What Do You Do When Someone Smiles At You?

We’ve been getting it from all sides! On the day itself, through feedback forms and emails and at meetings and industry events, delegates from Smile 2006 have been telling us how much they enjoyed the day:

"Excellent line-up and ideally setup for networking...
Loved the round-table format and lively Q&A sessions...
Certainly got the workout we were promised...
Inspired and motivating...
I see this conference going from strength to strength...
A wealth of great informative speakers who know their stuff."

& offering suggestions as to how we can make Smile 2007 even better:

"Broaden your focus to include more tourism (and not just hospitality / hotel) presentations...
More of a balance between marketing and sales (Smile 2006 was a little marketing-heavy)...
Shorter refreshment & comfort breaks." (we forgot what a hardworking bunch sales & marketing professionals are!)
Whilst the Storehouse was a popular choice, some canny delegates suggested we hold next year’s event at their venue instead!

We hear you! Calls are being made. Plans are being hatched. Check out Smile Conference for updates and more details on Smile 2007.

A Word Of Advice (Interview: Marc Charron of TripAdvisor)

Marc Charron, who gave us a lot to smile about at this year's conference speaks to Alex Gibson on The Persuaders' Marc Charron Interview.

Technorati Tag: TripAdvisor.com, Marc Charron, The Persuaders, Alex Gibson

I've Smiled So Much...

Ever heard a bride describe how much her face hurts after her wedding day? It's been a little like that for us at Smile Central as we've wound down from a hectic few months lining things up for Smile 2006 on October 10th.

Your feedback has been great and we're delighted that we got more on the mark than not. Some of the things we were trying for the first time and, by all accounts, these worked well: the format of the event and the set-up of the room and tables seem to have gone down particularly well, whilst the speaker lineup was a real talking point.

Which sets the bar even higher for us for Smile 2007. We'll be in touch as we plot next year's event. In the meantime, drop us a line with any suggestions you have (particularly any speaker or topic that you've like to see included).

And, of course, keep on smiling!

Box Of Tricks

The power of music in helping to set the scene, whether at an event or in a restaurant or hotel lobby, is often underestimated, so I was delighted to happen upon Pandora whilst pulling together the soundtrack for our Smile Conference.

Pandora offers me the tools to create a playlist based around a particular song that I like and uses the individual characteristics of that song to suggest other songs that share those characteristics. I listen to each suggested song and give it the thumbs up or down, which helps Pandora refine its search further.

Apart from being a lot of fun, Pandora has allowed me to make a soundtrack based around Simon & Garfunkel's 'Mrs.Robinson' that taps into the particular spirit of that song (which in turn has tapped into the brand profile of the conference itself).

Seems to me that this approach offers event organisers and venue hosts the opportunity to set the scene in a way that's much more likely to strike a chord with their own visitors than the bland muzak that's usually served up.

Technorati Tag: Smile Conference, Pandora, brand

Something To Chew Over

Am just writing our welcome note to delegates and my musing over our choice of the Smile name for our conference (we believe it it reflects all that is best in this dynamic sector) prompts me to wonder what lies behind (or, gulp, beneath) the annual Shark Awards hosted by our friends in Irish advertising in Kinsale just recently.

Best not to mull over that one for too long: like the shark, we’ll just keep moving.

Persuading Your Boss To Send You Off With A Smile

Some tips in the gentle art of persuasion:

Smile 2006 is a unique one-day conference workout for sales and marketing professionals in Hospitality and Tourism, and this year’s lineup and format makes it the ‘must-attend’ event of the year.

You know it, but your boss or financial controller may need a little convincing. To help you out, we've compiled a handy list to help you persuade him or her.

1. You’ll get a full-on, full day workout tackling critical sales and marketing issues for your business.
2. You’ll be first to hear the findings of our Pulse Rate survey, which checks the vital signs of your industry and offers a diagnosis for the future.
3. Thanks to our round-table format, you’ll get to hear from some of the brightest people in the business – both our speakers and your colleagues - and learn how they’re getting to grips with key issues in their business.
4. You’ll get to hear how to make a great coffee (and a great coffee business), how to deliver award-winning customer care, how to re-launch an iconic brand and much more.
5. You’ll hear from some of the biggest players in the Internet space about what lies ahead and what you need to be doing to get ahead and stay ahead.
6. You’ll get to network formally and informally with your colleagues in the industry and establish important contacts and resources for your work.
7. You’ll get to return to your business armed with presentations, tips and slides to share with your colleagues.
8. In the weeks following Smile 2006, you’ll receive invaluable How To Guides from our partners, covering areas such as: How To Brand, Commission Design, Commission Photography, Design A Sales Campaign etc.
9. You’ll get to help us design an even more dynamic and effective Smile 2007.
10. And last, but most importantly, you’ll bring a Smile to our faces at Smile Central (Team Motto: We'd love to see you bring a face to our Smile!)

Need even more reasons to Smile? Visit Smile Conference for more information and booking details.

Smiling All The Way To The Bank

Here at Smile Central, we recently read the story of the remarkable Frank O. Brock, a banker who generated over 6,000 active bank accounts in a town of 514 people.

His ingenious mix of product and service suggests an approach to sales & marketing that we all might put to work for us when playing host in our own business: The Banker's Sales & Marketing Secret

Smiles All Round For Mandarin Oriental

News that one of our favourite hotels bagged a prestigious Fast Company Customers First Award (one of only six companies worldwide in any sector to do so) brings a smile to our faces here at Smile Conference Central.

Mind you, we’re not too surprised that the plaudits keep coming in for David Spooner and his colleagues at Mandarin Oriental – their legendary customer care is one of the reasons we invited David to join us on the 10th.

Welcome to Smile!

This Year We're Giving You...

SMILE 2006 is a unique one-day conference workout tackling critical sales & marketing issues for the hotel and tourism sector.

We’ve taken onboard your feedback from last year and Smile 2006 is designed to provide you with even more practical insights and workable strategies from Irish and international speakers, round-table exchange and planning, whilst offering invaluable opportunities to network with other members of this dynamic community.

...Some Reasons To Smile...

Our confirmed line-up for Smile 2006 includes:

Chair
Orlaith Blaney, Managing Director of Mc Cann Erickson Advertising

Speakers
David Spooner, Vice President of Sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group
Sally Everton, Paramount Hotels Group
Stuart Fogarty, Director, AFA O'Meara Advertising
David McKernan, Founder and MD, Java Republic Roasting Company
Anne-Marie Whelan, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Shelbourne Hotel
Marc Charron, Managing Director - Europe, TripAdvisor
John Herlihy, European Director, Online Sales & Operations, Google
Jonathan Dolden, Head of Product Market, Quadriga

...Even More Reasons To Smile
Inside Track : A round-table exchange to help translate what you’ve just heard into action
Pulse Rate : State of the industry insights & imperatives
Adrenaline Rush : All you need to succeed on the internet