The Power of Positivity

 Posted on: November 13 2018
“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” – Mary Lou Retton When you look back on the people who have influenced your life, do you find a common trait?  In my experience, the people I remember the longest and the fondest are the ones who had upbeat personalities. Teachers who encouraged me through challenging classes, friends and family who reassured me through difficult times, and professional mentors who always helped guide me – these are the people who have touched my soul and have inspired me to be that person in other people’s lives. Looking for the good in every situation is who I aspire to be. I am a work in progress, but I consciously make an effort to direct my focus on the bright side, the possibilities and the solutions.  Moving into a leadership role has shown me that my actions and attitude shape those around me. As a team, we are more productive when our work envi...

What I Learned as an Industry Veteran but First-Time Attendee of the NASC 4S Summit

 Posted on: October 31 2018
Although I have attended the NASC Market Segment Meetings in the past, I did not attend the inaugural 4S Summit in 2017.  In all honesty, with new leadership and changes to the organization, I thought it best to “sit this one out” and evaluate the feedback post-event. Between the FOMO (fear of missing out) and the extremely positive feedback I received from industry peers, there wasn’t a chance I was going to miss out on year two.  I wanted to personally experience what was making the 4S Summit different from the past Market Segment Meetings.  And, as a long-standing mentor, it was important for me to share this experience with both new members to the Association and future first time attendees. From the moment I arrived onsite, familiar faces were surrounding me…in the hotel lobby, in the hotel restaurant, and even on the hotel elevators.  Right off the bat, the sense of camaraderie was evident.  To kick off the Summit, the atten...

Let’s Rock and Roll at the 4S Summit

 Posted on: October 9 2018
The 4S Summit is headed to Cleveland, OH in a few weeks!  The summit kicks off with a Reception at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. A great opportunity to get together with your colleagues, share your stories and enjoy the history of Rock and Roll! The 4S Summit provides an opportunity for all of us to discuss our commonalities. The commonalities could be challenges we are facing or successes that we want to share. My motto “Why recreate the wheel, when I could learn from others’ successes and challenges.” The opportunity to learn from the NASC members is one of the best learning tools at the tip of your fingers. Be ready to learn more on the 4S’s of sports events and tourism: sponsorships, sales, services and strategies. The sports events and tourism industry has many commonalities within these 4S’s. Is your organization focusing on strategies to have the community more engaged with your sports events? Looking to learn new bidding best practices...

Last Minute Must Do’s Before Leaving for NASC 2018 Symposium

 Posted on: April 9 2018
Last Minute Must Do’s Before Leaving for NASC The National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) Sports Event Symposium is just around the corner! And if you’re attending for the first time, you’re in for a real treat. On April 23rd, people from all over the country will come to Minneapolis to learn from and network with hundreds of sports tourism professionals. The NASC Symposium “will feature dozens of authentic educational sessions, countless networking opportunities, and business development appointments in the NASC Sports Marketplace.” As a newbie, attending your first NASC can be a little overwhelming. You might not be sure what to expect, what to bring, or how to prepare for the show. Whether you’re a vendor, an event owner, or a destination attending NASC for the first time, here are some tips to help you get ready for the show. Check Your Itinerary + Plan Your Arrival Traveling to a new city can be nerve-wracking, especiall...

First-Time Symposium Attendee Orientation and Networking Reception

 Posted on: April 3 2018
Are you attending the NASC Sports Events Symposium for the first time? Get ready to make some new friends, have fun, and learn a new idea to take back to your community! Are you a first-time attendee or a new NASC member? We invite you to come to the First-Time Orientation and Networking Reception on Monday, April 23rd. The First-Time Orientation is at the Minneapolis Convention Center from 4:30 pm to 5:15 pm. The Reception is at the Brit’s Pub from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm (a short walk from the convention center). Come attend the First- Time Orientation to learn tips and ask questions about the NASC Sports Events Symposium. Meet your mentor so you may put a face to the emails and phone calls. (I am looking forward to meeting my mentees.) The orientation will be a great opportunity to meet new colleagues who will become your friends. We in the sports tourism industry have a lot in common and have lots of fun! The First-Time Networking Reception will be an opportunity to conti...

How My Mentor Helped Me

 Posted on: March 13 2018
A little over three years ago, I was hired as the National Sales Manager at the West Michigan Sports Commission. I was making the transition from college athletics into an unfamiliar territory of sports tourism and knew that I had to hit the ground running. Developing relationships in the community and eventually on a national level was very important in being successful, but where was I supposed to start? Fortunate enough, I had a great support system in my organization that guided me throughout the process. But still, the tradeshows were something I was not quite sure about because they were all so different. And what is this thing called ‘speed dating’? Do we really have six minutes to get as much information as possible from event planners? I had the opportunity to attend a few tradeshows prior to my first NASC Symposium in Milwaukee. As I continued to meet people in the industry, they would always talk about the NASC Symposium because it was much different than othe...

The Importance of Attending Education Sessions at NASC Symposium

 Posted on: February 19 2018   Posted by: Mike Price, CSEE
I often think about the phrase “learn something new every day”. I think about it because I realize I don’t commit enough time to learning or growing professionally. If you think about it, learning is really unavoidable. I mean, every encounter, interaction and experience has a takeaway, but how often do we take time to reflect and realize the lesson learned? I’d like to say I do so every time, but let’s be real! My life, like I imagine most, feels like one distraction after another. This is not a complaint. I love my life, personally and professionally. But I really wish I was better about taking the time to learn and advance my professional skill set. I imagine others feel this way as well. Every spring I attend the NASC Symposium and while I enjoy interacting with clients at appointments, that is actually near the bottom of my satisfaction list. I have just as meaningful interactions outside the appointments as I do during. I understand many people at...

Twelve (12) Questions Every CVB/Sports Commission Should Be Prepared to Answer

 Posted on: February 12 2018   Posted by: Don Flynn, V.P. Business Development of GameDayUSA
A new event organizer is visiting your city/community to do a site-visit, review dates and discuss logistics and fees.  These are twelve (12) questions every CVB/Sports Commission should be prepared to answer: 1. What are facility rental fees and is financial support offered for a first time event? Does CVB/Sports Commission have a grant program? Or perhaps assist with securing discounts on facility rental fees? Is there a bonus paid for reaching pre-determined number of room pick-ups? For one year, or longer?  2. Has there been another event organizer/tournament on this particular weekend? If so, why are they no longer hosting an event this weekend?  3. What other large events or festivals are scheduled the same weekend (or week) that might have an effect on hotel availability and getting around the community easily? 4. Is there another established event or tournament, in the same sport, within 60 miles that may be competing against Event Organizer...

Successful Symposium Planning for First-Time Attendees

 Posted on: January 29 2018   Posted by: Don Dukemineer, CSEE, CHSP
With the 26th Symposium now officially three months away, I’m sure you’re beginning to ask yourself what to expect upon your arrival in Minneapolis.  Being a first-time attendee, I know you have lots of unanswered questions about how to best prepare for tackling the symposium. Luckily, you’ve found the right place, and your National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) Mentoring & Engagement Committee is here to help!  Over the next few months, our team will be publishing articles on how to properly plan for the Symposium, and what activities to experience during your time in the “Twin Cities.”  Each article will focus on an area of the conference, and detail how to approach that event or activity.  Our committees' years of experience can help guide the direction you set for yourself. “What are your goals, how to make the most from attending the Symposium, what to do during the appointments and what events shou...

News Year’s Resolution!

 Posted on: December 18 2017
I know I am a little early talking about a New Year’ Resolution---let me get through the Holidays enjoying the plethora of Sweets and endless Parties with all that delicious food. After all of that I will then come up with and announce my 2018 Resolution to shave some pounds knowing that it will be September before I will hit my goal. My resolution that I want to announce today is that I will make it a Priority to dig deeper in my personal relationships with our facility partners. We (Sean Robison on our staff and I), as I am sure that your destinations do as well, have turnover from time to time in our Parks and Recreation Departments. To be honest, they are not always public about the change or the new hire. In some cases, we found out through another source of the change. We have several different Park and Recreation Departments in our various communities, but they play a key component in hosting tournaments and events here in Dayton and Montgome...
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