In my second blog I mentioned how SMA was working with potential clients that wanted to use a few downtown areas for event they were having with 4,500 women. I was able to help put the proposal together, took pictures, and also made suggestions on some great activities this many women could do.
Once getting the proposal together Paul, our sales executive, had to be able to convince the incentive board our clients are on that we could house, transport, and of course, take care of this many people. Again, we are an office of 6 people! 1- owner (full-time), 1- sales (full-time), 1- operations (full-time), 1- concierge (part-time), 1- accounting (maybe 5 hrs/week), and 1-intern (every semester). So SMA is very small compared to our competitors, who have offices in Arizona but have offices nationwide. But back to putting the program together… Even though we haven’t “officially” gotten the program, we still are trying really hard to let them know we can handle this. We are responsible for calling places and making sure they accommodate this many people. This includes security, bathrooms, transportation, activities, and meals.
The clients are always calling to verify pricing on something or to let us know that somewhere else they are getting the same thing for $1.00 less or certain activities. This takes patience and negotiation and every DMC does it differently.
It has been really fun, educational, and bit stressful working on this project. Unfortunately, once we get the program (which I thin we will), I won't be here to see it through. But I do want to make sure I touch back with my supervisor, Francine, to find out how it went since I was a part of putting it together. I'm excited to see how such a large group will work out.
Last week Friday, I had the opportunity to do my own little site inspection of the Mondrian. This was a great opportunity for me because I had always wanted to see inside of the hotel. Also, it gave me the opportunity to see how they would try to sell me on the idea of using there hotel and a chance to go back to SMA and give them my opinion on it. Site inspections are very important in selecting vendors to sell to the client. When going to inspections the Sales representative and possible the manager or owner is going to "wine & dine" you. They want you to be impressed by their company and want you to know that your clients will be treat as a VIP. Site inspection consist of assessing the property inside and out. As an inspector you want to look at the what surrounds the location, look at the availability of parking, what does the event space look like and how far is it from where the clients will be staying, and of course, what is the decor of the meeting space- is the wallpaper a distraction is the carpet clean or dirty? Next, you need to evaluate the service and catering. This is really important. While inspecting the property, look around and see how guest services is treating other guest, clients, or customers. Lastly, see what are the special amenities and features. Does this vendor have something that another vendor can't offer? I found a website that offer steps and ideas to do a great and an effective site inspection.
Once you do an inspection and impressed with what you saw, you bring the client. When bringing the client to do site inspections, more than likely you show them a few different sites to give them a good idea of the different places in the area. This is really important if they don't know the area. Most of SMA clients are from out state so they will take a trip to Arizona usually a year or so in advance to do inspections within 2 or 3 days. When you have clients visiting you want also make sure you are treating them as VIPs as well. When clients fly out here for site inspections with only a limited amount of time, DMCs need to make sure they can impress the clients with their sites choices and their services.
As for my inspection at the Mondrian, it was not this intense. I mostly went to get a feel for the site, decor, and atmosphere. I had heard so much about this place I couldn't wait to see what the hype was all about.
Before I left Paul, SMA accounting manager, told me the theme for the lobby was "heaven and hell" or "Garden of Eden". I expected extreme uses of white and red. When walking into the lobby I was impressed by the clean and simple look... but was disappointed by the randomness of some of the decor items. There were somethings that were cream or white. There were mismatch stools and chairs. Then there is the sheep. At first I didn't understand this but Paul explained to me its the Morgan Hotel Group's thing. In all of their hotels there is a sheep- it's there "mascot" if you will. Right next to the hallway is the front desk. Above the desk and in the gift shop there is pink lighting and draping. This didn't flow very well for me. I didn't get the connection to heaven and hell -seeing that the rooms are connected.
Walking through the lobby hallway I made it to "hell" also known as the "Red Bar". The Red Bar looked really cool and is a popular place on the weekends. The decor in here made sense everything was red, of course, and had the clean very modern feel to it. It was a place I would love to come back to on the weekends.
After the Red Room I entered into the Sky Bar/Asian de Cuba. This is a 5-star restaurant which is locating in all Morgan Hotels. This area was a great for small wedding rehearsal dinners and small client meetings. Again, had a very clean, white, crisp vibe. The theme for this room was fertility. The was a giant egg sitting outside and a giant painting of a rooster. If I didn't know the theme for this room I would of had no idea as to why there was a giant egg and rooster painting.
Next, I made it to the banquet and meeting rooms. I was not impressed at all. There was paint chipping off the wall and seemed as though the whole theme, design, and decor was all forgotten about. There was nothing to the areas- just rooms. I was told small wedding receptions were done there. I assumed that there was major upgrades when they hold events like that.
Finally, I made it to the pool and serenity area. I was this was the "stars" hang out. Mondrian is know for it fabulous and extravagant pool parties. The pool was a nice size. It was long rectangular shape. I really liked this because I felt that it was different from being the usual serpentine shape. The shape was great also for the lounge feeling because the waitress (in swimsuit wear with a wrap) came right up to the pool and could place the drinks right next to you. It was definitely not a kiddie pool.
Overall, it was a great experience. I got to learn more about site inspections and about the Mondrian. My overall take on the Mondrian was that I could tell the property use to be a Holiday Inn. It had a few great ideas and themes and some just seemed to be a little off. Over the summer I might want to stay there for a little "stay-cation" since rates are so inexpensive. But I think Hotel Valley Ho or Sanctuary might be my first choice.
So in my third and fourth week I am learning more about the company and the destination management industry.
Show Me Arizona works with a major partner for destination management companies. This company is called Global Events Partner. By being a partner with this company other corporate event planners will recognize this and take this into consideration when choosing a DMC to work with. There are only 65 other DMCs that have a partnership with GEP. It awesome to be able to work with company that is highly recognized and preferred within the industry and state.
SMA is also a highly preferred DMC to use by Maritz. Maritz is an incentive traveling, marketing, advertising company and this list goes on. Maritz helps it's clients to show how investments in travel incentives, meetings, and events can help their businesses excel.
Show Me Arizona has a variety of different vendors all over the state. While looking through their list they have only the best of the best. The list ranges from entertainment to hotels to activities to hotels to restaurants. Most of the vendors are in the Scottsdale area because most resorts are in this area. We do have a group coming in that wants to be in Downtown Phoenix- this is because there aren't many venues in Scottsdale that can hold 5,000 people. Since we barely use Downtown Phoenix, Sales had to make a few site visits around the area. This included Heritage Square, Arizona Science Center, and Heard Museum. After their visit I went downtown to Heritage Square and the Science Center to take a few pictures to share with the clients. Most the pictures I took were to show where such a large group could mingle all over the area including the Science Center and Heritage Square. This was a great chance to get out of the office and view some of the properties that I will be helping put a proposal together for.
I started my first week with Show Me Arizona, a destination management company. The great thing about this internship is each individual here is taking the time out to get to know me and teach me. As opposed to just telling me what to do. Within the first week I was able to learn so much about the company itself and what a DMC is all about.
In my first week I learned the basics of answering the phone, faxing, stamping, and invoicing. Once the basic were understood I got right into the groove of things.
So far, my transitions into SMA has been interesting. Unfortunately, things are a little slow in the summer because how many people really want to go AZ in the middle of the summer!? So I've been working on a few things here and there for 2010. Its hard right now for corporate buisness to send clients out on incentive trips because of the "economy situation". Personally, I was hoping for more to do but since its out of season I will get to just learn about what to do more than actually be able carry some of the stuff out.
By the end of my internship I hope to have a better understanding for DMC and see if this is the type of buissness I want to continue in.
