Vanessa J. Lomas
You want me to contribute what?
Author: Wendy Bros, Manager, Guest Accommodation Services, MacEwan University With educational institutions’ budget constraints many of us who operate out of the Ancillary Departments are starting to feel the pressure to contribute more back to the Universities/Colleges we work for. When you have limited time and space to operate with, how do we accomplish this?
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Conferencing made easy
Author: Maaike Ammerlaan, Conference Sales and Services Manager – University of British Columbia Okanagan I just came back from our CUCCOA National Conference held this year in Halifax, NS and I have picked up some great ideas again from my colleagues at universities & colleges all over the country and from the very inspiring speakers
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To have and to hold or…not?
Author: Sarah M Roberts, Sales and Conference Planner, Meetings and Special Events, University of Calgary Every event starts with an initial inquiry – if it’s from a repeat client or a new one – to see what space you have available, rates, available guest rooms and many other details. We are in the sales business
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From a Student’s Perspective
Author: Jena Lewis, Student, University of Lethbridge (Melissa Wiebe, Conference and Event Services, University of Lethbridge) From an outside student perspective, everything at a university seems to run like a well-oiled machine. It is only once you get behind the scenes that you can see how much time and effort (and occasionally panic) it takes to
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Change is All Around Us
Authors: Susan MacKenzie, Laurier Conference Services and Susanne Keppler – University of Waterloo Conference Services In the conference industry, CHANGE is the name of the game. As professionals we deal with change on a daily basis. Whether dealing with rooming list changes that are sent at the last minute, meeting room venue changes due to
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The Ripple Effect
Author: Ruth Harland, Manager, Conference Services, Hospitality Services, Western University Have you ever noticed how a small simple ripple starts very clear and precise and then continues to expand outward in an ever increasing circle with less distinct features until it becomes part of one larger pool with all edges blended and blurred? Conferences have
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The Story of Yoshi
As we gear up for another busy conference season in the Okanagan, we would like to take a moment to introduce a special member of our front desk team. He goes by the name of Yoshi! If you are not familiar with this lovable character, Yoshi is the small dragon that carries Mario on his back in the popular Nintendo video game series. In our office we use Yoshi to acknowledge when another staff member has gone above and beyond – perhaps in customer service or dealing with a tough situation in which they were able to work through it in a professional manner.
The All Important Bag of Tricks
Author: Dana Beaton (Problem solver extraordinaire), Assistant Director, SFU Conference and Guest Accommodations, Simon Fraser University Like moms, wedding planners, and superheroes everywhere, every college and university conference professional has their bag of tricks full of items they’ve come to rely on for solving common (and not so common) problems. Here’s some of the key items
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The Road to Recognition
Author: Erin Crane, Manager, Conferences, University of Lethbridge “Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.” Abraham Lincoln Let’s face it, if you seek recognition and want to be praised for a job well done conference planning and hotel management are not the jobs for you! Our efforts are
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Things I would tell my younger self….
Authors: Andrea Hennel, Manager Specialized Services; Chelsea Rule, Event Logistics Coordinator Events and Conference Services; Jennifer Brading, Event Logistics Coordinator Events and Conference Services, Mount Royal University Events and Conference Services Our team was having a rather nostalgic discussion around events and how we approach events management now versus when we first started in our careers,
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A Big Experience in The Big Easy!
Author: Keith Lawlor, Assistant Manager – Conference Services, University of Prince Edward Island The crux of why I love being a part of CUCCOA is the networking opportunities it provides each of us throughout the year! Every time I connect with another member, it’s refreshing to share challenges and successes, compare practices, and catch up
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