21 Dec 09 Food For Thought
When planning your next business meeting, stop for a moment to consider how grouchy the head boss might be if you forget to feed her while she is away from home. In our multicultural society it is never wise to assume that the popular steak house across from the normal lodging area serves vegan meals, or that any self-respecting vegetarian could be inside of that building either.
Today, we live in an era where many individuals are participating in healthy lifestyle routines and doctor specified diets that are simply not compatible to many of the chain restaurants that only cater to yesterday’s traditional meal choices. Doctors may order a salt-free diet for one person, and inform the next that meat is out-of-line if they expect their heart to keep ticking without an overhaul.
Business meetings need to be planned with the thought that all types of diets will be present. The common diets to plan for include:
- Vegans do not eat any form of animal products and they do not sit on leather chairs or work on leather covered desks.
- Vegetarians do not eat meat, but they do enjoy many other forms of food.
- Doctor restricted diets often require plain food to be available that can be built-up into a finished dish according to directions.
- Traditional diets may not want the fat trimmed from their steaks and bacon should be available with the eggs for breakfast.
As a rule-of-thumb, the best way for businesses to plan their meetings is to simply determine that all of the food categories above are available to the meeting participants on the premises or in nearby facilities before booking the meeting rooms or lodgings. All minds are important to the meeting despite dietary differences; good food keeps those minds happy and focused on work.
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09 Dec 09 How To Beat The System On Business Lodging
Our economy stinks! Traditional business practices are being sliced and diced across the board when it comes time for business meetings or conferences. Yesterday’s Hilton lodging bills are today’s Motel 6 reservations, and all eyes are trained on the McDonald’s Dollar Meal menu as per diems shrink to fit into the new budgeting requirements.
Well? Don’t just sit there; speak up! When traditional methods are not working in any business situation, it is time to explore the options that are sitting outside of the box.
Lodging Logic:
- It is often cheaper to rent a furnished luxury vacation home by the week than it is to rent hotel bedrooms by the night.
- Luxury vacation homes come completely furnished with towels in the bathrooms, and locking bedroom doors.
- Large vacation homes come with private pools, game rooms, jetted tubs, and other all other attractions that can be found in newer upper-class housing.
- Luxury vacation homes have a fully equipped kitchen with new appliances and dishes in the cupboards. Guests just supply food if they would like to eat their meals at home.
- Large vacation homes are in safe private neighborhoods where traffic, parking, and noise are not an issue.
- Cheap large vacation home rentals are available in all areas of the world where the economy has crushed the real estate industry. New expensive vacant houses are being outfitted for overnight guests until they sell.
- One low price is charged for as many guests as would like to stay on the premises in the large vacation home rentals.
When life hands out lemons, it is time to set up the supplied blender in a luxury vacation home kitchen to create your famous lemon chiffon dessert to share with your weekend roommates in your very own mansion.
Why rent a bedroom when the whole house is cheaper? And, for even more fun, these large vacation rentals are available near every tourist location on the planet. With proper planning, a discounted cruise ship can drop you off at your meeting destination with ease.
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04 Dec 09 US Airways to Fly East Coast to Hawaii
US Airways plans to open its first East Coast-Hawaii route this year. Beginning on December 17—ideal timing for holiday vacations—the airline start daily service on a Boeing 767 from Charlotte to Honolulu. This will be the airline’s longest nonstop flight from its North Carolina hub, with the 10-hour flight easily beating out trips to Europe.
Tickets are available now, and if you really want to get on the very first trip, it looks like it will set you back about $1208. Departing Charlotte at 9:45am, so you’ll be able to kick-off your tropical trip when you arrive at 2:58 pm Hawaii time.
US Airways already offers Hawaii service from its Phoenix hub.
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02 Dec 09 Northern Kentucky Conference Location
If you’re a meeting planner looking for an attractive Midwest conference location with hotels near convention center facilities, rethink your next meeting plans and consider Northern Kentucky otherwise known as "the Southern side of Cincinnati".
Meeting facilities include a high-tech Convention Center and Midwest conference location to arenas and award-winning hotels near convention center facilities.
This attractive mid-western location offers easy access to Delta’s second largest hub, the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, combined with world-class dining and attractions.
The Northern Kentucky region is one of those rare places that leaves you longing to come back. It embraces the vitality and energy of a major metropolitan area, yet offers ample opportunity to discover the beauty and relaxed nature of Northern Kentucky. For the meeting planner who wants modern meeting facilities in a Midwest conference location, hotels near convention center facilities and diverse entertainment choices, Northern Kentucky is the place to be.
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27 Nov 09 Healthiest Meeting Hotels in the US
Health magazine recently published their list of the 10 healthiest hotels in the United States. These hotels are also creating health meetings, so you may want to consider one of the following hotels for your next meeting event:
- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts
- Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
- Kimpton
- Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- Hyatt Regency
- The Ritz-Carlton
- Westin Hotels & Resorts
- Cambria Suites
- Loews
- The Peninsula Hotels
These hotels were chosen as standout hotel chains because they place the health and wellness of their guests at the center of their missions, offering everything from supercomfortable beds and top-notch fitness opportunities to great-tasting, nutritious food and relaxing interiors.
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25 Nov 09 Tips to Save on Food and Beverage
One of the largest expenses for a group event is food and beverage. Here are some tips to help you minimize your F&B expenses:
- CONTROL WHAT IS SERVED. Open one bottle of red and white per table and fill glasses only on request. If a table requests more wine, have servers check with the planner before opening another bottle. There may be half-empty bottles at other tables.
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SKIP THE TOP SHELF. Use house-brand cocktails and wine instead of premium brands.
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NEGOTIATE BARTENDER FEES. If you agree to a beverage minimum, negotiate to eliminate the bartender fees if you meet the minimum.
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USE STAND-UP TABLES FOR COCKTAIL RECEPTIONS. That way, people are more likely to network and less likely to hang around and drink and eat all night.
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LINES ARE OK, TO A POINT. At cocktail receptions, don't be afraid of having medium-size lines at the bar. Long lines are a no-no, but lines that are five or six deep encourage networking and discourage over-indulging on cocktails.
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ASK THE CHEF. Meet with the chef or catering personnel to see if you can use the same menu as another group that is meeting at your facility at the same time. Having the chef prepare more of the same food in advance can result in cost savings. Also, check with the chef for seasonal or regional specialties, which might be less expensive.
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LOCK IN MENU PRICES. If the hotel will not provide a specific menu in advance, at least agree that menu prices will not increase more than a fixed percentage per year.
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ORDER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE “BY CONSUMPTION.” Uneaten food and drink can be returned and not charged. This works well with soda and packaged foods, such as potato chips, but also can be done with perishables.
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USE SIT-DOWN MEALS. This can cut food preparation labor costs as much as 20 percent.
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SKIP THE DESSERT, SALAD, OR SOUP. Attendees won't miss the courses, and dessert can be served at breaks.
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TRY STAFFED FOOD STATIONS SUCH AS STIR-FRY STATIONS AND PASTA TABLES.
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FIND A SPONSOR. A local winery or microbrewery might pick up your liquor costs.
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USE A CONTROLLED-POUR SYSTEM. Make sure that bartenders measure what they pour. If you are being charged per drink, you may find a “liberal ice” policy and weaker drinks. If you are being charged by the bottle, the mixed drinks might be too strong.
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ASK THE HOTELIER FOR A DISCONTINUED WINE LABEL. These often cost less.
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RE-USE OPENED BOTTLES OF LIQUOR AND WINE. One logical place would be your hospitality or VIP suite.
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USE SMALLER PLATES.
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RE-USE CENTERPIECES. Or ask attendees to bring something related to the meeting's theme that can be used in centerpieces. The items later can be donated to a charity.
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