Tips for Gaining Management Approval to Attend

If attending the 2008 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace in Houston, Texas on October 15-18 isn’t part of your current business plan, it should be. Professionals who attend this event know they will discover the latest trends, market forecasts, professional development tools and strategic innovations that will give them the edge they need over their competition.

This event is also where serious business connections are made, where solutions for challenging times are discovered and where top women and men influencing the major deals look for partners. You can’t afford to miss this event.

You know it, now how do you convince managment of it?

Create a Winning Proposal
You develop proposals everyday in your business, so why should it be any different when pitching your company on the benefits of attending the CREW Network Convention? Develop a formal proposal that includes the benefits of attending the event, your intended schedule of education sessions, and why this information will be valuable to your operation. Be sure to describe how your attendance directly supports your organizational goals.

Communicate the Value
First and foremost, you must communicate why it is important to attend this event. Simply put, professionals who are better prepared and better informed than their competition have the advantage – as do their organizations.

Here are just a few benefits of attendance:

• Nearly 1,000 commercial real estate professionals attend – all are doing deals, all are looking for new deals. The connections you make will benefit your entire organization.
• In-depth market forecasts delivered by the experts
• Carefully planned education sessions that address current market challenges and solutions
• Targeted professional development sessions
• Marketplace trade show featuring more than 60 exhibitors
• Dedicated business networking events
• Learning excursions provide a street-level view of Houston’s development projects

Mine for Business
Use the convention as an opportunity to schedule business meetings with your contacts in Houston. Also, use the online attendee list (once available) to scope out individuals with whom you wish to do business. Set onsite meetings with those individuals before heading to Houston.

Bring it Home
What you learn in Houston doesn’t stay in Houston. Be a force for change in your organization by bringing the knowledge you gain at convention home. Make sure your management understands that your attendance at the 2008 CREW Network Convention can benefit everyone in your organization. Strike an agreement to write up a brief synopsis of what you learn once you return from the convention. Then share this information with your company.

Take a moment right now to jot down all of the benefits you and your company will receive by attending the 2008 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace and start formulating your proposal today.