• Travel & 'Togethering'

    By Jessie States July 30, 2010

    As if staycations and awaycations weren't enough, the Vacation Rental Managers Association brings us "togethering," where people spend their vacations traveling with large groups of friends, family, children and pets. Whoa. I always thought of that as plan ol' vacationing. When my sisters and I were little our whole family (including all the aunts and uncles who weren't really aunts and uncles) drove from New Orleans to Destin, Florida, in the summers. And all this time, I thought it was just a trip to the beach, but apparently we were early trend-setters in the togethering marketplace. Imma go call my parents. There must be a way to cash in on our initiative...perhaps a book, Memoires of a Togethering Family.

  • Smart Phones...in Space!

    By Michael Pinchera July 30, 2010

    We've all heard about how relatively archaic the computing technology used to send a man to the moon was: "less computing power than a washing machine. Now we're really seeing how new, widely distributed tech is being manipulated and pushed to the limit, this time not by the government but by do-it-yourself geek collectives.

    Take a look at your smart phone. Hopefully after WEC and through One+ tech coverage, you've developed a new appreciation for the computing power in your hand. It was groovy fun and games earlier this year when some tinkerers used an Android G1 smart phone as the brain for a robot, but the Mavericks Civilian Space Foundation has taken the open-source Android OS to new heights.

    Attaching the awesome, yet sadly out of production, Android-based Nexus One smart phone to a rocket, the group launched the device to 28,000 feet...with the phone's video recorder running.

    “The purpose of flying the Nexus One is to find a low-cost satellite solution,” said Thomas Atchison, chairman of the Mavericks Foundation. “The radio, processing power, sensors and cameras in smart phones potentially have the same capability as those in satellites.”

    We're now turning smart phones into robots and investigating their use as low-cost satellites. 

    I almost feel embarrassed that I merely use my smart phone as a social networking device, for listening to podcasts and Internet radio, checking e-mail and, well, as a phone.

    (*Outstanding graphic from g1wallz)

  • WEC: The Japadog Experience

    By Jason Hensel July 30, 2010

    For my final WEC-related blog entry, I present Editor-in-Chief David Basler experiencing the Vancouver-famous Japadog. 

  • Spanish Tourism Takes Hit

    By Jessie States July 27, 2010

    The Spanish government yesterday announced the close of its Secretariat for Tourism as part of a series of measures to address its debt, just as the tourism high season approaches and as the sector struggles to recover from the loses of 2009. Tourism represents 10.5 percent of Spain’s GDP, 7.5 percent of its workforce and almost 20 percent of the country’s total exports. The  U.N. World Travel Organization issued an immediate response.

    “The  strongly advocates the importance of building strong national tourism administrations which can fully maximize the potential of tourism to generate wealth and create jobs,” said Taleb Rifai, UNWTO secretary-general. “This has been recognized by many countries worldwide. Countries such as Argentina, Greece and Italy have all upgraded tourism to a full ministerial portfolio. It is not understandable that Spain, a leading tourism destination, would do the reverse.” 


  • MPI CSR Tool

    By Jessie States July 27, 2010

    MPI launched the industry’s most comprehensive sustainable event measurement tool yesterday at the World Education Congress following months of research and design.

    The application pilots planners and suppliers through the green event process—from energy-efficient audiovisual to water use and transportation—presenting a system that reports carbon emissions, tracks ongoing improvements over time and reduces overall environmental footprints. Basically, the new application provides a consistent way to measure sustainable results—something the industry has been long lacking.

    The tool comes courtesy of IHG, which contributed US$500,000 to the MPI Foundation expressly for an ongoing CSR initiative. The tool’s history traces back to the U.S.-based Convention Industry Council, which tasked MPI with the creation of a sustainable event application in 2008. MPI commissioned the job to the Triple Bottom Line Alliance—a team comprised of leaders from MCI, the Carbon Consultancy and Meeting Strategies Worldwide.

    Triple Bottom Line designed the tool to comply with and tie to a bevy of industry standards including the Accepted Practices Exchange’s Green Meetings and Events Standards, British Standard 8901, the Global Reporting Initiative and the upcoming International Organization for Standardization 20121—all of which address the industry’s growing interest in sustainable meetings. 

    “We are experiencing a major shift in expectations around sustainability and CSR, increasing regulation and scrutiny and stakeholder influence. If these are not visible in supplier RFPs currently, then it’s a matter of when, not if,” says Roger Simons, CMP, CSR and sustainable events manager for MPI. “We have a duty to ensure our members—and the industry itself—are prepared and equipped for these developments.”


  • Convention City Trifecta

    By Jessie States July 27, 2010

    Three international convention bureaus have announced plans to strengthen the event-hosting industry and maximize economic development through the new Future Convention Cities Initiative. The Seoul Tourism Organization, Visit London and Business Events Sydney will collaborate on research initiatives, share expertise and address critical industry issues. The goal is to use business events to spur economic development, encourage inward investment and create knowledge and service economy jobs. Fast Future Research—which is already leading the Convention 2020 study—has been appointed research partner, facilitator and co-ordinator for the new initiative. The Future Convention Cities Initiative will be talking to potential members at key industry events including the DMAI Convention, the MPI World Education Congress and the ASAE Convention. For further details, interested cities should contact either Rohit Talwar of Fast Future.


  • IDIOT!

    By Jessie States July 27, 2010

    Rude behavior among employees can negatively affect consumer perceptions—even if it's not addressed at them, according to new research from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business. [REALLY?-JS] The study found that people witnessing employee incivility—in this case, a store manager calling an employee an "idiot"—were faster to jump to negative conclusions about the company than those who witnessed employee incompetence. 

    Researchers found that customers turned against the company even in instances when the rude employee was trying to help the customer. In one of the studies, people who had to wait several minutes as an employee gossiped on the phone still formed negative impressions of the company when the same employee was reprimanded rudely by another employee in front of them.

  • Running with Rosen

    By David Basler July 25, 2010

    I was one of more than 20 people who were up with the sun at 6:30 Sunday morning for the Wellness Wake Up Call to network and enjoy some exercise in these beautiful surroundings. The group was split 50/50—some ran and some walked, and everyone had a lot of fun. The route started at the Olympic Torch and headed toward Stanley Park. Walkers went a distance of about 2 miles roundtrip and runners went 3.5 miles.

    Thanks to Rosen Hotels for sponsoring this great wellness program. If you're interested we'll be out at the Olympic Torch again on Monday and Tuesday mornings starting at 6:30. Come join us for an hour of fun wellness networking!

  • WEC: Almost.at/#wec10

    By Jason Hensel July 24, 2010

    I just discovered a new Web application thanks to Midori Connolly, and I feel like a kid getting a surprise present. It's called Almost.at, and it allows users to follow events in real time across multiple platforms such as Twitter, Flickr, YouTube, Foursquare and blogs.  

    It's now my go-to application for following all things WEC related, along with another cool application, Paper.li, a newspaper rundown of what's happening at WEC via Twitter, videos, etc. Check them both out and stay in the loop!  

  • WEC: Guilt and Company

    By Jason Hensel July 24, 2010

    Finding unique bars is one of my favorite activities whenever I visit a city. Most of the time, I rely on friends that live in some place to show me their locals and haunts. But the most exciting finds are those just stumbled across out of the blue. 

    Co-editor Michael and I were walking last night in Vancouver's Gastown looking for a bar to experience. We were about to enter one when Michael saw a sign pointing to a nearby basement bar. Well now, what do we have here, we thought. What we have, we discovered, was greatness. 

    The place is Guilt and Company. The vibe is welcoming and fun. The staff all wear suspenders and hats. The music is jazzy (at least last night it was).  

    "Our stage is an experiment. We bring artists (who may never have even met before) together to improvise on stage. It is a format that is entirely new to Vancouver…and it is exciting! Every performance is one of a kind," said the venue's website. Our kitchen is an experiment. We make pickles and antipastos from scratch. We make our own mustards and potato chips. You can buy a chunk of cheese off the wheel behind the bar. Our bar is an experiment. We infuse alcohols. We make all of our own bitters, tinctures and garnishes. Some of our drinks have aphrodisiac qualities. Others come with Polaroid pictures. We encourage collaboration, socialization, mingling and playing one or more of our 14 board games…preferably with people you’ve never met before."

    Encouraging collaboration, socialization and mingling with people you've never met before sounds exactly like one of the many goals of WEC, of actually the whole meeting industry. In fact, let's just expand that and say that's what life is about. 

    Guilt and Company features a comedy night on Wednesdays and live music Thursday through Saturday. I'll be going back there tonight after the Welcome Reception. Perhaps you'll join me?

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