With the weather starting to warm up in Arizona, as a meeting planner do you find yourself wondering what's hot in hotel contracts right now. Hotel contracts and the wording of key provisions continue to be of critical importance to meeting professionals. May's monthly membership meeting will include a discussion of the main points of the 2002 Sarbanes Oxley Law that affects and governs the Meetings Industry. He will also facilitate a legal explanation of hotel contract damages versus penalties as well as an analysis of key clauses in hotel contracts including provisions for: attrition and performance damages in guest rooms and catered food functions, force majeure clauses after September 11 and Hurricane Katrina, dealing with surcharges after the contract, termination versus cancellation, protection from incompatible and competitive groups, audit provisions and privacy, liquidated damages and resold rooms, and more. Members will learn how to recognize clauses that "double dip" and will be given the opportunity to participate in several interactive exercises analyzing actual clauses and calculating attrition damages. Information presented in this session is critical to your success as a meeting professional whether you are a planner or supplier, novice or pro!

Although he is a former hotel director of sales turned lawyer by trade, John Foster is recognized as a long-time, dedicated leader for the meeting and planning industry. Foster was chosen as a 'Subject Matter Expert' and 'Platinum Speaker' for Meeting Professionals International. He is also a respected consultant and counselor for associations, trade shows & event sponsors, and meeting & convention professionals nationwide and across borders. In 2003, John Foster received a special recognition award as "Corporate Member of the Year" by the Georgia Society of Association Executives. With all of his accolades and experience, all members, both meeting planners and suppliers will benefit from John Foster's presence.

After attending John Foster's session, members will have a better understanding of how to:

• Define the elements of a well-written attrition clause and reciprocal cancellation clauses and how to avoid the pitfalls while also explaining the various methods of calculating attrition damages in guestrooms and catered food and beverage functions in use today.
• Distinguish the difference between penalties and damages and what's enforceable.
• Prepare force majeure clauses based on what the industry learned from the events of 9/11, the SARS Epidemic, and Hurricane Katrina.

Named as one of the 'Top 25 Most Influential People' in the meetings industry by MeetingNews and being a well-known and prominent attorney for Foster, Jensen & Gulley, LLC, based in Atlanta, John Foster is an author of three books for meeting professionals including: Meeting & Facility Contracts, Meetings & Liability, and Independent Meeting Planners & The Law. He is a legal columnist for Convene, the official journal for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and an award winning author for their Professional Meeting Management book. John foster has been a guest lecturer and adjunct professor at several universities in their meeting management programs. He handles in-house legal training and contract preparation and negotiations for corporations and associations nationwide.

Need a break from the Valley heat? Our May membership meeting sponsor, the Flagstaff Convention and Visitors Bureau, has the answer. Surrounded by natural wonders like the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff offers dozens of inns, a multitude of hotel and motel accommodations, conference and meeting venues, more than 200 restaurants, numerous night spots, and a variety of cultural, historic and scientific attractions. Visitors from all over the world are attracted to our clean mountain air, year-round outdoor recreation opportunities, historic downtown charm and our Western legacy of pioneer ranchers, railroad builders and lumbermen. Visit www.flagstaffarizona.org for more information and this fantastic destination!

Our May meeting will be held at the Resort Suites Scottsdale. Resort Suites provides you with all the amenities and comforts of your own private retreat while encouraging you to experience all of Scottsdale. Located in the heart of North Scottsdale, Resort Suites puts you just minutes from Arizona's finest championship golf courses, as well as some of the best restaurants, shopping, night-clubs and attractions in Scottsdale.

Thursday, May 8, 2008
Resort Suites Scottsdale
7777 East Princess Blvd
Scottsdale, Arizona, 85255

11:00-11:45am   11:45am-1:30pm

Registration/Networking (registration closes promptly at 11:45am) Luncheon/Program/Up Close & Personal with Presenter

	Early Bird (before noon 5/05/08)	After Early Bird (after noon 5/05/08)	Walk in (after noon 5/07/08)
MPI Members	$25/person	$35/person	$50/person
NonMembers/Guests	$35/person	$35/person	$50/person
Student Members	$15/person	$15/person	$50/person

Click here to register on-line

Click here for a mailable/faxable registration form