Presented by Kristi Casey Sanders (@PYMLIVE) at MEC2012 The marketplace and meeting planners' needs are constantly shifting. This interactive roundtable discussion will help supplier partners identify innovative solutions to the challenges they're currently facing. Learning Objectives: • Identify innovative solutions to current market challenges. • Utilize creative strategies to reach new markets, gain repeat business, promote services and grow market share.

1. Survival Strategies
@PYMLive | #MEC2012
for Suppliers

2. Industry challenges:
Destinations, Hotels, Vendors
1. Budgets/economy
1%
3% 2. New ways of marketing
5% 17%
5% 3. Price integrity
6% 4. Finding decision maker
5. Breaking new markets
8% 14% 6. Building relationships
7. Short-term bookings
10% 8. Misperceptions
10%
9. Managing/hiring staff
10% 10%
10.Educating planners
11.Qualifying leads/time
@PYMLive |

3. Discussion:
What are you currently struggling with?
Do you have advice for the people at your table?
Take notes. There's a Google Doc you can edit at: http://
ow.ly/1GV5kn
We'll share findings in 20 minutes.
@PYMLive | #MEC2012

4. Why don't you...?
• Compete with the tier above you in
pricing and value instead of slashing
rates to meet your competitive set?
• Partner with people or companies
who already have relationships with
your target market?
• Request read receipts for your
emails?
• Become an educational resource for
planners?
• Treat your employees like your
clients?
• Listen more.
@PYMLive |

5. Resources:
Survival tips, technology, short-term, leads & budget ideas
• Survival strategies for suppliers (white papers, videos,
articles) - http://ow.ly/9eCN5
• "152+ Ways to Save Money"- http://ow.ly/9eCy6
• Meeting technology 101 series - http://ow.ly/9eCEJ
• Zentila (hotel-friendly booking engine) - http://ow.ly/
1GTygJ
• Planner Toolbox (educational resource for planners
that generates leads for you) - http://ow.ly/1GTPml
@PYMLive |

6. Resources:
Sourcing leads and managing staff
• LinkedIn for sales
• LinkedIn ads
• Need to detox a noxious
workplace? Read: "The
Five Dysfunctions of a
Team" by Patrick
Lencioni
@PYMLive |

7. Marketing tools
• Social media management:
hootsuite.com, tweetreach.com,
budurl.pro & Google Analytics
• Next-step platforms: instagram,
pinterest, YouTube - but get on
Google+ now!
• Ideas & services: hubspot.com,
salesforce.com, omniture.com,
Google Alerts,
socialmention.com, vocus.com
• Fun stuff: YouTube.com/
planyourmeetings
@PYMLive |

8. Survival Strategies
@PYMLive | #MEC2012
for Suppliers