hinton+grusich and One Smooth Stone Step Up Support of the Meetings Industry

PR Log (Press Release) – Aug 02, 2009 – CHICAGO, IL - hinton+grusich (h+g), a leading national sales organization that represents upscale meeting hotels, destinations and hospitality suppliers, has teamed up with partner One Smooth Stone, a full-service event production company, to invest in meetings industry supportive initiatives.  During a time when companies are cutting back on such investments, these Chicago businesses are showing their commitment to their clients and the industry through offering a series of webinars, panel discussions and a “grass roots” campaign effort to provide feedback to the US Congress.

The educational series co-hosted by the two firms, launched in January, 2009 with a webinar featuring Corporate Social Responsibility.  Next in the series, the partners offered a webinar with a diverse panel of high-level industry executives entitled “Our Industry is Under Attack:  How Do We Respond to These Challenges.” The March webinar was especially timely, as the controversy surrounding TARP regulations for meetings and events unfolded.   The partnership proceeded to extend their education to the leading industry trade organization, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) with a webinar entitled “You Can Do It – Turning Lemons into Lemonade.”

Following the webinars in May, a “live” panel discussion on the same topic was offered at a hinton+grusich-hosted “experience” educational and networking event in Chicago.  A panel of high profile industry leaders discussed new travel and meetings industry policies and their affect on an organization’s strategic business goals.

All of the partnership’s educational platforms offered diverse perspectives from industry leaders on how today’s challenges can be turned into positive business influencers.  Specific tactics were offered to help professionals lead discussions within the executive suite relative to the crucial role meetings hold within business strategies.

The partnership initiative will culminate the last week of September during The Motivation Show/IT&ME in Chicago with the launch of a “grassroots” campaign that will offer both clients and partners the opportunity to “find their voices” in the ongoing effort to unite the industry in defense of meetings and events against continued scrutiny from media and government.

The partnership initiatives were the brainchild of Kevin Hinton, principal of hinton+grusich and supplier client/partner Kevin Olsen, president, principal and founder of One Smooth Stone.  Both leaders’ objectives were well-aligned, as they sought a proactive and meaningful way to support the US Travel Industry Association’s organized “Meetings Mean Business” initiative.  

Kevin Hinton, principal of h+g stated, “I am pleased at the level of participation, interaction and passion that our educational events have inspired in the attendees.  Meetings have always had a strategic role within organizations, and the recent controversial media coverage of TARP issues and tighter budgetary controls have helped our profession open dialogue and shed a positive light on the benefits of meetings.  This is a great opportunity now more than ever for planners to elevate their position, as well as their profession.”

Kevin Olsen, stated, “Partnering with hinton+grusich on this important initiative made perfect sense for our firm.  Not only do we experience the value of meetings first-hand from supporting our global clients, we value our relationship with h+g, we believe 110% in the “Meetings Mean Business” initiative, and we want to help others’ understand the strategic value of meetings.”  Olsen continued, “We are in the business of strategizing with clients to achieve their objectives through events, and this opportunity was of special interest to all of us here.”

Hinton and Olsen plan to continue their educational and grassroots initiatives, promoting the business of meetings through their leadership positions.  Web visitors wishing to access the audio and/or podcasts of the educational offerings can visit :   http://www.onesmoothstone.com/ or www.hintonandgrusich.com.  Photographs and more information on the events can be found on h+g’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64610448928.  For the MPI “Meeting Matters” webinar, visit http://www.mpiweb.org/Education/Online/MeetingsMatter.aspx.

For more information on hinton+grusich, visit www.hintonandgrusich.com or call 800.783.7350.  For more information on One Smooth Stone, visit www.onesmoothstone.com or call 630.427.4226.  
For the latest state of the meetings and travel industry information, visit:
- http://www.meetingindustrycrisiscenter.org/
- http://www.meetingsmeanbusiness.com/