25 Oct 10 What a Meeting Planner Should Do On a Cruise
Many meeting planners get to go on company sponsored incentive cruises as one of the perks of the job but it is also often the product of the belief that a meeting planner does need to be present for meetings or events to be well executed. Here’s what a meeting planner on a cruise should consider doing to feel and actually be useful:
• Meeting with the concierge/host/hostess and restaurant managers on a frequent basis. It might be worth stopping by and making sure that all is well and that guest requests are being met. In some cases it might be possible to take a small portion of the load off the staff and look like an all-star by fulfilling very complex or complicated requests.
• Distribute promotional material and/or schedules. If there are materials that need to be distributed or messages that need to be sent, then it might pay to get on top of those chores as early and as frequently as possible.
• Ask what else needs to be done. You might be feeling like a fifth wheel, but if you want to be invited back on the next corporate cruise then you probably need to seem as useful and as busy as possible.
• Stay out of sight and out of trouble. If there is truly little to do other than enjoy yourself then do so in a quiet manner and do not stay in any one place too long as it may make you seem as if you have nothing to do. This is certainly not the impression that you want to give.
Tags: All Star, Belief That, Chores, Concierge, Corporate Cruise, Cruise Planners, Fifth Wheel, Frequent Basis, Guest Requests, Hostess, Incentive Cruises, Job, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Out Of Sight, Promotional Material, Quiet Manner, Restaurant Managers, Small Portion, Wheel
13 Oct 10 Are Tablets Right for Meeting Planners?
Tablet computers have been around for roughly two decades in one form or another, but they are starting to get a lot of attention thanks to the iPad. Many meeting planners are starting to wonder whether or not tablet computers might be a good match for their business needs. While some tablets might be a good match for business needs, the iPad might not be a good fit for all offices given its media-centric and hip image. Of course, some offices might be the ideal location to use the iPAd, especially if Macs are used throughout the office and already handle the scheduling chores. Failing that, look for a tablet that can:
• Handle easy input and possibly even handwriting recognition. In most cases it is more important to take quick notes for later, so be sure that the note taking capacity is very fast.
• A capacitive touch screen is very important for many reasons so do not look for any tablet without touch screen technology. Multi-touch is highly preferred.
• Battery life is also important as is the method of charging. If an app has a battery life that won’t last the day then there is going to be more than a little bit of trouble. If it can synch and charge at once, then the problem might not be so bad. WiFi synching is also a very desirable trait.
• Don’t forget the apps. A professional scheduling app that links to Exchange is very important because just about every third party professional scheduling app does the same. Exchange is where data is exchanged if you will forgive the pun.
• Don’t forget the apps! A tablet without apps that prove useful is just a hunk of metal, silicon and plastic.
Tags: Apps, Attention Thanks, Battery Life, Bull Battery, Capacitive Touch Screen, Chores, Decades, Desirable Trait, Handwriting Recognition, Hunk, Ipad, Little Bit, Match, Meeting Planners, Pun, Rsquo, Silicon, Tablet Computers, Third Party, Touch Screen Technology
01 Jun 10 Top 3 Reasons Why Businesses Need Meeting Planners
Anyone who has ever heard of meeting planners may have questioned the value of having dedicated personnel handling some or all of the aspects of planning a cruise meeting. After all, could these same plans not simply be conducted by other personnel? The answer is both yes and no, and here are the top three reasons why:
1. It is possible for other employees to handle even planning, but they will probably be far less efficient than an event planner. Their own tasks and chores will suffer as a result of having to multitask more than normal.
2. Anyone who is dedicated to a certain task is likely to perform it better than someone who is only doing that task because nobody else can. This holds true for event planning and coordinating meetings as well.
3. Contacts and associations are valuable tools that can be leveraged. Those workers who do not spend time coordinating meetings are unlikely to build these relationships or develop to the point where they can be leveraged effectively.
In short, it is easy to see why businesses need meeting planners, even if they are not full-time employees. For those businesses with modest planning needs, consider a part-time or freelance meeting planner.
Tags: Chores, Contacts, Cruise, Event Planner, Freelance, Full Time, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Part Time, Relationships, Time Employees, Valuable Tools
Advertisement
Corporate Meeting Planner Resources
- Cruise line Expansion in Chinese Market Good News for Meeting PlannersChina is becoming a popular destination for MICE events due to its rich cultural heritage, beautiful natural landscapes and most of all - its high economic growth. Everyone wants to do business in China right now. Naturally, that translates into lots of meetings, trade shows, conferences and other events. According to The China Incentive, Business […]
- Time to step out of the ZoneSo often we find ourselves repeating the same patterns both professionally and personally because it feels “safe”. While that perceived safety may or may not be real, it explains why so many people feel their lives are in a rut. It is that comfort zone that so many long for that ultimately is their worst enemy. In order […]
- Stimulating Your Attendees in a Positive WayAfter reading the article Boost the Brain Computer, Don’t Crash It, I got to thinking about how foods definitely have an effect on mood and concentration. Anyone who has ever seen a child at a birthday party, loaded with candy, snow cones, cake and soda can attest to the fact that while the sugar will […]