Today we’d like to introduce you to Marc Kaplan.
Marc comes to Advantage with 8 years of experience in the event and hospitality world. Marc was born in Ft Lauderdale, FL where he lived for twelve years until moving to the heart of South Georgia to a town called Albany with his family. Marc always had the pleasure of spending his summers in Ft Lauderdale but never knew that eventually his life path would bring him back permanently. Marc went to college at Georgia Southwestern State University to peruse a degree in Marketing not truly knowing that his passion would lie in the event industry. After stepping foot in the Historic Windsor Hotel in Americus, Ga where he went to school, Marc knew this was the start of something great. While going to school, he began his path as the Catering/Restaurant Manager for The Windsor Hotel. After college, Marc was offered a job in sales for Connie Duglin Specialty Linen to open their South Florida office. This is where it all began for Marc, the fast-paced South Florida event industry took hold of him and he was hooked. He quickly realized that selling and creating memorable events was something that he truly excelled at and when the DMC world came calling, he jumped in head first. He started his DMC career with CSI Florida as Business Development Manager and is currently an integral part of the Advantage Sales Team. Marc is also heavily involved in networking and is currently the youngest Board of Director for the prestigious organization Meeting Planners International (MPI).
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? It certainly has not been an easy ride. I moved down to South Florida not knowing a soul and when you are new in a very tight knit industry, it takes a while to gain the trust of people who have been working with other companies for years. I went to every networking event I could. I joined committees and boards so that I could build my brand. I was able to make a name for myself which I feel like has carried me to the position I hold today.
Please tell us about Advantage Destination & Meeting Services. Established in 1998, Advantage DMS provides clients with trusted regional expertise. Whether you need local support with a segment of your program or full implementation of multi-faceted meetings and events, you can rely on Advantage DMS’s unparalleled attention to detail and flawless execution of your next Florida — or anywhere — meeting experience!
Advantage DMS is the preferred DMC at many of the finest hotels and establishments due to our high level of client service, long-standing vendor relationships, deep local roots and an unparalleled expertise for the areas we service.
Our goal is to provide you with peace of mind by offering the highest level of service in program coordination, management and implementation. We cover everything from your airport arrivals to hospitality staffing to interactive tours/sightseeing, team-building and CSR, décor and entertainment for Welcome Receptions and Awards Galas. We also offer the creative services or our in-house Production & Design team to create and conceptualize the customized look you envision for your program. Advantage DMS’s services run the full gamut for all your ONE STOP corporate meeting or incentive trip needs.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently? I don’t know that there is anything I would do differently. I feel like I have been very strategic in my path to the present. I never stepped on anyone, I show respect for my competitors, and I treat every client like their program is the biggest and most important. After each event, I analyze how everything went and if I feel that something could have gone different way, I make a note so that I learn for the next time. We are always learning, nothing goes 100% perfect in this industry and things happen which is why we must be able to reflect on ourselves and keep an open mind.
Contact Info:
- Address: 20211 NE 15th Court, North Miami Beach, Florida 33179
- Website: http://www.advantagedms.com/
- Phone: 3056512367
- Email: mkaplan@advantagedms.com
- Instagram: mk229
Image Credit:
Advantage Destination & Meeting Services
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