Destination Michigan

Association Tools Build the Way for Savvy Meetings Strategists

Sherry L. Cummins, CMP, CMM

A meetings management strategist must be savvy with contract verbiage and negotiations, return on investment, budgets and accounting, procurement, risk management, professional presentation, sustainability, and networking! Strategic Meetings Management (SMM) is a continual process of understanding needs and analyzing them in relationship to customers, stakeholders and the ever important bottom line! Since the early 1980s, meeting planners have evolved into SMM strategists who have earned their value as contributors at the boardroom table. Building a case for the importance of your contribution and maintaining that credibility is a journey that requires the right tools! Joining an association can help you to arrive well-equipped and to plan meetings that are successful with a return on investment that makes everyone happy from the stakeholder to the attendee! As a member of an association, you will have access to mentors, research, white papers, subject matter experts, templates and other valuable tools that will help you to reach your goal in a professional and well-directed method. Whether you are a planner or a supplier, you can learn from others who have been there! Below are a few of my favorite links on the subject of Strategic Meetings Management from some of the association and industry professionals that are leading the way!

Keys to Becoming a SMM Preferred Vendor

http://hospitality.cvent.com/blog/marketing-resorts-on-the-internet-2/keys-to-becoming-a-smm-preferred-vendor 

Article: The Evolution of Strategic Meetings Management

http://www.successfulmeetings.com/Event-Planning/conference-management/Articles/The-Evolution-of-Strategic-Meetings-Management/

Convention Industry Council sets the standards for our industry!

http://www.conventionindustry.org/index.aspx

Bio: Sherry Cummins is currently president of Meeting Professionals International Michigan Chapter and is a hospitality blogger for Cvent. Sherry works for Mission Point Resort as the Sales Office Manager in Berkley, Michigan.