Meetings Blog

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Destination convention services are a largely untapped resource for meeting and convention planners, but getting access to free convention services is one of the main perks of working with a convention and visitors bureau. Here’s a closer, though not extensive, look at all…

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While many in the hospitality industry have celebrated the return of in-person events, the past few years of economic uncertainty have led to a series of challenges for meeting and event planners. Our sales and services team recently attended the Destinations International Sales…

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As a Senior Sales Manager with the Greater Lansing CVB, I bring some unique insight to the position. Prior to my most recent meeting planning role with a state association, I spent 13 years in the hotel industry. Over the course of that time, I was a sales manager for Marriott…

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Having trouble deciding which venue is best? The staff at the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau can help customize your event for any of the area’s distinctive venues, and even solicit venue proposals on your behalf.

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If you’re looking for an event location that provides flexibility, a variety of amenities, and plenty of after-hours options for guests, a college town like East Lansing, home to Michigan State University, is the spot for you. Here are the top five benefits you’ll…

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A strong culture brings out the best in businesses, community groups and charitable organizations. Employees and team members feel motivated and valued. The mission statement and goals are clear. Everyone feels like someone has their back.

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There's a reason that businesses and association groups return to Lansing year after year for conventions and meetings: They know that Michigan's Capital City lays out a welcome mat and goes the extra mile to ensure every element of your visit exceeds expectations…

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Have you ever wondered how you can make the most of your meetings for everyone who attends? Courtney Trunk, Communications & Events Director of Arc Michigan, is here to help! In this Q&A, Courtney shares some tips on how to make your next meeting ADA-compliant. Please…

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The Greater Lansing CVB celebrates Stephanie Wohlfert, CMP, CTA, GMS on her many professional accomplishments including earning her Government Meeting Specialist certification and being named one of the Society of Government Meeting Planner’s Top Young Professionals! Read…

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Is your meeting or event ready in the event of a crisis? What are the best precautions to take to both manage risk and have a plan should something go wrong? Here's a quick resource to educate and hopefully put you at ease.

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) held its annual meeting on February 25…

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How often do you go to a conference? A few times a year? Just once? Maybe you haven't been to a conference in years. If you haven't been to a conference in a while, you might be in for a surprise the next time you register and attend.

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Event professionals, whether they are on the planning side or the supplier side, are always looking for ways to get better. The industry is constantly changing and that requires even those on top of their game to be increasingly nimble.

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There’s still time to take your meeting outside in Greater Lansing! Whether you have 15 minutes in-between meetings, or an hour-long discussion scheduled with a colleague, there are plenty of options to get some fresh air during that time. Before the weather takes a turn…

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New challenges sometimes just fall from the sky – or maybe the heavens, in this case.

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Finding ways to get event attendees engaged with your conference content when there are tons of other distractions is a growing concern of event planners the world over. From mobile apps, social media and live polling to games, texting and emails distractions are everywhere and…

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Change is hard – and that’s coming from a woman who thrives on challenging the status quo! Recently I announced the next opportunity in my career, transitioning from Director of Sales at the Greater Lansing CVB to the Vice President of Membership and Operations with…

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A person’s life really changes when they have children. Not only the diaper changes and midnight feedings but the choices made every day.

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It doesn't take long to notice Greater Lansing is undergoing a major reconstruction. Cranes are in the air, shovels are in the dirt and the community at large is at the threshold of a completely revitalized region.

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As a single mom, raising two dedicated gymnasts in this crazy, constantly busy life, my whole life is about finding balance. Personally, professionally and even trying to channel my support and faith in my children to find balance, whether in their schoolwork, or on the floor…

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Conference planners, attendees, and other key stakeholders frequently use their phones to connect and share from conferences via social media, email, and even texting while in sessions. Your messaging could have an even longer-lasting impact via an often-forgotten social sharing…

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) held its annual meeting on March 13 and announced good news for the local economy and recognized numerous individuals with awards for their vision, dedication and loyalty to the Greater Lansing region.

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One of my favorite roles with the Greater Lansing CVB is being the spokesperson for our Community Champions program. Now in it’s sixth year, the Community Champions Program is intended to appeal to the civic pride of local residents by providing well-deserved recognition…

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A few months ago, I posed a question to my social media contacts. I took a risk, because the answer to this question was very important to me. The response was a real thrill.

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Recently the CVB sales staff attended the Convention Sales and Service Summit in New Orleans, Louisiana and came away with some really powerful take-aways. One session in particular really spoke to our team and will certainly have an impact on our approach to sales as we get…

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Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of hearing a great presentation by Dean Savoca, of Savoca Performance Group a well-known speaker and presenter on topics surrounding effectiveness and leadership in the business world.

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Set Yourself Up for a Gratifying 2019 NOW We all think about New Year’s Resolutions in January but why not start implementing a few rewarding concepts right now? A colleague told me about something she does every week that I can’t wait to implement (starting this…

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The Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program was launched in 1985 to enhance the knowledge and performance of meeting professionals, promote the status and credibility of the meeting profession, and advance uniform standards of practice. The Event Industry Council proudly…

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As a professional event planner, you've certainly led your share of teams working to get an important job done. When everyone is on the same page, leading people isn't too tough, but what about when your team of helpers is full of very different personality types?

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Social media has had an incredibly huge impact in its relatively limited time as a communication tool. People that used to keep in touch every now and then on email can now chat and share photos instantly, anywhere, anytime. How has this phenomenon effected the meetings and…

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So, you’ve been tasked with planning a company outing. (Gee, thanks, boss.) Or maybe a big family reunion. (Happy to do it, mom.) Need help? The Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) gives free assistance to professional meeting planners all the time…

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is excited to join the rest of the community in welcoming the latest Gillespie Group development to downtown Lansing. The massive 150 thousand square foot development will occupy a 4.15-acre portion of land on the 600…

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In 2017 FORBES Magazine named Event Professionals and Event Planning in the top 10 most stressful jobs. I think it’s important to support each other and be able to laugh or relate to each others experiences so we don’t all go crazy from stress. If you're a…

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While it’s hard to turn over a new leaf and embrace a healthier lifestyle it becomes easier to do when it feels like more of a social norm. Studies show that a growing number of conference attendees don't just enjoy healthy options at an event - they're demanding…

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Are you a Community Champion? What is a Community Champion? Ask yourself- Do I live or work in Greater Lansing? Do I travel to attend club, team, or organizational events that could host an event in our area? If so, you may be the next Community Champion!

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It’s an uplifting feeling to love where you live. From the attractions to the restaurants to your…

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People are living creatures, not robots. While there is often a lot of work to be done, we're not always ready to just put everything else aside and work. Its especially bad during the warmer summer days when all we can think about is being outside in our yards, or on a boat…

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Conferences and meetings are so much a part of the world of today’s busy professional that it’s becoming increasingly important to make meeting more than a PowerPoint presentation and lunch. Sometimes even a dynamic speaker is not enough. Attendees want to have a…

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At the heart of the value of a convention and visitor’s bureau is the numerous offerings from the convention services department. The sales portion of the agreement is wrapped up and now comes the part where the customers event takes the fore-front and the CVB services…

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In any profession there are numerous challenges and different elements of the job people don’t enjoy. Sales certainly isn’t for everyone but after doing some reflection on my over 21 years in the hotel and meetings business, I came away with some potential insight…

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is pleased to announce it has promoted Amanda Toy, CMP, CGMP, GMS, CTA to Director of Sales.

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Are you a Community Champion? What is a Community Champion? Ask yourself- Do I live or work in Greater Lansing? Do I travel to attend club, team, or organizational events that could host an event in our area? If so, you may be the next Community Champion!

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) is pleased to announce two changes to its Visitor Services department.

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There are a lot of little things that can really make the difference between a mediocre event and something truly memorable. One of the small things I always make sure to do is have a little something to give to keynote speakers that take time out of his or her schedule to speak…

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This post was submitted by guest blogger Matt Vande Bunte. You’ve been holed up in a business conference all day and now it’s time to see why your event planners picked Lansing. Whether you’d rather hit the links for the last few hours of sunlight or hit the…

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The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau (GLCVB) held its annual meeting on February 22 nd , and announced both good news for the local economy and recognized numerous individuals with awards for vision, dedication and loyalty throughout the year.

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Back in 2016 I embarked on a professional journey. I knew it would be full of new challenges, exciting opportunities and a lot of work for me to do. I was going to be a student again, but without the fun parties and youthful energy I had for late-night studying in my 20’s…

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Take a minute and ask yourself a couple of questions. Do you belong to a club, team or organization that could host an event in Greater Lansing? Do you ever leave town to attend conferences, conventions or sports tournaments? If so, you could be the next Greater Lansing Community…

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Even with the abundance of technology in our lives making it easy to connect with colleagues…