5 Myths About CSR, According to Tammi Runzler of CSRConnections

May 28, 2019

You know that incorporating corporate social responsibility activities during your events can be a win-win all around – for your attendees, charities in destinations that host your events, the destinations themselves, and of course, your organization. Yet you might be feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. 

While incorporating CSR can seem daunting, there are more resources than ever available to support planners in this process. To help inspire you to take that next step, Tammi Runzler, co-founder of CSRConnections, a corporate social responsibility company that helps match up organizations with the right CSR activities for their events, shared some of the biggest myths (and truths) about CSR worth keeping in mind.

Myth No. 1: The activity has to be a distinctive event held in a large space, in a set amount of time, with a large group of people.

CSR doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing activity. While having a couple of hours and a big space along with a large budget to dedicate to a CSR activity is ideal, that is rarely realistic.

“I love it when a conference has 3,000 people in a giant space doing meal packing and it’s a huge, scheduled, distinctive component of their program – those are amazing and that’s typically the perception that planners have when they start visualizing incorporating CSR into their program,” Runzler says. “But the truth is, that isn’t the only way that you can do socially responsible activities… there are so many other creative options.”

For example, if you have no time in your event schedule to fit in a CSR activity, consider hosting a donation program where each attendee brings a new children’s book to help underprivileged kids in local schools, or a non-perishable food item to help a local food bank. You can also layer a CSR activity on top of a scheduled event such as a reception, which in turn helps encourage creative networking, Runzler suggests.

Myth No. 2: It’s going to be too complicated to plan.

Start by thinking about your goals and asking why you’re wanting to incorporate CSR in the first place. Is it because your attendees are asking about it and/or you’re wanting to make CSR part of your event’s culture? Once you know what you’re trying to achieve, get creative and come up with options for achieving your goals.

“The biggest myth that I run into all the time is the planner’s vision of what a CSR activity has to look like, and if that’s not available, then they think they can’t do it,” Runzler says. “However, there are resources available now throughout our industry that can provide valuable information and provide support in making the right choice for any situation.”

She added, “Once you identify a resource, usually it’s a simple process to identify critical information and goals, and from there the perfect activity can be sourced.”

Myth No. 3: Attendees won’t want to participate.

A lot of planners fear doing something they think their event participants won’t be receptive to or want to engage in. But you won’t know until you try, and once you do, you’ll see that most participants will be more engaged and appreciative to the organization for giving them an opportunity to give back, Runzler says.

“Some of my most emotional and successful events have started out with that myth in the conversation – one was an older demographic of executives that held meetings every year but had never done anything like that before,” Runzler explains. “They all did a very creative activity to benefit a children’s hospital where they decorated and personalized gift backpacks with appropriate age ranges including infant, toddler, school-age kids and young adolescents.”

She added, “The meeting planner was terrified that people wouldn’t show up or would walk out, but they were really into it and engaged until the very end.”

CSR

Myth No. 4: It’s going to be expensive.

Yes, there is a cost to doing CSR (a planned, coordinated activity can run between $50-$125 per participant, Runzler says), however, if you don’t have a budget for it, there are low-cost options that still allow you to do something meaningful. For example, having attendees assemble hygiene kits for the homeless is a quick and inexpensive activity that anyone can do.

Myth No. 5: It’s difficult to get resources for CSR.

More than ever, the events industry is embracing the fact that it has a significant role to play in helping planners incorporate CSR, says Runzler. Greater education is being offered on the topic, and destinations are working harder to at least be able to point planners in the right direction.

“If you’re a meeting planner and you ask the sales and services team at a hotel for a transportation company recommendation, they can do that for you very easily, but this has not always been true when it comes to resources for CSR,” Runzler says. “However, the tide is turning and the industry is starting to rise to the occasion.”

Now that we’ve debunked some of the biggest misconceptions about CSR, here are some truths to keep in mind:

Everyone benefits. This includes the organization making the decision to be socially responsible, the sponsor of the activity, the participants doing the activity, the person or organization receiving the donation, and the local community.

It’s going to be well received. People generally love participating in feel-good activities, and for many event participants, having the chance to do something to give back while at an event is something they will remember and positively associate with your organization. In fact, CSR is one of the most highly rated items on post-event surveys, Runzler says.

It reflects positively on your organization. The fact that an organization has made a conscious decision and effort and put resources aside to incorporate CSR is a positive aspect of an organization’s story from a cultural and PR perspective. “Research shows that people want to connect themselves with organizations and events making positive changes in our world, so it’s a wonderful opportunity for planners to deliver what their attendees and sponsors want,” Runzler says.

It helps tackle some of our world’s serious problems. From hunger to homelessness to disaster relief and helping children in need, CSR in the events industry is making a positive difference by addressing and shedding light on society’s biggest challenges, Runzler says.

It benefits the destination. More destinations are recognizing the positive impact of organizations wanting to be a good visitor while holding events in their cities. Besides the obvious economic impact of events, there is the social impact of groups doing something positive to help local communities.

It’s fun; it’s energizing, and it offers a very creative way for people to network. People network differently when they’re doing a CSR activity than when they’re at a cocktail reception or on the trade show floor. “You talk about different things, share different experiences and you’re more emotionally open when you’re doing a CSR activity,” Runzler says. “It’s fun and a great way to energize your program.”

 

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Partner Voices
Less than six months ago, Lisa Messina joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) as the first-ever chief sales officer after leading the sales team at Caesars Entertainment. A 12-year Las Vegas resident, Messina is a graduate of Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration and serves on MPI International’s board of directors. TSNN had a chance to catch up with this dynamic leader and talk to her about her vision for the new role, current shifts in the trade show industry, creating more diversity and equity within the organization, and advice to future female leaders. Lisa Messina, Chief Sales Officer, LVCVA With Las Vegas becoming The Greatest Arena on EarthTM, what are some of the things you’re most excited about in your role? Our team was at The Big Game’s handoff ceremony earlier this month, and I couldn’t help but think, “We’re going to crush it next year!”  These high-profile events and venues not only drive excitement, but also provide unmatched opportunities for event planners. Allegiant Stadium hosts events from 10 to 65,000 people and offers on-field experiences. Formula 1 Grand Prix will take place in Las Vegas in November, after the year-one F1 race, the four-story paddock building will be available for buyouts and will also offer daily ride-along experiences that will be available for groups. And, of course, the MSG Sphere officially announced that it will open in September, ahead of schedule, with a U2 residency. It’s going to be the most technologically advanced venue as far as lighting, sound, feel, and even scent, and it will be available for buyouts and next-level sponsorships inside and outside. There’s no ceiling to what you can do when you’re doing events in Las Vegas.  Allegiant Stadium As the trade show and convention business returns to the pre-pandemic levels, what shifts are you noticing and how do you think they will impact the industry going forward? Our trade show organizers are very focused on driving customer experience. Most of our organizers are reporting stronger exhibitor numbers and increased numbers of new exhibitors, with trade shows proving to be almost or above 2019 levels. Now our organizers are really doubling down on driving attendance and focusing on the data to provide that individualized, customized experience to help attendees meet their goals and get the best value. Some companies continue to be cautiously optimistic with their organizational spend when it comes to sending attendees, but I think it will continue to improve. As the U.S. Travel Association makes more progress on the U.S. visa situation, we also expect a growing influx of international attendees. What are some innovative ways the LVCVA helps trade show and convention organizers deliver the most value for their events? We focus on customer experience in the same way that trade show organizers are thinking about it. We got rave reviews with the West Hall Expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC), so over the next two years, we will be renovating the North and the Central halls, which will include not just the same look and feel, but also the digital experiences that can be leveraged for branding and sponsorship opportunities.  Vegas Loop, the underground transportation system designed by The Boring Company, is also a way we have enhanced the customer experience. Vegas Loop at the LVCC has transported more than 900,000 convention attendees across the campus since its 2021 launch. Last summer, Resorts World and The Boring Company opened the first resort stop at the Resorts World Las Vegas , with plans to expand throughout the resort corridor, including downtown Las Vegas, Allegiant Stadium and Harry Reid International Airport. The LVCVA also purchased the Las Vegas Monorail in 2020, the 3.9-mile-long elevated transportation system that connects eight resorts directly to the convention center campus. This is the only rail system in the world that integrates fares directly into show badges and registration. For trade show organizers, these transportation options mean saving time, money and effort when it comes to moving groups from the hotels to LVCC and around the city. Also, the more we can focus on building the infrastructure around the convention center, the more it supports the customer experience and ultimately supports our trade show organizers. Scheduled to debut in Q4, Fontainebleau Las Vegas will offer 3,700 hotel rooms and 550,000 square feet of meeting and convention space next to LVCC.  What are some of the plans for advancing DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) within your organization? We’re currently partnering with instead of working with a leading consulting firm, to lay the foundation and create a solid DEI plan and be the leader when it comes to DEI initiatives. The heart of that journey with the consulting firm is also talking to our customers about their strategic approaches to DEI and driving innovation in this space.  What are your favorite ways to recharge? My husband and I have an RV and we’re outdoorsy people. So, while we have over 150,000 world-class hotel rooms and renowned restaurants right outside our doorstep, one of my favorite things to do is get out to Red Rock Canyon, the Valley of Fire, and Lake Mead. Five of the top national parks are within a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, so there’s a lot you can do. We love balancing the energy of Las Vegas with nature, and we’re noticing that a lot of attendees add activities off the Strip when they come here.  Valley of Fire What advice would you give to women following leadership paths in destination marketing? I think it’s about being laser-focused on what you want to accomplish; building a team around you that lifts you and helps you achieve your goals; and being humble and realizing that you do it as a group. No one gets this done alone. Thankfully, there are a lot of women in leadership in this organization, in our customers’ organizations, and in this city that we can be really proud of. We’re a formidable force that is making things happen.   This interview has been edited and condensed. This article is exclusively sponsored by the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority. For more information, visit HERE.