M&C EVENTS LIVE

M&C's Global Interact 2012 wrapped up today, April 26, at LeBlanc Spa Resort in Cancun, Mexico. The two-day event brought together 20 high-level international meeting professionals and 20 supplier partners for educational sessions, one-on-one appointments and networking events.

Programming included the presentation of M&C's Global Planner research, followed by a panel discussion about current trends and issues of concern in the global meetings marketplace. Participants raised the topic of safety and security of international destinations, particularly with respect to host country Mexico. Ken Torres of the Cancun Convention & Visitors Bureau pointed out that his city is 6,000 miles from the border towns of Mexico that are experiencing drug-related violence, yet the destination still is challenged by the perception of risk. Meeting planner participants agreed that they have been pressed to convince stakeholders and attendees that destinations in Mexico and elsewhere are safe for meetings and incentives. Site visits can be the most effective means of gaining confidence and buy-in, several Interact participants agreed. In fact, one planner brought a prospective client to Global Interact with the purpose of showcasing Cancun as a safe destination for an upcoming corporate meeting.

After a morning of productive face-to-face appointments, the group enjoyed some free time at venue host LeBlanc, a five-star, adults-only, all-inclusive resort [insert link to leblancsparesort.com]. In the evening, participants traveled by boat to nearby Isla Mujeres for an impressive dolphin show and surf-and-turf dinner sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board.

Thursday morning's keynote presentation by M&C legal columnist Jonathan Howe addressed the Risks and Rewards of International Meeting Planning, offering valuable tips on cultural issues, contract concerns, logistical details and more. (For recent M&C webcasts on international legal issues as well as meeting planning tips, please view our free webcasts at mcmag.com/webcasts.aspx.)

Among other event sponsors were Tourism Vancouver, Colombia, Rocky Mountaineer, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

As the event concluded, meeting planners headed to Moon Palace in Cancun for the 11th annual Mexico Showcase & Travel Expo.

For more information about Global Interact and M&C's other upcoming events for planners and suppliers, please visit mcmag.com/events.  -- Loren G. Edelstein

Photographs by www.pixel-pro.com

In a picture-perfect setting in Sonoma, Calif., M&C's inagural Interact Global event concluded Friday. The meeting brought together 24 meeting planners (all of whom plan events outside the U.S.) and 18 suppliers from as far afield as Seoul, South Korea, for a day and a half of educational programming, one-on-one meetings and, last but not least, winery tours and other networking opportunities (i.e., wonderful food, beverage and chat in beautiful wine country setting). MacArthur Place was the host hotel, with 64 unique cottage-style accommodations winding through colorful gardens.

After a Wednesday evening welcome reception at MacArthur Place, featuring a tasting provided by Donelan Wines, the group gathered Thursday morning for M&C's presentation of this year's Global Planner findings, followed by a panel discussion about trends in the worldwide meetings market. Participants then began with their pre-scheduled, 20-minute appointments between buyers and suppliers, and each enjoyed as many as 18 face-to-face chats over the course of the program. After a lunch sponsored by Palace Resorts, we headed for the buses, one bound for Artesa and Sebastiani wineries, the other for Domaine Carneros and Ravenswood. Many samples later... the group met up again at Benziger Winery for a tour, tasting and dinner in a stunning, candlelit wine cave.

Friday brought more education for the international crowd, featuring excellent advice from M&C legal columnist Jonathan Howe on the topic of "International Intrigue, Opportunity and Legal Complications." (Look for video highlights of his advice on this page later this week.)

Comments from both planners and suppliers underscored the value of a small, relationship-building event. The group shared business goals, RFPs, family photos and much more over the course of the program. Many thanks to our event sponors, Cancun, Colombia, Palace Resorts, Rocky Mountaineer, Tourism Vancouver, Viviani Destination Management and California Wine Tours.

Publisher Kirk Lewis also announced the site for next year's Global Interact: Cancun, Mexico, April 24-26. I'm looking forward to being there! -- Loren G. Edelstein, M&C Editor

Being the only editor on the M&C staff who skis has its privileges. Like being asked to come along as M&C and partner Rymark International hosted about 60 planners and suppliers March 25-27 in Park City, Utah, at the gorgeous new Montage Deer Valley for our annual relationship-building event at a ski destination. Attendees couldn't have asked for better spring skiing weather, as the resort offered up a base of more than 100 inches, and new snow fell on Saturday night.

The participants all got down to business each morning as the planners had appointments with each supplier, including M&C and Rymark; representatives of the Fort Worth, Salt Lake and San Diego convention bureaus; such properties as the 375-room Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu and the 379-room PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; and merchandisers Maui Jim and Mark Scot BrandPoint Marketing Solutions.

The rooms at the 220-room Montage are beautiful -- I particularly loved the heated floor in the bathroom, and it was fun to have the power to run all the room's electrical systems, including the fireplace, from the TV menu. The property hosted a delicious reception the first night in its Vista Lounge, which looks out on the mountain. The food ranged from oysters and shrimp to short rib, and for dessert, we could wander outside to roast homemade marshmallows (the peppermint ones were OUTSTANDING) and make s'mores.

The Stein Eriksen Lodge hosted the group for dinner on Saturday night (the cocktail hour featured a celeb sighting of Matthew Broderick playing chess with his son), and chef Zane Holmquist served a creative spring-themed menu (scrambled duck eggs, anyone?). It was snowing quite heavily at the time, so any reminder of warm days ahead was welcome.

Rubbing elbows with meeting planners from all around the country always is a blast. The highlight of the trip came Sunday afternoon during an apres-ski party on the outdoor deck at the St. Regis Deer Crest. Patti Amos, meeting and event planner for Tessco Technologies in Hunt Valley, Md., picked up a small saber and used it to pop the cork on a bottle of champagne in one try! Very impressive.

I felt really fortunate to have a few days of incredible skiing this winter with old and new industry friends, but now let the spring begin! -- Sarah J.F. Braley