SPIN News

Issue #20
May 2012

In This Issue

Member Orientation

  • Are you a new member of SPIN Planners?  
  • Are you a long time member of SPIN Planners?
  • Do you know all that SPIN offers it's members?  
If not, join Sara Vanderbilt, VP of Operations, for a Membership Orientation on May 23 at 3 pm Central Time. 
Register Now
Save the Date

We Thank Our 
Global Sponsors & Preferred Suppliers!


Supporting Sponsor
Click Here for the Full List

Read the SPIN Blog

If you wish to be a guest blogger and contribute an article, email sara@spinplanners.com

Quick Links

Events
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Preferred Suppliers

Quick Update on SPINCon 2012

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SPINCON 2012 REGISTRATION FEE INCREASES ON MAY 8

HOTEL CUT-OFF IS MAY 10

Hear what last year’s attendees had to say… 
(click on the photo to play the video)

Quick Update on SPINCon 2012 

  • We’re adding zone fares and transfers from Durango, Colorado. The air fare is cheaper, but the transfers are a bit higher (than Montrose).  It’s a good idea to check both airports for the best deal.
  • We’ve got new ideas in the works and a very innovative program, so come for the fresh air and rejuvenate your creative side.
  • We will announce the EventMobi game being developed just for us in June.
  • There will be several opportunities to give back to the communities of Western Colorado.

Elite Membership fees Increase on July 1

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If you find SPIN worthwhile, please consider supporting SPIN year-round by becoming an Elite Member.  

On July 1 the yearly fee increases to $275.  Click Here to upgrade your membership at the lower price of $200.

Elite Membership includes a full year of Think Tanks, a full year of virtual Masterminds group participation, industry & non-industry discounts, full access to the video library, free webinars, and more.  Find out more at http://www.spinplanners.com/join-spin.html 

SPIN Mastermind Groups!

Do you struggle with something and wish you had your own Board of Advisors?  

SPIN Mastermind groups are designed to help each member set and achieve their goals through candid advice, accountability, and a strict code of privacy.  
Groups are forming now!

Earn Elite Membership

The Virtual Hosted Buyer program allows you to earn free SPIN Elite Membership, which means free participation in the new SPIN Masterminds program, free Think Tanks, $100 discount on SPINCon, 20% off of A/V with Maple Lane, and more.

HOW?
You meet one-on-one with eight different suppliers of your choosing, for 15 minutes each during the week of June 4-8. 
All appointments are held VIRTUALLY via Skype or iPad Facetime.

Your Input Needed

  • Do you have a success story?
  • Do you want to be featured as an In-Transition Member of the Month?
Send your story to Shawna at shawna@spinplanners.com.

KAAREN HAMILTON, CMP, Vice President, Global Sales at Carlson Hotels recently provided SPIN some interesting facts about Carlson Hotels and we wanted to share this information with you!

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Kaaren Hamilton, CMP
What’s new at Carlson?
First of all we’re now the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.  Carlson and Rezidor have a long, common history and have grown together over the past 17 years.  Going to market has been a natural step. We are leveraging the strengths of two great companies to create value for all our stakeholders.  With the combined company we boast 1300 hotels in operation and coming to market, doing business as Radisson, Radisson Blu, Park Plaza, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites and Missoni.
Did we hear that Carlson Rezidor recently opened a new hotel in Chicago?
Yes!  Very exciting news for us, we opened the first Radisson Blu in North America on November 1, 2011.  Bringing this brand to a major market in an iconic building has firmly established Radisson Blu as a solid upper upscale player in the meetings segment.

We’ve also heard that your Radisson Edwardian hotels in London have turned blu, what’s that about?
With this strategic move, we will now have 13 additional Radisson Blu hotels in the London market, one of the world’s most important markets.  Our collection of Radisson Edwardian Hotels in London has always been an upper upscale brand so it made sense to align them with the rest of the portfolio in Europe.  
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Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel - Chicago
What kinds of CSR initiatives is Carlson Rezidor focused on today?
We’ve been consistently focused on the same issues since before we referred to them as CSR.   In 1999 Carlson was one of the founding 14 members of the World Childhood Foundation, which we continue to support and take an active role in today.  In 2004, we were the first travel and hospitality company to sign the Code of Conduct for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation in Travel and Tourism.  Many of these initiatives are natural off shoots of our Carlson Credo which is at the core of everything we do.

What’s available to the senior planner in terms of global resources?
We’ve spent the last three years building our Global Sales Organization, adding experienced sellers to all markets in North America, Asia and Europe.  Our team is really an extension of our client’s sourcing arm acting as a consultative resource.  Most of the team has first-hand destination product knowledge.  We invest heavily in education for our sellers and support them each with additional resources to ensure our clients have the answers they need when they need them.  Contact Kaaren at +1 (201) 896-3632 or  khamilton@carlsonrezidor.com  

A one day expo focusing on the latest and greatest meetings technologies that are out there, tech insights, and blueprints to get YOU using it. 

As a member of SPIN you get a 20% discount! 
A full day of intel for just $199.

Promo code: SPIN
Expires: Friday, May 11 
Be prepared to be empowered by:
  • The hottest meeting tech solutions out there
  • Speakers to help navigate the tech maze
  • CMP & CAE accredited multi-track sessions
  • Exhibits, tech demos & hands-on learning
  • Share ideas with like-minded planners
  • Rub elbows with the tech industry's game-changers
  • All levels accommodated; something for everyone

To learn more visit www.meetingstechexpo.com
In the interest of full disclosure, some articles are sponsored in an effort to fund SPIN.