Birmingham FAM

Last Thursday the Plan Your Meetings staff introduced about 20 planners from "Hot-Lanta" to other planners and vendors from "The 'Ham" (Birmingham).

The first order of the day was an early morning bus load in at the PYM office in Sandy Springs, GA. Gosh was this bus gorg! Leather all around, overhead storage, dvd player capabilities, and WI-FI!! So we could work on the way to Birmingham! Life is great! Donna Jakulski from Cooper-Atlanta really pulled out all of the stops! Plus, she gave us the best chauffer on Cooper-Atlanta's payroll, Derrick. (*And yes, they are on Cooper-Atlanta's payroll - they are NOT independent contractors!)


When we got to the Wynfrey Hotel in Birmingham, we attended the PYM LIVE event and met some great new vendors. This hotel is stunning. Plus...it's connected to a MALL!

Our next stop was a bus tour of "The 'Ham". One of the coolest things I learned on the bus tour was seeing the Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa. Gorgeous! I'm still a little twinged that I didn't get to try the spa, but maybe next time, eh?

My *almost* favorite part of the day was checking into our hotel room at the newly-renovated Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park. Dawn, Layne, and Ashley were absolutely fabulous! Even though they had rush of new check ins for the Magic City Classic the next day, they granted me a 2 p.m. check out. WOW. I am so impressed with this property. Thanks Layne, Dawn, and Ashley! Thanks also to the Birmingham CVB and PYM for these cute, cute gift bags!

My FAVORITE part of the day was the Birmingham CVB Fright Night Event. Here are some pics. Great stuff. One of the philosophies I am so passionate about is "Territorialism and Cattiness is only for the weak in this industry. Because if we don't work together, then clients end up planning their events themselves. That almost never turns out as a Level 10. If we work together, then more people can have better parties." This event helps to foster that commeraderie and collaboration. Thanks, PYM!