Whether it is planning a party, wedding or conference, the subject of alcohol always comes to the forefront. Some individuals feel strongly about having none, while others want an open bar every night. The truth of the matter is you can serve alcohol as long as you take the proper planning…
Without a doubt, meeting planners are one of the busiest professionals I know. They have to manage the logistics, as well as, all the attendees, speakers, sponsors and VIP needs. They need to be involved in contract talks, management meetings and site visits.
But…busyness doesn’t necessar…
For a new potential exhibitor, trade show pricing can be intimidating. Most trade show booths are in the thousands of dollars and if you multiply that by the number of shows exhibitors plan per year, you can see why they might be sweating the details.
In addition, according to Internati…
Are you tired of running email and direct mail campaigns about your new products and services that have limited impact on your target market? With the noise level on the digital scene and the probability that your print material will be perused and then thrown away, there has to be a better way …
As a meeting planner, I certainly understand the value of sponsorship dollars. I don't think many of the meetings, conferences or conventions could happen today without this dollar infusion into the industry. Planners could not bring in top-notch speakers, interactive technology tool r…
Yes they do; both in the leisure traveler and business travel marketing arena. And they can drive hotel marketing staff crazy trying to keep up with online chatter. BUT, they are part of your job description now because hotel guests can write a review standing in line during check-in, dining at …
It happens every day in corporate America, one of you becomes the team leader or for lack of a better word…the boss. Many organizations like to promote from within the team for a lot of reasons, but primarily for a fluid and fast transition process because you already know the players. How…
Last month, American Express Meetings & Events released a report titled “Great Expectations: The Evolving Landscape of Technology in Meetings” where they surveyed 363 planners and 161 attendees. Their research focused the different types of meetings and mobile app use in these events. Below is a…
Ohio is in the throes of an opioid epidemic that shows no signs of abating. In 2005, 500 Ohioans died from opioid overdoses. Two years ago, 2,700 opioid overdoses occurred. That is a 440% increase in 10 years! Also in 2005, most overdoses were caused by heroin. Today, most overdoses are caused by f…
Even though the last day of National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) ended on October 31st, that is no reason to take your eye off cyber security. Awareness is the first step in keeping your data safe. However, please remember that cyber criminals are working hard at all times to crack into …
On December 14, 2017, the Federal Communication Commission repealed net neutrality standards that were put in place in 2015. The act, called Restoring Internet Freedom now allows large Internet Service Providers (ISPs) such as Comcast, Spectrum, Verizon and AT&T to create a “pay for play” …
When you think of safety, you probably envision a firefighter or construction worker, such as the ones above. Someone with a hardhat and safety gear who has been trained to handle all kinds of hazards and conditions.
But considering the events of the last three months, including three…
I love traveling by train. It is so comfortable and I can easily sit with my family and friends. I can get up and stretch when I want to and there is always a dining or snack car available. In addition, I can take in the wonderful countryside and relax.
When I travel to Spain sometime in …
Branded apparel can have a big impact on any type of business. Any time your business logo and name are put out into the world, you have a powerful marketing opportunity. Put the business name and logo onto apparel and you immediately increase brand awareness. So, consider these benefits of brande…
American Express Meetings & Events recently completed their worldwide 2015 forecast and found that most meeting indicators were positive even in light of increased compliance, global expansion and innovative virtual meeting options.
Today’s blog post will focus on the key indicators from this rep…
Many times even planners have very short notice to plan a peer review. This is where a lot of details can be lost and budgets can experience cost overruns.
In order to avoid this problem, I have put together a peer review checklist to ensure your event goes off without a hitch while keeping y…
Unlike corporations where meeting attendance is mandatory, association planners need to entice and pull attendees into their conference. Due to regional limitations, budget constraints and members trying to deal with more work in less time, selling your conference may not be a walk in the pa…
Every meeting planner, whether they are an association, corporate or independent one, are offered a FAM sometime during the course of their career. Some have been on just a few, while others have been around the world. There are many advantages to taking a FAM, but destination organizations and …
Every large meeting and conference has a networking element to it in which attendees either love it or hate it. Most extroverted participants look forward to the networking element, especially if they have come to this event multiple times. However, what about the first-time or introverted attendee?…
