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Another Service for Meeting Planners
From the
26 February 2008 edition of the Zeitgeist Z-News
The LaCrosse (WI) CVB is actively courting area speakers to toss their name into the hat for presentations at upcoming meetings and conventions the destination will host.
With the full disclosure that I speak professionally (and would love to do more gigs closer to home so I can avoid the hassles of Air Law-less flights), I’ve always thought this was a smart idea for DMOs.
For many meeting planners, speakers fees are a major budget hurdle. And most speakers have significantly reduced rates for hometown presentations. Add the savings in air and hotel costs...and a smart planner could significantly reduce costs by hiring locally.
Destination Marketing Organizations should follow LaCrosse’s lead. After all, we position ourselves as the experts in making meetings in our destinations seamless and cost-effective. Wouldn’t suggesting and arranging for speakers that a) match up well and b) save the planner money be a natural?
The problem: there is the assumption that “hometown” means “hayseed.” That was certainly the attitude of the Wisconsin Chapter of MPI when the Wisconsin Professional Speakers Association suggested a partnership a few years ago. “Oh, we don’t use local speakers,” they sniffed.
“Reealllly,” WPSA replied...and then ticked off several past-Presidents of the National Speakers Association and even more Certified Speaking Professionals that call Wisconsin home. They were, clearly, quite startled at the talent in their own backyard.
DMOs suggest caterers, florists, A/V and a multitude of local providers to planners. Sure seems to me that the LaCrosse CVB is on to something here.
Bill
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