Here, then, is the dilemma facing many a meeting planner. More and more, unique meeting sites are employing their own events managers who are equipped with facts and figures, anecdotes and testimonials. But, once they see the possibilities, they realize that, for captive audiences, it's the ultimate meeting venue. The seats are comfortable, the lights are low, the sound is great. Suddenly, you've got people thinking theatre, not meeting.
People tend to relax and enjoy the show.
Golden is often called in by meeting planners to pitch her venue to an end customer. Though she comes armed with videos and demos aplenty, when possible, she tries to take prospective clients to a theatre and let them see for themselves. In some cases, using a unique venue gives the end user significantly more latitude in the design and presentation of a meeting. Alan Ashe, manager of production for Disney i.d.e.a.s., watched a demo by United Artists and imagined much, much more. The Walt Disney World Resort's in-house incentive travel group had always spent three months a year on the road, making marketing presentations to travel agencies in the company's top 20 markets.