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The Small Market Meetings Conference Starts Soon

Speakers Sparkle

The Small Market Meetings Conference strives to present experts who deliver interesting and inspirational presentations that delegates will enjoy and learn from. A special trio of speakers will appear in Ontario in September.

A professional wordsmith will address the conference delegation. Joan Stanford, the CEO of Jazzy Pen Communications, will emphasize the importance of content marketing, especially writing clearly and effectively in online formats. Stanford believes email communication is still an effective tool, but it must be handled gingerly. “Yes, the power of the email inbox,” she said. “I’ll offer some tips and tricks for getting the results they want through email marketing. I’ll tell them what an ideal email should look like.”

For the past 25 years, attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin has practiced law within the hospitality sector. She will bring delegates up to date with the latest industry trends and explain strategies to avoid problems in negotiating deals with hotels and venues. For example, in a video presented on her website, Devlin urges meeting planners to protect themselves during negotiations. “You need to think harder about what is important about your event,” she said. “Consider what makes your event special or different, and then contract all of that accordingly.”

Creative passion is what veteran speaker Harvey Alston will bring to the conference. He hopes delegates will embrace his suggestions for improving their working and personal lives. A professional speaker for three decades, Alston believes in constructing an energetic and productive environment in which to do business.

The delegates will get to see and hear numerous presentations from destinations that would love to host their meetings. Additionally, some of the leading travel companies in the nation and world will be represented at the podium. Many of the destinations and venues will have booths along the Marketplace Showcase so meeting planners can stop, chat and gather valuable information to aid in making decisions.

Delegates will also be able to meet their colleagues or get to know them better at the six relaxing meal events that are scheduled as well as on the tours attendees will be taking. Organizers say they hope delegates make the most of every networking opportunity afforded them.

To register for the 2018 Small Market Meetings Conference go to www.smmconf.com/registration.

Dan Dickson

Dan has been a communicator all his professional life, first as an award-winning radio and TV news reporter for two decades and then as a communications director for several non-profits for another decade. He has contributed to The Group Travel Leader Inc. publications since 2007.