published in Illinois Meeting and Events Magazine
Our WebMan surfs meeting-industry Web pages and clicks his way to some of the
best in Illinois.In the meetings and event industry, we constantly surf for information, whether it's about hotels, conference centers, spouse activities, between-the-meetings fun, nightlife, square footage, you name it. Many web pages are helpful, while others can be either too elementary or too extravagant.
We asked a Midwest-based e-strategist, Dave Serino, to point us in the direction of a few great web sites and offer tips for facilities on how they can better accommodate meetings and event planners. As our WebMan, he cast his net over dozens of sites and discovered the following winning sites.
Serino runs Gammet Interactive and develops, implements and manages Internet- and technology-based programs that are specifically designed to drive the sales and marketing process within the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
-Ron Garbinski
Editor, Illinois Meeting and Events Magazine
Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau
Web site: www.choosechicago.com
Overall: A great site for one of the world's most popular convention destinations. Organized navigation, a solid gateway page and excellent content make this a winning site.
Graphics: Upon entering, the "Meetings Planner" area is easily located-you don't even have to scroll down. After linking to the planner area, the main image is Navy Pier, reinforcing the meetings theme.
Content: The "Find a Venue" section provides excellent search capabilities. You can choose one of the convention facilities or search a hotel and/or special-event venue based on size. This quickly assists the planner with the question: Does my group fit? When results are returned, there are detailed meeting grids for individual properties along with links back to their web sites.
Creative extras: The "Why Choose Chicago" presents the "differentials" that makes Chicago a top meetings destination. Also, a convention calendar helps to see who's in town. And the "Visitor Chicago" section offers more than enough information to keep attendees and guests up to date on what's happening in town.
What's missing: Lack of meeting-related images and no hot dates/hot rates section for distressed inventory and an opportunity to sign up for an on-line newsletter that is meeting-specific. We would also like additional information about the convention sales team-who they are and what their job functions are as they relate to planners.
Rosemont Convention & Visitors Bureau
Web site: www.rosemont.com
Overall: You'll find excellent design, great use of graphics and wonderful images.
Graphics: You know immediately that this area is serious about meetings and convention. A well-designed main page offers two links to the meetings area, one within the header and another in the middle of the page that features an outstanding image of the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
Content: The link to the convention center includes calendar of events, colorful floor plans, virtual tours, services, contacts and more. Even the parking area is available.
Creative extras: An image that offers planners an opportunity to order a Rosemont Destination Planners Guide.
What's missing: Information on small meetings-although there's an area where 14 hotels are listed with links back to their Web sites. Also needs hot dates/hot rates section.
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau
Web site: www.visitspringfieldillinois.com
Overall: Love those unique icons. Ease of navigation and visitor-information content is excellent.
Graphics: Much like its favorite son, Abraham Lincoln, this Web site gets the job done without a lot of flash. After being welcomed to the site by Abe in the form of an animated intro (that's pretty cool), you move into the main gateway page-basic and easy to navigate. The conventions and meetings icon is easy to locate.
Content: The "Visitor Information" area links help give the planner and attendees an idea of what is available between meetings. And the restaurant sections are in the form of searchable database driven by cuisine. An animated icon says "Save Time" and "Save Money" and links to the online RFP.
Creative extras: Once inside the Conventions and Meetings area, you are greeted with "Let's Talk," which leads you to an area where you can enter your name, phone number and email address. A message is then sent to a group sales representative and they promise a prompt reply. This isn't much different from a general email link-but it is presented in a unique way to make the planner feel special.
What's missing: The "Convention Area" section lacks a dynamic searchable database and also needs photos. The section breaks down the facilities into areas and details guestrooms, number of meeting rooms, and largest theater capacity-sufficient information, but more could be provided. The Meeting and Hotel Facility link gives a brief overview and a meeting space diagram, but no pictures and no external links to the properties. It also needs a hot dates/hot rates section.
Marriott Hotels and Resorts
Web site: www.marriott.com
Overall: Marriott has been a cornerstone of brand consistency for 75 years and now is a benchmark in online meetings and convention planning. It hits the mark on just about everything.
Content: From the time you click into the events and meetings area from the well-designed main gateway page, the site is filled with rich content that is relevant to the meetings industry. The property search engine is abundant, yet simple, and is an example of excellence for all meeting-related destinations and hotels in Illinois.
There is information on how many people can fit class-room style in a 2,500- square-foot room and how to keep budgets in line to figuring the correct planning timeline, all needs are met. In addition, a check list tutorial is available for downloading.
Planners can choose a data set based on state or city, minimum guestrooms, meeting space square footage, number of breakout rooms and amenities such as golf, skiing or indoor pool. Once the data set is returned, floor plans for each individual hotel and a comprehensive meeting space grid can be viewed.
Creative extras: If your selection is one of the 15 Marriott conference centers, such as the Hickory Ridge Conference Hotel in Lisle, you can take a photo tour and learn about the advantages of selecting a complete meeting package (CMP) for your event.
What's missing: Although this site hits all the hot buttons, there are no Illinois properties with updated meeting inventory, which means there could be some missed opportunities to drive traffic to soft periods.
Indian Lakes Resort, Bloomingdale
Web site: www.indianlakesresort.com
Overall: Does a fine job with design, data collection, meeting-room search and diagrams.
Graphics: Welcome to a sleek, professional entry that features rotating images and text within the header. This quickly defines the resort and welcomes your group. You can tell immediately that the property offers golf, a spa and a top-notch conference center, the third text link from the top.
The meetings and conference area presents convenient links such as Meeting Room Dimensions and Capacities, Floor Plans and Meeting Room Finder.
Content: The site does a great job with data collection. It also immediately (on the gateway page) invites users to check out "Great Rates and Special Deals."
Creative extras: The Meeting Room Finder is an excellent search tool. All you need to do is provide your space needs based on attendees and room set-up and the site quickly helps you determine if this is the resort for you. This feature is a huge time saver-every meeting site should offer this service.
What's missing: The photo tour is limited and none of the photos contain people.
After spending more than 10 years in the lodging and tourism promotion industry, Dave Serino launched Gammet Interactive, www.gammet.com, a technology marketing-consulting organization. He can be reached at dserino@gammet.com.