A Complete Meeting Package provides all-inclusive pricing for everything you need for your meeting. CMP subtracts the surprise element from the bottom line because you receive a single per-person, per-day price that covers everything you need for your meeting:

• Overnight executive accommodations
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Continuous refreshment breaks throughout the morning and afternoon
• Fully equipped meeting room with A/V and conference supplies
• Professional conference planner to handle all the details
• Complete business center
• Use of fitness and recreational facilities
• Parking and service charges

Unlike a la carte meeting pricing, CMP give you peace of mind. You’ll know up-front exactly what you’re paying. You’ll understand exactly what the conference center is providing. No surprises. No extra charges. We helped pioneer the CMP concept because we believe it offers meeting planner several advantages:

Typically, CMP pricing is more economical than a la carte pricing for each individual component of your meeting.

CMP pricing makes it easier to compare proposals you receive from individual conference centers.

CMP pricing saves you time when requesting information from properties—one question and one answer gives you the pricing information you need.

Conference centers provide superior settings for successful meetings. That is the conclusion of meeting professionals surveyed by Cornell University researchers for a study in which bona fide conference centers scored better than hotels in 19 of 20 categories that included services, facilities and personnel. The Cornell study identified these as the key needs of conference planners:

• Professional staff that is knowledgeable about all elements that create a successful meeting.
• One primary contact person who is responsible for coordinating a meeting carefully.
• Ergonomic furniture, including chairs rated for 18 hours of comfort.
• Conference rooms that are the appropriate size for the group and the purpose of the meeting.
• Conference rooms that provide a comfortable and productive meeting environment, with such features as variable lighting options and individual climate control.
• Staff who go the extra step to make the meeting successful, providing immediate and attentive assistance throughout the conference experience.

ARAMARK Harrison Lodging leads the industry in meeting these needs and maintaining or surpassing standards established by the International Association of Conference Centers.

Technology Terms

Bandwidth — Amount of transmission capability.

Coder-Decoder (Codec) — In videoconferencing, a video code converts analog video signals from a video camera to digital signal for transmission over digital circuits, and then converts the digital signals back to analog signals for display.

Continuous Presence Video — Refers to a type of video teleconference that provides simultaneous and continuous pictures of all participants. The images are usually close range shots of the group and may be viewed on a large screen or on one or more monitors. People images are usually 'stacked' on one another.

Document Camera (high resolution) — sharply illuminates documents, objects and images on a variety of display devices

Dual Projection — The projection of two images at a time using two separate projectors.

DVCPRO — A relatively low-cost broadcast Digital VTR format based on the consumer DV standard using 6.35 mm tape recording a 4.2.0 component signal sampled at 8 bits and compressed at a ratio of 5:1 on metal evaporated tape

DVD — Digital Versatile Disk (Digital Video Disk): A video format for storing full length motion picture images on a 5' (120mm) compact disc (CD) using MPEG-2 compression for 'better than VHS' quality

Easel — A frame supporting something (such as a directional sign)

Flipchart — Paper pad supported on a stand

HDTV — Stands for High Definition Television: Television with definition approximately doubled with reference to the conventional TV both vertically and horizontally and with increased picture aspect ratio. A format with a new screen aspect ratio of 16:9 (the current is 4:3) and capable of reproducing twice the resolution in horizontal and vertical dimensions than existing standard definition (SDTV) broadcast systems

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) — A switched network service providing end-to-end digital connectivity for transmitting voice, data, and video simultaneously over a single line verses multiple.

Laser Pointer — A small pen or cigar-sized pointer that contains a small battery powered laser, which can project a small, red (typically), high intensity beam of light that is immediately very visible on the screen

Lectern/Podium — An elevated stand for reading materials to be used during a presentation

Microphone, Floor — Microphone mounted on a stationary floor stand

Microphone, Lavaliere — A small wireless microphone that is clipped onto clothing to allow the speaker to move about

Microphone, Podium — A microphone attached directly to a lectern on a flexible neck for adjusting

Microphone, Table — A microphone placed on a table for panel members or the head table. These microphones usually have a push to talk button

Microphone, Handheld Wireless — Microphones that are hand held and operate by transmitting a signal to a receiver. Allows the speaker to move about carrying the microphone in their hand

Polycom Phone — This is a high performance conference phone that compared to a speaker phone is much louder and has a highly sensitive microphone

T-1 — Commonly used transmission line for videoconferencing, with a capacity of 1,544 Kbps.

USB Drive (Jump, Thumb Drive, Flash Drive) — Portable storage device that lets you store, transfer and carry your data with ease. Presenters can bring their own which can be plugged into and downloaded onto a resident PC located in a podium

Videoconferencing (VTC) — The use of digital video transmission systems to communicate between sites using video and voice. It allows people in different locations to electronically collaborate face-to-face, in real time, and share information including data, documents, sound and picture. The system usually consists of camera, codec, network, access equipment, network, and audio system.

Wi-Fi — Wireless Fidelity, and is a type of wireless network used to connect digital devices without the need for cables. It is mostly used for wireless broadband access

Meeting/Conference Terms

Air Walls — Moveable barriers that partition large areas into smaller areas

Block — To assign space

Boardroom (Conference Style) — Seating arrangement where chairs are placed around all sides of a table

Break Out Sessions — Small group sessions, within the meeting formed to discuss specific subjects

Business Center — Area in a conference center or hotel offering various office facilities

Call Board — Bulletin board with announcements

Chevron Set-Up — Rows of chairs (with or without table) separated by a center aisle slanted in a V shape facing the head table or speaker

Classroom Style — Seating arrangement in which rows of tables face the presenter and each person has a space for writing, typically two people per table

Concierge — Facility staff which provides special services such as transportation, directions, etc.

Concurrent Sessions — Sessions occurring at the same time

Distance Learning — A learning environment in which the teacher and learner are geographically separated, and therefore rely on electronic devices for instructional delivery

Double Width — Two tables placed together allowing extra room in a conference style set-up

Facilitator — Person assigned to make a meeting or discussion run smoothly and efficiently

Feedback — Evaluative information given after a meeting

Head Table — Table reserved for speakers and VIP's

Hollow Square — Seating arrangement with tables arranged in a square with an open middle, chairs are on the outside only

Interpreter — An individual who reads and speaks more than one language and can orally convert one language to another

Itinerary — The actual or proposed route and schedule of travel

Keynote — Opening remarks of a meeting that set the tone of the event and motivate the attendees

Keynote Speaker — One who presents the issues of primary interest to a group of people

Minutes — Notes containing the most important features of a meeting and a detailed list of action items and their point of contact

Moderator — One who presides over an assembly, meeting or discussion

Move-in — Time during which exhibitors may set up their booths

Move-out — Time during which exhibitors remove their goods from the exposition

Off Site Event — Event held somewhere other than the host facility

Outside Vendor — Suppliers who are not directly associated with the facility

Overflow — Quantity that exceeds normal capacity


Risers — Platforms of varying heights used together to create a stage

Pre-Function Space — Area adjacent to the main event location

Press Room — A room at the meeting site specifically designed to be used by members of the media to produce their stories

Proposal — An offer or bid for goods and services

Refresh — To clean room after or between meetings, refilling water pitchers, changing glassware, and other general housekeeping

Registration Packet — Information concerning the program and local attractions and services given to each registrant

Room Capacity — Number of people that can function safely and comfortably in a room

Rounds — Circular tables, size may vary (i.e. 32', 45', 60', 72')

Serpentine — Series of tables set in curving shapes, often S-shaped

Signage — All informational and directional signs required for an event

Site Inspection — Process by which the details of a potential location are evaluated

Skirting — Attractive fabric placed around a table to conceal the area underneath

Specifications (Specs) — Complete description of meeting requirements

Theatre Style — Seating arrangement in which seats are in rows facing the front of the room, no tables

U-Shape — Seating arrangement of tables and chairs in an oblong semicircle with one end left open toward the focal point

Food & Beverage Terms

BEO — Banquet event order — A form used to provide details to personnel concerned with a specific food or beverage function

Box Lunch — Light lunch in a box, usually consisting of a sandwich/salad, chips, fruit or pasta salad and a dessert

Chef's Choice — Selection of food items to best compliment the season, function, etc.

Coffee Break (Refreshment Break) — Time between sessions where coffee and/or other refreshments are served

Continental Breakfast — Informal breakfast consisting of juice, coffee, and pastries or breads

Family Style Service — Platters and bowls of food are on the table from which seated guests help themselves

Guarantee — Final number of guests the meeting planner tells the catering to prepare for

Hotel/Lodging Related Terms

Block — To assign space

Cut-Off Date — Deadline for holding a number of rooms or function guarantees at the group rate

Direct Billing — Accounts receivable mailed to individuals or firms with established credit

Group Rate — Room rate negotiated for booking multiple guests

Guaranteed Reservation — Hotel room reservation for which the first night's fee is paid for in advance

Incidentals — Minor expense items that are not usually itemized

Room Block — Total number of sleeping rooms reserved for the meeting

Room Deposit — Amount of money that must be paid for the hotel to guarantee to hold a room