Meetings Beat - 1996-04-22

<H1> Meetings Beat</H1><H2>EIBTM Expands

</H2>The organizers of the <B>European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition</B> predict a record-breaking event in Geneva from May 21 through 23. "All-around growth is proving to be the chief characteristic of EIBTM in 1996," said EIBTM chairman Ray Bloom.

For the first time, there will be more than 100 countries represented among the 2,000 exhibitors, who have 135,000 square feet of floor space available this year, also more than in previous years.

Some 3,000 "hosted buyers," who are invited at the organizer's cost as part of a $3.5 million visitor promotion campaign, will attend-a record number compared to 2,600 last year and 2,000 in 1994. In all, more than 6,500 buyers from nearly 70 countries are expected this year.

This year, the "clinic" system, in which experts provide corporate buyers with firsthand advice, is being expanded, with the <B>International Congress and Convention Association</B> running the meetings clinic and the <B>Society of Incentive Travel Executives</B> in charge of the motivation and incentive clinic. As part of EIBTM's initiative in "green" travel, a meeting and incentive directory of environmentally friendly suppliers will be released at the show.

SITE's program will include a seminar on achieving corporate objectives through incentive travel, given by Patrick Delaney, president of <B>Delaney Marketing Consultants</B>, Dublin. Other seminars include Incentive Sales Techniques That Sell, The Secrets of Success for Incentive Suppliers and Developing Incentive Budgets. For more information, call the EIBTM office at 44-273-735-253, or Maureen Mangan at SITE, 212-575-0910.

<H2>New Management At Omni

</H2>Amid protestations among some in the planning community (<I>MT</I>, March 18), <B>Omni Hotels'</B> new senior management team was ushered in by new parent <B>TRT Holdings Inc.</B>, based in Corpus Christi, Texas. Appointed to the executive slots are Jim Caldwell, who will serve as president of <B>Omni Hotels Corp.</B>; Alan Cambra, executive vice president of operations; Dennis Hulsing, vice president of sales and marketing; Greta Anderson-Cisneros, vice president of human resources; Michael Deitemeyer, vice president of finance; and John Brawner, vice president of engineering. Keith Coe, who joined Omni Hotels in 1993, will continue as senior vice president of development and general counsel.

Omni, a chain that draws half its business from meetings, also recently launched its first manual for meeting planners. The guide focuses on pure meeting-room specs and on handicapped access, said vice president of sales Judi Lages. A CD-ROM version is about three years down the road, Lages said, as most planners still flip through hard copies.

<H2>Miami Convention Business Up

</H2>In spite of the much-publicized tourist shootings in Miami over the past few years, convention travel to the city is up, according to data just released by the <B>Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau</B>. Of the nearly 9.4 million visitors to Miami, 27 percent of them were there for business and convention activity, the CVB said.

The reason for the 13 percent increase in business travel is twofold, according to GMCVB president Merrett R. Stierheim. First, international markets appear to be on the rebound, as evidenced by a 21 percent increase in travelers from Europe and a 23 percent increase from Canada. Second, the city is continuing a comprehensive renovation with revisions of landmark properties and new construction adding significantly to the location's appeal.

Among the area properties that have recently renovated are the 70-year-old <B>Biltmore Hotel</B> <B>and Golf Resort</B> in nearby Coral Gables, which just added six meeting rooms, and refurbished guest rooms and the pool area; and the<B> Delano </B>in South Beach (where Madonna stays), which received a $20 million overhaul.

<H2>Teaching Planners ROI

</H2>The <B>Marriott</B>-sponsored "Maximizing Your ROI Through Meetings," an interactive video and workbook program, is available now through <B>MPI</B>.

The self-study program, for both individuals and groups, uses a five-step process targeting the planning, development, implementation and follow-up stages of executing a meeting. The program sells for $175 to MPI members, $200 to non-members. Call MPI at (214) 812-7744.