Grand Rapids Meetings Marketplace: Play to Win!
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Sheraton Grand Rapids, 5700 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
It’s football season, and we’re bringing the tailgate to Grand Rapids! Join us for a high-energy Meetings Marketplace focused on making stronger connections, thinking confidently and finding new ways to win in the meetings industry.
Former NFL player and entrepreneur Jacob Brown kicks things off with Play to Win & Fail Forward™, challenging us to move past fear, pursue bold ideas and turn setbacks into opportunities.
Then we’ll take that winning mindset to the RFP process with The RFP Reality Check: What Makes Planners and Suppliers Say Yes? In this interactive session, we’ll hear from both sides about what makes an opportunity worth pursuing, what makes a proposal stand out and how better communication can lead to better business.
Who’s Invited: Executives, administrative staff, and meeting professionals that utilize off-site venues and hotels in any area in Michigan. Helpful if you place multiple meetings.
REGISTER HERE: GR Meetings Marketplace
Agenda
- 9:30 – 10:00am – Attendee registration and networking
- 10:00 – 11:00am – Education: Play to Win & Fail Forward, Jacob Brown
- 11:00am – 12:00pm – Showcase: Connect with Partners
- 12:00 – 12:45pm – Lunch
- 12:45 – 1:30pm – The RFP Reality Check: What Makes Planners and Suppliers Say Yes?
- 1:30 – 1:00pm – Showcase: Connect with Partners
- 2:00pm – Prizes
Hotel
Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport Hotel
Play to Win & Fail Forward™
In an industry built on creating unforgettable experiences, playing it safe rarely creates something people remember. Yet fear of failure, rejection, and getting it wrong can keep even the most talented professionals from taking the risks that could change everything.
In this high-energy keynote, former NFL athlete turned entrepreneur and keynote speaker Jacob Brown challenges attendees to stop playing not to lose and start playing to win. Through powerful storytelling, humor, and his Fail Forward™ philosophy, Jacob shows how to turn fear into fuel, take bigger swings, pursue bold ideas, and move through setbacks with confidence. Because in events, business, and life, you can’t create something unforgettable from the sidelines.
The RFP Reality Check: What Makes Planners and Suppliers Say Yes?
What makes an RFP stand out, and what causes planners or suppliers to walk away? In this candid, interactive session, we’ll examine both sides of the RFP process, uncover common missteps, and share practical ways to create clearer requests, stronger proposals, and better partnerships. Attendees will leave with insights that help both planners and suppliers get to “yes” more often.
