The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Commission on Arbitration came out with an excellent report titled, “Techniques for Controlling Time and Costs in Arbitration.”  The ICC Commission set up a Task Force on Reducing Time and Costs in Arbitration.  The report details methods for selecting counsel, arbitrators, and one of the key issues the Task Force reports on is time.  There is the old adage, “time is money.”  With the use of a virtual conference suite, parties can save a tremendous amount of money by being efficient and smart with time. 

Paragraph 28, “Need for a physical meeting,” advises, “Consider whether it is appropriate to agree upon and sign the Terms of Reference without a physical meeting, i.e., by way of a telephone or video conference, as appropriate.  In making that decision, the advantages of having a physical meeting at the start of the proceedings should be weighed against the time and cost involved.”  Using a conference center with all of the technology available to set up a video conference that enables two or more parties to participate, parties that are anywhere on the globe, can save a tremendous amount of money and travel time.

Paragraph 39 suggests the tribunal discuss with the parties using IT to save time, money, and create efficiencies.  The ICC offers an online service, NetCase, which enables correspondence and documents for the arbitration to be stored and exchanged within a secure online environment hosted by the ICC.  Kramm Court Reporting offers an online repository, Case24/7TM, that could be used for sharing documents as well as keeping a calendar of events for the parties.  The Task Force suggests once again the use of teleconferencing and video conferencing for hearings where attendance in person is not essential.

Paragraph 73 reads pursuant to Article 14(2) of the ICC Rules, hearings do not need to be held at the place of the arbitration.  The tribunal and parties may choose the most convenient place for counsel and any necessary witnesses.

Paragraph 74 advises for procedural hearings particularly, the use of teleconference and video conference is appropriate, and consider having a witness give evidence via video conferencing.

Great arbitrators, brilliant attorneys, and smart expert witnesses are some of the busiest people on the planet.   If they can save time and energy by not flying to a hearing, everyone wins.  Using teleconferencing and video conferencing technology will save time and money.

I envision the Discovery Conference Centre as a place for people to not only get business done, but to network.   With social networking exploding in the b2b sector, meeting potential clients and business colleagues has gone universal with the use of Twitter.  Twitter is defined as a “social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read messages known as tweets.”   When I mention Twitter in a business setting, I typically get a raised eyebrow and eye rolling.  People still believe Twitter is a waste of time and can’t understand why anyone in the world would care if you just ate a poppy seed bagel or you just left the barber shop, and you’re on your way to get an ice cream cone.  When people boo-hoo Twitter as a joke, I shake my head and tell them, “You don’t have a clue.”

The Twitterverse is ripe with opportunity.  Adrian Dayton, author of “Social Media For Attorneys, Twitter Edition,” likens Twitter to “a gigantic cocktail party where there is a tremendous opportunity to network with people all across the world.” 

I use Twitter as a source for information.  I follow entrepreneurs, attorneys, technology experts, and marketing geniuses.  These people send me articles, blogs, and advice on running Kramm Court Reporting. 

I know that businesses such as Sony, Zappos, and Comcast hire full-time employees to monitor the Twitterverse.  Only a fool in modern times would not want to know if anyone is talking about you or your product on the internet.  With free tools such as Tweetdeck, it is easy to lurk, watch, listen and participate.  You can create a key word column in Tweetdeck and monitor any tweet on the planet that has that key word in the Tweet.  For example, if you own a life insurance company in Toledo, Ohio, you can monitor if your competitors are using Twitter by searching the words LIFE INSURANCE TOLEDO.  You can pay attention to your competitors, vendors, and the product you are selling on a citywide basis to internationally. 

I have connections via Twitter with entrepreneurs in England, Chili, and Brazil. 

The people who use Twitter are generous with information.  I believe the type of person who is attracted to Twitter is the type of person that likes to communicate and share.  Shutdown people are not going to want to have anything to do with Twitter. 

My advice to a Twitter novice:  Create an account and use your name so people can find you.  Your bio is searchable.  Use the words you expect someone would need to Google to find you.  Download Tweetdeck.  Listen and lurk.  When there is a conversation that you can jump in and contribute, go for it.  Always be credible.  Never exaggerate.  The golden rule on the web is trust.  If people trust you, they will follow you.  You will be a thought leader.  The moment people think you are not trustworthy, you are done. 

Twitter is all about paying it forward.  The key is to give information your followers need, never spamming people, sending out Tweets about how great you and/or your companies are.  An example of paying it forward is if you hear a great speaker, send out the person’s name and website url.  If you go to a great restaurant, let everyone know.  My personal rule is to send out three tweets a day. 
Twitter is not a waste of time.  It is not to be scoffed at.  I suggest you begin tweeting today.  The Twitterverse is waiting for you.

rosalie@discoveryconferencecentre.com

Two years ago, circa October 2008, clients of my court reporting company, Kramm Court Reporting, Inc., were asking me to find them conference rooms for depositions and arbitrations.  Attorneys were downsizing their space, cutting overhead, and looking for ways to save costs.  I had one conference room for clients available at my Bankers Hill location, but we were often double-booked.  My kind neighbor, David Lorimer, award winning architect, offered me his conference room.  It came to the point we were triple and some days quadruple-booked for conference rooms.

In talking with San Diego businesspeople, I came to understand that as the recession deepened, more and more consultants and service industry professionals were making the business decision to work out of their homes or share office space with other professionals, not spending money on conference or meeting rooms.  These professionals had a quandary of where to meet clients and do presentations.

One of the reasons we located Discovery at 401 West A Street is it is two blocks from the courthouse, three blocks from the train station, and near the San Diego Airport.  Another scenario I saw was attorneys being in a trial and needing an office to work out of temporarily near the courthouse.  Working out of Discovery, it is easy to get to court every day.

Our vision is to have Discovery Conference Centre be a place where attorneys and  businesspeople can conduct business in a setting that only allows for success.  We have purchased the best technology available in the marketplace.  Our Executive Meeting Concierge is here to support our clients with anything they need.

Chris Jordan and I have been serving the San Diego Legal Community since 1981.  Our new Discovery Conference Centre was built with you in mind.

rosalie@discoveryconferencecentre.com

Premier meeting and conference facility for local and out-of-town businesspeople announces its grand opening.

San Diego, CA – When successful San Diego entrepreneurs Rosalie Kramm and Christopher Jordan were asked to recommend downtown conference room facilities for their visiting clients, they were surprised at how difficult it was – in a city as cosmopolitan as San Diego – to find high-quality, affordable and convenient meeting space.

“Coffee houses and hotel lobbies are fine,” says Kramm. “But, when you need to get down to the real business of your work, you need private, fully-equipped office and meeting spaces that are custom designed to fit your every requirement.”

So, rather than settle for less, the two entrepreneurs sought to fill the void.

The result was Discovery Conference Centre, opened in April 2010. Destined to become San Diego’s premiere conference destination, the Centre boasts a suite of full-service office and meeting rooms with state-of-the-art technology, concierge services, and everything today’s businessperson needs.

“We researched conference facilities around the world, so we could develop a conference centre that was second to none,” says Jordan.  Our singular goal was to create a place that allows our clients to keep their focus on moving their business forward.”

Centrally located in the heart of downtown San Diego, the Discovery Conference Centre provides immediate access to the airport, train station, State and Federal Courthouses and some of the city’s finest hotels and restaurants. From one-on-one meetings to groups of up to 40 people, every room in the facility was specifically designed to make clients feel comfortable while also fostering productivity, creativity and communication.

“Each of our signature rooms is named after a major international city and reflects that city’s unique culture and enterprising spirit. These distinctive rooms are the ideal backdrop for getting business done the right way,” states Kramm.

Every meeting room comes fully-equipped with the latest technology, including Polycom® SoundStation2™ speakerphones for teleconferencing, Polycom HDX7000 for IP video conferencing, a dedicated T1 Covad line, LCD screens up to 60”, Smart Tables, and complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access.

“We recognize that business doesn’t always happen during 9 to 5, nor does everyone always come with everything they need, especially when visiting from out of town,” explains Kramm. “That’s why our conference rooms are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and come equipped with all the amenities that even the most discerning businessperson would expect to find in their own office.”

If initial reaction to the new conference facility is any indication, the Discovery Conference Centre will quickly become a valued asset to the San Diego business community. Notably, their highly competitive rates and comprehensive value-add benefits, including office supplies and meeting tools, a relaxing client lounge, and even afternoon snacks, are getting impressive reviews from businesspeople from across the country.

“We’re proud to be able to bring such a necessary resource to San Diego,” says Jordan. “It’s our goal to continue to improve upon our best-in-class services for the betterment of all downtown San Diego business.”

For more information about the Discovery Conference Centre and its unique facility, visit www.DiscoveryConferenceCentre.com.

About Discovery Conference Centre

Discovery Conference Centre is a high-quality, full-service conference room facility located in downtown San Diego.  The Centre offers a full suite of rooms – perfect for any size meeting or event – and all equipped with the latest technologies and 24/7 concierge services and amenities.  Whether you’re based in San Diego or visiting from out of town, Discovery Conference Centre offers conference rooms with the unique, forward-thinking environment businesspeople require for productive, successful meetings.

The Discovery Conference Centre is located at:
401 West A Street, Suite 750
San Diego, California 92101

Contact

Discovery Conference Centre
Toll-Free: 888.616.0888
Fax: 619.814.2366
Email: info@DiscoveryConferenceCentre.com

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