12 May 10 Cruise Meetings Encourage Active Participation
Organizations sometimes become stuck in a rut, and they feel that long-practiced traditional methods are as effective today as they were yesterday. However, this is not always the case as traditional methods sometimes stifle creativity and do not allow employees to express fresh, new ideas with their contemporaries. Instead of planning a meeting at the typical hotel venue in a bustling metropolitan city, consider a cruise meeting. Meetings at sea are an excellent venue in which to encourage active participation in meetings. Employers may be surprised to find just how productive meetings can be when employees are encouraged to participate and feel their ideas are valued.
Event planning is often a hassle as employees are not excited about the meeting and logistics of the meeting are often a nightmare. Employers may speak with a meeting planner than can help them find an incentive cruise that will be right for their organization. An incentive cruise may motivate employee performance and enhance the desire of employees to attend organizational meetings. Meetings at sea provide employees with a relaxing and inviting environment in which to share their ideas. Employers that choose a cruise meeting may find their employees are more willing to actively participate in the meetings and the outcome of the meetings more productive.
Tags: Contemporaries, Creativity, Desire, Employee Performance, Event Planning, Hassle, Hotel Venue, Incentive Cruise, Logistics, Meeting Planner, Metropolitan City, Nightmare, Organization, Organizational Meetings, Participation, Productive Meetings, Typical Hotel
23 Nov 09 Planning Government Meetings
Even though the trend has been to back down on meetings due to recession guidelines set down by the government, there is still a critical niche for meeting planners in the government itself. Although you will have to understand more rules and regulations, planning events for public organizations can be very rewarding and lucrative.
A specialty in government meetings is perfect for those interested in politics. If you’re not, this will be tedious and boring work for you. However, some of us love the daily bustle of the government. Also, truly creative people know that the best outcomes often happen with more restrictions–more constraints means less time thinking about how to go about something. That way time can be spent on real creativity.
Government meetings are a challenge, but this is a good thing for creative types like us. There are often very limited funds available for a government meeting, but rather than cut corners on quality a good event planner will understand how to use the funds wisely. Cutting corners is simply creating waste.
Your career as a government meeting planner can start locally, but expand into international meetings and events. People interested in other cultures will find planning international ceremonies of particular interest. There is a niche in government planning for almost anyone interested in politics and culture.
Tags: Boring Work, Bustle, Career, Constraints, Creative Types, Creativity, Cultures, Cutting Corners, Event Planner, Government Meetings, International Meetings, Limited Funds, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Meetings And Events, Niche, People, Public Organizations, Recession
14 Nov 09 Tips for Cutting Meeting Costs
With an increasing emphasis on savings these days, it seems everyone is looking for a deal. Resourceful meeting planners still can find new and innovative ways to cut meeting costs. It is just a matter of creativity and looking carefully at every single expenditure.
Here are some tips to help you cut costs on your next meeting or event:
- Find some great hotels in second-tier cities or near a major city that has easy access to the downtown area. Town center hotels tend to be much more expensive, and often have higher taxes than hotels outside of the city center.
- Consider when the best rates are available. Is it mid-week or weekend? Find the lowest cost dates for the venue you select based on the rate patterns.
- Be flexible with dates and scheduling and location, in order to take advantage of cost savings.
- Save on meeting room rental by serving food in the meeting room or allowing the hotel to book an evening meal event there.
- Get sponsorships from vendors who add value to your meeting attendees.
These are just a few of the ways bargain planners save. You can probably expand on this list and find many more creative ways to save on your next event.
Tags: Attendees, Bargain, Creativity, Cutting, Easy Access, Hotels, Meeting Planners, Meeting Room Rental, Nbsp, Sponsorships, Venue
05 Jul 09 Creating an Idea Factory
When you have an event to plan, the last thing you want to do is run out of ideas. Here are some ways to ignite the creative fires when you’re tired, pressed for time, or your creativity is running on fumes.
Map It
Word your problem concisely–three words or fewer–and write it in the middle of a large sheet of paper. Place related words or concerns around it and connect anything that is related with a line. Continue doing this in layers until you hit the right word or term. There is software that will help you do this if you would rather be on the computer. Do a web search for “mind mapping software” and related terms. (more…)
Tags: Candy, Creative Fires, Creative Problem, Creativity, Exercise, Experiences, Maple Syrup Factory, Mapping Solution, Mind Mapping Software, Music, New England, No Doubt, Participants, Possibilities, Right Solution, Running On Fumes, Synesthete, Web Search, What The Heck
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