APEX E-NEWS ARCHIVE: Volume IV, Issue 11- November 2005
News You Can Use from the Accepted Practices Exchange
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CONTENTS
I. Now Available for Industry Review and Comment: Contracts
Panel's Preliminary Document
II. What’s In It For Me? …For Service Contractors
III. Upcoming Presentations @ Industry Events
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I. Now Available for Industry
Review and Comment: Contracts Panel's Preliminary Report
The APEX Contracts Panel's Preliminary Report is available for industry
review and comment through Friday, February 17, 2006. The purpose
of the APEX Contracts Panel is to focus on the key clauses and definitions
that make industry contracts, in addition to developing contract guidelines
to consider when preparing/ reviewing contracts. Additionally, the
panel will develop a standard format for industry contracts. Not all
clauses must be included. However, if they are, the clauses should
fit into the suggested format. This will provide easier review of
contracts and also ensure all benefits of suppliers and others are
included in the planners' decision matrix.
This report outlines the work to date of the APEX Contracts Panel and describes the process by which members of the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry can provide input on the panel's recommendations for accepted practices in the area of Contracts.
This Preliminary Report is intended as a draft for industry review. If you wish participate in a City Discussion Group near you, please visit www.conventionindustry.org, or contact Project Coordinator, Amy Hawthorne. Let your voice be heard and participate today!
The final Contracts Panel report is intended to be an educational document, providing an informative approach to housing and facility contracts to all members of the convention industry. This document is not intended to provide a substitute for legal advice.
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II. WHAT’S IN IT FOR
ME? … For Service Contractors
This feature of the APEX E-News focuses on a different sector of the
industry each month, addressing the important benefits that APEX accepted
practices bring to that sector’s members. This month the focus
is on the Service Contractor sector of the industry.
In the Area of Event Specifications:
• Proper use of the information will add efficiency and reduce
cost while supporting cross communication with facilities.
• The ability to transmit and receive data in a standard format
simplifies planning and aids in understanding of info and implementing
it.
• Apply the accepted practices in “booking forms,”
ID Signs and updates to them, utility and other forms from facilities,
and service manual forms.
In the Area of Meeting & Site Profiles:
• A database of accurate information for pre-planning of production
• A savings in T&E would result from accuracy that allows
for production efficiency and cost savings.
• You could find the information you need without at visit (e.g.
marshalling yards, docks, building dimensions, utility capacity, etc.)
In the Area of RFPs:
• A standard format assures apples to apples bidding and minimizes
confusion.
• Affords ability to better determine the value of business.
In the Area of Contracts:
• The ability to have a uniform format closes loopholes, and
industry-wide acceptance is leverage to better enforce contracts.
• Saves management time in contract administration, which can
be spent more effectively.
Converting proposals to contracts provides better business protection.
In the Area of Terminology:
• Helpful in cross industry communications and assures clarity
in communications between segments (to hotels, planners, etc.).
• Savings result from clarity.
Other Potential Areas for Service Contractors:
• Having a standard for floor plan software will be helpful.
• Standardizing timesheets, time cards, employment forms and
ID badges for labor will save significant time.
• Determining credit worthiness in a standard way would assist
in contracting and billing.
How are accepted practices benefiting you? Let us know and we may feature you in a future edition of the APEX E-News. Send your ideas to ahawthorne@conventionindustry.org.
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III. UPCOMING PRESENTATIONS
@ INDUSTRY EVENTS
Watch for APEX-related sessions at the following upcoming industry
events:
December 13, 2005
Technology Conference - NKU Mets Center for Corporate Learning
Erlanger, KY, USA
www.ohmpi.org
December 14-15, 2005
APEX TAC Meeting - Hosted by Walt Disney World
(scope and organization of 2006 APEX National Demonstration Project
to be formalized)
January 8, 2006
ACOM Annual Meeting- Educational Session (8:30 - 9:45 am)
Philadelphia, PA, USA
www.acomonline.org
January 10, 2006
PCMA Annual Meeting- Educational Session (1:15 - 2:30 pm)
Philadelphia, PA, USA
www.pcma.org
January 11, 2006
PCMA Annual Meeting- Computer Labs: APEX in the Real World (3 sessions
offered)
Philadelphia, PA, USA
www.pcma.org
May 10, 2006
MPI Westfield Chapter- APEX (5:30 pm - 8:30 pm)
Location: TBA
www.westfieldmpi.org
July 9- 11, 2006
MPI WEC- 4 Lab Training Sessions to be scheduled
Chicago, IL, USA
www.mpiweb.org
If you would like to have an APEX session on your event’s program,
please contact Amy Hawthorne at ahawthorne@convetionindustry.org
or (703) 610-0278.
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Please forward this newsletter to others in the meetings, conventions,
& exhibitions industry.
The APEX E-News provides timely information and updates on the APEX
(Accepted Practices Exchange) initiative to all volunteers, funders
and general industry members. APEX is developing the best accepted
practices for the meetings, conventions and exhibitions industry with
the goal of streamlining the way the industry does business.
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APEX is an initiative of the Convention Industry Council
www.conventionindustry.org
8201 Greensboro Drive, Suite 300
McLean, VA 22102