NACE EXPERIENCE! 2010 and MUCH more!

What an exciting week it has been! Today I hosted another webinar, this one on "Maximizing the 2010 Holiday Season" Despite a VERY raspy voice today (of all days!), the webinar was great and lots of wonderful comments started pouring in afterward - thanks, everyone! I conducted an interesting "poll" during the webinar to see how everyone felt about their holiday season bookings this year. Every survey I seem to read has conflicting reports - business is looking up, slowing down, the same as last year. .. what?? So, I wanted to see what my audience had to say so I could address their specific needs. Results? 22% said bookings are about the same right now compared to last year at this same time; 27% said they are slightly higher; 5% said they are significantly higher; 30% said they are slightly lower and 16% said they are significantly lower. The good news? 54% are either the same or ahead of their booking pace. More good news is that booking timelines have been noticeably shorter, so people are still booking lots of events into 2010. So, the rest is up to us to create fresh new marketing strategies, prospecting techniques, strategic partnerships and delicious offerings and upsells to impact our own destiny (sales!) in a positive way. Want to explore those holiday ideas and strategies? I recorded the webinar, so you can watch it anytime - you will find it on the website at www.beverlyclarktraining.com.

What else is going on this week? NACE Experience! 2010, of course! I leave Sunday for Austin, Texas. Yeehaw! My segment is on Monday at 2:45pm and I will be speaking on "Re-creating your Sales Presence in the Special Events Industry". It's an advance level topic for industry veterans who need a fresh approach! We all need a way to keep the passion and fuel the flames every now and then, and I am hoping to provide it. Can't wait to see everyone! Please come and find me to say hello. . .

Taking Event Planning to New Heights

Recently, I started working with a wonderful private club, City Club River Ranch in Lafayette, Louisiana. Most of you know that private clubs are a niche that I love, love love. Having worked in private clubs for 18 years, I start to salivate every time I can get my hands on a new property! What an awesome surprise when I was picked up at the airport by the Club's Event Coordinator, the amazing Hannah Trahan and given a tour of the incredibly beautiful area surrounding the club - small upscale town, overflowing with local southern charm. What a perfect combo!

Arriving at the club, I was immediately impressed with the abundance of activity - great energy, active members, happy faces. In the private club industry today, this is the stuff dreams are made of. Club Manager, Mary Beth Langlinais knows how to keep it fresh, inspire her staff and provide members with a healthy, upbeat "lifestyle". Members do not "buy a membership"- they join their friends and neighbors and celebrate good healthy living together. The theme of the club is "Believe. Become. Belong." They boast not only tennis, a fitness center, mind & body center, grill & bar, but also have a small boutique hotel and a beautiful spa. You never have to leave the property! (Awesome for destination weddings and corporate retreats)

When I sat down and met with the catering team - Hannah, joined by event coordinator Colleen Mickal, that's when the fun really began (see our photo - left to right, Hannah, Lynne (me!) and Colleen). These smart, beautiful women are "locals", with a true sense of style. The events they plan reflect that. Again, positive, uplifting energy and a sense of hospitality and service that any bride or client would drool over. I love it that they are looking for ways to do what they do even better and provide the ultimate in service and amenities to their event hosts. Lesson - No matter how long you have been in the industry, you can always continue to learn. Keep it fun and challenging and you will keep your passion! Trust me, brides and event hosts can spot it a mile away. . .

I guess that the feeling I came away with was that the club has made themselves so relevant to their specific demographic, and have done so in a fun, hip, energetic way. What a great lesson for the private club industry. Oh, and if you are ever in the area, you must try their signature dessert - the white chocolate bread pudding. Even if you're not in the area, it's worth the trip!

Wedding Planner "Fam Trips"

Ok, wedding and event planners, I would LOVE to hear from you on this one! Many of our destination location clients at Beverly Clark Enterprises ask our opinion on planning "fam" trips for wedding and event planners. I know that on most trips, you are kept so busy that you can hardly breathe! So now is the time to offer your opinions! In your mind, what is the perfect fam trip? Optional excursions, educational aspects (speakers) as well as property tours, spa time. . . you name it! How many days are ideal? 2-3? 3-4? a week?

Let's hear your opinion!

Strategy-Driven Weddings

In this month's newsletter, one of the articles I wrote was titled "The ONLY 3 Ways to Increase Your Special Event Revenues" (see the newsletter here - http://www.beverlyclarkenterprises.com/_ecampaigns/bcht/) In it, I mentioned the importance of vendor relationships and strategic alliances for building your business. Well, just a couple of days ago, a friend sent me this clip of that strategy at work! http://www.fox5vegas.com/video/22345325/index.html

Bear's Best Golf Club in Las Vegas partnered with several wedding related vendors to create an all inclusive wedding package that they are offering at a very discounted rate to their brides. Wedding vendors, who were also needing to generate more revenue jumped at the chance to be part of the program, and now they are booking away - the phone has been ringing off the hook! This promotion was definitely cost-driven. The package is $10,000 for a total wedding (yes, $10,000!). But, the same concept can be applied to an "experience-driven" package, or one based on total convenience, or an "ultimate wedding", taking advantage of all things high-end. It's just time to think and act creatively in order to change the way we are doing business.

Thanks, Seattle NACE!

Here's the last of the NACE Seattle photos!

NACE, Seattle Chapter. . . You ROCK!

On Tuesday night I had the privilege of traveling to the Emerald City of Seattle, WA to speak at the NACE, Seattle Chapter's monthly meeting. Wow, like the title says, you guys ROCK! What a beautiful event! This month's event was planned by the one and only Jacques Bergeron, Private Event Director at the amazing Columbia Tower Club (where the event was held) and Immediate Past President of NACE Seattle. This private club occupies the 75th & 76th floors of the Columbia Center building in downtown Seattle. Stunning 360* views from 76 floors up of Puget Sound, The Space Needle, and anything and everything Seattle! I was SO impressed by the energy and level of professionalism of this group. Jacques had each table designed by a different event/wedding planner/designer and the tables were breathtaking. Each designer was given a moment to talk about what inspired their design and showcase the many amazing vendors that made it all happen. I focused on weddings for this talk, and the title of my presentation was. . . "Special Events, 2010 - Be Inspired. . . !" By the way, I stayed at the Hotel Vintage Park (amazing!) and received the most wonderful welcome note from General Manager Sandy Burkett (I LOVE the personal touch). Notice the napkin rings on the table featured here - bling! They were from David at Rented Elegance - amazing rentals! Thank you, Jacques, for inviting me to speak at your monthly meeting and to the entire NACE Chapter for your amazing hospitality! More photos to come. . .