hinton+grusich Announces Trilogy of “experience 2009” Events in Key Midwest Cities

May 7, 2009 - PRLog -- hinton+grusich (h+g), a leading national sales organization that represents upscale meeting hotels, destinations and hospitality suppliers, announced its series of “experience 2009” events designed to introduce its respective partners, while offer networking and education to meeting professionals in three Midwest cities:  Milwaukee, WI, Rosemont, IL and Chicago, IL.  With representatives from h+g and its partners serving as hosts, the upcoming trilogy of events respectively held May 12th and May 13th, offer a forum for meeting planners to enhance their knowledge of premier h+g destinations, hotels and supplier partners from around the world.

The Milwaukee, WI “experience h+g” lunch reception kicks off the series of Midwest events on May 12th, 2009, from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the Harley Davidson Museum.  Offered for the fifth year, this event will showcase h+g partners in Milwaukee’s newest innovative event setting.

Later that same day, May 12th, 2009, h+g ventures south to host an “experience h+g” evening reception from 4:30pm to 7:30pm at The Intercontinental O’Hare in Rosemont, IL.  In its third year, this “experience” offers a tabletop reception featuring h+g partners in a landmark hotel featuring a remarkable environment and services within a convenient airport locale.

The following day, May 13th, 2009, meeting planners are invited to attend the two-part “experience h+g” event in downtown Chicago’s historic The Ivy Room at Tree Studios.  From 3:00pm to 4:00pm, h+g offers a special presentation on one of the hottest issues facing the meeting profession today, “Legitimizing Meetings and Events:  What YOU can do.”  

In this session moderated by Kevin Olsen, president of One Smooth Stone, a panel of high profile industry leaders will discuss new travel and meetings industry policies and their affect on an organization’s strategic business goals.  Panelists from different disciplines within the industry who will share their perspectives include Brad Langley, president and COO of Creative Group, Inc.; Christie A. Tarantino, CAE, president and CEO of Association Forum of Chicagoland; Tom Healy, vice president - Assett Management of Strategic Hotels & Resorts; Ken Sanders, president of Freeman Audio Visual Solutions; and Susan Katz, director of corporate events, True Value Company.  Challenges, tactics, trends and specific advice will be shared with planners to help lead discussions within the executive suite relative to the crucial role that meetings play in dynamic business strategies.

An evening tradeshow reception will follow the presentation, from 4:30p to 7:30pm within the same studio venue which served many of Chicago’s great artists throughout the past century.

Kevin Hinton, principal of h+g stated, “While we advocate technological advances in business, our company values face-to-face networking and educational forms now more than ever before.  Through our series of events throughout the US, both partners and planners confirm the critical role that face-to-face introductions and learning experiences play not only in the meeting profession, but also in a more comprehensive business strategy.” [Photo: Kevin Hinton]

For more information or to register for any of the “experience h+g 2009” events, visit http://tinyurl.com/cnwwk4 or send an email to rsvp@hintonandgrusich.com or call 312-372-2200.

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About hinton+grusich: Founded in 1986, hinton+grusich (www.hintonandgrusich.com) is a national sales organization that represents upscale hotels, destinations and hospitality suppliers that serve the meetings industry. Offering a cost-free approach to finding the right hotel, the firm creates efficiency and buying power for professionals who plan meetings through one point-of-contact. hinton+grusich represents over 150 upscale, primarily independent hotels, six convention bureaus, and seven industry partners within their “partners+” collection. The firm offers four regional offices and nine national sales managers furnishing regional and market-specific support to meeting professionals.
As longtime supporters of hospitality, philanthropic and civic organizations, members of the hinton+grusich management team currently serve in volunteer leadership positions with MPI, ASAE and SITE. For more information, visit www.hintonandgrusich.com or call 800.783.7350.