What Happens in Vegas...
First it was the OIG report on a $16 muffin the media so lovingly dubbed "MuffinGate" in 2011 . Then came the tax-payer funded GSA "Vegas Vacation" conference debacle unveiled in 2012, 2 years after the actual conference had taken place. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice also came under fire for
spending more than $600,000 for conferences held mostly in DC and CA. Do you remember this video?
Fast forward to 2013. Federal agencies beyond GSA are slashing funding for training, conferences, food and beverage and travel. Hotels, conference centers, and travel providers that rely on government business are losing revenue, government employees are missing out on training opportunities, and communities of practice are losing valuable face to face time and interaction with peers and decision makers.
According to an article in the Washington Post, agencies are reducing costs by trying to eliminate meetings, conferences and the need to travel. "In August [2012], the GSA said it had canceled 47 conferences and cut $11
million in related spending since April. The Labor Department is in the
process of eliminating 100 conferences, and the State Department has
announced that it will increasingly hold meetings in government
facilities instead of hotels".
In addition to reducing funding for meetings and travel, an online article in FCW states that GSA is trying to implement an enterprise-wide Meetings Management Program (MMP). "GSA’s idea—the Meetings Management Program - would offer a disciplined, enterprise-wide approach to managing
conferences and events, including the activities, processes, suppliers
and data regarding the meetings." Agencies are also following suit and drafting official guidelines that govern the planning of meetings and events. It sounds a lot like what corporations have been doing for years but a bit ironic given one of the reasons behind the renewed scrutiny on conference/travel waste and abuse stems from GSA's very own mishandling of their conferences and events. It also begs the question, how will implementing such a large program affect government and contract planners in the future?
The Future of the Government Meeting Professional
There has been open chatter among members in LinkedIn groups like the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) and Society of Government Travel Professionals (SGTP). Outside of online discussion, many individual planners and event management business owners are sharing their thoughts and concerns face to face at networking events, offline in small groups, or at community Round Table discussions. Government agencies are handing out employee furlough notices while government contractors have laid off staff due to contract cancellations and delays. Small businesses are suffering and the economy is stalling as a result.
Government and contract meeting planners are worried about their jobs. One SGMP National Capital Chapter (NATCAP) LinkedIn group member said, "I'm feeling the effects at my company. I had to take another position just to keep full time and not lose my benefits...This inability of our government to do its job is only causing the rest of the country to have to deal with the consequences."
Professional and trade associations such as U.S. Travel Association (USTA), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Convention Industry Council (CIC), The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), and American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) have displayed a strong show of support publicly through campaigns and letters designed to bring awareness to the economic significance of both the meetings and travel industries.
While
these actions and campaigns have indeed captured widespread attention and
created awareness, it does not offer solace to the government meeting
professionals who have already lost their jobs or have been forced to
transition into another career field to stay employed. We are part of an
industry that was already struggling to find a collective voice in an economy
not yet fully recovered. You can imagine the uncertainty facing those
planners who support government agencies. As a contract planner currently
waiting to support a task order that has been delayed, I can attest firsthand
to the difficulties of trying to anticipate the federal government's next
move. Agencies were notorious for red tape, delays and cancellations even
before it became sequestrationally fashionable. Yes, that's a word I just
created, no need to Google it!
I'm not
arguing against cutting costs by any means but I do take issue with the
reactive and blanket approach to breaking "news" stories as it
relates to such large industries. It's not just the government and
administration's knee jerk reaction, it's federal and contract employees' lack
of concern about the positions they hold and public perception. These type
of actions may also stem from a lack of professional development and
training.
I
learned about the "Washington Post Test" early in my Certified
Government Meeting Professional (CGMP) training course. When planning a
government meeting, don't do anything that will land you on the front page of
the Washington Post. Simple. If by chance you did forget what you
learned, well, just use common sense.
By now you know
where we've been, how we got here and what we are currently facing, but where
do government meeting professionals go from here? I don't know all of the
answers but I can offer some advice about how to stay agile and ready for
whatever comes next.
Stay CONNECTED
Both literally and figuratively. Stay plugged into professional networks and online groups and attend events if budgets allow (or pay out of pocket, it's worth it!). Start looking into virtual meeting and event training and certifications. Agencies are starting to invest in virtual collaboration tools to host training sessions and conferences remotely. They will need someone versed in the latest trends!
Stay RELEVANT with Training
Society of Government Meeting Professionals has beefed up their professional development and training offerings since hiring Ms. Garland Preddy as the Education & Training Director. Take advantage of these extremely low cost opportunities when you can.
Stay in the Know and Let Your Voice Be Heard
One person can make a difference. Read about, write about it, make a stink about it! Write your representatives and professional associations, support initiatives already in progress, or start your own campaign. Meeting planning is indeed a true profession. Planning a meeting isn't rocket science; but planning a meeting for a group of rocket scientists requires knowing how to navigate federal government regulations and agency guidelines.
Share your thoughts on the future of government meetings and events below or follow me on Twitter @Meeting_Pro!
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