Fagel Baer is a Corporate Meeting & Events Planner at Ferguson. A young professional, she was the recipient of the 2018 Global DMC Partners Rising Star award due to her passion for events, customer loyalty to GDP, and dedication to the DMC industry.  We asked Fagel for her perspective and insights on the industry, such as challenges, trends, travel tips – and more!

GDP: Why, when, and/or how did you decide to join the meetings industry? 

FB: As a kid, my birthday party was the only true event I could plan, so naturally I would start the planning process months in advance! I would decide on a theme, make invitation lists, create an agenda – I’d do the works. My dad always told me I’d be a party planner but it never really occurred to me that it could be a career until college when I became the VP of Marketing for my sorority and was tasked with planning our chapter’s first major fundraising event – the event was so successful and it literally hit me on a drive home that this is what I was destined to do. I’ve been fortunate to work with non-profit events, pharma meetings, and now corporate incentive travel.

GDP: Where do you see our industry 10 years from now?

FB: Everything that’s old is new again – I think with the economic climate the way it is people are going to go back to traditional style meetings – watching costs, not being frivolous, and being more conservative – bigger is not always better. I think the environment is going to start to play a bigger role with meetings too – not having extravagant breaks due to food waste, cutting back on printing, and being conscious of the traveler’s impact on certain locations. I think there will always be a need for conventions, meetings, and incentive trips, but I do see those factors starting to play a much bigger role.

GDP: What is your favorite part of your job and why?

FB: There are too many to list! First, my favorite would be the travel – I can’t sit still and I have been fortunate enough to have gone to some amazing places through work. Second would be the people – I have made some incredible connections through work around the country who have become great friends.

GDP: What is the most challenging part of your job? Do you have a process or procedure to help overcome this challenge?

FB: Making everyone happy – it’s hard with incentive travel because you want everyone to have the best time ever, fall in love with the destination, be appreciative of the rooms, enjoy and use their gift – but that’s not the case for everyone. There will always be someone who complains, takes it for granted, or thinks every mistake is your own personal lack of attention. I always have to remind myself that despite being the planner that I am, some things will be out of my control.

GDP: What is your favorite trend in the industry right now?

FB: It’s simple, but I love the colored stemware being used at events! Such a fun pop of color.

GDP: What do you see as your biggest success so far?

FB: I planned our company’s 65^th anniversary and annual meeting last year in Park City, UT. It was the biggest one I’d done and the first time I got to work closely with some of the Executive team – despite some challenges leading up to the meeting and the headcount being more than what the properties should have handled, the trip was a huge success for the company and a huge win for me personally. It’s going to be hard to top that one!

GDP: What is the most interesting place you’ve planned a meeting or event and why?

FB: Probably in Park City, UT – we do a lot in the Caribbean, so doing something with mountains domestically was a nice treat. It’s gorgeous in the fall and we even got an early morning snowfall while we were there.

GDP: What do you never travel without, or what is your best travel tip?

FB: I have blue blocker glasses that I am OBSESSED with. It’s not necessarily a travel item, but they help with eye strain and headaches from the computer screen and harsh fluorescents, and I notice a huge difference when I don’t wear them. Also compression socks!

GDP: What do you enjoy most about working with Global DMC Partners, and why?

FB: Well first I love Shelley, but also every single DMC I have worked with just has some of the most amazing people – they’re friendly, invested, excited, and creative!