16 Jul 10 Meeting at Sea: The Perfect Meeting Destination and Surprisingly Affordable
Planning meetings can be fun, but it tends to be more fun whenever the meeting is someplace exotic or interesting. What is more interesting than a meeting on a cruise ship? Possibly a meeting on the International Space Station, but at around $20 million a ticket, it is probably better to go with meetings on exotic cruise ships bound for sun drenched destinations. Surprisingly, meetings at sea are not only more affordable than blasting off into low-orbit, but they are often more affordable than meetings held at hotels. Consider the following:
Hotels are forced to compete with many restaurants in terms of quality and offerings. Today’s cruise ships bring the restaurants and hotels with them, reducing the competition and overhead associated with advertising while simultaneously increasing the power buying authority of the vendor.
Safety is job number of all cruise ship employees, while job number two is ensuring that you and your business guests have a great time. This means you get more bang for your buck on a cruise ship than you would with a hotel in virtually any city.
Top quality business meeting rooms and chambers are available on cruise ships, big and small. Most cruise ships have rooms that can be easily converted from theaters to huge meeting rooms to dance floors with relative ease as well as standard meeting rooms. It does not matter how big or small your event is, a cruise ship is perfect!
Tags: Business Guests, Business Meeting Rooms, Chambers, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Fun, Great Time, Hotels, International Space Station, Job, Low Orbit, Meeting At Sea, Meeting Planning, Offerings, Quality Business, Restaurants, Sun, Theaters, Top Quality
12 Jul 10 Choosing Destinations
When it is time to plan a meeting, there are plenty of possibilities. The brochures and promotional materials make sound arguments in favor of many different venues, but ultimately a single venue must be selected for a single event. Here are some ideas to help you effectively reduce the number of options being seriously considered:
• To go all the way or not – If you are too busy to plan every little detail, look for all-inclusive options that handle some or all of the planning for you. This can lead to significant time savings and surprisingly, as well as a tangible amount of money saved.
• Local or long distance – There are both local venues and venues in other cities. If all the participants are from your city, then a local venue might make sense unless travel and attendance is to be considered a perk. If customers are the focus of the meeting/event, then go where they are.
• By land or by sea – Do not discount cruise ships as venues for meetings and events. In fact, cruise ships make amazing destinations for many different kinds of events. Remember that cruise events are more appropriate for certain audiences and companies than other.
• Consider price – Price is important, but that makes apples to apples comparisons difficult.
Tags: Amount Of Money, Apples To Apples, Attendance, Audiences, Brochures, Cruise Events, Cruise Ships, Different Kinds, Discount Cruise, Long Distance, Meetings And Events, Might Make Sense, Participants, Possibilities, Promotional Materials, Significant Time, Sound Arguments, Time Savings, Venue
02 Jul 10 What Does Your Choice of Venue Say About You?
Meeting and event planners often have many choices in venues whether they know it or not. While the boss or powers that be might specify a particular venue, it should not be assumed that such specific requests mean that the powers that be are not open to other ideas unless explicitly stated. Knowing what your choice in venue says about you is important; perception is reality after all. Consider the following when thinking about different venue possibilities:
Hotels – Hotels are tried and true venues for meetings and events, but they also show a lack of imagination and a commitment to doing things the traditional way. Traditional businesses tend to behave in very specific ways and are not fond of change.
Cruise ships – Cruise ships show an amazing flair for the dramatic and an appreciation for the finer things in life. Hosting meetings and/or events on a cruise ship shows that you value the other party/parties, and that you are not bound by the confines the old ways of doing business.
Convention centers – Convection centers generally have big and small chambers, but even hosting in a small chamber gives the appearance of a large organization with significant reach.
BBB conference rooms – Many local BBB offices have chambers that can be rented, and they lend a significant amount of credibility at bargain basement prices.
Tags: Bargain Basement Prices, Bbb Offices, Business Convention, Chambers, Confines, Convection, Credibility, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Doing Business, Event Planners, Finer Things In Life, Flair, Imagination, Large Organization, Meetings And Events, Party Parties, Perception, Possibilities, Traditional Businesses
21 Jun 10 Great Reasons to Hold Cruise Events
The truth is that just about everyone wants to go on a cruise at one point in time, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to do that with the mounting pressures of work and family. Luckily there are cruise events that can be held for nearly any reason, and those events could prove to be irresistible to anyone who has ever wanted to sail away from their problems. Here are *** great reasons to hold a your next even on a cruise ship:
Everything is included – No more trying to coordinate rooms, catering, and events; cruise ships have this taken care of. In fact, many cruise ships have a helpful planning staff that can handle everything from travel to special needs and requests.
Complete and total care – No other event venue is as self-contained yet complete as a cruise ship. A world-class gym, spa, restaurants, casinos, theaters, places for the children to play and more are all included.
Accessible to everyone – It would be harder to find a venue that was as friendly to those who are differently-abled as a cruise ship.
Elevators and ramps are everywhere, making a cruise liner very accessible.
No need to worry – Unlike destinations on land, everyone on a ship is a tourist. No more thieves or pickpockets to worry about.
Tags: Casinos, Catering, Class Gym, Cruise Events, Cruise Liner, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruise World, Elevators, Pickpockets, Point In Time, Ramps, Restaurants, Spa, Special Needs, Theaters, Thieves, Travel Special, Truth, Venue
16 Jun 10 Cruise Meetings are Affordable
When many people think of cruises, they do not think about work. While everyone is free to have their own mental images to do with as they wish, the fact is that cruises are actually cost effective solutions for holding meetings in many cases. In fact, there are entire industries where few options for hosting meetings or events make as much sense as cruise meetings do.
Consider the alternatives for a moment, and a better picture will emerge. Renting hotel suites and a banquet hall can be expensive and somewhat bland. Add to this expenses related to catering and entertainment, and even basic meetings hosted at a hotel and/or conference center can become very expensive indeed. All of these facilities are available on a single cruise liner at prices that cannot be matched; it is like putting all of the resources under one roof, managed by a single business.
Anyone who knows a good deal about businesses and pricing can probably appreciate the value of allowing a single company to leverage its size and buying power to return the lowest cost possible. This not only makes cruise meetings a very practical alternative to hotels and/or conference centers, it makes cruise ships significantly more fun. Add to this the incentive value of bringing top talent, partners, and clients on the trip, and it is clear why many organizations host their meetings and events at sea.
Tags: Banquet Hall, Cost Effective, Cruise Liner, Cruise Prices, Cruise Ships, Cruises, Effective Solutions, Few Options, Hosting, Hotel Suites, Hotels, Many People, Meetings And Events, Mental Images, Single Company, Talent Partners
03 Jun 10 Landry & Kling Announces Strategic Alliance Partnership with MCI Group
Cruise event specialists join forces with leading global event management company
MIAMI, MAY 28, 2010 – Cruise Events Specialists Landry & Kling today announced a strategic alliance with MCI, a leading global association, communications and event management company. The partnership agreement includes Landry & Kling company Seasite.com, the first cruise portal dedicated to the cruise meetings and events market.
Under the new alliance, MCI will promote the use of cruise ships for group meetings and events accessing Seasite.com services and resources including cruise sourcing, contract negotiations, and valuable planning tools. In addition, MCI will request Landry & Kling services for its clients who require cruise logistics custom planning services – from the pre-event planning phase through on-site event implementation.
"Through our ongoing working relationship with Landry & Kling, we will expand our service portfolio to include cruise ships and continue to deliver high quality service to corporate and association meeting planners and their attendees,” said Roger Tondeur, President of MCI. “Cruise ships provide cost-effective, innovative venues for meetings and events, and we are pleased to team with the forward-thinking leaders of the cruise events business to broaden our industry reach.”
To support the ongoing partnership, Landry & Kling will recommend Ovation Global DMC (part of MCI Group) to its customers who require Destination Management Services such as port excursions, special events or group transportation at key Ovation locations. These destinations include (but are not limited to) Malaga, Valencia and Barcelona, Spain; Cannes, Nice, and Monte Carlo, France; Livorno, Rome, Naples, Sorrento, Taormina, and Venice, Italy; Stockholm, Sweden; and Hong Kong.
“We are delighted to team with MCI, one of the largest meetings and events company in the world, to bring additional value-added services to our customers,” said Mark Phillips, Chief Operating Officer of Landry & Kling. “Their global destination management services and other valuable resources will complement many of our customers’ cruise event programs.”
About Landry & Kling and Seasite.com
Landry & Kling Inc., cruise event specialists since 1982, recently introduced Seasite.com, the first online cruise platform for meeting professionals. Seasite is an industry sourcing tool to search, select and plan group cruises, with access to 35 cruise lines in one site, meeting-friendly search criteria, e-RFP’s, meeting/function room capacities, dining details and other unique tools available nowhere else. Visit www.seasite.com or www.landrykling.com
About MCI
MCI is a globally integrated association, communication, and event management company. Since 23 years, MCI helps companies, governments and associations bring people together to create meaningful connections and win. MCI’s combined expertise helps clients to outperform by offering strategy, creativity and execution in the field of Association Management & Consulting, Performance Improvement, Global Congress Management, and Meetings & Events. Our support services include Global Destination Management in 36 countries and Audio Visual & Staging solutions. MCI has 43 offices in 21 countries and employs over 920 professionals worldwide. Visit www.mci-group.com.
Tags: Alliance Partnership, Association Communications, Barcelona Spain, Contract Negotiations, Cruise Events, Cruise Portal, Cruise Ships, Destination Management Services, Event Management Company, Global Association, Group Transportation, High Quality Service, Malaga Valencia, Mci Group, Meeting Planners, Partnership Agreement, Rome Naples Sorrento, Service Portfolio, Stockholm Sweden, Venice Italy
07 May 10 Simplify Incentive Travel with Group Cruise Deals and Convenient Planning Tools
No matter if you are a corporate conference and event planner, a wedding planner or a corporate travel planner, a detailed knowledge of group cruise packages and how they can help you and your clients is essential to successfully incorporating cruise ship venues and destinations into your planning services. It is one thing to have experience with sourcing cruises for executive retreats or incentive travel packages, but understanding the convenience and cost savings of taking full advantage of group cruise packages opens the door to noteworthy budgetary benefits, as well as developing alternatives for the types of events you may think about hosting on a cruise ship. From weddings with fewer than 10 guests to meetings at sea with a entire ship charter, meeting, event and incentive travel planners will find that cruise ships can be a cost-effective option that offers noteworthy advantages and enhancements when compared to land-based events.
Opting for a group cruise event can result in up to 40 percent cost savings over selecting a land-based venue and provides the added advantage of being perceived as a luxury option, even while costing far less than a typical luxury resort on land. Beyond the noteworthy cost savings to be enjoyed with group cruise deals, planners will also find that organizing meetings at sea can be far easier than making arrangements for their land-based counterparts. While events on land require planners to organize most components independently, including venue, catering, decor, entertainment and equipment, planning events on cruise ships is much simpler and more convenient. Cruise lines are well-versed in hosting events on-board and are well-equipped to provide everything you need for a successful event. From themed decor to audio-visual equipment, cruise ships already have all of the components you want, as well as built-in dining and entertainment options at no additional charge.
After you have determined that group cruise packages are well-suited for your event and travel planning needs, the next step is determining the tools you need to make group cruise sourcing easy and convenient. It is essential that you are able to simply get your hands on the information you need, such as which cruise lines are a good fit for groups, the meeting facilities, accommodations and other pertinent ship data for particular cruise ships, and which cruise lines have options for the dates and destinations you require. It is also extremely advantageous to be able to compare cruise lines and ships side by side and to have the ability to create a single RFP that can be sent to each potential provider. These tools will make your group cruise planning even easier and will assist you in finding the best group cruise deals available.
Taking advantage of group cruise deals for your incentive travel or corporate event needs is an excellent way to stay within your travel budget, while providing participants with a rewarding, luxury travel experience and a topnotch meeting or event.
Seasite.com offers the first online group cruise planner that allows event planners to source cruise events conveniently with a single RFP.
Tags: Added Advantage, Audio Visual Equipment, Corporate Travel, Cruise Deals, Cruise Lines, Cruise Packages, Cruise Planners, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruise Weddings, Entertainment Options, Event Planner, Executive Retreats, Group Cruise, Incentive Travel Packages, Luxury Option, Luxury Resort, Ship Charter, Travel Planner, Travel Planners
15 Mar 10 All Inclusive Cruises – Best Choice on Land or Sea
If you want your next meeting to impress and still be affordable, an all-inclusive cruise is the right choice. There’s something special about a cruise: the ritual of bon voyage to the work-a-day world and life on land, the great food, the smell of fresh sea air, and the relaxing movement of the ship riding the waves. Cruise ships offer the latest in audio-visual technology and meeting rooms that can accommodate small intimate business meetings or larger groups with the same high level of service.
An all-inclusive cruise may include the price of airfare for your group, healthy activities, and entertainment. Don’t forget food – no one ever complained about too little food on a cruise! Many cruises offer gourmet options along with bountiful buffets of beautifully presented food.
Cruise ship atmosphere is perfect for work and play. Intensely focused meetings easily shift into team building activities while leaving time for relaxation in exotic ports of call. Many cruise lines offer fantastic entertainment that may not be available on land. Interests as diverse as fitness training and casino games are all part of the mix on a cruise ship. Ultimately, an all-inclusive cruise is an exciting, more productive, and more affordable plan for your next meeting.
Tags: All Inclusive Cruises, Audio Visual Technology, Best Choice, Buffets, Casino Games, Cruise Lines, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Fantastic Entertainment, Fitness Training, Intimate Business Meetings, Land Interests, Little Food, Meeting Rooms, Price Of Airfare, Relaxation, Riding The Waves, Right Choice, Sea Air, Team Building Activities
01 Mar 10 Typical Amenities on Cruise Ships
For those planners interested in organizing meetings at sea, you may be interested in learning more about the amenities cruise ships typically offer. Each year many companies host incentive cruises and other types of meetings at sea. If you have never been on a cruise ship before, you may be wondering what activities, facilities, and services can be found onboard. The activities found onboard a cruise ship will vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.
Cruise ships have well equipped meeting room facilities and other large venues to host your meetings and events. The A/V equipment is usually state-of-the-art and sure to meet all of your needs.
Some of the most well-known facilities found on cruise ships are dining rooms, restaurants, and buffets. Large cruise ships may offer a number of onboard dining facilities. It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered gourmet restaurants. In addition to a sit-down restaurant, there area usually a number of small eateries located onboard. Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers.
Swimming pools, libraries, video arcades, and movie theaters can often be found on cruise ships. In addition, cruise ships generally have a casino. Popular gambling activities include slots, blackjack, poker, and much more. Many onboard casinos are open for business twenty-four hours a day. Gambling is a popular cruise ship pastime
Almost all cruise ships have onsite fitness centers, fully equipped gyms, and luxurious spas. These gyms are often similar, and sometimes even better, than the gyms found in your hometown. In addition to a fitness center, a large number of cruise ships have jogging tracks.
Tags: Blackjack Poker, Cruise Planners, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruisers, Dining Rooms, Elegant Dining, Fitness Center, Gourmet Restaurants, Gyms, Incentive Cruises, Jogging Tracks, Luxurious Spas, Meeting Room, Meetings And Events, Movie Theaters, Pastime, Swimming Pools, Twenty Four Hours, Video Arcades
17 Feb 10 Planning Weddings and Commitment Ceremonies on a Cruise Ship
Much like planning meetings and corporate events on cruise ships, planning onboard weddings, commitment ceremonies and vow renewal ceremonies can actually be easier and more cost-effective than their land-based counterparts. Whether your clients opt for a very affordable one- or two-night cruise, or a luxurious two-week cruise for both their nuptials and their honeymoon, cruise ship weddings are sure to be a memorable, fun event for all who attend.
When couples choose a cruise, they no longer have to worry about entertaining out-of-town guests during their entire stay, whether or not there will be enough alcohol at the bar during their reception and whether or not the DJ will show up. They will have the benefit of onboard entertainment, meals and some drinks throughout the cruise being included in the price, utilizing the music and bar services available through the cruise line and having the option of hanging out with their guests or hiding away on their own in the days before and after the ceremony.
As the wedding planner, you will enjoy a simple, convenient planning experience working with a cruise line that is sure to have substantial experience in having weddings onboard. Between your professional services and their well-established protocols, planning your clients’ onboard wedding or ceremony will be a breeze.
Tags: Alcohol, Commitment Ceremonies, Counterparts, Couples, Cruise Line, Cruise Ship Weddings, Cruise Ships, Cruise Weddings, Drinks, Fun Event, Honeymoon Cruise, Night Cruise, Nuptials, Planning Weddings, Professional Services, Protocols, Substantial Experience, Town Guests, Vow Renewal Ceremonies, Wedding Planner
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