Michael Cummings, Tate/Cummings, and Vice Chair of ASAE’s Communication Section Council, co-presented a session on the evolving role of the communications professional during ASAE's MMC Conference with Addy M. Kujawa, CAE, Gwen Fortune-Blakely, Bill Cramer, and Amy Goldenberg. Download a free executive summary by clicking at the link at the bottom of Michael’s blog posting.
Bryan Harrison, PMP, QAS, CSC, Senior Manager of Networks, Specialty Equipment Market Association, and NYSAE’s 2015 Outstanding Program Development Awardee, who was selected to participate in ASAE’s NextGen Association Summit. The event engages participants in meaningful conversations about the unique needs, perspectives, and interests of young professionals, trends facing the association industry, and the role of young professionals in the association community.
Did you miss the Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York, Long Island, and the Mid-Hudson webinar on Nonprofit Financial Reporting: Understanding Important New Changes Proposed by FASB, asks Luana K. Lewis, Senior Vice President, Programs and Services at the BBB. You can now listen online.
Nicole Millman-Falk, President, Millman-Falk Communications, and Editor, Apogee Publications, has been named one of seven editors to know in Cision’s Nonprofit PR Kit. Cision is a media database used by marketing and public relations people. In addition to serving as Editor of NYSAE’s InView and Chair of NYSAE’s Awards Committee, Millman-Falk is editor of several association publications.
David Teisler, CAE, is celebrating 21 years as Director of Communications at the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.
Kellen’s 2015 international study of social media use by associations found that organizations are exploring new platforms and showing greater confidence in their abilities to use social media effectively. The Social Media Impact Study for Associations 2015 indicates that trade associations, professional societies, and other nonprofit organizations on both sides of the Atlantic increased their use of photo and video sharing platforms significantly over the past year. Instagram usage by U.S. organizations rose by half (29% up from 19%), and YouTube usage increased by 9% from 64% to 73% over the previous year. While European (EU) organizations have been slower to adopt visual media sharing channels, YouTube usage was up by a third (52% up from 40%) and Instagram showed a seven-fold increase (from 1% to 7%).
Organizations are increasing their use of paid digital such as Google ads and sponsored posts on Facebook and Twitter, with U.S. groups leading the way. More than one-third (36%) of U.S. associations are promoting their organizations through paid media, compared with only one-fifth (21%) of organizations participating in the survey in the EU. The most popular uses of paid digital are to promote organizations’ content (58% in the U.S., 60% in Europe) and to attract people to events (67% in the U.S., 66% in Europe). The ability to target and quickly launch digital advertising has also led organizations to use paid digital for issues management.
Overall, social media use is maturing as evidenced by associations becoming more strategic and as a result, seeing greater success and satisfaction from their social media efforts. For a series of organizational goals, 79% of EU associations said social media was effective versus 73% of U.S. survey participants. One example of effective social media use is in Europe where associations are harnessing the power of social media to amplify their voices and influence policy-makers and key opinion leaders, far more than in the U.S. Every EU Commissioner is now on Twitter, gathering insights and information, which presents a key opportunity for trade associations there to connect with policy makers and influencers.
With more than 600 million Internet users and a 45% social media penetration rate (compared to 85% in the U.S.), China has vast social media growth potential. Despite strict government controls over social media use and the blocking of most western social sites, the average social media subscriber in China spends 90 minutes per day mostly on homegrown social platforms such as Weibo and WeChat. In 2014, the volume of social sharing increased 65% in China.
Associations seeking to reach stakeholders via online channels in China are advised that embedded social media on their websites, such as Twitter feeds, will be affected by local Chinese regulations. Organizations experience better website accessibility if the site is hosted on local servers based in China. Familiarizing the association’s social media team with the diverse functionalities and audience interaction tools of Chinese social media platforms and with the local language will aid greatly in online engagement.
The 47-page report is available as a free, downloadable PDF at: www.kellencompany.com/socialmediastudy.
2014 Travel with Purpose Action Grant recipients in Seoul. ©2015, Hilton Worldwide.
Hilton is awarding more than $280,000 to 100 Hilton Worldwide properties and community organizations around the world as part of its Travel with Purpose Action Grant program. The grants are intended to support the development of local projects and strengthen the quality of life in the communities in which Hilton Worldwide's hotels and offices serve. Now in its third year, the program has awarded over $500,000 to nearly 200 community projects around the world. These projects align with the company's four focus areas: creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening local communities; celebrating cultures and the positive impact of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of the use of natural resources. The scope of winning projects includes reducing food waste to help fight hunger; educating young people on water conservation; building composting and greenhouse facilities to support hotel micros gardens; delivering life skills and entrepreneurial training for underserved women; and creating mentorship programs for young people entering the hospitality industry.
Marriott International has launched Meetings Imagined, ) a new set of tools to help any planner design and manage the perfect meeting experience. Key to the new approach is MeetingsImagined.com, the first visual, social, and collaborative website designed to change the way meeting planners plan, shop, and buy meetings. The site includes:
- Meeting Purpose Methodology: A process to help planners zero in on what’s important for meeting success and to design the perfect attendee experience;
- The Inspiration Gallery: A visual library with thousands of set-up, food and beverage, and décor images to spark the imagination;
- Tips & Trends: Expert stories and articles with the latest trends in the meetings business;
- Hotel Ideas: Browse by brand, country, hotel, meeting size, or amenities;
- Meetings Start with a Little Imagination video: Takes the planner through each step of the process, from defining the purpose of the meeting to how each element supports and enhances the experience.
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel is undergoing the largest makeover in its history. In 2014, the hotel launched a multi-phase, multi-year, $125 million redesign project that is scheduled to transform every guest room in the 758-room Swan Hotel by fall 2015 and the entire 1,509-room Dolphin Hotel by 2017. The concept for the new rooms was created by noted hotel and condominium interior design and architecture firm Garcia Stromberg/GS4 Studios. Blending an artistic combination of whites, blues and grays, the new design is inspired by the resort’s water-themed architecture and creates a serene and sophisticated atmosphere. Guest room features include a completely new bathroom, upgraded furniture and the latest technology, including large HD TVs and additional power outlets to provide executives more options for use of multiple personal electronics. The centerpiece of the room is the famous Westin Heavenly Bed with its all-white custom-designed pillow-top mattress set, cozy down blanket, a trio of crisp sheets, goose down comforter and four overstuffed pillows. The transformation will continue to occur without disruption to the guest experience as the majority of guest rooms will be available throughout the process. The hotel’s public spaces, restaurants, meeting rooms, shops, pools and recreational areas will not be impacted and remain fully operational throughout the renovation. Combined, the hotels have more than 329,000 square feet of meeting space.