Those of us in the meetings and events industry who have
worked as a supplier to the industry have a unique perspective on how to treat
vendors. I don’t intend to write about relationship management, persuasion or
power here. Clearly, anyone who has successfully worked in any capacity as a
meeting planner has figured out how to get what they need from their suppliers.
I started telling someone recently about how I think some
planners need to trust their suppliers to do the job they are contracted to do
and then I contradicted myself with a story about a CSM who didn't do a good
job. I have worked on teams where one of the planners was a bit too
micromanaging for my taste. Since I started out on the supplier side of the
industry and was passionate about being the best I could be at whatever job I
had committed to, I choose to treat my vendors in a way I would have liked to
have been treated. If we have a contract and other communication in writing and
I feel that you understand what I need and we have agreed upon a price, then I
trust you to honor your side of the agreement.
Where I ended up contradicting myself was when I had to
admit that I had a client who had some issues on-site at the hotel because her
CSM hadn't produced a copy of the BEOs until the day before the event and had
not included everything on the BEOs they had discussed.
Not all suppliers are equally committed and passionate, so
how do you know the difference?
This might be one reason that certifications are so
important in our industry. Often times, we think that getting a CMP (Certified
Meeting Professional) or CMM (Certification in Meeting Management) are obvious
for planners but it is definitely one way that suppliers can set themselves
apart and prove their commitment to the industry. This is one of the reasons
that I not only went through the process of earning my CMP while I was a
supplier but also spent a few years as a study group leader and also
contributed to the next CMP manual. My next goal is to earn the CMM.
Certifications are an important part of the advocacy conversation as well. As
we continue to educate our friends and families about what we do and how we are
not just party planners or money spenders, talking about certifications elevates
the perception people have of our industry.
Do you agree that certifications are a good way to identify
great suppliers? What other methods have you used?
