Katherine (Kate) Christensen, CMP, DMCP, is an award-winning event planner and owner of two successful companies — KCA Inc. (Association Management, Meeting and Event Planners, Public Relations) and PRA Destination Management in Chandler, Arizona. She is the past-president of MPI’s Arizona Sunbelt Chapter and was the recent recipient of its “Planner of the Year” Award. In addition, she has served as a mentor to students entering the industry with internships, hiring many of them on as full-time employees. She talks to WTTC partner, Randy Markus.
WTTC: How would you define the meetings and events industry?
KC: Currently our industry is in a bit of turmoil and it’s hard to forecast what will happen. It appears that everyone from vendors to clients to planners continue to perform with less, for less, making less. For instance, the hoteliers are offering huge discounts in very creative ways but obviously their gross profits are taking a hit. A transportation vendor still needs the business as they have their vehicle inventory payments so they too are discounting. My team still makes the same amount of phone calls for a group that used to be 400 people but is now 180 people. Our gross profits are deteriorating all while the same work effort is being put forth. That being said, I do believe that these times truly make us stronger as a group, as a team, and as an industry. These financial hiccups provide us with an opportunity to retool, rework, and embrace new practices and procedures to position for future successes. Continue reading…
