to listen to a very informative and engaging presentaion given by Richard Saul Wurman, Founder of TED Conferences.

Overall, it was a great show and we enjoyed the opportunity to support our friends at MPI-CAC!

Boosting Event Attendance by Rick Elamin

BOYNE Resorts, located in picturesque Northern Michigan, recently sat down with Rick Elamin, owner and event promoter of SinglesDetroit.net. Rick Elamin offers 3 ways to boost event attendance:

1. Use Social Media to promote and brand your Event - Social Media is the new way of communication for events. This promotion type is essential for a successful event. People must be aware of your event in order to attend. Besides traditional event promotion, social media offers new and effective ways to market your event. Especially the most famous networks like Facebook and Twitter can be a key to boost attendance. Social media is also critical in post-event recap. This includes photos, attendee feedback and testimonials.

2. Word-of-mouth marketing has been the single most effective tool for increasing attendance that I have seen. Instead of just sending out blast e-mails about an event (which you should still do) build a group of people that are responsible to invite people during the course of regular conversations. So, if you send an e-mail to a friend that might benefit from attending ask if they are going to be at the event and let them know that you are going to be there. Creating incentive for people to spread the word to others can prove beneficial.

3. There is no doubt that the right venue can compliment an event, but it can also play a big part in making the event a success. The right venue will portray your company in the right light and making the event even more appealing.  For my larger events at BOYNE Resorts my guests will find a wide choice of accommodations, from hotel room's to three bedroom condominiums. And the wide array of recreation choices is ideal for the annual MLK Ski Weekend sponsored by SinglesDetroit.net.

With my newest endeavor, owner of the renown Marylyn's on Monroe in Greektownbit closer to home.  Come check us out!  419 Monroe St, Downtown Detroit

Michie's Adventures at Soaring Eagle Casino

Hi, it’s me Michie the Fishie again!  I want to tell you about my trip to the Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort.  My trip to Mt. Pleasant went swimmingly.  I couldn’t believe how impressive this place looked when I pulled up.  

It’s a big property.  They have 514 guest rooms and suites and over 70,000 square feet of meeting space.  Plus the resort is connected to one of the largest casinos in the state! 

The resort has a lot of things to do and choose from.  They have a full service spa, exercise room, beauty salon, indoor pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, three restaurants, a deli a couple lounges and also National Headliner Entertainment!  They’ve had people like Bill Cosby, Betty White, Tony Bennett, Rascal Flatts, even Toby Keith and the band Chicago! 

I wonder if Hootie and the Blowfish are coming here any time soon.

I decided to pass some time in the indoor heated pool.  The pool is unique in that it has an underwater sound system.  Coming from someone that spends an awful lot of time underwater, I really appreciate that feature.  The pool attendant literally had to fish me out of the pool so that I wouldn’t be late for my spa appointment. 

Ahhhh, there’s nothing like unwinding in the spa with a nice Seaweed Facial to get you ready for a night full of fun.

After my facial, Adam, one of the friendly Bellmen at the resort took me and my luggage up to my room.

He had the nerve to tell me that he thought I overpacked, but I don’t think you can ever be too prepared.

Holy Mackerel!  What a nice room!! 

I’ve got a room with a beautiful king size bed and my own personal Jacuzzi!  A fish can get used to accommodations like this! 

I can’t believe it!  My room actually has a piano in it! 

They must save rooms like this for the big fish they get staying here!  You know what they say…you can tune a piano but you can’t tuna fish!!  Heehee that’s a little fish humor…

I decided to go check out the restaurants to get a bite to eat. On my way to the restaurants I stopped to enjoy this beautiful Poinsettia Tree in the Grand Foyer.  

I couldn’t help but think that this would be a great place to have a holiday party, I’m sure the staff would make your planning so easy that it wouldn’t make you crabby. 

So now off to dinner, I thought I’d go to the Firefly Buffet and enjoy a nice leisurely meal until I noticed this sign….

AAAACK!!!  Seafoood Extravaganza?!!  Nobody warned me about that!  I’m going to the steakhouse instead! 

Ok, the Siniikaung Steakhouse looks like a better choice for me. What a nice menu…steaks, chops, vegetarian, a nice wine list to choose from and wait a minute…grilled Salmon??!!  Eeeek! I’m getting out of here and ordering room service!

I got a call from a friend of mine who invited me to meet them for a nightcap in the Talon Night Club. I didn’t feel like a fish out of water. 

What a great experience I had at the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort.  I really got schooled on how much there is to do and see there.  Check it out for yourself at www.soaringeaglecasino.com or call Julie at 989-775-5314 to plan your visit!  Trust me, you won’t feel like a little fish in a big pond, you’ll feel right at home!

Michie's Grand Experience on Mackinac Island

After a quick swim across the Straits of Mackinac I arrived on Mackinac Island for my overnight at Grand Hotel.  Jeff and his beautiful horse drawn carriage picked me up and brought me right to the red-carpeted front porch steps of Grand Hotel.  Not that I couldn’t have swam the short ½ mile from the dock, but it sure was nice to get a ride.  Here on Mackinac there are no cars, you have to walk, ride bike, take a carriage, or in my case, swim to where you want to go.

At the front steps “Doorman Extraordinaire” Dondi greeted me and we chatted for a few minutes after he helped me depart my carriage.  I quickly realized that Dondi is the man to see when you need a ride from the hotel to anywhere on the island. 

Dondi told me of the many things I must see and do while at Grand Hotel, beginning with going to the very top of the hotel and visiting the Cupola Bar.  It was amazing, with its 180 degree view of the Straits and the Mackinac Bridge, and don’t even get me started on the delicious beverages.

Next I went to the Grand Luncheon Buffet.  Talk about delicious!  I did not know where to begin, so, I started in the logical place, the dessert section.  With cheesecake, and carrot cake, and cookies, and pastries, and bread pudding, and…Oh, I could go on forever.

Oh look, there is Annie Farrell peeking through the glass of the cold foods section of the buffet.  Annie is Grand Hotel’s Director of Sales, she and the convention staff put together “Grand Events” big and small.  Just this season, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and Republican Leadership Conferences were both held at Grand Hotel.  I actually swam on stage at the podium where the future president of the United States could have been standing.  How exciting!

After eating lunch and checking out the Theatre, I decided to let my lunch settle and get a bit of exercise by taking a trip around the labyrinth located down by the pool.  What a great way to work off a few extra bites of cheesecake.

Now that I was out moving I decided to get in some free croquet and a little practice on the putting green.  

After all that activity I was ready to relax and take in the view, so I headed to the Worlds Longest Front Porch and took a seat in one of the 100 wicker rockers. Check out that view, you cannot help but relax here.

After a little R&R on the porch I figured I had better get up to my room and get ready for dinner. (I know, it seems like I just ate lunch doesn’t it?)  I decided to stop by and check out the Terrace Room. This room is used for nightly live music and dancing with Alex Graham and the Grand Hotel Orchestra.  During the day it is generally in use for meetings and fun things like wine tastings.

Next stop, my guest room.  I had so much fun jumping from bed to bed…oh, don’t tell anyone at the hotel I said that.  It was difficult to leave those comfy beds and go down to dinner.  But I did make it to dinner, and once again made a puffer fish out of myself indulging the gourmet 5-course dinner that comes with most room rates.  

My stay at Grand Hotel was so enjoyable, I hope to have a chance to return during their 2012 season and experience one of their weekend packages like Titanic, Somewhere In Time, or maybe 4^th of July.  What fun that would be!

Michie The Fish Goes Great Lakes Bay!

The Great Lakes Bay Region was easy to find after a short swim from Mount Pleasant!  Luckily, my friends Wendy & Sonja invited my famous friend Nemo to join me for my Great Lakes Bay Getaway in Bay City, Birch Run, Chesaning, Frankenmuth, Midland, and Saginaw.  It’s time to GO GREAT LAKES BAY!

They weren’t kidding when they told us the portions are HUGE at Tony’s I-75 Restaurant in Birch Run!  I think we’d better split this sundae and save room for all the other great dining in the Great Lakes Bay Region.  From Frankenmuth’s World Famous Family-Style Chicken Dinners to Bay City’s unique stops like Fusion 1 Café and Saginaw’s Jake’s Old City Grill, you’ll never leave the Great Lakes Bay Region hungry!

After eating that giant ice cream sundae at Tony’s, I figured I better have a look in the mirror… I didn’t know I’d be getting a whole MAZE full of them!  Nemo and I had a blast exploring Frankenmuth River Place’s Ultimate Mirror Maze, with over 2,000 square feet of mirrors, endless hallways, and dead ends.

Nemo and I thought we were too stuffed to ever eat again after our giant Tony’s sundae, but then we spotted the perfect place for some afternoon refreshments… the KingFish Restaurant & Tiki Lounge on the scenic Bay City riverfront!  We got to sit back and unwind at “Dockside,” the Restaurant’s four-level patio deck overlooking the historic Saginaw River!  With seating for over 200+ and a dock for over a dozen boats, KingFish is the perfect place to meet, celebrate, or just dine and unwind while watching a beautiful sunset!

After a great treat at KingFish, Nemo and I were swimming in great finds at the Bay Antique Center!  Did you know that the Bay Antique Center is Michigan’s largest and finest antique mart?  We saw why, as we browsed antiques and treasures from over 100 quality dealers, all at one location!

Following our shopping spree at the Bay Antique Center, it was time to get out and enjoy the fresh air!  Wendy and Sonja took us on a tour of all the Great Lakes Bay Region’s lush golf courses.  They pointed out the region’s four championship courses—Apple Mountain (Freeland), The Fortress (Frankenmuth), The Sawmill (Saginaw), and Bay Valley Resort (Bay City).  We also learned about the incredible new Mix & Match custom golf packages you can create only in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay!  Simply choose your courses and your favorite place to stay, and they’ll build you a personalized package at an unbelievable rate!

We felt right at home when we visited the Children’s Zoo at Celebration Square in Saginaw!  Right away, we hitched a ride in a friend’s wagon and got to tour the entire zoo.  We saw llamas, alligators, peacocks, kangaroos and monkeys… and we were just lucky enough to catch the incredible exhibit of black-footed penguins without becoming lunch!  After all, this wasn’t just any zoo—it’s one of only five AZA-Accredited Zoos in all of Michigan!

After all the excitement at the zoo, it was time to unwind and channel our creativity, so we stopped by Space Studios, an incredible art gallery and studio in Midland.  Here, we got to browse some great artwork, and even get our fins a little dirty!  Did you know you’re able to learn to throw your very own pottery, and even glaze and paint it yourself?  Talk about dipping your fins into some fun!

All of that spinning on the pottery wheel made us a little dizzy (and a little hungry!), so Nemo and I decided to swing by St. Laurent Brothers to see what special batches of candies and nuts they were stirring up that day.  Between the saltwater taffy, specialty roasted nuts, and all of the other goodies, we definitely saw why this is a favorite stop for all ages!

Wendy & Sonja sure knew how to wrap up this tour with a relaxing, rejuvenating candlelit massage at Serendipity Day Spa in Frankenmuth River Place.  After seeing all of the amazing sights, savoring the flavors, and enjoying the excitement of Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, anyone would need some R & R!

Captain Michie reporting from the Tall Ship Appledore on the beautiful Saginaw River in Bay City!  Our scales have been polished and our fins have been massaged, and now we’re off to our next fabulous Michigan destination… but we’ll sure miss the Great Lakes Bay Region!  Until next time…