Customized To Meet Your Needs
MEETING PLANNERS . . .
SUTTLE ENTERPRISES IS YOUR SOLUTION PARTNER.
Challenge yourself to achieve your desires. Combining the time-tested techniques and proven effective strategies, our programs inspire productivity, happiness and enhance personal and professional development. Some topics include: stress reduction, communication skills, life balance, parenting and success achievement. Multi session, one hour, two hour, full/half day keynotes, break-out sessions and retreats are available. We tailor our programs to fit your group like a glove.
Your needs are what matter most. First we listen, then we talk.
Dear Meeting Planner,
Your job isn't easy. I knew that, but I never REALLY knew that until I served as Director of Programming for an association. Like you, I selected professional speakers, arranged their travel and accommodations. I hosted dinners for them, designed the event agendas, and did my best to make our association meetings successful. I had my eyes opened wide getting a glimpse of what it's like to be you, and I want to say thank you and I'm sorry at the same time.
In my meeting planner role, I booked about a dozen high caliber speakers from across the country. Wow. I learned a lot about what speakers do that either makes your job a dream or a difficulty. It's changed the way I do business.
There are things meeting planners need - signed contracts … topics and descriptions … copies of handouts … av requirements … flight information … I loved the speakers who were prompt in returning this information. Whenever I'd have to hunt down a speaker, it added a level of stress to my day, wasted my time and undermined my confidence in them. If they aren't responsive to me, will they be responsive to the audience?
It seems like such a small detail, but meeting planners have bazillions of details to handle to pull off successful events. One of those details is picking the speaker up at the airport. The first time I did this, I parked my car and waited at baggage pickup to help gather the luggage and offer a personal welcome. I've had people do the same for me. While I appreciated it, I hate to admit this, but I didn't think twice about it - until I had to do it. Now I think three times about it. I think:
1. Stay in your car. I can easily get my luggage and meet you at the curb.
2. I appreciate you for the time and energy it takes from your day to check flight times, drive out to the airport, wait longer than you anticipate, and deal with traffic to get back to the hotel.
3. That drive in the car gives me a chance to hear about the personal side of you, your group, and your town.
I fell in love with the first speaker who insisted that I pull my car up to baggage pickup instead of parking. She called my cell when she had her luggage, and I rolled the car right up to the door with a taped "Welcome to Michigan (speaker's name)" sign on my passenger window to help her spot my car.
Because I am a speaker, I know that they arrive a bit tired and dehydrated from their flight, so I try to bring a bottle of water, their favorite juice drink, or a piece of fruit for the ride back to the hotel. There were a few times when I didn't have the time to do that. One speaker kindly asked if I would stop at a fast food drive-through so he could get a soda, which I was happy to do. Another speaker asked to stop for a cup of hot tea and lemon, but not just any tea - a good quality tea. It took two stops to find the "right" cup of tea, and then she only had two sips. Let me tell you - that was not MY cup of tea at all.
When I'm about to meet a speaker for the first time, there is an undercurrent voice that buzzes in my head saying, "Did I make the right choice bringing in this speaker?" Most seasoned speakers quiet that voice on the ride to the hotel, and a small few don't. I'm committed to helping meeting planners feel good about their choice, right from the start.
I'll always remember how thrilled we were to book one celebrity speaker. We hosted a dinner in his honor at one of the best and oldest restaurants in town. It was as if our waiter was really an actor, playing the role of an absent-minded waiter for a television sitcom. Service was so bad, it was funny. From our drinks not arriving for 20 minutes, to our order being misinterpreted, to our food being served without silverware, it was one thing after the other. Our speaker's light-hearted attitude and ability to see the dinner as great material for a future speech, let everyone relax and enjoy the evening despite the setbacks. What could have been a horrible embarrassment turned into an entertaining evening.
Most of the speakers I worked with dazzled me with their special brands of customer service. One speaker had a personal assistant who hounded ME, to make sure I had everything I needed. Others offered additional complimentary services, such as, audience surveys, pre-event interviews, and bonus sessions.
Someone who is considered a "rock star" of the speaking industry answered every one of my emails with a personal phone call within 24 hours from the time I sent it. I saw that it's not how in-demand a professional is that determines their responsiveness - it's how well they've put systems in place to manage their commitments.
I also experienced the power of the personal touch. One speaker gave a specialty jar of her hometown's famous mustard, another gave out pins that had a special sentimental meaning, autographed books sent months ahead of time to raffle off at preceding meetings to help promote the event, and most appreciated of all, were those who showed a genuine interest in the people of our association.
I have to say, that overall I loved the position. It wasn't easy, but it was very rewarding. There is something so gratifying that you feel when you take an idea for an event, and with the help of many, turn it into a reality - one that everyone enjoys. Most of all I loved it because it has taught me to focus on you - the meeting planner, so I can be your partner in creating the best possible event for your organization.
Respectfully Yours,
Marilyn Suttle