(Leesburg, VA) – February
2012 – The government sales team at The National Conference
Center has compiled
five east tips to simplify and streamline the many complex rules and
regulations involved in the planning of government meetings. “Trying to
educate
non-government professionals and hotel sales people about government
meeting
rules can be a daunting task and a long journey”, said Sarah Vining,
marketing
manager at The National Conference Center, who compiled the list.
In a group discussion, the
NCC team of veteran government meeting planners focused on ways meeting
planners with the federal government could help ease the
process.
The team agreed that for government meeting planners, there are more
hoops to
jump through and tighter guidelines to
follow than most non-government meeting planners, but all groups
deserve
face-to-face interaction.
- Complete Meeting Packages
– The
government sales team recommends facilities that offer all inclusive
pricing
packages. Typically, most properties with complete meeting packages
(CMP) are
conference centers recognized by the International Association of
Conference
Centers; this is intended so the planner can focus on content for their
meeting
rather than micromanage the logistics. “Most complete meeting packages
allow
planners to have flexibility with space needs like breakout space and
meeting
rooms and there are no room rental fees,” says Melissa Allen, a
government
sales manager at NCC, “this feature gives planners the most value for
their
package.”
- GSA Schedule –
“Choose a venue on the GSA
schedule,” advises Margo Palmer, one of NCC’s senior government sales
managers,
“You’ll eliminate a lot of time, extensive processes and market
research by
choosing a venue already on GSA.” The GSA schedule has done a lot of
the leg
work for planners. In fact, the venues listed on the GSA schedule put
forth all
the groundwork to qualify and be listed on the schedule, thus also
simplifying
the process for planners; the new category for easy meeting shopping is
listed
under the SIN number, 599-6.
- Government pricing
- Venues that offer
government pricing all year long and always offer government prices
with no
black-out dates means they’re interested in your best interests as a
group, and
as a long-term customer. “Choose a property that wants all your
meetings,”
Allen states, “Not just the meetings that are large in size or fit into
the pattern.”
- Metro-Accessible Location
– “It’s
all about location,” explains Christy Isaacson, a senior sales manager
for
government meetings at The National Conference Center. “Location helps
government planners control the procurement process and overcome some
unnecessary obstacles.” Venues with ample parking and central to an
airport,
specifically an international airport, all support
an easy planning process.
- Seasoned sales managers
– The government sales team
all agreed, working with a venue that is staffed with seasoned
government sales
managers makes all the difference for the planning process. This
experienced
sales person is knows the importance of building a long-term
relationship
between the planner and the venue. A seasoned government sales manager
is often
someone who knows the federal rules and regulations and can be your
coach
through the process.
Keeping these five factors front of mind will make for a more
productive planning process. Tips like choosing a venue on the GSA
schedule and
in a metro-accessible location will allow government meeting planners
the
ability to concentrate their energies on designing meetings that focus
on
bringing everyone together and delivering successful results.
The National Conference Center
(NCC), located in Northern Virginia 12 miles from Dulles International
Airport and
35 miles from Washington, D.C., is one of the largest and most
comprehensive
conference centers in the nation. With 917 guest rooms and over 250,000
square
feet of meeting space, NCC has become a hub for productive meetings and
is on
the GSA schedule. NCC is also home to West Belmont Place,
Northern
Virginia’s largest ballroom with 16,500 square feet for holding an
elegant
wedding or accommodating a large trade show or special
event. For
information call 800-640-2684 or visit
www.conferencecenter.com,
or
www.westbelmontplace.com
The National Conference Center is managed by
ARAMARK Conference Centers. ARAMARK is a leader in professional
services,
providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and
uniform and
career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school
districts,
stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE
magazine's
2009 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK was ranked
number one in its industry, consistently ranking since 1998 as one of
the top
three most admired companies in its industry as evaluated by peers and
analysts. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to
its
clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee
advocacy,
environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community
involvement.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 260,000
employees
serving clients in 22 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site,
www.aramark.com.