Graylyn's Promise To You

"We promise to create an environment that enriches the soul, stimulates your senses and awakens a feeling of home.”

Graylyn is undeniably an amazing facility with many features that will augment and enhance our guests' stay. That is our promise to you.

We are hopeful that this 2 ½ minute video will give you the sense of our passion, depth of our commitment and the PROMISE we make to each of you!

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How Meeting Planners Can Use Foursquare to Promote Meetings

Foursquare, a location-based social network that allows users with smartphones to “check in” at venues, is one of the most up-and-coming social media sites on web. It is perfect for increasing engagement because it combines the fun of social media with incentives and viral messaging.

Users “check in” at venues using a mobile website, text messaging or a device-specific application. They are then awarded points and in some cases, “badges” for certain activities.

If social networking sites connect people to people, then Foursquare should be thought of as connecting people to places making it the perfect social media tool to promote your next meeting:

1. Drive attendance.
Many of the already existing badges for Foursquare can be leveraged for this purpose. Foursquare has two badges that are rewarded based on a crowd of users checking in.

If 50 people check in, a “Swarm Badge” is unlocked, and if 250 people all check in the same venue and time period, a “Super Swarm Badge” is unlocked.

When promoting an event where there is a possibility to get this badge, people will usually promote this to all their peers in the attempt to gain more people to check in to ensure the badge is awarded.

2. Post tips and information in real time.
Foursquare has a “Shout” or “Ping” function that allows you to send a mass message out to friends and users. This tool can be leveraged to make announcements, which can be received  via mobile applications. There is also a function to post tips or instructions on the venue’s Foursquare page.

3. Gather demographic and business data.
As a venue owner or manager, or as the agent promoting that event/venue, you can “claim” the ownership, and then Foursquare allows you to utilize and view the robust back-end analytic package connected with each site.

Here you can find out such things as who is checked in, the frequency they have done so, their Twitter username (if public), whether they are male or female, and any tips or suggestions they have made about the site.

Once the meeting is over, make sure to go back and track your Foursquare page. See who checked in, how many tips were left on the venue page, and how many people took advantage of the check-in promotion. These results will help your social media marketing for the next meeting; what worked and what didn't.

So broaden your horizons from solely Facebook and Twitter. The age of social media is everchanging, and it is your job (as well as many others) as a meeting planner to stay on top of it. It not only increases awareness for your meetings and venues but also allows the attendees to market your event for you.

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Meeting Planners, Are You Thinking Green?

So you have decided to plan a green meeting. What does this mean? Where should you start? How do you reconcile the desire to be green with the need to save some green?

We are in an age where there is more concern about the well-being of our environment and how we can prevent pollution and ozone depletion. As the number one contributors to pollution, we have a responsibility to respond to these concerns and there is no better place to start than in the hospitality industry.

As a meeting planner, there are more and more ways to aid in the sustainability movement. Although it seems that planning an entirely green and cost efficient meeting might me be more trouble than it is worth, let's look at 10 ways to go green while planning your meeting. 

• Select hotels and suppliers with green policies and practices
• Host all multi-session meetings at a central location to limit transportation needs
• Minimize paper with web based invites, online event registration and electronic follow-up
• Utilize double-sided printing for all collateral and meeting related materials
• Give recycled materials precedence when making meeting supply purchases
• Decrease the usage of paper and plastic by using real china for all food and beverages
• Select buffet style menus and donate leftovers to eliminate waste
• Coordinate with venues to use bulk dispensers for all food and beverage
• Encourage speakers to use electronic means of presentation
• Choose a venue with an in-house recycling program and encourage recycling

While this list may seem daunting, if you keep it in the back of your mind you will successfully be creating completely sustainable meetings without the stress or worries. 

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