CIAB May Ditch Greenbrier As Future Confab Site

HENDERSON, NEV.–The long tradition of insurance industry powers assembling each year in the hills of West Virginia at the Greenbrier resort may come to an end if labor discord continues at the meeting site, the president of the Council of Insurance Agents Brokers said.

In a letter to attendees of the 95th annual Insurance Leadership Forum (ILF) sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based association, CIAB President Ken A. Crerar warned that the meeting, which has traditionally been held at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., since the founding of the association 95 years ago, may not be held there in the future if labor and management cannot come to an agreement.

“We are looking ahead to 2009, and we must face the possibility that the Greenbrier may not survive this crisis,” said Mr. Crerar in his letter.

Labor and management have been locked in a labor contract dispute that has forced the CIAB to change its meeting location for this year's industry meeting and two other events earlier in this year.

The association said it plans to hold next year's Employee Benefits Leadership Forum in May at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo. This year's annual leadership meeting is being held at the Lake Las Vegas resort hotels in Henderson, Nev.

An article from The Register-Herald of Beckley, W.Va., that accompanied the letter said the major sticking point is over health care benefits. In that same article Mr. Crerar is quoted as pinning much of the blame on the employees union for dragging out negotiations for too long.

Mr. Crerar said the association has actively been trying to use its influence to bring the parties together for an agreement, but to no avail. The association planned to hold this year's meeting at the Greenbrier, but changed the venue because the parties could not agree on a “no walk out, no lock out” agreement until the association announced it was changing venues.

Another reason for changing the venue is that the Greenbrier is operating as if it were a 300-room hotel, with major cuts in staff and service because of the labor dispute, said Mr. Crerar. On its Web site, the 230-year-old hotel said it offers 721 rooms.

“The Greenbrier now is simply not able to handle the needs of a meeting with the size and scope of ILF,” Mr. Crerar said.

While CIAB has addressed both sides in the dispute, and taken out full-page ads calling on both sides to begin negotiations, he said management, CSX Corp., has asked Goldman Sachs to perform an asset review of the property and a board meeting is scheduled to discuss the situation.

Mr. Crerar said the CIAB and Council of Insurance Company Executives, who attend the meeting jointly, will be discussing their options for 2009 during the conference.

“I want you all to know that we think of the Greenbrier as the rightful home for the ILF, and it is the home we wish to return to next October,” Mr. Crerar told members.

A spokesperson for the Greenbrier said there would be no comment.