HFT4753 ONLINE SUMMER 2013 May 13 - Aug 9
Convention Facilities and Meetings Management
Course Credit Hours: 3.0
Class Meets:
Online and runs from Monday through Sunday
Instructor:
Marcia M. Dove
Office:
Fort Walton Beach Room 468/building 4
Office Hours:
Online Monday - Friday 9:00AM - 10:00 AM
Contact Information
Cell Phone: 850-830-1950
Prerequisites:
Email: mdove@uwf@edu
HFT 2000 Co-requisites: none
Course Description
Convention facilities, convention and visitors bureaus, sponsors, host venues, stakeholders, tradeshow and
meeting management are examined. Legal issues and trends are studied. The economic impact of meetings and
convention business upon destinations is studied.
Course Goal/Course objective ____________________________________________________
This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the meeting and convention industry and
provide students with the ability to distinguish between meeting types, sell to a specific market and coordinate
the additional add on services meeting planners often request; food and beverages and audio visual needs.
Program Goals
This course fits into the overall program by covering a key component of the hospitality industry, convention
facilities and meetings management. Managers are often called upon to use critical thinking to resolve issues
and must be able to communicate and collaborate effectively with others in order to perform their duties.
Students taking this course will be exposed to the kinds of decisions that managers are often called upon to
make in this area of hospitality. Critical Map Program Competencies: Identify and apply concepts and
principles in the major hospitality operational areas, exhibit effective interpersonal skills and collaborate
effectively with diverse individuals in project completion.
Topics
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Introduction to the Convention, Meetings and Trade Show Industry
Marketing Plans
Selling in Association, Corporate, Meetings, Conventions and other Markets
Advertising to Meeting Planners
Negotiations and Contracts
Preparing for the Event (Includes function rooms, guest rooms, meeting set ups, food and beverage
requirements and audiovisual and other services)
Exhibits and trade shows
Convention Billing and Post Convention Review
Make and defend decisions based on appropriate ethical principles
Identify opportunities for professional life in the hospitality industry
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)___________________________________
1. Describe the scope of the conventions, meetings and trade show industry and identify the characteristics of the
different types of meetings and the sales strategies used to sell to them.
2. Describe and discuss the procedures and steps used by the sales department to develop marketing plans make
personal sales calls, and plan advertising strategies.
3. Describe and discuss the organizational design of a sales department including how job responsibilities between key
positions are assigned and how the sales staff interfaces with other departments.
4. Describe and differentiate between the various meeting control mechanisms including forms, reports, billing, and
after function review procedures used by the sales department.
5. Describe the considerations involved in meeting room assignments, meeting setups, furniture and equipment needs
and, food and beverage arrangements.
6. Describe programs that hospitality properties offer spouses and children of meeting attendees and the role of such
programs in a successful meeting.
Texts / Materials
REQUIRED TEXT
Convention Management and Service, Eighth Edition
Educational Institute of the American Hotel & Lodging Association
Authors: Milton T. Astroff and James R. Abbey, Ph.D
ISBN-9780133086140
Grading / Evaluation
Letter grades will be assigned as follows:
94% or better
A
76% to 79%
C+
90% to 93%
A-
70% to 75%
C
86% to 89%
B + 61% to 69%
D
83% to 85%
B
F
80% to 82%
B-
60% or less
Final Grade Determination - Scores will be weighted based on 100%
Quizzes
30%
Class Discussion
20%
project
30%
Review Questions
20%
Assessment - Breakdown
Five Quizzes – Each quiz is comprised of twenty multiple choice questions worth one point each tied to text
book - module SLO’s. Quiz dates and times are listed under weekly assignments and in the course scheduler
located under the content tab; important course information. Quizzes can only be taken - Thursday 6AM through Sunday
10PM.
Class Discussion – A grading rubric, located under the content tab; important course information, will be used to
measure the quality and content of a student’s contribution to weekly discussions. Students are required to post participate a minimum of three times in every discussion this should include at least two comments on another students
posting.
Group project - The project is based on students’ application of their knowledge and comprehension of the
course material. The project will satisfy the Curriculum map competency, “collaborate effectively with diverse
individuals in project completion.” A grading rubric will be provided to students prior to project completion.
Chapter Review questions – Answering the end of chapter review questions will reinforce the students
knowledge of the material. Each weekly assignment is worth five points.
Attendance Policy - Your attendance does matter
This is an online course and while you do not have to regularly attend classes please keep in mind that it takes
discipline to keep up with weekly readings and other assignments. Weekly discussions are a graded, key
component of this course and are considered a form of attendance.
Minimum Technical Skills and Special Technology Utilized by Students
This course is totally online. All instructional content and interaction takes place over the WWW. In addition to
baseline word processing skills and sending/receiving email with attachments, students will be expected to
search the internet and upload / download files. In addition, students may need one or more of the following
plug-ins:
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Adobe Acrobat Reader: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
PowerPoint Viewer: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en
Windows Media Player: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/
QuickTime Player: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/
Real Player: http://www.real.com/realplayer/search
Adobe Flash Player: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
eLearning's Accessibilty Resource Guides for users: http://www.desire2learn.com/access/resources/
Expectations for Academic Conduct / Plagiarism Policy
The University of West Florida is dedicated to the highest principles and standards of academic integrity. An
academic violation by a student can negatively impact a class, program and/or college in ways that are unique to
each discipline. . . Academic integrity is closely related to professional ethics and requires that students honestly
acknowledge their use of the ideas, words, and written work produced by any other individual, institution or
source. Failure to acknowledge properly the use of another’s intellectual output constitutes a form of academic
misconduct. (UWF Academic Misconduct Code, UWF Student Planner and Handbook 2011-2012, p. 38)
Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will be taken seriously. Please refer to the UWF Student
Handbook for a list of behaviors that fall under the definition of academic misconduct. The handbook also
outlines the penalties for academic misconduct and the due process procedures that must be followed.
The Student Code of Conduct is posted at the following URL: http://uwf.edu/osrr/
The UWF Academic Misconduct Policy is posted at the following URL:
http://uwf.edu/academic/policies/misconduct/misconduct.cfm
Additional Information on Plagiarism
Your writing is your intellectual property. Guard it carefully. You could find yourself in the unpleasant position
of trying to prove that you are the true author of this work. Save preliminary drafts of your work, reading notes,
data collection sheets, and copies of library sources you make while researching your paper. You may be asked
to produce these if questions of authorship arise. Make back-up copies to protect your work from computer
failures.
Your Instructor reserves the right to submit written assignments to the Turnitin service or use other methods to
evaluate the originality of the work submitted. Your Instructor will remove personal identifiers from any
electronic files I submit to the Turnitin database for evaluation.
Puwf.edu or plagiarism is a serious violation of academic standards and will be punished severely. Students
who plagiarize will fail the course and will be referred to the Dean for academic dishonesty. Some students are
surprised to learn that they plagiarized themselves when they inappropriately used work produced for one
course in another course. If you are unsure, ask your instructor for guidance. See the UWF Student Planner and
Handbook and the Student Code of Conduct for information about the University policy on academic conduct
and plagiarism and the consequences for students who engage in academic misconduct.
ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
The Student Disability /Resource /Center (SDRC) at the University of West Florida supports an inclusive
learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that hinder
your full participation, such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned viedos
and podcasts, please notify the instructor or the SDRC as soon as possible. You may contact the SDRC office
by e-mail at sdrc@uwf.edu or by phone at (850) 474-2387. Appropriate academic accommodations will be
determined based on the documented needs of the individual.
Assistance for Students with Disabilities
The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) SDRCUWF.edu/sdrc/ at the University of West Florida
supports an inclusive learning environment for all students. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of
this course that hinder your full participation, such as time-limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use
of non-captioned videos and podcasts, please notify the instructor or the SDRC as soon as possible. You may
contact the SDRC office by e-mail at sdrc@uwf.edu or by phone at (850) 474-2387. Appropriate academic
accommodations will be determined based on the documented needs of the individual.
Accessibility Resources
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Follow this link for information on accessibility settings in eLearning. elearninghelp.uwf.edu/AboutAccessibility.ashx
Follow this link for information on accessibility features in UWF's Learning Management System (LMS),
Desire2Learn. desire2learn.com/products/accessibility/
Weather Emergency Information
In the case of severe weather or other emergency, the campus might be closed and classes cancelled. Official
closures and delays are announced on the UWF website and broadcast on WUWF-FM.
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WUWF-FM (88.1MHz) is the official information source for the university. Any pertinent information regarding
closings, cancellations, and the re-opening of campus will be broadcast.
In the event that hurricane preparation procedures are initiated, the UWF Home Web Page and Argus will both
provide current information regarding hurricane preparation procedures, the status of classes and the closing of
the university.
Emergency plans for the University of West Florida related to weather or other emergencies are available on the
following UWF web pages:
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Information about hurricane preparedness plans is available on the UWF web site:
http://uwfemergency.org/hurricaneprep.cfm
Information about other emergency procedures is available on the UWF web site:
http://uwfemergency.org/
Convention, Facilities, and Management
HFT4753 Course Schedule
Summer 2013 May 13-Aug 9
This is a tentative schedule and subject to change
DAY
WEEK#
MATERIAL TO BE COVERED
Chapter
13- May
1 Introduction to the Convention, Meetings and Trade Show Market
1
20- May
2
2
27- May
Memorial Day
3-June
10-June
17-June
24-June
1-July
Developing Your Marketing Plan
LL Orga
3 Organizing for Convention Sales
4
5
6
7
8
3
Selling the Association Market
4
Selling the Corporate Meeting Market
5
Selling Other Markets
6
Selling to the Meetings Market
7
Advertising to the Meeting Planner
8
Negotiations and Contracts
9
The Service Function
10
Guestrooms
11
Preparing for the Event
12
9
Function Rooms and Meeting Setups
13
Food and Beverage Service
14
8 - July
11-July
Last day to withdraw from this course and receive a grade of "W"
15-July
10
Audiovisual Requirements
15
22-July
11
Admission Systems and Other Services
16
Exhibits and Trade Shows
17
Convention Billing and Post Convention Review
18
29-July
12
Completed Project Due
5-Aug
You are done
18