2008 Network Connections Events

Many minds. One voice.

What is coming up for CHPA members?

Do you share our passion for the corporate housing industry? Are you interested in learning more about current trends? Join us for a unique networking opportunity over lunch.

Network Connections events are informal meetings that occur more frequently throughout the year.  They offer you the chance to learn and discuss market trends and issues, as well as the opportunity to connect with other corporate housing professionals in the area.  The cost for attending these events is FREE. 

Held in partnership with local CHPA members in each area, these networking opportunities are open to both CHPA members and non-members.

Summaries From Past Network Connection Events

Boston, MA area - June 10, 2008

Facilitator: A Planning Committee of local CHPA members

Sponsor: American Furniture Rentals

American Furniture Rentals based in Woburn , MA was excited at the opportunity to host a Network Connection in their showroom. Looking to put a little different twist into the Network Connection, a planning committee was formed that consisted of Kimberly Johnson and Kristin Fancher, American Furniture Rentals; Lynn Green, CCHP, ABODA; Debbie Lundon, Oakwood; Terry Flahive, CCHP, PrincetonProperties; Annette Clement, Furnished Quarters; Chris Fleming, RECE Corporate Housing; and Chris Brookes, Compass.

The planning committee was formed to pull together a core group of providers and vendors in the New England market that would work together not only to offer a strong Network Connection but begin to build a team approach to hosting, planning, sponsoring and facilitating these events in the future. The feeling was it is not as overwhelming when there is a group to share in the work. Since the goal of these events is to provide additional networking and educational opportunities on a regional level, what better way to meet that goal than to have a group of regional people offer input on the key topics.

40 people attended the event. Lunch and networking encompassed the first 30 minutes The meeting then offered a recap of the 2008 CHPA Conference topics. This was facilitated by Terry Flahive and Chris Fleming. Using the CHPA website as a tool in doing their recaps, the attendees were able to get a sense of how valuable the CHPA website can be.

The invitation for this event went out highlighting the roundtables that were offered asking everyone to select one to attend. The roundtables were a big hit. Many attendees said they would have stayed longer if given the opportunity to do each one.

The Operations session titled Partnering for Profit was facilitated by Debbie Lundon from Oakwood and Lynn Green, CCHP from ABODA. It focused on drilling down into best practices that will enable corporate housing providers to build regional relationships and the philosophy that sharing corporate apartment inventory is healthy and profitable for not only corporate housing providers and the real estate market but most importantly the clients they serve. Debbie and Lynn will be spearheading additional meetings through CHPA events and pulling regional providers together frequently to continue the conversation and reinforce the best practices needed to be successful in this endeavor.

The Sales and Marketing roundtable was facilitated by Gary Ciabotti, CCHP from ABODA and hosted a mix of corporate housing providers, property management folks and industry vendors. The conversations focused on meeting the needs of international transferees, how to market lump sum customers, the increased demands of the relocating individual regarding electronics, services and amenities, and the trend in “going green”.

The Technology session titled Maximizing Your Return from a Web Prospective, was facilitated by Sarah Greenough from Princeton Properties. Topics like pay per click, how to use social networking sites as marketing tools for your business, understanding Google Analytics and what can you learn from the information captured were all discussed. Sarah did such a great job facilitating it folks also learned how important it is to have the right IT person in place for what you are looking to accomplish on the web.

The group is looking to plan another Network Connection for sometime late in September. The word was that attendees would like to see an evening event planned so that is what is in the cards. More detailed information with regards to sessions and future planning is available to anyone by contacting Lynn Green from ABODA at lynn.green@aboda.com.