Planning a group cruise can seem like a logistical nightmare at first, but is not actually a complex as it might seem on the surface. Follow these three basic tips to keep your sanity and composure while simultaneously planning a great group cruise:
- Create lockdown dates – If last minute changes drive you crazy, then eliminate them simply by letting everyone know that the cruise line has a lockdown date for final planning. This works even when cruise lines do not have such a date, or if you put your lockdown date a little bit ahead of theirs. Remember to stick to whatever date you provide participants via e-mail or memo.
- Get help – Most cruise lines have concierge services that can take a fair portion of the planning and logistics off of your shoulders, but they need to know what you want. It might be a good idea to contact the concierge service/planner and make a point of contact that can provide you with options and details that can be passed on to participants/decision makers.
- Have alternatives ready – If you suspect that Bob Jones from sales is going to request something that is unavailable, having an alternative that is acceptable is better than a no. Be sure to explore alternatives before using those terrible two little letters: N and O.
Tags: Bob Jones, Composure, Concierge Service, Concierge Services, Cruise Line, Cruise Lines, Decision Makers, E Mail, Group Cruise, Little Bit, Logistical Nightmare, Logistics, Minute Changes, Participants, Point Of Contact, Sanity, Service Planner, Shoulders, Terrible Two
The success of your meeting or event could hinge on how good your keynote speaker is. Meeting and event planners need to have a good plan for finding great keynote speakers. Here are some tips:
- Establish the date, location and budget of your event. These factors will play an important role in determining the pool of keynote speakers available to you. Your date, for example, will affect which keynote speakers are available, whereas your budget will limit whom you can and can’t afford to hire. In order to save on the cost of the keynote speaker’s travel, you may want to consider the distance between where he or she resides and where your event will take place.
- Determine the type of presentation you want and the time of day when it will take place. Some speakers are skilled at delivering workshops, while others excel at providing keynotes. After-dinner speakers should incorporate humor into their talks, where morning speakers should be energizing. (more…)
Tags: Audience, Budget, Change Effort, Decision Makers, Demographic Group, Demographics, Desire, Dinner Speakers, Event Planners, Humor, Keynote Speaker, Keynote Speakers, Keynotes, Morning Speakers, Pool, Rsquo, Success, Tap, Time Of Day, Travel