Frewtopia

Business Committed to Meetings, Just Not This Year

2009-09-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

A new survey released this week by Forbes Insight (the research arm of the publisher of the famous business magazine) shows while leading executives still believe in the power of face-to-face meetings, they are not showing their enthusiasm in spending approval for such gatherings.

Eight-four percent of the more than 700 decision-makers surveyed in June said they prefer such conferences as opposed to web conferences, video conferences or teleconferences. However 58 percent of those polled said they are traveling less frequently than in January 2008.

The study also found that virtual meetings work best for information dissemination and data presentation. For more details (http://meetingsnet.com/corporatemeetingsincentives/news/0903-face-to-face-meetings/index.html).

This survey suggests that meeting destinations try their best to offer the best of both worlds to meeting planners. For instance, the METS Center, Northern Kentucky's premier high-tech conference center (www.usemets.org), is advocating web conferencing which allows meetings to take place but can also utilize technology so the event can be broadcast globally to hold down widespread travel costs. In the end, the economic impact to the community might be down but it allows meetings to take place, which does provide some relief to local coffers.

More Support For the Value of Meetings

2009-08-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

ASAE, the American Society for Association Executives is the latest to come to the support of the meetings business after Congress took issue with corporate meetings practices by insurance group AIG and others this spring. ASAE has launched a new public awareness campaign.

http://www.asaecenter.org/video.cfm?ItemNumber=34988

ASAE's actions follow those of the US Travel Association which created the Meetings Mean Business Campaign talking about the unintended consequences of putting hourly hotel workers in the unemployment lines by discouraging meetings with what some thought was a "broad brush" mentality.

Rust Belt Decline Affects Economy in Different Ways

2009-08-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

One of my newest volunteer jobs is mentoring 19 chapters of the American Marketing Association located in the Southeast, the Atlantic region and the Midwest. Yesterday (August 13), the Wall Street Journal detailed the decline of Rust Belt cities ('Fastest Dying Cities' Meet For Lively Talk, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125011106498326993.html) outlined in its coverage of a meeting held recently in Dayton, Ohio attended by representatives from ten cities in Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. While there was some venting going on, attendees bemoaned the fact that many of their residents ignore that there is actual good news not being reported in their economically-challenged towns. Four of the ten towns represented at the meeting have AMA chapters that I advise.

It got me thinking about the toll self-loathing takes when residents become discouraged and despair over the loss of jobs and population in their town. I see this in talking to the AMA chapter Presidents who become frustrated when they have board members who complain about how things are without offering solutions to the economic problems which result in marketers being laid off, which affects the membership rolls of these chapters as these volunteers can't afford to renew their membership dues. Marketers are among the best (or worst) at generating buzz. This can work to your advantage when things are going great. But when things are bad, as they have been in our society the past year, it can make a bad situation worse.

The meetings business, which helps pay my bills faces the same situation. No one wants to travel to a destination that is in decline. A bad economy in their mind also translates into a desperate citizenry which can fuel concerns about safety and other matters.

It seems to me that while problems that each of our cities face (plodding decision-making by leaders, bad local economic policies, etc.) can't and shouldn't be ignored, residents should think about victories that have occurred recently in their city (a new business relocating there, a national award won by the chamber of commerce). More importantly, if they don't like something that is happening in their city or neighborhood, they should get involved in the process to make things better. It's easy to get negative and see the things that should be changed before we look at the positive. I think it's importance to achieve a balance and raise our hands to lend a hand to further progress.

Super Region Talk Resurfaces

2009-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

A panel discussion I attended this week hosted by the Cincinnati Business Courier (the local weekly business tabloid) revived talk of a super region linking Cincinnati and Dayton. The speakers discussed the types of industries that are good fits for the region (logistics, medical distribution, space medicine, etc.). Information such as this is useful for future planning for my employer, the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau. As the Bureau analyzes burgeoning industries coming to our area, it creates opportunities to host associations that promote those industries. If economic development officials are looking at coaxing companies in a particular field here, words filters around the industry that our region might be a good place to consider having a future annual meeting. Transportation in general seems to be an untapped market given the comments of the panelists who point to the I-75 corrider (the most traveled north/south interstate in the eastern half of the US), the Ohio River, as well as potential rail routes. This trend bears watching by local convention leaders.

Travel Centers tell the story

2009-06-19T10:12:00.000-07:00

The gentleman who runs the Kentucky Welcome Center in Florence and is one of the biggest tourism advocates in NKY has some interesting insights into 2009 vacation migration patterns. Jeff Thoke says they are noticing more travelers opting for extended weekend getaways, shorter in duration from what has been seen in the past. Theory is the tight economy is prompting this as well as work demands increasing. For instance, if you work for a company that has laid off people that generally means you are doing the work of two or three people. Jeff says people's length of time away prompts the idea that some are using psychological means to making short vacations seem longer. In the typical situation he encounters people leaving home for vacation on a Thursday or Friday and driving back through on a Monday, creating two shorter work weeks.

Swine Flu Scare Creates Resentment

2009-06-11T10:14:00.000-07:00

As if the meetings industry doesn't have enough to worry about.

First it was the economy. Then it was the congressional outcry against incentives meeting brought on by the AIG controversy. The latest crucible facing convention planners is the swine flu outbreak. The World Health Organization declared an H1N1 flu pandemic today-- the first global flu epidemic in 41 years. Nearly 30,000 cases have been reported in the US, Europe, Australia, South American and elsewhere. This will speed up the funding of research into and hopefully production of a vaccine as well as money for containment.

Proper perspective and restraint is required here. The WHO reports 141 people have died from the flu with only 27 perishing domestically (the other 117 were from Mexico). Seasonal flu kills half a million people annually. When is the last time the press reported this disparity. Certainly, precautions should be made to enhance the risk of spreading the deadly virus. Wall Street Journal editorial writer Daniel Henninger says there is great concern in the use of pandemic, particularly as the media uses the term in future reporting (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124467570858004013.html).

I attended a convention of convention publicists last month in Kansas City. There was no shortage of hand-wringing over the media glare over this issue. Today's news will not help the situation.

NKY Development Project Enhances Destination Stamp

2009-06-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

I recently heard a presentation on a multi-million dollar development project that should give Northern Kentucky another means of attracting visitors and investors. Manhattan Harbour is planned for Dayton, KY along the Ohio River and covers 143 acres, stretching more than a mile-and a half and will include residential, commercial and retail space as well as a marina with spa and fitness center along with a 160-room hotel, a concert stage, restaurants and shops. Even more tantalizing is the fact that this development will be a showcase of technological advances using "smart" technology to improve the lives of residents and visitors. The project should be completed in the next two to five years. This will be a dynamic venue to show off to tourists and convention guests.

Leadership 301

2009-04-26T05:27:00.000-07:00

Kevin Smith of the Food Network, taking upon the cooking theme of the AMA Leadership Summit, talked about adding spice as a leader using a PEPPER acronym:

Passion (bringing energy and imagination to all tasks)
Emotional Intellegence (not just keeping emotions in check but having an awarenes of your gifts
People Leadership (relating well to others in achieving goals)
Prudence
Education and Learning
Relationships

Leadership 201

2009-04-25T05:12:00.000-07:00

Part two of Michael Smith's talk about Leadership in Marketing from the American Marketing Association Leadership Summit:

Michael spoke about servant leadership and asked the crowd to focus on how make people feel not on what you say. He also quoted Winston Churchill, "We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give."

It is interesting in the marketing field to examine our leadership in the context of not how we position ourselves and our organizations at the front of the pack but how we can serve the interests of others and help them reach their goals, perhaps even before we act to suit our interests.

Leadership 101

2009-04-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Day one is over at the American Marketing Association Leadership Summit in Chicago. For the uninitiated, the Summit is what I refer to as the "Amway Convention" for AMA Boards of Directors for the Association's 75 chapters around the country.

I will be filing the first of three reports on the talk of keynote speaker Michael Smith who spoke tonight on the topic of "Building a Brand One Bite at a Time: Lessons in Marketing and Leadership." Michael is Senior Vice President of Marketing, Creative and Brand Strategy for the Food Network.

The first component of Michael's talk on which I'll center is not so much about leadership but about what it is that makes our work fulfilling. He stated the three things that work should provide is meaning, complexity and autonomy.

Let me expound upon each. Meaning is important because at the end of the day we want our work to matter for something. We want to feel as though we've added joy to others' lives or contributed to the company's sustainability.

Complexity relates less to the human element and relies on our ingenuity in problem-solving. Autonomy is the antithesis of micro-management. If we feel free to solve problems, gaining the end result without worry that our bosses will try to convince us we need to do it a certain way, we feel less constrained, and can move on to our next obstacle, taking pride that we solved this dilemma on our own.

TOMORROW: Servant Leadership

Interesting Results for Cinti Riverfront District Naming Contest

2009-04-16T13:37:00.001-07:00

A few days ago I told you voting had begun on naming the under-construction Cincinnati riverfront district which has been known as The Banks. That name and three others have been culled from choices brought forth earlier by the public. So far with more than 2,200 votes, most people think keeping things as they are is just fine. Forty eight percent favor keeping that name while 25% like the name Roebling Point, with 20% for River District and North Shore pulling in last at eight percent. You can weigh in by going to the develop's website (www.carterdawson.com) and voting but you have to do so before midnight on Monday, April 20th.

Travel Journalist Trade Group Spreads Its Wings on Thinking Out-Of-The-Box Attendance Building

2009-04-15T09:41:00.000-07:00

Any doubts about how worried meeting planners are about the impact of the economy on attendance at trade shows? I have never heard about a group partnering with airlines to discount fares for attendees. Take a look at the email I received yesterday from the North American Travel Journalists Association (www.natja.org).

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NATJA is offering a discount of 10% off airfare on AirTran!!! This discount applies to anyone attending our Cleveland Conference June 2nd-5th. For more information about the conference, visit us online at www.natja.org.
Act now to save by simply using the code listed below.
AirTran Airways EventSavers Program Congratulations, your Event Planner has registered with the AirTran Airways EventSavers Program. This program offers discounted air travel and unique benefits for conventions, meetings or other events when ten or more individuals are flying into a single destination from different cities. Attendees and Travel Agents should call the AirTran Airways EventSavers Desk at 1-866-68EVENT (1-866-683-8368) to obtain more information about the following features:
A 10% discount on the lowest available AirTran Airways one way fare.
No minimum stay length or Saturday night requirement.
Advance seat assignments at time of booking.
Confirmed upgrade to Business Class, when available, for passengers booking in the “B” and “Y” fare levels.
A one time waiver of Change Fee per reservation for any name or itinerary change, but any applicable fare increase will apply
A single Event Code provided for each event so passengers may book their own reservations at their leisure.
A convenient toll-free number connects you directly to our EventSavers Desk.
Attendees have the option of contacting the EventSavers Desk directly or they may book their reservations through their designated travel agency.
Travel Agents and attendees must book all EventSavers reservations directly with the EventSavers Desk to receive the 10% discount. Reservations booked through a travel agent General Data System or the internet will not qualify for the 10% discount.
Attendees may travel three days prior to the event start date and three days after the event close date if they wish to spend any additional time at the event location.
Receive special EventSavers rates from our rental car partner Hertz, just for being transferred to the Hertz Desk by our EventSavers Coordinator!
To take advantage of this special program, contact the AirTran Airways EventSavers Desk at 1-866-68EVENT (1-866-683-8368) for reservations. All patrons will need to have the listed Event Code and must provide the name of the Event upon booking. Please provide the Event Savers Coordinator with Event Code: CAKDAY060209 (NATJA) start saving today!
Thank you for choosing AirTran Airways for all your air travel requirements!

Voting Starts For Downtown Cincinnati's Most Talked About Development

2009-04-14T07:09:00.001-07:00

Let the voting begin! The final stage of public input has begun on the naming of Downtown Cincinnati's much anticipated riverfront redevelopment project in and around the stadia and the Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Up to now, it's been known as The Banks, and that is one of the four choices on which the public can vote beginning at noon today.

I had the pleasure to be on a marketing panel recently to streamline the process for naming the project. I know that the name of the product or development is the first and most important step in creating its identity, which is why the developers are taking the time and energy to get it right.

People are passionate about this subject and the name submission, panel and voting processes helps give Cincinnati a say and ownership of the project. The panel process provided the opportunity for us to share our thoughts and ideas and bring our expertise to the table. We were able to reach consensus on great additional names that we believe represent the broader input from citizen submissions and what will work best for the development. Below is the news release about the final voting process.

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Residents Asked for Final Vote on Banks Renaming
Developers Include Residents’ Suggestions

Cincinnati, OH (April 14, 2009) – The Master Development Team of Carter and The Dawson Company announced that the final public voting process began today at 12 a.m. to determine the name for the up-to-$1 billion mixed-use development on the banks of the Ohio River.

The choices are:
1. North Shore
2. Roebling Point
3. The River District
4. The Banks

“This development belongs to the people of Cincinnati and Hamilton County,” said Malloy Peterson, director of marketing at Carter. “We want their input to help us choose the best possible name for a development that has come to mean so much to the community.”

Residents interested in defining a piece of Cincinnati may vote at www.carterdawson.com. The survey will be live for one week, closing Monday, April 20 at 11:59 p.m. The final result will be available for public viewing and announced Tuesday, April 21.

Members of the development team evaluated the number of votes that each of the four given names received and reviewed more than 650 online submissions from the first round of voting. Many write-ins appeared multiple times or had similar themes, which allowed the team to divide the suggestions into categories. Some write-ins used the opportunity to shorten their favorite name, Riverfront District, to The River District. Other popular entries focused on the development’s location on the river, the Roebling Suspension Bridge and Cincinnati’s location on the “north shore” of the Ohio River.

The team organized a panel of some of Cincinnati’s top marketing, branding and communications experts from business, economic development, tourism and young professionals groups to review the most common submissions and categories from the write-ins. The panel discussed connotations of the submitted names, their favorites and the shortened version of one of the top vote-getters from the previous survey – The River District. After much discussion, the 11-person panel put it to a vote to determine names that would be added to The Banks and The River District.

“This is more than just a new development to the people of this region,” said Tamara Kimble, vice president of strategic marketing & external affairs at The Dawson Company. “This represents the region’s progress and promise for future opportunity, and we need a name that the people can get behind.”

Known as The Banks since its inception, the development is a joint City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Carter, Dawson project. Once completed, The Banks will be Cincinnati’s largest single, mixed-use development and be composed of a dynamic blend of residential, office, hotel and retail components. Phase 1A of the riverfront development is under construction and will include a revised street grid, parking facility, a minimum of 300 apartments and 70,000 square feet of retail.

Walking Our Way Along the Ohio

2009-04-03T07:21:00.000-07:00

The $50 million dollar proposed Riverfront Commons project spanning five Northern Kentucky communities along the riverfront continues to gain momentum. See the new video created to help generate excitement for what could be to come for the region.

www.southbankpartners.com

New Addition at Newport Aquarium

2009-04-01T05:25:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Newport Aquarium's tenth anniversary next month, the Aquarium announced today the first birth of a sharkray...
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Newport Aquarium Unveils
First Baby Shark Ray Ever on Display in U.S.

Newport Aquarium – already the site of historic firsts in the study of rare and beautiful Shark Rays – announced today that it will be displaying the first Shark Ray pup, affectionately named Sunshine.

Sunshine is less than a year old, weighs about 25 pounds and comes from Penghu Island, off the coast of Taiwan. It’s believed to be the same place from where Sweet Pea, the Aquarium’s female Shark Ray and the first to be displayed in this hemisphere, came.

Newport Aquarium continues to lead the scientific community in the study of Shark Rays. The Aquarium also initiated the first-ever Shark Ray breeding program in the world. By closely monitoring the growth of Sunshine, Newport Aquarium biologists believe they will be better prepared for any future Shark Ray pups that might be born at the aquarium.

“This was the first time a Shark Ray has ever been transported so far, so young,” says Mark Dvornak, fish curator at Newport Aquarium. “Her size and youth make her an extraordinary animal from which to learn. Newport Aquarium is committed to raising awareness about this species, in the hopes that public education will inspire global conservation efforts – not just for Shark Rays but for all endangered aquatic life.”

Sunshine will be on display in the Coral Reef display, a 60-thousand gallon “tunnel” exhibit through which visitors walk and are surrounded by aquatic life.

This week also marks the fourth anniversary for Sweet Pea at the Newport Aquarium. A two-week celebration from April 4-12 will highlight the species.

For more information on Newport Aquarium or for hours, tickets and directions, visit www.newportaquarium.com.

# # #

Newport Aquarium showcases thousands of animals from around the world in a million gallons of water. You’ll be amazed at all there is to see and do, including fun and interactive activities, like touching a shark or meeting penguins. Like its sister aquarium, Adventure Aquarium, on the Camden Waterfront, Camden, NJ, Newport Aquarium is a Herschend Family Entertainment company (www.hfecorp.com) and a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a leader in global wildlife conservation. Newport Aquarium is open to the public 365 days a year and is located only two minutes from downtown Cincinnati at Newport on the Levee. For information, visit www.newportaquarium.com or call 859-261-7444.
FACT SHEET

How old is Sunshine?
Estimated birth is around July 1, 2008, making her 9-10 months old.

How long has Newport Aquarium had her?
She has been off site at the Aquarium’s warehouse facility, where Aquarium staff could monitor her health since December 3, 2008.

How big was she when she arrived? How about now?
She was about 6 pounds and 1.5 feet long when she arrived. She is now almost 25 pounds and a little over 3 feet long.

How does that compare to Sweet Pea and Scooter when they arrived?
This simple chart shows the weights and sizes of each Shark Ray on arrival and now:

On Arrival Now
Sweet Pea Around 40 pounds, 4 feet Around 200 pounds, 6.5 feet
Scooter Around 100 pounds, 4 feet Around 125 pounds, 6 feet
Sunshine Around 6 pounds, 1.5 feet Around 25 pounds, 3 feet

From where did she come?
Sunshine came from Penghu Island, Taiwan. We think it was the same place where Sweet Pea was collected.

What does Sunshine eat?
Lobster, shrimp and a variety of fish.

Will she get as big as Sweet Pea and Scooter?
Probably, but so little is known about the species. By gathering important data about the animal, Newport Aquarium is leading the scientific community in Shark Ray research. The Aquarium also initiated the first-ever Shark Ray breeding program in the world. By closely monitoring the growth of Sunshine, we’ll be better prepared for any future shark ray pups that might be born here at the aquarium.

Will she be part of the Shark Ray Breeding Program?
We hope so, but it could be a long time for her to reach maturity.

How big is the Coral Reef tank where she will be staying?
The Coral Reef tank is 60,000 gallons.

Will she eventually be moved into the big shark tank? When?
It’s hard to say when. It will be entirely based on Sunshine’s growth and her acceptance of the new environment. We’d like her to grow to about the size Sweet Pea was when she was added to the Surrounded by Sharks exhibit (roughly 4 feet long).

Was anything unusual about her journey here?
This was the first time a Shark Ray has ever been transported so far, so young. Her size and youth make her an extraordinary animal from which to learn. Newport Aquarium is committed to raising awareness about this species, in the hopes that public education will inspire global conservation efforts – not just for Shark Rays but for all endangered aquatic life.

How is she fed and will she eventually be trained to “target feed” like Sweet Pea and Scooter?
Sunshine is currently hand fed by a diver. After she becomes more comfortable in the new tank then divers can begin training her to target feed the same way that Sweet Pea and Scooter are fed. But it will likely take some time, since the animal is still so young.

Who will be her tank-mates in the Coral Reef exhibit?
There are two shark species in that exhibit with Sunshine: two Zebra sharks and two Zebra Bullhead sharks. Other fish in the Coral Reef tank include a variety of colorful Indo-Pacific reef fishes.

Airport Results Show Price Does Matter

2009-03-31T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's looking more and more like Delta Airline's decision to reduce local air fares as much as 60 percent was a pretty prudent idea. The airline announced airport usage up 30 percent in the first month after the move. Today, officials at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport released results from a survey taken a few months ago about people's thoughts related to local airfares and how it affected flying and DRIVING patterns.
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Survey Points to CVG OpportunitiesNearly 17,000 Weigh In On Fares
March 31, 2009 - The results of the Air Service Survey are in, and they point to significant opportunities at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport for carriers that can offer low prices.Of the nearly 17,000 business and leisure travelers in the Tri-State who took the survey, fully 97 percent said they were more likely to use surrounding airports because of price. The informal survey was developed by the Regional Air Service Development Committee, a group of airport, business and economic-development leaders formed to address airline and airport issues within the community. The goal of the survey was to help paint a clearer picture of the region's air travel habits in order to identify service gaps and opportunities for growth. Data collected through the survey will help direct the continuing efforts of the airport to improve fares and expand air service.Committee Chairman Arlyn Easton said, "The survey makes a pretty strong statement. Business people are thinking of costs more than ever. They are being told to use the cheapest flights."Easton said he was amazed at the number of people who participated. "The fact that almost 17,000 people took time to take the survey makes the results even more impressive, and it shows how important air travel is to our community," he said."The survey, without question, reflects that the community will respond positively to lower fares in and out of CVG," said Doug Moormann, vice president of economic development at the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. "In essence, it affirms Delta's new and far more competitive pricing structure. We, as a community, must continue to protect and nurture our air service, as its value is virtually incalculable." Since the survey was launched, Delta Air Lines announced reductions of 5% to 60% on most fares at its CVG hub. The airport estimates that annual savings to local passengers could total in the tens of millions of dollars.CVG Board Chairman H. Lawson Walker II says that the survey data confirms the wisdom of Delta's fare restructuring. "We are thrilled that Delta - and all the airlines at CVG - are acting on the concerns of local passengers, the business community and the airport."Survey results are available at http://www.cvgsurvey.com/.

Criticisms of Excess Help Polish Image of Midde America

2009-03-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

With all the furor over lavish trips and bonuses to AIG executives, there seems to be a growing sense that middle America destinations are getting a second look by travel planners. One executive in the travel incentive industry with whom I spoke recently said many U.S. cities could benefit from a reluctance by corporations to jet their executives and other top producers to international locales and might look at more value-laden U.S. destinations . And some cities, like Pittsburgh are embracing fiscal soundness over flash in their marketing efforts.

http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09086/958705-53.stm

Annual Numbers for NKY CVB Take Slight Dip

2009-03-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 6 P.M. MARCH 18, 2009

Contact:
Pat Frew, Director of Communications
859-655-4163 (w)
513-703-3027 (m)
E-Mail: Pressroom@nkycvb.com
www.nkycvb.com

NORTHERN KENTUCKY CONVENTION BUREAU
REVEALS GAME PLAN FOR BATTLING TOUGH ECONOMY

Covington, KY/March 18, 2009—Officials with the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau have laid out a strategy to overcome the effects of a dismal economy, while issuing the Bureau’s Annual Report showing a rare drop in the organizations’ economic impact to the community.

At today’s 2008 Annual Meeting at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, the Bureau reported an economic impact of visitor’s spending of $306 million in Kenton, Campbell and Boone Counties, down six percent from 2007’s record figure of $325 million. The $306 million impact figure of 2008 compares favorably to 2006’s results of $263 million.

Bureau President and CEO Tom Caradonio says higher fuel costs, cutbacks of corporate travel combined with Delta’s 23 percent cut in flights were the major factors that lead to the decrease. These conditions coupled with a difficult economy, he adds, are not harbingers for a quick rebound in 2009.

“With our Back To The Basics theme for 2009, we are focusing on selling to group markets that offer better meeting potential, such as the sports market, with the Bank of Kentucky Center at N.K.U. fully operational, and religious groups. In addition we have implemented innovations that make the work of our target market—meeting planners—simpler, thereby making us a more attractive destination.”

Caradonio outlined such innovations as mobile marketing technology available through the Bureau that allows planners to communicate information about a conference to attendees cell phones. Single contracts for groups using multiple hotels is another new amenity being provided as well as audio on-line proposals from the Bureau’s sales force.

“All of these changes ensure faster and more meaningful information being given to our clients, helping them to save time and money, two of their most valued commodities,” added Caradonio.

Other statistics released by the Bureau at the meeting included:
The total economic impact to the community as a result of 2006 Bureau initiatives dipped barely at $44.1 million versus $44.2 million in 2007;
The return on investment in Bureau 2007 marketing programs was down slightly, $10.49 compared to $10.90 the prior year. This figures represents how much money is returned to the community in the form of visitor spending per every dollar spent on Bureau marketing efforts;
Corporate travelers remain the largest market segment in Northern Kentucky comprising 41 percent, trailed by Leisure, 35 percent, Meetings/Conventions, 22 percent and Government, 2 ½ percent.

The Bureau also bestowed three awards to the following individuals:
Marie Fuehner, former Bureau Director of Convention Services, who retired at the end of the year, received the Bureau’s Star Award for her work in making Northern Kentucky a vibrant convention destination. Last year, four national meeting planner trade publications recognized Fuehner’s department for its outstanding work.
Greg Buckler was named to the Bureau’s Champions program for helping to lure the Kentucky Jailers Association conference here this coming June creating an economic impact of $316,000.
Darren Wallace of the Hampton Riverfront hotel in Covington was named the Bureau Hero of the Year. The five-year old program has honored more than 40 front-line hospitality workers for their efforts in going above and beyond the call of service to guests.

The mission of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is that of an aggressive sales, marketing, service and informational organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact the Northern Kentucky economy through conventions, meetings and visitor expenditures. The direct economic impact of visitors’ spending in Campbell, Kenton and Boone Counties in 2008 was $306 million.
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Riverfront Bikepath on Front Burner

2009-03-05T16:51:00.000-08:00

A stalled project along the Northern Kentucky riverfront had new life breathed into it tonight after a spirited standing room only meeting at the Covington Convention Center. Riverfront Commons is a hiking/biking trail along the Ohio River going through Dayton, Bellevue, Newport, Covington and Ludlow. The meeting was organized by redevelopment organization Southbank Partners which is spearheading the effort, which had been stalled by the bad economy and by competing projects around the Commonwealth and nationwide. Southbank wanted to see what kind of public support existed for the effort before deciding to seek $300,000 to hire a lobbying firm to help secure federal dollars for the $50 million project. The project is expected to be an attractive target for economic stimulus money approved by Congress. It would create jobs and spur economic growth in the form of new businesses and added tourists and convention visitors to the riverfront. Southbank now plans to go to leading corporations, community and government groups and the public to gain additional input and hopefully more funding. Additional details coming in the March 6 Cincinnati Enquirer (www.cincinnati.com).

Another Effect of AIG fallout

2009-03-04T08:12:00.000-08:00

It's not just corporate meetings that are being curtailed. This time it's getting personal. A friend of mine from another American Marketing Association chapter in the east told me last week he lost his job in research at a family-owned business with a national reputation for setting up exotic vacations for C-level executives (things like safaris and fly fishing expeditions). He told me this is the first time in the company's 40-year history that furloughs have happened. Part of it is credited to the economic slowdown but the other part is related to public perception and how investors are now being critical of how and where high priced CEOs are spending their salaries on far flung destinations.

Inspiration Worth Noting

2009-02-19T11:32:00.001-08:00

I can't recall hearing in person a more inspiring person that 21 year old Patrick Henry Hughes. Few people have seen, strike that, experienced more things this early in life than Patrick. He was born without eyes and without the ability to fully straighten his arms and legs, making him unable to walk. Additionally, two steel rods were surgically attached to Patrick's spine to correct scoliosis. Despite circumstances that seem overwhelming, Patrick has overcome these physical issues to excel as a musician and student. Patrick started playing the piano at the age of only nine months, and also plays the trumpet and sings. He even participates in the University of Louisville School of Music Marching and Pep Bands with help from his father (Patrick John Hughes), who tirelessly maneuvers his wheel chair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the Cardinal Marching Band. Patrick is usually a straight 'A' student, having received only 5 'B's' during his entire educational experience - up to and including his sophomore year of college. A virtuoso pianist, vocalist and trumpet player, Patrick has won or finished very high in numerous competitions, as well as winning awards acknowledging the circumstances he has overcome to achieve these heights. He has been featured on ESPN, ABC-TV, Oprah, CBS-TV, The Ellen Show, Extreme Make Over Home Edition, FOX-TV, CSTV, NBC-TV, The Grand Ole Opry, People Magazine, Sports Illustrated, Star Magazine, and many, many others. His first book, I AM POTENTIAL, is published and available around the country/world.

Here's his story as recounted by ESPN.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qTiYA1WiY8

Marketing Spending Could Be Economic Recovery Key

2009-01-30T12:50:00.000-08:00

The weather outside was frightful and the forecasts were anything but delightful. Earlier this week as I sat in a meeting recounting the glum 2008 economic picture nationally and at home, the biggest winter storm to hit the Greater Cincinnati area in several years was raging outside.
As about half of the planned crowd of nearly 400 showed up I was reminded that many consumers may be sitting on the sidelines at home instead of doing their part to infuse capital into the US economy this year.

One of the key indicators that analysts outlined in this economic outloook program was consumer spending. When you think about it, marketing plays a key role in helping to drive folks to the cash register. All you have to do is look at what marketers did during the holiday season.

A study released by professional services firm BO Seidman LLP, and recounted in Marketing News, the publication of the American Marketing Association, 32 percent of retail Chief Marketing Officers reported their budgets shrank during the holidays. Forty three percent recounted a status quo on spending while 25 percent actually increased spending.

It's understandable that companies would question the advertising messaging in these difficult times (value added versus price or product benefits, for instance). But if retailers continue to cut marketing (or even other more cost-effective means of awareness-raising such as PR and social media tools) without taking into account the toll on reduced sales, this economic slump may go on well in 2010.

Enquiring Minds Want to Know

2009-01-15T11:49:00.000-08:00

I had a chance today, along with other leading public relations and marketing leaders to sit down at the conference table with Tom Callinan, Cincinnati Enquirer Editor and VP Content and Audience Development today. This was especially timely with the paper recently eliminating one section of the paper and cutting its features section by 25 percent. In a few months, the paper will also slightly reduce the width of its pages.

Overall, Callinan says there are more positives to report than negatives, such as: 1. Despite layoffs of about 30 managers and writers, the paper has actually increased the number of hard news reporters; 2. This news is a little old but I had never heard that Wired Magazine last year cited the Enquirer as a leader in advancing online news and it also ranked as the third largest aggregator of print and web news last year among the nation's 35 biggest papers finishing behind the Washington Post and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel; 3. 80 percent of the readers who became subscribers when the Scripps Howard publication disappeared have remained with the Enquirer.

Callinan says many of the cutbacks have prompted complaints but now cancellations (the biggest gripes have come from presumably older readers who don't have cable and don't like the shrunken tv listings). A big worry for him is that earlier business models assumed that as readers aged into their 20s and 30s they would return to reading the newspaper for news about financial planning and paying for college for kids. He says paper analysts now realize that's probably not going to happen.

Bottom line on how people view the paper: His hope is that people see the Enquirer as trying its best to be a watchdog, not influenced in a negative sense by community leaders and organizations but not the enemy.

Aspiring Photogs Take Note

2009-01-09T08:14:00.000-08:00

After the lull of the holidays, things are picking up at work. The Convention & Visitors Bureau in NKY is getting ready to host the annual convention of the Kentucky Professional Photographers Association (www.kyppa.com), Jan 22-27. This group has progressively grown in the half dozen or so years we have consecutively hosted their conference. It began meeting here after association officials realized there are as many professional photographers in NKY and Greater Cincinnati as there are in the rest of the Commonwealth.

This year however, the conference takes on even more importance as the event will expand to include the Mid-East States Professional Photographers Association (www.mesppa.com) which encompasses Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. It could double the attendance of our event from 300 to 600. This regional event has never taken place outside Ohio. There's a chance we could possibly host the regional meeting every other year after this.

With the down economy, more people are open to entrepreneurial jobs. If you have thought about going into business for yourself as a photographer, this is definitely a show you should check out. By joining the KYPPA you can attend the whole conference for less than half the price of a new member. Total investment would be $100. Check out either group's web site for more details.

Covington Museum A Hidden Gem

2008-12-31T05:39:00.000-08:00

I had a belated chance yesterday to check out the remodeled (it happened a year ago) Behringer Crawford Museum in Covington's Devou Park. The three-million dollar project has transformed the place and includes a video about the history of the region and a refurbished street car named The Kentucky. This museum is different from others in our area in two ways. In many of the exhibit areas, there is a separate fly area for kids related to the theme in that room. That way, adults accompanied by small children can focus on content not worrying about distractions. The other differentiating point Behringer-Crawford (www.bcmuseum.org) offers is the perspective of how the growth of transportation (exhibits on Ohio River traffic, the airport, the interstate system) has fueled commerce. Sounds like these history lessons could serve as good reminders as Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky explore street cars. Check out this museum. It's a local hidden gem. I was so impressed, as we concluded a private tour with Executive Director Laurie Risch, I became a museum member.

Male Shoppers "Down Under"

2008-12-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

J.C. Penney has created this new site just in time for last minute mail shoppers. It has received nearly two million hits. Coincidentally, Mike Boylson, J.C. Penney's Chief Marketing Officer, will be in Cincinnati Friday, January 16 at the monthly American Marketing Assn. luncheon to talk about this and other topics related to the company. Sign up for the event by going to AMA's website, www.cincinnatiama.org.

Welcome to the Doghouse: J.C. Penney Goes Viral Epicenter from Wired.com

2008 Top Newspapers, Blogs & Consumer Magazines

2008-12-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

BurrellesLuce (the media monitoring service I use at the NKY Convention & Visitors Bureau) is out with its 2008 Top Newspapers, Blogs and Consumer Magazines. The numbers and changes from 2007

Newspapers
1. USA Today
2. Wall Street Journal
3. New York Times
4. LA Times
5. The Daily News (NY-moves up one slot flip-flopping with NY Post)

English Language Blogs
1. Huffingtonpost.com (5 last year)
2. Techcrunch.com (4)
3. Engadget.com (1)
4. Gizmodo.com (3)
5. Boingboing.net (2)

Magazines (all ranked same as in '07)
1. AARP The Magazine
2. AARP Bulletin
3. Readers Digest
4. Better Homes & Gardens
5. National Geographic

Better To Be Blue

2008-12-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

I've never watched a movie in Blueray but I might start doing so. I learned this week that the high tech video technology is named for the blue laser that reads the content on the disc and translates it to your screen. This is in contrast to "old" dvds that utilized red lasers. The difference for the quality? The blue ray is more focused than the red. It caused me to pause and consider that one of my New Year's Resolutions should be to attempt to maintain the focus required to excel more in my professional and personal life.

Blogs, Social Networking More Important With Newspapers' Decline

2008-12-05T12:09:00.001-08:00

I was facilitating a session of the Cincinnati American Marketing Association chapter's newly formed Non-Profit Shared Interest Group this morning led by local blogging guru Michelle Lentz. Michelle talked about the importance and growth of blogging and how it impacts impressions of your organization whether it's a non-profit or for-profit. I was reflecting on this especially in light of the great decline in traditional media, places like the Cincinnati Enquirer (http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/blog-259-bloodletting-at-the-enquirer.html). Pardon the cliche, but the hand-writing has been on the wall for the past year or two as the Enquirer has launched its Get Published initiative. Coverage in standard news media sources is not going to get better/more plentiful. It's going to get worse. Gannett, the Enquirer's parent now considers the daily newspaper a baby-boomer niche publication according to one high-ranking executive to whom I spoke. It really does reinforce the notion that blogging, tweeting and the use of Facebook and other social networking tools is going to grow as businesses and charities alike try to expand their notoriety in the public eye.

Another bad sign for the Meeting Biz

2008-11-11T08:41:00.001-08:00

I was speaking to a local newspaper executive yesterday. I was telling him about the challenges that destinations face in attracting meetings and conventions in the current economy. As a person in charge of personnel and budgets he said, "The first thing to get cut in tough economic times is travel. The second is professional development." This is the big double-whammy for the industry. The meetings are not going away because they represent one of the biggest revenue source for associations. But having the meetings doesn't guarantee high or even subpar attendance. This hurts not only the industry groups but the destinations as they are primarily funded by the taxes on hotels visitors consume. Another big loser is the potential attendee as well as they are denied the chance to learn new tools to help them perform their jobs more effectively.

Branding vital in poor economy

2008-11-07T11:34:00.001-08:00

I had a chance to hear a leading Greater Cincinnati branding expert this morning talk about its importance. Wendy Vonderhaar, President of Intrinzic Marketing, was speaking to the Non-Profits Shared Interest Group of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Association. Wendy said that in branding it's vital to make an emotional connection with your audience/customers and justify that connection with facts. It occured to me in these tough economic times that customers are less willing to take chances. Wendy put it this way: Each thing you do needs to work for you more. To me it begins with how we understand the brands of our organizations. What is our promise? How are we relevant? How are we different? If we can't answer these questions how can we help our clients or potential clients? A better question might be, Why should they use us?

Start Spreading the News

2008-11-04T06:06:00.000-08:00

My 18-year-old daughter Hilary and I visited the University of Kentucky campus last week as she investigates a career in magazine writing. I had heard UK had a good journalism school but was very suprised at its most recent accomplishments. While visiting I learned that the school was bidding for the equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize among college newspapers, the Pace Maker Award. If UK wins the honor it would come for the second time in three years. I was impressed with our campus tour guide Angela who is in the broadcast journalism program and with the professors and their commitment to helping the students secure internships and permanent positions upon graduating. The school rose to the top of my daughter's list.

Cincinnati AMA among best chapters in N America

2008-10-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

The Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Association found out recently it has been judged to be the third best chapter in North America for 2007-2008 by a national AMA judging panel in Chicago. Cincinnati finished third behind Houston and Nashville. This is the best showing by the Cincinnati chapter in six years. Judges cited the chapter's membership growth (more than 100 professionals in the past year to an all-time high of 576 members), the growth of its luncheon programs (averaging 125 each month) and the boost in volunteers by more than 65 percent to over 100. Hopefully, information such as this will help position Cincinnati as a hub for marketers and branders.

Going Out With a Purpose Driven Brand

2008-10-10T12:49:00.000-07:00

Jim Stengel, Global Marketing Officer for Procter and Gamble, officially retires from the company after a 25-year ride on October 31st. He treated more than 200 attendees of the first ever University of Cincinnati College of Business Marketing Summit to the tricks of creating what he called a purpose-driven brand. No tricks really. He defined a brand as

the collective intent of people behind it (a product, idea or service) manifested in actions they take.

I particularly like the example he used of Goldfish. He said it's not simply a snack but is described by creator Peppridge Farms as existing to instill optimism in children. When I think about how excited my nine-year old used to get about buying and eating goldfish (notice I said used to--adolescence is creeping lower and lower as the years pass by), I can begin to appreciate this take. Imagine how a statement like that would motivate your employees who seek a nobler purpose than just collecting a paycheck.

I'll leave it to the mainstream local media to dissect the rest of Stengels's comments.
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/10/06/daily58.html

I was very impressed with UC's faculty at today's event. Although in talking with organizers they are already worrying about how to top this year's successful launch. A number of teachers/administrators made the effort to walk around to the different tables making guests feel welcome. I also learned more about the schools's Masters in Marketing Capstone program, a two-quarter experience where students diagnose a business challenge, then solve it using the head knowledge gained in the classroom. One example outlined in UC's literature was the development of a comprehensive marketing plan for the American Sign Museum which moved from Walnut Hills to larger quarters in Camp Washington. The program which can utilize a maximum of 400 student hours, runs from January to June. A one- to two-page proposal can be submitted by for-profits and non-profits. Deadline is November 14. All they ask is a description of your entity, the issues you are facing and a rundown of how students would benefit from helping you. Details: andrea.dixon@uc.edu.

Another sign of an aging population

2008-06-06T03:34:00.000-07:00

While not every senior citizen I know is technology-challenged, here's more evidence that would seem to support older Americans are behind the times.
-----------
YOU'VE GOT MAIL! NOT!
While many people check their Blackberrys seemingly every five minutes for new emails, roughly one-fifth of all U.S. heads-of-household have never sent or used an e-mail. According to National Technology Scan, a forthcoming study from Parks Associates, 20 million U.S. households are still without Internet access and approximately 18% of all households don’t use email.
The research indicates that 21% of heads of households have never sent or received an email and another 21 percent were found to have never looked up a website or browsed for information online. “Nearly one out of three household heads has never used a computer to create a document,” said John Barrett, director, research, Parks Associates. “These data underscore the significant digital divide between the connected majority and the homes in the unconnected minority that rarely, if ever, uses a computer.”
Age and education are factors in this divide. One-half of those who have never used e-mail are over 65, and 56 percent had no schooling beyond high school.
The survey also found just seven percent of the 20 million “disconnected” homes plan to subscribe to an Internet service within the next 12 months. Still, the study reports a steady decline in the number of disconnected households when comparing findings with previous years. National Technology Scan reported at year-end 2006 that 29% of all U.S. households (31 million homes) did not have Internet access, citing low perceived value of the Internet.

"Dave Trippin Through NKY"

2008-05-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

Northern Kentucky is among the areas featured in a day tripper's guide through Appalachia by Huntington Herald Dispatch Reporter Dave Lavender and his wife Toril. In addition to Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio are featured.

In the section, highlighted as NEWPORT, Lavender spends 11 pages talking about a variety of attractions throughout Northern Kentucky including Newport on the Levee and nearby stops in historic Newport, Mainstrasse Village and some of the more rural highlights of the area (Rabbit Hash and its General Store and Big Bone Lick State Park).

Dave also highlights places to stay such as the Radisson Riverfront the Wildwood Inn. As an aside, Dave has an affinity for this area serving as a summer intern journalist in his more formative years.

I highly recommend the book especially as you may be pinching pennies this summer and not wanting to venture too far from home. You can order it online at www.davetrippin.com or www.jsfbooks. You can also get it through Amazon.

Motivating the Workforce

2008-04-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

Kip Knight in his recent address to the Cincinnati AMA Chapter also talked about the ways that organizations can leverage the power of all employees:

1. Cultivating a culture of being open/closed minded;
2. Rewarding new ideas;
3. Leveraging Internet 2.0;
4. Gathering consumer insight;
5. Utlizing Consumers as Editors;
6. Giving up control;
7. There will be blood (for every success, there are many failures so innovate and move or risk being out marketed).

Listening to Customers

2008-03-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

I recently had the chance to hear Kip Knight, Vice President of North American Marketing for eBay speak as a guest of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Association. Kip is contemplating writing a book he would entitle The Power of All of Us exploring how individuals in communities matter in the online world. This will be the first of two entries on Kip's talk--it was so rich with good content. He referred to the three V's eBay uses in hearing from their customers:

Voices- the company brings users to U.S. Headquarters in California and places them in focus groups to hear their views;

Visits- eBay actually visits (with permission) users homes to see the steps they take to sell items;

Views-on a quarterly basis, focus groups of users are polled on industry-related questions such as security.

Perhaps the methods described above by Kip will help you to gain meaningful information from your customers or stakeholders.

Nominating Better Than Winning

2008-03-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I was thrilled to learn this week that a friend I had nominated for the national American Marketing Association Volunteer of the Year award beat out 30 other competitors for the award. It sounds rather strange that you would use the word competition in the same sentence for an award comparing the merits of people doing different yet significant things to better the world. In this case, the person was Carol Shea who served as Cincinnati AMA Chapter President in 1992. She went on to serve in distinction in helping to start AMA's national market research bootcamp and even served as the AMA liaison to the U.S. Post Office. Carol was very deserving of this honor but despite all the pride and appreciation she expressed to me for nominating her, I sort of felt like I was the bigger winner. It brought back to me the importance of showing honor and appreciation for those who professionally and personally guide us along our paths in life. Here's what I wrote about Carol in my nomination.

Carol has always taken time to counsel chapter members who followed in her footsteps. Personally, she has taken an active interest in my career and aspirations as I ascended the chapter leadership track. Sympathetic, compassionate and wise are three words, which exemplify Carol Shea’s spirit, a spirit that resonates throughout our community serving as a strong foundation for Cincinnati’s stature as a chapter those within the AMA family respect and admire.

I hope this story inspires you to take an extra moment to acknowledge the unique gifts each of us brings to brighten the world around us and help make our paid and unpaid ventures worthwhile.

History Over Cocktails

2008-02-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

One of the latest and greatest after-hours meeting destinations in Northern Kentucky for convention or corporate groups is the The Grand At Madison, located at Fifth Street and Madison Avenue, Covington. It's a five minute walk from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and is located in the historic and recently renovated Odd Fellows Hall. The history of the place provides an interesting backdrop for chatting during drinks and appetizers:

It was the center of Covington's civic and political life for most of the Victoria Era.
When the Civil War ended, victorious Union General Ulysses S. Grant was honored at a reception there.
In 1900, the body of William Goebel, the only U.S. Governor to be assassinated in office, laid in state there as an estimated 10,000 filed past.
In the 1950s, a roller skating rink filled the second floor ballroom, famous for its 25-foot-high ceiling suspended by a truss system.
In May 2002, a major fire almost destroyed the entire building and sparked a five year massive renovation.

For more information: www.kycater.com

Check out this short video.

Email for young and old alike

2008-02-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

For those trying to reach younger audiences for meetings or events should email be forsaken for texting, Facebook and other more seemingly relevant social media for that age-group? That's a vexing question for experts smarter than me.
http://blogs.mediapost.com/email_insider/?p=
But I tend to agree with this post relative to my experience with our Cincinnati American Marketing Association Chapter. For instance, Wednesday, we hosted our monthly Word of Mouth Shared Interest Group. We generally average attendance of 10-15 each month. However, armed with a strong email list and a minor mention in the newspaper business calendar section, we had a mob on our hands with 51 showing up to hear a treatise on the power of Linked In. I asked our lead facilitator Rob Bunting (cincyimg.typepad.com) about his thoughts of the power of email. He remarked that while Facebook and other social media outlets have millions of subscribers, email is universal. In fact, you're starting to see many business cards do away with fax numbers in favor of email.

I also asked Will Krieger, who heads up the Cincinnati AMA Young Professionals Group, if he uses any of the social networking tools to attract the two dozen or so YPs that gather at their monthly events. Nope, it's all email.

It also occurs to me that the pressure to conform to a more standard communication form faces recent college graduates when they enter their first job. Most of their older colleagues just began using cell phones in the past decade so the question of whether they want contextual advertising on their phones is laughable.

So it appears that the death of email as it relates to younger emerging audiences is about as true as the immediate demise of print advertising.

Promo Items with a Tint of Green

2008-01-30T12:32:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine in the promotional products business passed along this year's catalog of items. Several have an environmental flavor. Several others were very clever and useful, which I find most promotional items not to be. Here are the highlights:

NaturPen, an environmentally friendly ballpoint pen made from recycled card stock and sustainable wooden chips;
Green Thumb Gardening Bag, includes gloves, water spray bottle, shears, dendelion weeder, trowel, hand rake and a spade with a pocket for each;
Notepad with Post-It, Pen, Ruler and Magnifying Glass (perfect for me, the new owner of reading glasses for the first time);
Wireless USB Mouse with Calculator

Happening Vegas Branding Campaign Has Staying Power Story For Meeting Planners

2008-01-23T14:38:00.000-08:00

You don't have to be promoting an iconic destination such as Las Vegas to drive traffic to your next convention or special event. So says Reno, NV advertising executive Randy Snow of R&R Partners. Snow, who serves as Creative Director for the firm, is best known as the man behind branding campaign, What Happens Here, Stays Here.

R&R Partners - The Work

I met Snow today after he spoke to the Cincinnati Advertising Club. He says about ten years ago R&R began offering business-to-business campaigns for meeting planners and C Suite executives, the audience corporate planners need to convince when making decisions on where such events are held. This was done under the financing and supervision of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority.

Quantitative (800-1,000 surveyed) and qualitative (three to four in a focus group) research is performed (Snow says the Authority spends $7 million annually in just research). They ask the same question every time to planners, he says: What Things Drive Planners? The top two answers never change: 1. How to make things go right; and 2. How do I get recognition when things don't go wrong.

Snow says the underlying truths in each of these statements is that you have to "ask the customers what matters to them and then deliver. There are emotional connections in every destination. It's devilishly simple. Give people what they want."

Blog Does Not Mean Blab

2008-01-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

In the seven months or so I've been blogging I have been become very aware that there is a great responsibility in speaking out regarding topics and news I hear in casual conversation in business settings. I may even hear something said in a public forum that the speaker may not want repeated in another distribution channel, such as a blog. The other responsibility one has when becoming a blogger is to post items often enough so they are perceived as "serious." If you don't post enough, people begin to ignore or forget you. It's those people who irresponsibly dispense information that they haven't checked for accuracy, then go to the added extent of expressing an ill-informed point of view. This can be dangerous because media has been increasingly using blogs as a foundation for news stories. A survey of journalists, released today by Brodeur (http://blogs.mediapost.com/research_brief/?p=1621) says that reporters use blogs to help shape the tone of stories.

If a blog is sensationalistic in its treatment of subjects and individuals, a reporter might use the tone of the blog to help shape the way that person or topic is portrayed in follow-up news stories. All bloggers should take a vow that when they write, they are using povs based upon fact and not hearsay or innuendo. They should also be careful to balance their opinions with reaction from those holding different viewpoints. That's the credo that traditional journalists subscribe to. Bloggers should be no different.

Another role for planners, "Mark It Down"

2008-01-16T15:02:00.000-08:00

A new study by Meeting News finds that marketing and customer event management are two increasing roles for meeting planners.

(http://www.mimegasite.com/mimegasite/research/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003686136)

With more than 300 planners surveyed, 16 of the 77 percent who said these tasks are part of their responsibilities stated that only recently these functions were added to their to-do lists. This comes as no surprise to me in my work. One of my significant roles as Communications Director of the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau, is to provide complimentary media relations services to planners. With increasing time pressures, planners are yearning for any kind of assistance they can receive to balance the needs of roles they already need to balance. This finding also confirms my believe that establishing this blog offering helpful marketing tips to planners is something that is an underserved if not an unmet need in the meetings industry.

Trade Shows Still Viable B2B Selling Tool

2008-01-12T09:38:00.000-08:00

A professional colleague contacted me this week with a problem. She was attempting to convince her boss that exhibiting at trade shows is still an effective business development tool. I’m no expert on the subject but went to one to find out. I’m sharing the advice of Danica Tormohlen, Editor of Expo Magazine. Two points she stressed:

More than half of attendees will buy this year. The number of attendees planning to make a purchase in the next 12 months was comparable to last year. Forty-three percent of booth visitors plan to buy an exhibitor’s product or service within the 12 months following the show.
Shows, as well as individual exhibitors, continue to attract qualified attendees. In 2006, 79 percent of attendees who visited an exhibit had no contact with that company within the previous 12 months. Among visitors to individual booths, 82 percent are interested in the product or service displayed and 78 percent have buying influence for the exhibitor’s product or service.

Attribution and more details of the study can be found on the following link.
http://www.expoweb.com/Benchmarks_Research/2007MayMarketWatchTradeshowattendeebenchmark.htm

Danica also sited other resources:
1. The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (http://www.ceir.org/) compares sales costs for trade show exhibiting with other media;
2. American Business Media states cases for the most effective business-to-business marketing (http://www.americanbusinessmedia.com/abm/ABMIntellResearch2007.asp?SnID=1537975429)
3. B-to-B Magazine (http://www.btobonline.com/)
4. Exhibitor Magazine (http://www.exhibitoronline.com/)Trade Show Exhibitors Association (http://www.tsea.org/)

Non-Profit Board Leadership

2008-01-05T11:38:00.000-08:00

If you are involved in recruitment of non-profit board members I hope this information is helpful. I posed this question to former Presidents of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Association. Our chapter has been named national AMA Chapter of the Year on three occasions in the past two decades. As I've mentioned in the past, I am the current President of the organization. Anyhow, I digress. Here's the question:

What quality or qualities are most important for individuals serving on non-profit boards?

The overwhelming response was possessing a belief in and passion for the organization's mission. This was backed up by mentions of other leadership skills that flow naturally out of this first point.

Lead by offering your background or experience in your area of responsibility on the board;
Provide a succession plan;
Lead by example by giving time and talents and supporting events/programs;
Energize volunteers to do their best and do it NOW;
Recognizing who the "players" are among your membership so you are bringing in people who might be even more passionate, committed and perhaps more qualified than YOU;
Display wisdom based on marketplace realities (know when it's time for change).

One respondent in closing was reminded of a quote by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter that could best describe a non-profit leader:

A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be.

B2B Marketers Standing Pat on '08 Spending Risk Falling Behind

2007-12-26T16:59:00.000-08:00

Most forecasters are rather pessimistic in their projections for the US ecomomy in the upcoming year. Business to business marketers are either not getting the message or are getting through to their bosses that in down economic times, MORE money should be devoted to marketing not less.

B2B's 2008 Marketing Priorities and Plans show nearly 80 percent of marketers planning to up online spending with slightly more than 60 percent planning to increase overall marketing budgets. Overall online marketing will make up a full third of the budget up from 26.5 percent in 2007. Leading the way in budget items seeing increases will be web site development, email and search engine marketing.

The First Virtual Convention Center

2007-12-19T11:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you interested in second life, I think you'll enjoy this.

http://www.prweb.com/releases/second%20life/Virtualis/prweb576794.htm

From Green to Red White and Blue

2007-12-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

I was struck by a story this past weekend in the online version of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette announcing that the last Santa suit manufacturer in that area was going out of business. As a matter of fact, the company was one of the last sectors of the apparel industry left in the United States. While one of the hottest trends in the meetings business, and for that matter any industry, is going green, the environmental-friendly movement may soon take a back seat to the colors red, white and blue.

The cover story in this month's Marketing News, the official publication of the American Marketing Association, talks about how consumers are alarmed about the products they are purchasing given all the product recalls and safety concerns (i.e., lead paint in toys made in China). The story goes on to say they want to buy products they can rely on, and prefer them to be made closer to home. A late-summer Gallup survey found that 72 percent of Americans say they now pay more attention to which country produces the products they buy.

While a few American-made dominant companies are sited in the story (Little Tikes and American Joe Apparel), the author says those groups are in the minority. China is now our second largest trade partner, closing in on Mexico. So, companies and organizations which want to be on the leading edge of meeting a growing consumer need should pay heed.

Partnering with Car Makers

2007-12-14T04:49:00.000-08:00

Several items crossing my desk in the past few weeks related to the auto industry if you are considering partnerships:

Overall online automotive advertising will grow 27.5 percent over the next four years to $5.3 billion according to the Princeton research organization Kelsey Group;
New demographic information from Scarborough Research shows who owns hybrid vehicles. The profile includes people who earn $100,000 or more (more than twice the national average) and are also more than twice as likely to have a college degree. Twenty seven percent even have post-graduate degrees. Nearly three in four are either Democrats or Independents and most vote in elections;
J.D. Power is out with its 2007 Customer Retention Study. Toyota leads the list at 64 percent versus an industry average of 49 percent;
And talk about driving diversity, Malaysian car maker Proton is partnering with the Iranian and Turkish governments to produce an "Islamic car" globally. Features would include a compass to determine the direction of Mecca for prayers and compartments for storing The Quran and headscarves.

Career Talk: It must be that time of year again

2007-12-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

Without fail, this is the time of the year you see articles about what employees can do to differentiate themselves in the workplace. I surmise it has something to do with professionals evaluating their careers as another year ends and a new one begins. I find it rather humorous that while the articles use different words they essentially say the same thing.

For instance, last week I read in a popular trade publication for meeting planners that communication skills are important in that line of work

In another excellent magazine that caters to marketing and sales professionals the words cooperation and goodwill, savvy and sociability were used in a study by a non-profit organization providing assessment in education and workforce development. They were labeled 15 Personal Skills You Need on the Job.

Back to the first article, flexibility is another characteristic valued. The second article..savvy and sociability.

Ping, working with numbers. Pong, carefulness, order.

Finally, leveraging partnerships as opposed to influence.

These are all good characteristics to develop as we enter 2008.

Engaging/Disengaging Customers

2007-12-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

I recently ran across two very divergent strategies in enhancing customer (member) experiences. First the positive story. The YMCA is test-piloting an effort in 30 cities across the United States entitled YMCA Activate America. As a fitness center instructor at my local Y a few hours per week, I attended a training session the other night explaining the program which is meant to engage health seekers and to reinforce the Y's desire to be a relationship-based membership organization.

The idea is to make customers/members feel welcomed, listened to, respected and involved. It's a great concept because it really involves becoming a counselor in understanding health seeker's obstacles (perceived and actual) in getting fit. It also encourages members to seek out alternative cardio vascular fitness programs that many fail to realize exist.

A less flattering customer relations effort was recently launched by Walmart where it pulled all customer service numbers from its Web site in an effort to cut back on inbound calls tracking orders. This notion is obviously very short-sighted given that when you reach a live person on the other line, you feel valued, versus pushing buttons to respond to an automated system. This also short-circuits the opportunity to cross-sell customers having a tendency toward repeat purchases.

Ritz Carlton Finishes on Top of Hotel Brand Equity Study

2007-11-14T13:16:00.000-08:00

What do best in class practices look like among the nation's leading hotel chains based on their email marketing efforts? Read on and find out.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/email_insider/?p=538#comments

Does It Matter Which Day Your Email Blast Goes Out

2007-11-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Not according to this expert...

http://blogs.mediapost.com/email_insider/?p=537

If Only They Viewed My Emails Like Christmas Presents

2007-11-12T14:32:00.000-08:00

A timely thought on how you can get more people to read your emails despite their busy schedules.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/email_insider/?p=536

Beware of Brand Extensions

2007-11-09T08:13:00.000-08:00

Before venturing into brand extension projects that could solidify their image or increase revenues, for- or non-profit organizations should consider put on their marketing hats.

http://publications.mediapost.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.san&s=70711&Nid=36213&p=906391

NKY CVB Revised Web Site Makes Planner's Job Easier

2007-11-07T13:59:00.001-08:00

Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau Launches New Web Site
NEWS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Julie Connolly(513)287-7857, cell: (773)484-3704E-Mail: julie.connolly@strata-g.com

Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau Launches New Web Site
The innovative site is the final piece of NKYCVB's new branding and marketing campaign

COVINGTON, KY [October 24, 2007] — The Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau (NKYCVB) has launched www.nkycvb.com, a new innovative Web site designed to showcase Northern Kentucky to meetings and convention planners.
The dynamic site, created by Strata-G Communications, introduces an entirely new design, expanded features and improved navigation. In addition to traditional features such as hotel and accommodation listings, www.nkycvb.com offers an aerial tour that showcases the city and surrounding regions. The site also provides online booking capabilities and an uploadable Request for Proposal option. An extensive behind-the-scenes content management tool enables CVB staff to make updates to better meet the needs of the planner and reflect regional changes in the marketplace. "The website was designed not only to be rich in content but also an effective marketing tool that will generate convention and meeting sales resulting in an increase in economic impact for the entire region" says Barbara Dozier, Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the NKYCVB.
The site compliments a new logo along with updated marketing and messaging materials that were unveiled earlier this year. The campaign's engaging theme, "RethiNK" – is a compelling call to action for meeting planners to consider Northern Kentucky as a meeting destination, promising an experience that is exciting, distinctive, and far beyond expectations.
"With the fresh look of the new, streamlined website combined with the rich content showcasing Northern Kentucky's assets we believe we are ideally positioned to convince meeting planners that Northern Kentucky is an extraordinary destination," said Tom Caradonio, president and CEO of the NKYCVB
The mission of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is that of an aggressive sales, marketing, service and informational organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact the Northern Kentucky economy through conventions, meetings and visitor expenditures. The direct economic impact of visitors’ spending in Campbell, Kenton and Boone counties in 2005 was $255 million.

Kennedy Center Marketing Chief Comes to Town

2007-11-06T13:10:00.000-08:00

Kennedy Center For the Performing Arts Marketing Director David Kitto was in town recently to speak to the Cincinnati American Marketing Association Chapter. He says his major challenges are productivity and a fickle media. He measured the productivity equation in revenues. Revenues that are declining, he says, thanks to limited venue seating capacities and the sales of compact discs which impact people's willingness to attended by live performances. He adds this creates a trickle down effect which restricts the number of performances with a limited number of superstars.

The media continues to act indifferent at arts groups with less editorial space devoted to reviews and features. He notices in general the writing of fewer stories that make a difference in inspiring the lives of others.

Sensing the issue of preaching to the choir, Kitto said arts groups, in an effort to balance budgets make the mistake of cutting shows and cutting marketing budgets. Kitto says they have tried to be innovative in opening the Center to new audiences:

Bringing arts organizations from the Greater Washington DC area to their space to teach marketing initiatives;
Catering to audiences who love musicals such as when they staged a series of Stephen Sondheim works, which garnered international publicity;
Hosting international festivals such as the 2010, a celebration of Arab nations and collaborations with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Bolshoi Ballet to name a few.

Kitto says he works closely with the Center's Press Department to target what he calls core and marginal markets on a miniscule budget of $45-50 million. Kitto says his web site (www.kennedycenter.com) was the first to offer indoor virtual tours. They continue to be creative with ideas such as sending bounce back emails to first time ticket buyers to discounted tickets to a future performance.

NKY Hotel Receives Honor

2007-11-06T12:57:00.000-08:00

Holiday Inn Airport is an outstanding partner of the Northern Kentucky CVB. We salute them for their latest recognition.

Nadine DeGenova
Nadine DeGenova Public Relations
407-682-2625
nadine@prproof.com;
www.prproof.com

or

David Smith General Manager Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport 859-371-2233
david.smith@hicincinnatiairport.com

IMMEDIATE RELEASE - (Photo available upon request)
HOLIDAY INN CINCINNATI AIRPORT WINS INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS GROUP 2007 TORCHBEARER AWARD FOR THE NINTH YEAR Cincinnati, OH, November 5, 2007 – The Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport has received InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 2007 Torchbearer Award for the ninth year. "It is my pleasure to name the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport as one of the finest hotels in our industry," said Steve Porter, president, the Americas, IHG. "This hotel embodies the spirit, product and service that continue to make our properties known and admired throughout the world." InterContinental Hotels Group is the world’s largest hotel group based on total number of rooms and the Torchbearer is the most prestigious company award bestowed, recognizing the Top 20 in Overall Satisfaction of all Holiday Inns throughout North America and Canada.
The awards were officially presented at the 2007 IHG Americas Investors & Leadership Conference in Dallas, Texas, October 22-24, 2007, with more than 4,000 franchise owners, operators and company officials in attendance. David Smith, General Manager of the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport proudly accepted the award for the hotel, which currently ranks in the top 1% of all Holiday Inns worldwide.
The Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport is one of only 69 properties chosen from the IHG system of more than 3,800 hotels for achieving the highest levels of excellence in all aspects of operation -- from quality to customer satisfaction. The 2007 Torchbearer trophy will be on permanent display at the hotel for guests from all over the world to view.
Managed by Winegardner & Hammons of Cincinnati, OH, the Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport is also the proud recipient of the following awards:
Service Excellence Award - Top 10 Service scores of all Holiday Inns in North America and Canada
Best 4 Breakfast Award - Top 10 Breakfast Satisfaction scores of all Holiday Inns in North America and Canada
Awilda Putthoff – Best of the Best Award, Reservations/Revenue Manager
###
Note to Editors:
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (IHG) of the United Kingdom [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms. IHG owns, manages, leases or franchises, through various subsidiaries, over 3,800 hotels and more than 563,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories around the world. IHG owns a portfolio of well recognized and respected hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites® and Hotel Indigo®, and also manages the world's largest hotel loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards with over 33 million members worldwide.
The company pioneered the travel industry’s first collaborative response to environmental issues as founder of the International Hotels and Environment Initiative (IHEI). The IHEI formed the foundations of the Tourism Partnership launched by the International Business Leaders Forum in 2004, of which IHG is still a member today. The environment and local communities remain at the heart of IHG’s global corporate responsibility focus.
IHG offers information and online reservations for all its hotel brands at www.ihg.com and information for the Priority Club Rewards program at www.priorityclub.com. For the latest news from IHG, visit the online Press Office at www.ihg.com/media.

About Winegardner & Hammons, Inc.Winegardner & Hammons, Inc. is a full-service hotel management company with a reputation for progressive and successful hospitality management. The WHI owned/managed portfolio includes resorts, all-suite, extended-stay, full service and conference center hotels in many diverse markets across the United States. WHI currently manages over 26 hotels in the United States and is affiliated with most major hotel brands. For more information on WHI, please visit our web site at

Creation Museum Attendance Figures Six Months Ahead of Schedule

2007-11-03T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Creation Museum near the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, expected to attract a quarter of a million visitors in its first 12 months, but has reached that total in half the time.

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071103/NEWS0103/711030409/-1/all

Staying on the same page

2007-11-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

I was meeting with community leaders representing some of the major entities representing business interests in Northern Kentucky this week and we stressed the importance of communicating the same message. This has been sited as being a common theme in many thriving U.S. cities such as Charlotte and Austin. This article on narratives caught my eye as a possible solution.

http://blogs.mediapost.com/spin/?p=1164#comments

Further Proof of Word-Of-Mouth Marketing's Value

2007-10-27T06:54:00.001-07:00

A new study reported by the American Marketing Association this week...

http://www.marketingpower.com/content2033984.php

A How-To For Theming Meetings

2007-10-26T03:31:00.000-07:00

Meeting planners might want to look to the entertainment industry when they are looking for a cutting edge theme to their next conference, as evidenced by this brief in the September issue of Fast Company Magazine.

Road Games
RoadShow HollywoodSeptember 18-20Hollywood, California
"The entertainment industry is one way to predict what the trends are going to be," says Mitch Litvak, RoadShow founder. At this conference, entertainment execs premiere the next 6 to 18 months' worth of movies, TV, music, and gaming products so brand marketers can hunt for opportunities to develop Happy Meals and other tie-ins. Last year, New Line Cinema pitched its movie adaptation of the Broadway musical Hairspray. It ultimately led to Carnival Cruise Lines creating "the Hairspray experience." "We have karaoke nights, and dance instructors teach moves from the film," says Lance Still, an executive VP at New Line. Nickelodeon, Universal Music, and Warner Bros. are among this year's presenters. "We'll be highlighting Speed Racer, Steve Carell's Get Smart remake, and Where the Wild Things Are," says Warner senior VP of domestic promotions Mimi Slavin. --Aimee Rawlins

No "Reining IN" Kentucky's Tourism Slogan

2007-10-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

The Kentucky Department of Tourism says that for the third year in a row, the "Kentucky Unbridled Spirit" brand prompted recognition from people within a ten state region.

That and more news as the Commonwealth announced a change in their department name.

http://www.commerce.ky.gov/

Way Paved For More Parking at Creation Museum

2007-10-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

The popularity of the Answers in Genesis Creation Museum (www.answersingenesis.org) has put a strain on parking. See story in today's Cincinnati Enquirer.

http://news.nky.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20071018/NEWS0103/710180381

Procter and Gamble Letting Go While Starbucks Getting a Grip

2007-10-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Northern Kentucky was fortunate enough to serve as host this week of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC: http://www.iabc.org/) Heritage Region Conference hosting 200 professionals and students from as far away as New York, Virginia, Illinois and Michigan. IABC provides a professional network of more than 14,000 business communication professionals in over 70 countries, with members holding positions in such broad ranging disciplines as public relations, government relations, video production, training, education and human resources.

Two of the more engaging speakers at the conference were Procter & Gamble (http://www.pg.com/) Global External Relations Officer Charlotte Otto and James Greathouse, Director of Internal Communications for Starbucks. While both groups are known for innovation, Otto advised that the venerable corporate giant has been cautious in being transparent to consumers. For P&G, that opaqueness comes in the form of revealing details about product ingredients, something unthinkable even a few years ago.

Consumer brands face a hostile and skeptical market today, she added (citing Dan Yankelovich's book Profit With Honor in which the author details America's third wave of public distrust--following the Depression and Vietnam--coming in the form of 911, corporate scandals and the Iraq War (http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=0300108583). Otto says P&G's goal is to be authentic and interesting but safe to advertisers. "We have to respect consumers as co-creators acknowledging their control over the message."

If the coffee doesn't give Starbucks (http://www.starbucks.com/) executives the jitters, the problems created by the organization's growth might. Greathouse says seven new Starbucks a day are opening creating hundreds of new jobs for partners and baristas but also keeping busy about 1,200 employees in real estate, store design and construction as well as 150 HR people and regional Vice Presidents, Directors and District Managers. Imagine the potential for communication chaos with these swelling numbers. And Greathouse says the cost is potentially enormous. He reported that a single poorly written headline on an intranet home page amounts to $1,000 in wasted employee time (think about pondering a headline, clicking through it even though it's useless, taking time to decide whether it's useless, you get the picture). How to deal with this? Greathouse has pulled together a multi-department task force predicating their work on what the audiences need, or as Greathouse so succinctly phrased it, "Do things because the audience wants it not because it's cool or because (as the IT department might boast) 'we can.' "

CovARTing Along the Ohio River

2007-10-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

A five-year floodwall mural project has wrapped up along Covington's riverfront creating breathtaking art that has a three-dimensional feel to it even though the works are painted on a flat surface. This project is another sign of the continued revitalization of the Northern Kentucyk riverfront and gives the southern shores of the Ohio something to show to convention goers and tourists.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070907/NEWS02/709070355/-1/all

NFL's Lack of Parity & Associated Business Application

2007-10-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Writer Anthony Crupi of Mediaweek writes in the September 24th issue about early season ratings for ESPN and NBC's primetime National Football League telecasts being down about 15 percent from a season ago (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003645225). Weak matchups, he says, appear to be part of the problem. I would argue the weak matchups aren't limited to evening hours. You're seeing it throughout the league every weekend in most games. Take for instance the American Football Conference Eastern Division, now dominated by everyone's perrennial Super Bowl pick New England. The Patriots are undefeated in the first five games and haven't been challenged by any of their opponents. Yet the three other teams in their division (Buffalo, NY Jets and Miami) have won two games COMBINED. Several other division leaders in both conferences have near .500 records. At least for this season, "the parity's over" in the NFL. As a result, the overall quality and caliber of play in the League also suffers. This threatens to erode fan interest if this trend continues.

This lack of competitiveness got me thinking that while marketing and PR professionals complain about how difficult it is to stay on top and be innovative, the alternative is to become irrelevant and have potential customers lose interest in your product. It compels each of us to rise above the mediocrity we see within our industries and sometimes within our organizations. What can we do to differentiate ourselves? How can we, as author Andy Sernovitz, writes in his book Word of Mouth Marketing, create a topic about what we do to enhance and prolong the conversation about what makes our organization, our industry great. We should even prod our competitors to do so the same so we can all elevate our industry in the minds of our customers. Something to think about.

Tim now a different kind of tool man

2007-10-10T07:15:00.000-07:00

For years Tim Carter was known as the expert for the syndicated Ask The Builder syndicated show on television, newspaper and radio. While he still has those gigs (www.askthebuilder.com), he's now known more nationally as an internet publisher. Tim spoke to an overflow crowd at an American Marketing Association seminar in Cincinnati last week displaying a passion and enthusiasm for what the Internet can do for business-to-business and business-to-consumer interactions. Some of his more interesting observations:

Widget Ads (really mini website ads) are the latest phenomenon in effective online advertising. One example I found is boo-box (http://boo-box.com/site/) which promotes relevant marketing;
Video ads are a must in your advertising budget. Tim doesn't advocate eliminating all traditional advertising but he says that the majority of your advertising should be Internet-based;
Optimization doesn't cut it. He says about 95 percent of your online advertising budget should be directed to paid placement on search engines which he says is much more effective (with only about five percent put towards optimization).

Finally Tim said marketers need to remember they are in the "pain relief business." And he advised that Internet marketing that works allows buyers to find an exact solution to their search query, a phrase he used to define Contextual Advertising.

Tim is certainly not alone in his bullishness. A new report from the Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers found that Internet advertising revenues reached a combined total of nearly $10 billion during the first six months of this year...a 27 percent increase from the same period a year ago-driven largely by interactive advertising revenue.

Going Green Too Quickly Can Cause Red Faces

2007-10-05T03:09:00.000-07:00

In the conventions and meetings industry as in just about every other business sector today, a high premium is placed on being a more environmentally friendly company. But you can go too aggressive and make mistakes according to one local expert who is part of a regional convention Northern Kentucky is hosting this weekend.

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Pat Frew, Director of Communications
859-655-4163
E-Mail: Pressroom@nkycvb.com
www.nkycvb.com

GREEN AND SAFETY ARE THE KEY TOPICS FOR REGIONAL
CONFERENCE FOR COLLEGE FACILITIES MANAGERS

Covington, KY/September 28, 2007—People who manage facilities for more than 50 colleges and universities throughout the Southeastern United States as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands will be attending an upcoming conference hosted by Northern Kentucky University at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center October 6-9.

Two of the major topics explored by members of the Southeastern Regional Association of Physical Plant Administrators (SRAPPA) will be “green” or initiatives to make school buildings more environmental friendly and preparing for disasters such as pandemic influenza.

Steve Glazner, Director of Knowledge Management for SRAPPA’s national organization the Association of Physical Plant Administrators (www.appa.org), says SRAPPA’s 56th Annual Conference in Covington continues its long-standing tradition of high-quality educational programs and networking opportunities for its membership.

“The issues of sustainability and ‘green design’ have reached a true tipping point. Educational institutions are taking the lead in developing, integrating and educating sustainability concepts into their facilities’ operations, design and engineering curricula and through student involvement,” said Glazner.

Presenters will lay out details of a process called commissioning, prevalent the past two decades in the military and industrial sectors, which allows for greater cost-savings in construction and design while maintaining high-performance buildings.

One topic which is generating pre-conference interest relates to making campuses more environmental friendly. Monday, October 8 at 9:30 a.m., Project Engineer Megan Hawk of Facility Engineering Associates of Fairfax, VA will co-present the topic When Green Alternatives Make Sense. She says it’s important that university leaders don’t approach green programs too quickly.

“Sustainability without strategy is a mistake. In order to be successful, facility managers need to define their sustainable goals, develop a sustainable plan, and implement that plan. Without a strategy, universities can end up wasting valuable funds.”

The World Health Organization reported as of September 11, 2007 there have been 328 lab-confirmed cases of pandemic flu, originating from close contact with wild birds, mainly in Southeast Asia. Two hundred of these cases have resulted in death. Kate Van Sant serves as Vice President for Communications, SRAPPA and Assistant to the Associate Vice President of Facilities and Services, West Virginia University. On Tuesday, October 9 at 3:15 p.m. she will co-present the topic Pandemic Planning For Colleges and Universities, presenting resources and sample outline plans for combating the problem should an outbreak occur.

Van Sant says pandemic concerns relate to the responsibilities of facility managers. “Institutions of higher education function as small cities. In the event of a pandemic of avian influenza, you may need to shut down offices, classroom spaces, transportation systems, dorms, restaurants, even large athletic and cultural event centers. Students could become stranded on campus as well as employees assigned to serve the needs of students and to maintain facilities. Also, you have a high need to constantly communicate with all populations effected by the institution including parents, faculty, the surrounding community and emergency agencies.”

The SRAPPA region encompasses Northern Kentucky University as its northern most tip and goes as far south as Florida, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as far west as Tennessee and Alabama and to the east the Atlantic Coast region. About 350 professionals are expected. Walk-in registration is available for the two-day educational sessions ($250) or for all four days ($500). For more information about the conference: www.srappa.org.

Ready...Aim...REMEMBER

2007-10-01T21:25:00.000-07:00

The authors of the bestselling book Made To Stick (Dan and Chip Heath) maintain in an article in the current issue of Fast Company Magazine (Time to Get Trigger Happy) claim that lunch trays have helped prove the value of environmental triggers in improving an idea's effectiveness.

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/119/time-to-get-trigger-happy.html

Convention Center Expansion Gains Steam

2007-09-27T04:17:00.000-07:00

Momentum continues to build for the expansion of the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, some eight years after its opening.

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/09/24/daily30.html

Cincinnati Marketing Central

2007-09-24T12:06:00.000-07:00

One of the joys in having the privilege of being President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Assn. is that I'm considered an expert by media on marketing topics. While there are others who certainly know much more than I, I do enjoy speaking about how marketing and branding in general are strengths in Cincinnati as it seeks to be differentiated from other cities in the United States. See the related article in Sunday's Cincinnati Enquirer Business Section.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070923/BIZ01/709230366

Customer Satis-fiasco

2007-09-18T03:34:00.000-07:00

I sat in on a webinar the other day sponsored by the American Marketing Association talking about the disconnect between Chief Marketing Officers and other C-level executives within an organization, particularly the Chief Financial Officer. The webinar facilitator maintained many CMOS fail to be credible because they don't implement accountability measures to prove the value of the initiatives they are trying to adopt. Marketing executives, he added, often hide behind catch phrases that further cause them to be dismissed. He threw out some words of his own to make the point:

dash-bored

montric (versus metric)

customer satis-fiction

This last phrase took on personal meaning when my wife and I were out celebrating our 22nd anniversary this past weekend at a respected restaurant near our home. Anyone who knows me knows I am not a picky eater and I seldom criticize any dish put in front of me. However, the menu item I selected tasted rather bland (chicken, so that should somewhat be taken into account) and the accompanying glazed green beans were not only tasteless but weren't completely cooked.

When the waitress returned to our table to see how we liked our meal, I was honest with her. She had recommended the meal I ended up selecting. I trusted her recommendation. A short time later, she was concerned when I told her my reaction to the food. She offered to get me something else but by this time I wasn't hungry any longer and politely refused. At this point I was disappointed that the food wasn't to my liking but I wasn't overly upset about it. I tried to communicate this to the waitress but that's obviously not the way she took it.

For the remainder of the time at the restaurant, any time she came by the table or passed by, she completely ignored me. My wife protested that I hurt her feelings. You should also know my wife felt I was rude being truthful to her about the food. I maintained that it was dishonest and unfair not to tell her the truth. I believe people who suppress such feelings are more inclined to go out and bad-mouth the business where their experience was sub-par. It was in her best interest to level with her.

But I have to tell you that her reaction to my honesty made me even more upset. Not only did she not validate the mixed feelings I had about the meal. But she ruined our anniversary celebration causing a rift between my wife and I. I will not eat in that restaurant again. This episode reminded me that in any business interaction with customers you must emphathize with them if their experience is less than satisfactory. Note I said emphathize, you don't have to agree with them totally. And you must not get your feelings hurt if they don't have the experience you want them to have. Otherwise you can make an innocuous or bad situation worse.

Mural Project Nearing Completion along NKY Riverfront

2007-09-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

In the next month, a decade long project beautifying the Northern Kentucky riverfront with a canvas of concrete will be completed.

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070907/NEWS02/709070356/-1/BACK01

ESPN Sightings

2007-09-11T18:38:00.000-07:00

ESPN was in town this week for the Monday Night game between the Bengals and Ravens. Their presence generated a lot of excitment as Greater Cincinnati icons new and old were on display, as evidenced by a recent story in the Cincinnati Post.
http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070908/NEWS02/709080341/-1/BACK01

Marketing At a Crossroads

2007-08-22T08:47:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm nearly two months into my role as President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the AMA, I'm beginning to see that the marketing profession is due for some self analysis. This is never more evident with a recent report from the University of Texas about the impact of CMOs or Chief Marketing Officers. Read below....

BOARDROOM MARKETERS' NIL IMPACT ON FISCAL PERFORMANCE: REPORTAUSTIN, Texas: In what some see as a setback to the ANA's campaign to elevate the marketing function to the top of the corporate hierarchy, a new report from the University of Texas infers that the impact of chief marketing officers on their employer's financial results is ... zip, zero, nil or nix! The January 2008 issue of the American Marketing Association's quarterly Journal of Marketing is due to carry a controversial new report, Chief Marketing Officers: A Study of their Presence in Firms' Top Management Teams.It posits that the presence of a CMO in a company's senior management cadre has no effect on that firm's financial performance The review was conducted over a five year period with 167 top companies (among them Procter & Gamble, Microsoft, IBM, Intel and Apple), all with minimum annual revenues of $250 million (€183.47m; £124.26m). It disinters the longstanding debate on how best to measure marketing performance. Should CMOs be evaluated on tangible or intangible metrics?By unassailable statistics such as sales? Or on more nebulous concepts like brand equity or consumer awareness? Even the report's authors are hesitant to draw conclusions and concede that their study is limited because it concentrates on financial metrics like sales growth and profitability, whilst ignoring key factors such as brand equity. Vijay Mahajan, a professor in the department of marketing at the University of Texas and co-author of the report, agrees that the financial metrics used to measure the performance of CFOs and CEOs have less relevance to CMO role. "Those [weightings] are very short-term," says Mahajan. "You cannot use short-term metrics to measure the performance of someone who is supposed to have a long-term impact." But despite that qualifier, the report's findings will do little to enhance the status or influence of marketers, especially in medium-to-smaller companies where Byzantine concepts like brand equity are rarely bandied in boardrooms. Less than half the companies studied (40%) had a CMO in its top-management team - versus 92% with a CFO aboard. The actual title CMO is uncommon, used only by circa 20% of companies. And it will be of scant comfort to marketers that the report concludes that CMOs do no harm: "It is important to note that CMOs do not have a negative impact on performance," it opined. Data sourced from AdAge.com; additional content by WARC staff, 10 July 2007
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While it's too early to sound the alarm, I think that marketers in general need to take these opinions seriously. I sat in on an webinar yesterday entitled Marketing ROI: 10 Strategies for Winning Over Your CFO and other Marketing Skeptics. I had to slip out early but the general sense conveyed was that other C-level executives in our organizations outside of marketing are looking for return on investment for everything done. No big suprise there. As a result, credibility needs to be established early in the process with such factors as alignment, a comprehensive measurement system, objectivity (marketers tend to be overly optimistic) and accountability being central. Much of this begins as companies reflect on the role of marketing and decide on its purpose for their particular situation.

On September 21, the Cincinnati AMA will launch its 2007-2008 season with a luncheon at the riverfront Radisson Hotel in Covington on the challenges faced by CMOs (www.cincinnatiama.org). Many of these issues will be discussed and debated. Hope you can attend.

New numbers on the Creation Museum

2007-07-12T12:15:00.000-07:00

I just heard yesterday from the Mark, Looy, Vice President of Outreach for the Creation Museum. He said they are up to 70,000 visitors based upon the opening Memorial Day weekend and the special guests that passed through the Museum in the week prior to the public opening.

Creation Museum Commercial Adds to Facility's Intrigue

2007-07-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

The popularity of the Creation Museum by Answers in Genesis continues to astound people, even its founders, Answers in Genesis. The state-of-the-art attraction drew more than 40,000 guests less than 30 days after its opening on Memorial Day, 2007. No doubt many of those visitors came from outside the Greater Cincinnati area where the Museum has been advertising in feeder markets such as Louisville, Lexington, Columbus and Indianapolis. The Museum's intriguing 30 second tv commercial follows.

NKY Attraction in Limbo

2007-06-19T17:29:00.001-07:00

Belated apologies for not writing for so long. It was a matter of too many out of town work trips, college visits for my graduating high school senior and the subsequent graduation of said senior. In fact, some much time has passed, I need to change the focus surrounding the picture to the left. I visited New York City in mid-May as part of a hospitality after-hours party for national media, hosted by the Kentucky Department of Tourism and several of the state Convention and Visitors Bureaus and leading attractions. The purpose of the party was to educate writers on some of our leading tourist sites in the state---Northern Kentucky included. With only 24 hours to spend in NYC, I had little time to do sightseeing but wanted to take in a nearby Big Apple attraction, Top of the Rock (that's me pictured left standing atop Rockefeller Center--with the Empire State Building in the backdrop). Top of the Rock shared a distinction with the now-suspended Purple People Bridge Climb attraction. Both were named earlier this year to Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel Magazine's Top Ten Thrills. The Thrill is gone in Newport for now since the Climb's operator shut the attraction down because of financial difficulties. I have been questioned often since as to whether the PPBC will ever reopen. Not much is known at this point. However the non-profit board that regulates the Bridge has decided not to tear down the climbing steps and railing on the Bridge right now. So there is always hope that the attraction can be revived at a later date.

Southbank Sighting

2007-05-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

During the next several weeks, you'll be seeing several articles in the print media about a group that I support extensively, Southbank Partners (www.southbankpartners.com). Southbank is an economic development agency that helps organize and orchestrate development along the the southern shores of the Ohio River in the communities of Covington, Newport and Bellevue. In the past Southbank has been instrumental in the development of such projects as Newport on the Levee (named top mall/shopping attraction for US families by Zagat, 2004) and Hofbrauhaus Newport (the first authentic Hofbrauhaus outside Munich). Southbank has renovated its web site. Some of the features to look for are a video on the front page of the site that outlines some of the new projects along the river. Some of you may be aware that more than $1 billion in real estate investment is underway along the NKY riverfront, highlighted by the Ascent at Roebling luxury condominium project designed by World Trade Center Memorial architect Daniel Libeskind, which should be completed by Thanksgiving. The web site will also feature a monthly enewsletter that will briefly touch upon interesting behind the scenes stories about the communities that should interest media and the public in general. Southbank is currently lobbying for funding for a $50 million walking trail that will also feature signage outlining different historical aspects of the river and riverfront. The paved path would be four miles long and would stretch from Covington to Bellevue.

Marketers Unite

2007-04-25T11:01:00.000-07:00

While most of you were out enjoying the beautiful weather this past weekend, I was basking in the warm glow of companionship and creativity at the annual American Marketing Association'sLeadership Summit in Chicago. It's a chance for AMA Chapter leaders to begin planning their program year. Since I will be President of the 450 member Cincinnati Chapter starting this fall (officially July), much of the initiative in that planning falls upon me. The conference takes on a different feel every year. This year's theme centered on espioniage and was entitled Mission Possible. One of the highlights was a presentation by the International Spy Museum's Chief Operating Officer Paul Bosch who talked about the facility and its more than 9,000 artifacts. While the Museum has its creative roots in Cleveland, the Museum was placed in Washington DC for obvious reasons (spying and politics do go hand in hand, you know). I'm not sure how you coorelate spying and marketing, but it got me to thinking that there is an element of cloak and dagger in securing and maintaining customers. Both spying and marketing require a great deal of background work (research). Secret agents and CMOs also need to remember who their customers are. And each must develop a level of consistency and meeting current expectations while anticipating future needs.

2007-04-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Am just back from the new interactive Penguin exhibit at the Newport Aquarium. It was a neat experience. I was taken with how adaptive the birds are to humans. Keepers told us during the stay that the penguins view humans just like being around other penguins as they were born in captivity and hand-fed. Below is a story in the Kty Enquirer about it. Costs vary as this is an additional charge to the normal entry admission. You can check out the Aquarium website (www.newportaquarium.com) for pricing details but the great part is part of the proceeds benefit penguin research. I think this attraction has a lot of potential for some of our meeting groups coming to NKY.

Waddle over to Penguin House
BY RYAN CLARK RCLARK@NKY.COM E-mail Print digg us! del.icio.us!
You've already fed the lorikeets and petted the sharks.
Now you can get up close and personal with the penguins at Newport Aquarium.
Penguin Encounters is a new 20-minute experience that allows guests to touch the penguins and observe their behavior face to beak.

A new Penguin House has been built to provide a permanent residence for three blackfooted penguins. Aquarium biologists will educate visitors and provide insight into the penguin world. The exhibit will open April 23.
Jill Isaacs, spokeswoman for the Aquarium, said that on a typical visit, patrons could touch the penguins, and watch as the animals waddle, swim, preen, shake their tails and jump into their pool.
And no coats are needed.
"The three blackfooted penguins are from South Africa and live in a temperate environment, so guests don't need to bring coats to the Penguin Encounters," Isaacs said.
Guests will learn about penguin feathers, habitat and diet.
"We hope that by seeing these animals and having the chance to interact with them, people will be able to better understand them and will also help us in our efforts to protect them in the wild," Ric Urban, Newport Aquarium's Rainforest Curator, said in a written statement.
The penguins have been named Paula, Randy and Simon (yes, after the "American Idol" celebrity judges). They are scheduled to appear on the Fox 19 Morning Show Wednesdays through May 23. Each week they will use their penguin intuition to determine which contestant will be eliminated, Isaacs said.
The blackfooted penguins are the third species of penguins at the aquarium. There are also 11 king and 15 gentoo Penguins in the 34-degree Kingdom of Penguins exhibit.

Drip, Drip Drip

2007-04-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

I have survived the East Coast Noreaster. Actually the weather in Philadelphia was delightful until my daughter and I left Sunday morning when the rains hit. As we toured City Center Saturday afternoon and evening, the basked in the warm sun with tempertures in the low 50s. A lively crowd gathered around the Liberty Bell which was a 30 minute wait. In case you hadn't heard, a new museum is being constructed adjacent to the Bell viewing site directly across the street from Constitution Hall. A park ranger told me they have plans to build a museum themed around the first Presidential home (where Washington and Adams lived).

2007-04-12T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hope you enjoy my initial ascent into blogging. I chose Frewtopia as a play on words to eutopia, which means a high state of contentment as many of you probably already know. I'm a very content and blessed guy as you'll learn. My posts will offer a variety of topics related to my professional interests. Those include:

* Marketing & Communications- I'll assume the post of President of the Cincinnati Chapter of the American Marketing Association this fall. It's a very vibrant and dynamic group that has started special interest discussion groups in the areas of Word of Mouth Marketing, Business To Business and Market Research. A new Marketing Young Professionals group has also been launched recently. We have a membership of more than 500 members and have been named multiple times as international AMA Chapter of the Year (www.cincinnatiama.org);

* Hospitality and Meetings Industry-As Communications Director of the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau, I'm very interested in information about cities around the country and the amenities they are building for visitors. I'll be doing a lot of traveling over the next six weeks, starting this weekend in Philadelphia where my 18 year old daughter will probably be attending college. I'll also chronicle some of the excited projects in my area for benefit of non-residents in the Greater Cincinnati area;

*Economic Development-This topic goes hand in hand with the meetings and hospitality sector because building things demonstrates growth. And people want to visit areas that are growing and vibrant. In Northern Kentucky alone, more than $1 billion dollars in real estate investment (luxury condos and spinoff development) is underway. I am a board member of an economic development agency Southbank Partners, a group of dynamic, collaborative individuals which make things happen on the Southern shores of the Ohio River. It's one of my favorite things I do outside my regular job;

*Business in General-I am also involved on committees/task forces related to the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, our economic development agency for all of Northern Kentucky, Tri-ED and the Greater Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. All these groups are vital to the growth of our area.

Well, I've gone on long enough. Would love to hear your comments, and look forward to future dialogue.