Meetings Mean Business and Jobs
;)
Today I'm blogging from the great city of New Orleans. I'm here attending a conference we hold every year for General Managers from our Courtyard, SpringHill Suites and Fairfield Inn brands. We held this meeting to promote leadership, teamwork and to drive revenue. When it's over, our GMs will have an advantage over their competition.
They'll learn and share best practices in seminars about how to create sales opportunities in the downturn, improve communications skills that cross generations, as well as reinforce our industry leading corporate culture to General Managers who are new to Marriott.
Hosting corporate meetings is a core business for hotel companies like Marriott. Unfortunately, they have recently been the subject of a lot of criticism in the media and from political leaders in the administration. There is no doubt that times are very tough and many companies, including ours, have had to cut back on travel and to reassess corporate meetings to cut their costs. But the belt tightening that is going on right now is more than just a reaction to the economy. It is also a reaction to the angry political rhetoric, which has also had unintended human consequences.
In the past few weeks alone, we have had millions of dollars worth of meetings canceled, because companies fear how they will be perceived. As a result, people who clean guest rooms, wait tables and check in guests at hotels have lost their jobs. The U.S. government expects a quarter million more travel industry jobs will be lost this year. According the U.S. Travel Association, one in every eight jobs in the United States are linked to travel and tourism -- meetings alone create 1 million jobs.
I understand where the angry rhetoric comes from and that's why Marriott supports guidelines created by the U.S. Travel Association for responsible corporate events. I also feel strongly that scaring companies, including those that have not received emergency government assistance, into eliminating travel from their normal course of business will hinder our economic recovery at a time when we need to do everything we can to stimulate our economy and create jobs.
Meetings mean business, but they also mean jobs. You can learn a lot more about the economic engine that is the travel industry from a new industry coalition we've joined called Meetings Mean Business.
I'm Bill Marriott and thanks for helping me keep Marriott on the move.
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Posted By: TheRetailDoctor (3/10/2009)
Comment: Great points Bill! I just blogged about why you have to have a conference at http://bobphibbs.wordpress.com/2009/03/09/conference-speaker/ as well as why you need to use professional speakers. Coming together isn't a political slogan, its the way business improves!
Posted By: Adam Peterson (3/9/2009)
Comment: Please forward to Mr. Bill Marriott
Dear Bill Marriott,
I am an audience member of your blog, a young entrepreneur, and the CEO of a company called Vipe (www.vipepower.com). I'm writing to introduce myself and my company, and also ask you a favor.
I run a company called Vipe that recently launched a hospitality product allowing hotels to respond to requests with custom video responses - with tremendous success. One of the hotels using us has rated first in their local STAR report for 9 weeks running, beating out all of their competition. Here is a sample video a hotel would send to a prospect: http://www.vipepower.com/Company/6G91RJJEYO38
Also, Vipe was written up in Smart Meetings Magazine this month and USA Today's Travel Blog. (I can forward the articles via email but unfortunately, not through this comment system)
The favor I have for you is that, rather than sell you anything, as one of the most respected names in the industry, I would love to get your advice. I would greatly appreciate a brief discussion about your most recent article, Meetings Mean Business and Jobs, and also hear your thoughts about how hotels will get through this recession. Tough times often lead to change, and I'm wondering where you think the envelope will be pushed.
Thanks in advance for the help!
Adam Peterson
CEO
Vipe Inc
Cell: (650) 793-1540
Office: (650) 521-0298
Fax: (650) 961-5018
Email: adam@vipepower.com
www.vipepower.com
Posted By: Chad Bordes (3/9/2009)
Comment: Bill
I couldn't agree more with this blog. I am a small business owner and I work very closely in the Meeting and Event planning industry. I feel our lack of spending is a very knee jerk reaction to the financial crisis.
It is my belief that now is a time that we should be spending money and not trying to save. My financial goals with the company are "business as usual". I refuse to buy into the recessionary tactics that the media would have us all believe. We live in a culture of fear and an ounce of fear is worth a pound of prevention. How do we spread fear, by telling everyone that there won't be enough to go around.
I think we need to buck up our bootstraps, and move forward with confidence and dignity that everything is going to be okay. Lets get rid of the doom and gloom mentality and start focusing on making the country great again. Lets create jobs where there are none, lets invest in things that may seem risky...there are no guarantees in life.
I agree 100% with your blog and am thankful that there are voices of reason in the crowd. We need to get out of fearful spending and into the "back to business" mentality. "The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself"
Posted By: Gary (3/9/2009)
Comment: Hi Bill
I enjoy your blog, and often tell your employees about it when I travel for my sales job. All the sales meetings I have been to in 20+ years follow the USTA guidelines for meetings. I have always been told treat the company money likes it yours and you'll always make the right decisions. Its unfortunate that a few campanies like to spend and not save for a raining day. Now, we taxpayers have to foot the bill.
My advice to Marriott to get serious about meetings, is to cut out the unreasonable costs that meetings occur, For example, $500 per day for lightbox, or $25 per person for use of T1 line.
Its my recomendation that package all of this together, plus the meeting room, and you'd be surprised how quick you'll have meetings withe heads in beds. Not to mention all the catering.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Still silver but trying to get to gold!
Posted By: TC (3/9/2009)
Comment: There's a difference between holding legitimate business meetings and abusing taxpayer's money. Businesses still need incentives for their workers like awards dinners and trips. They also need conferences to develop their skills. These things ultimately make the company more profitable, which is a benefit for shareholders or stakeholders. Besides providing service industry jobs for the travel industry (airlines, hotels, rental cars), it also brings money into that community. When there are conferences in town, the other places in the city also benefit. When there are events in this town, every place is busy: restaurants, grocery stores, bars and clubs, the zoo, and downtown. It's a huge boon to the local economy. But if companies scale back on meetings, they're just perpetuating the fear that's seizing up the economy. The sooner people and companies start spending money again (in a reasonable and responsible manner) the faster the country will turn around and be successful again.
Posted By: MeetingSource.com Resource Editor (3/8/2009)
Comment: Yes, the meetings industry is being hurt by the AIG controversy and the economy to blame, but the industry may have to evolve away from the traditional format for meetings and conferences (one person talking to many) and take some best practices from the web and guarantee value for attendees.
One approach is called an "unconference" which meetingsource.com highlights in its meeting planning section (see http://www.meetingsource.com/meetingplanning.htm).
-Jessica Silver, Resource Editor
Posted By: Amanuel B (3/7/2009)
Comment: Amanuel B
It is by far the most sobering assessment of the situation and I thank you for putting in perspective. The main thing is to be aware and as industry leader the Marriott family can do a great deal to put a face to the problem thus increasing awareness. It is also a great PR opportunity to come out and expose the issue and take a lead in the economic recovery efforts.
Posted By: Richard Stone (3/7/2009)
Comment: Bill,
I agree with you about business meetings and that they are needed. The World has to get back to business. Buying and Selling makes the World Work. We also need Corporate World to do more concerning Global Warming and being Green.
Sincerely,
Posted By: Deborah Ahrns (3/7/2009)
Comment: Mr. Marriott,
I agree with you companies need to get together so that everyone is on the "same page" and working as a team and if that requires a central meeting place to get it done then they should have the freedom to do it. Companies know what works best for them. I have shared with you before that I think you should point out to the new President as well as other leaders in Washington that to cover the housekeeping needs and other areas at many Marriott properties you have had to bring workers from outside of the US just to get the work done. I know first hand from staying in New York City and Hilton Head South Carolina that your company has filled the "gap" with individuals willing to do the work. My father always told me the there is not a job in this world that you should ever think you are above or too good for you will learn something from every experience that will improve the quality of your next job. So for those in South Carolina that are without work and find housekeeping above them. Well you should teach your children a lesson and do the right thing ...take a job any job just to be a good role model for your children and to put food on the table. We must look in the mirror and take control of our own lives Govt. is meant to protect us from our enemies, and provide leadership not hold to be a job creation agency. We must govern our own actions if everyone would do this more we would need Government less and we would all recover a great deal of cost. I believe the golden rule is the point here. This country needs to get back to core values and that will equal a strong work ethic and the economy will turn around on its own without borrowed Government dollars. So Mr. Marriott I think the new President does need to know that you have to find workers from outside the USA to meet the needs of your business in South Carolina and anywhere else you have had to bring them in. The reality is that if the local people wanted to work and were dedicated then you would be employing citizens of the United States everywhere. Just something I have thought about a great deal....you have the power you are a big voice I am just a small one but I do my best to get heard. Please let Washington know you would employ more ....if they were ready willing and able to do the work regardless of the type of job. peace be with you Keep up the good work Debbie
Posted By: Tom Osterman (3/6/2009)
Comment: Unfortunately, this is what happens in a crisis like we are experiencing. Suppose all the CEO"s were divided into those who run their businesses reasonably, with concern for employees and the public's perception versus those whose objective is solely their own position, salary/options, perks and yes to a great
extent greed. The media is not going to report about the solid CEO's because it doesn't grab public attention. So they settle on the CEO's flying to the bail out hearings on corporate jets, throwing lavish parties in faraway costly places even while taking bail out money.
The ones who suffer are a) employees because they lose their jobs or b) good companies like Marriott lose business through cancellations. Eventually it moves from the initial extreme that set up the crisis to the further extreme of cost cutting too much. In time it will swing back to a reasonable approach. And hopefully when that time occurs the public will be more tuned in to who the good CEO's are.
Posted By: Syed T. A. Naqvi (3/6/2009)
Comment: Syed T. A. Naqvi - You can never establish optimal relationship discuss solutions to the problems in a telephone or video conference. Relation ships can be built, problems and solutions shared in an informal setting, in a face to face meeting, which is great for business and the often the development of the individuals. I found that a follow up with a known face I met earlier results in a higher comfort level and great for people and businesses. Businesses receiving bail out money may be subject to scrutiny for any potential abuses. If a company did not receive such help should not be subject to such scrutiny or press comment. I have hosted many large business meetings that will pass any scrutiny for appropriateness and the toughest IRS audit while remaining within the law. I have never been able to close a deal over the telephone over achieving sales goals for at least a dozen years.
Posted By: Danish (3/6/2009)
Comment: Excellent site blogs.marriott.com and I am really pleased to see you have what I am actually looking for here: this... As it's taken me literally 2 hours and 51 minutes of searching the web to find you (just kidding!) so I shall be pleased to become a regular visitor :)
