SGMP Florida Chapter Society of Government Meeting Professionals

02/16/2026

Good morning ! We look forward to seeing you for our monthly meeting online or in person. It's not too late to register, and there is no registration fee for those attending remotely.

Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026
Topic: Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Proactive Strategies for Meeting Planners & Hotels
Speaker: Johanna Welch, DPM, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Program Description: Nobody wants to talk about them, but everybody needs to be prepared. Bed bugs can quietly wreak havoc on guest experiences, meeting success, and hotel reputations. This engaging session takes a lighthearted approach to a not-so-pleasant topic, giving meeting
Core Competency: Facilities & Services
Format: Hybrid
Register: https://www.sgmp.org/florida-events

We look forward to having your active participation to make our chapter the very best!

Warm regards,
Gabrielle K. Gabrielli, Ph.D.
President, Society of Government Meeting Professionals Florida Chapter

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Proactive Strategies for Meeting Planners & Hotels Speaker: Johanna Welch, DPM, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Program Description: Nobody wants to talk about them, but everybody needs to be prepared—bed bugs can quietly wreak havoc on guest exper...

02/03/2026

Good morning ! We hope your 2026 has gotten off to a great start. If you have not already done so, would you please complete the following survey ASAP about the Florida Education Summit? Any topics you are interested in will be addressed at the summit and in our monthly meetings.
Survey for Your Feedback: https://forms.gle/NY5n5eDmCQmPSUcD7

Mark Your Calendar and Register
Date: Tuesday 17 February 2026
Topic: Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Proactive Strategies for Meeting Planners & Hotels
Speaker: Johanna Welch, DPM, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Program Description: Nobody wants to talk about them, but everybody needs to be prepared. Bed bugs can quietly wreak havoc on guest experiences, meeting success, and hotel reputations. This engaging session takes a lighthearted approach to a not-so-pleasant topic, giving meeting
Core Competency: Facilities & Services
Format: Hybrid
Register: https://www.sgmp.org/florida-events

We look forward to hearing from you and making our chapter the very best!

Warm regards,
Gabrielle K. Gabrielli, Ph.D.
President, Society of Government Meeting Professionals Florida Chapter

Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite: Proactive Strategies for Meeting Planners & Hotels Speaker: Johanna Welch, DPM, Florida Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services Program Description: Nobody wants to talk about them, but everybody needs to be prepared—bed bugs can quietly wreak havoc on guest exper...

12/18/2025

We love it when our Society of Government Meeting Professionals Florida Chapter members connect, in this case in central Florida. Here are our 1st VP Lesa Phillips and 2nd VP Tina Wood at a Holiday Cheer event at Holiday Inn Gainesville!

12/04/2025

12/04/2025

A big thank you to Visit Orlando for hosting a fantastic event last night. It was wonderful to see so many Society of Government Meeting Professionals meeting planners in attendance, too! The event had fabulous music, food, networking, giveaways, and a give back opportunity to build a bear. We hope to see you all at SGMP Florida Chapter Holiday Networking Event next Tuesday online or in person in Tallahassee!

10/22/2025

Apply now for a Society of Government Meeting Professionals 2026 National Education Conference scholarship.
https://sgmp.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mcform&view=ngforms&id=2181360 #/

Also mark your calendar for our next meeting Tuesday November 18. We have a board meeting at 5pm then will have a virtual give-back event where we encourage you to do great things in your communities. Our chapter represents the entire state of Florida, so we want to see all the awesome giving you are doing with the hashtag . Thank you!

© Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Society of Government Meeting Professionals.5746 Union Mill Road, Suite 148 | Clifton, VA 20124(703) 549-0892 | [email protected]

10/14/2025

SGMP Florida Chapter Members ,

Join us online or in person!
Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025
Time: 1730-1900 aka 5:30 pm-7:00 pm eastern time
Speaker: Jessica Osegueda, University of Florida
Topic: Pre-Conference Meetings: Setting the Stage for Event Success
Location: Hybrid - In person at Gabrielle Consulting, 3035 Eliza Road, Tallahassee or Online at https://tinyurl.com/sgmpzoom (if prompted for a password, use “leader".)
Sponsor: SGMP Florida Capital Chapter
Registration: Please register at https://www.sgmp.org/florida-events

Program Description
Pre-conference meetings bring together meeting planners and hotel teams to review every detail of an event before it begins. These sessions ensure both sides are aligned on responsibilities, timing, and logistics, help identify potential challenges in advance, and establish clear communication channels. The result is a seamless, well-coordinated experience that meets client expectations and delivers a successful event.
Core Competency: Facilities & Services Logistics

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Explain the purpose and importance of pre-cons prior to event.
Identify key areas including responsibilities, timing, and logistics.
Apply strategies to strengthen communication and coordination between planners and hotel teams.

Warm regards,
Gabrielle

Gabrielle K. Gabrielli, Ph.D.
President, Society of Government Meeting Professionals SGMP Florida Chapter
https://www.sgmp.org/florida

The mission of the Florida Chapter of the Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP) is to enhance and promote the expertise of government meeting professionals.

09/15/2025

Please join us tomorrow for our SGMP Florida Chapter monthly meeting. It’s our first meeting since our fantastic SGMP Florida Education Summit in Howey-in-the-Hills. Thank you again to all who attended and sponsored!

Date: Tuesday 16 September 2025
Time: 5:30-7pm eastern time
Speaker: Dr. Gabrielle K. Gabrielli, Gabrielle Consulting, Inc., President of Society of Government Meeting Professionals Florida Chapter
Topic: Strategic Planning that Works: Turning Vision into Action for Meetings and Events
Location: Online at https://tinyurl.com/sgmpzoom (if prompted for a password, use "leader")
Sponsor: SGMP Florida Chapter
Registration: Please register at https://forms.gle/3ANfJyUNJbC7jjTV6 (note that this is a temporary form without payment options while we transition to a new form).

Description
Learn practical strategies to connect vision to results. Meeting planners and hotel sales professionals will learn how to analyze core elements of the strategic planning process, align priorities with client and stakeholder needs, and develop an actionable outline to advance initiatives within their organizations.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Analyze key components of a strategic planning process and their relevance to the meetings and hospitality industry.
Apply strategic planning tools to identify organizational priorities and align them with client and stakeholder needs.
Create an actionable outline for a strategic initiative within their own organization.

We look forward to seeing you online tomorrow!

Please complete the online registration form then pay through the PayPal link at the bottom after clicking Submit.

07/30/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended the SGMP Florida Education Summit 28-29 July!

07/30/2025

Thank you to everyone who attended the SGMP Florida Education Summit 28-29 July!

07/29/2025

What a great start to our SGMP Florida Education Summit including set up, reception, and a tour of the beautiful Mission Resort + Club!
Society of Government Meeting Professionals

07/25/2025

You might be wondering...why use a 24-hour clock for our SGMP Florida Education Summit for Meeting Planners and Suppliers, especially with a whimsical Disney-theme?

Executive snapshot
Using the 24-hour clock (e.g., 13:30 instead of 1:30 PM) increases clarity, reduces errors, supports international guests, aligns with mission-critical industries (aviation, healthcare, military), and reinforces the “operational excellence” Disney is famous for—all while giving you a playful “It’s a Small World” global timekeeping motif.

10 practical (and “magical”) justifications
1. Zero ambiguity = fewer costly mistakes
No more “Was that 12:00 AM or 12:00 PM?” mishaps. 00:00 and 12:00 are crystal clear.

2. Global inclusivity (It’s a Small World, after all)
Many international attendees, partners, and cast members are already accustomed to 24-hour time. This signals cultural competence and hospitality.

3. Professional polish and operational precision
High-reliability sectors (aviation, rail, military, hospitals, emergency ops) use 24-hour time because it prevents errors. Our event hopefully earns the same reputation for precision.

4. Calendar + tech alignment
Most digital calendars, scheduling apps, and ICS files handle 24-hour time cleanly—minimizing sync and display inconsistencies.

5. Cleaner printed schedules and signage
Shorter labels (e.g., 09:00–09:45) save space and reduce visual noise versus AM/PM.

6. Accessibility and readability
Screen readers and translation tools handle 24-hour time more reliably. It also helps neurodivergent attendees who prefer unambiguous formats.

7. After-hours events are clearer
Evening events and after-hours sessions are instantly understood (e.g., 22:30), with no “Is that morning or night?” confusion.

8. Consistent with transportation and logistics
If you refer to flights, buses, or shuttles, 24-hour time keeps everything aligned end-to-end.

9. Training moment = engagement opportunity
Learning how to read 24-hour times is a fun, on-theme touchpoint (think Timekeeper/Tomorrowland vibes).

10. Brand-aligned storytelling
Disney’s global footprint spans time zones and cultures—using a universal time format reinforces that worldwide, world-class identity.

So there you have it. One enchanted day, one universal time: 24-hour magic for everyone! :) See ya real soon - at the Summit!