In Northern Kentucky, Happiness Guaranteed In Northern Kentucky, some folks put their money where their mouths are--and no questions asked. The Northern Kentucky CVB reports that its unconditional Meetings Guarantee Program has passed the test in its first year--not one qualifying group has asked for its money back.

According to Northern Kentucky CVB spokeswoman Sheree Allgood, the novel program has helped enticed nearly 20 groups representing more than 23,000 room nights to book their meetings at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, which opened in February. She says that hotels in the region, made up of Kenton, Campbell, and Boone counties, across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, have signed on to the program as well.

Borrowed from a trend in other goods and services industries, the money-back guarantee for the meeting industry was the brainchild of Barbara Dozier, the bureau's vice president of sales and marketing. And as far as she knows, no one else is putting money-back offers on the line.

Although the guarantee is unconditional, groups must meet certain requirements to qualify. A group must generate at least 250 rooms per night for three nights and agree to pre- and post-convention meetings with the CVB or convention center staff. Public shows do not qualify.

If a meeting planner is not satisfied, the group will receive a free day's rent at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center, which translates into upwards of $12,000.

How serious is the convention and visitor bureau about its unconditional guarantee? Allgood says it's easy and pretty painless to invoke. A simple "I am not happy," she says, will get the ball rolling.