During August 11-14, Southwest Conference Planners, the inhouse DMC for the JW Marriott Camelback Inn, was hired to work with Event Service Providers, a meeting planning company located in Chandler. The client was Panasonic with approx. 300 attendees. There was a mix of Panasonic Toughbook employees, vendors and sponsors. Tuesday, August 11th was the main day for guest arrivals. Between three staff, we ran the Registration/Hospitality desk from 9:00am-7:30pm. This required checking in guests through an online registration data base, handing out gift bags that we had assembled prior to check-in, and offering any information regarding the agenda and on-site/surrounding area questions. During the following days of the conference, three of us spent the days running the Hospitality desk. Some tasks included continuing to register guests, remake nametags and handout misplaced agendas, pass out flyers about Panasonic Toughbook, and give out free Panasonic straw hats during breaks. This in house group was here to learn more about the product, Panasonic Toughbook, as well as have a good time in the destination of Scottsdale. There was two onsite parties during the evenings which consisted of food and beverages, poker games and free giveaways. One night they leisured offsite to a Paradise Valley mansion. By working the Registration/Hospitality Desk for Panasonic, I got to see how a 4 day conference was executed while on-site. Working with both SWCP and Event Service Providers was a great way to network and see both sides of how the DMC and the event planning company work with the clients as well as the on-site venue (JW Marriott Camelback Inn).
