19 Jul 10 How to get planning help by asking for it
If you are in charge of planning meetings and/or events for a company, you might quickly discover that is seems impossible to please everyone. This is certainly true, especially when those people all have wildly different expectations. There are ways to navigate this potential minefield, such as:
• Ask participants for feedback and suggestions on how to implement that – Sometimes people expect their meeting planning budget to go further. Show them the figures (if appropriate) and ask if they have any suggestions on how to do more with less. Be honest and do this without any emotional investment or hurt feelings for the best results.
• Always remind people of budget concerns – If participants wonder why the Starbucks coffee got replaced with a Cuisinart and some Folgers, just explain that resources are limited and ask for suggestions on further cuts or ways to do more with less.
• Anonymous tip box – Sometimes people are wary of leaving negative feedback, especially if their name is attached to it. Find a way to make an effectively anonymous method for providing feedback and chances are good that honest feedback will start flowing.
• Thank those with helpful hints and tips – Anyone that does take the time to provide tips should be heartily thanked. Anyone that has to swallow their pride and admit that their gripes were unfounded should be similarly comforted.
Tags: Anonymous Method, Anonymous Tip, Budget Concerns, Cuisinart, Emotional Investment, Feedback And Suggestions, Feelings, Folgers, Gripes, Helpful Hints, Honest Feedback, Meeting Planning, Minefield, Negative Feedback, Participants, Pride, Providing Feedback, Starbucks, Starbucks Coffee, Swallow
02 Apr 10 Sparking Interest in a Cruise Meeting
An all-inclusive cruise is an exciting spin on meeting planning. Participants are well aware meetings formats may center on focused blocks of hard work and it becomes all too easy to forget how to relax. One way to generate excitement for an upcoming cruise meeting is to educate the group about life on board and at their ports of call.
This will be the first cruise experience for many people in the group. Add a list of commonly used “ship slang” to the packet of materials provided to each participant. A simple game of ship speak bingo can break the ice and give group members a chance to get to know one another. By the time the game is over, participants will feel confident that they know their fore from their aft.
Go beyond the standard travel brochure and create guides give group members a few helpful hints on local social graces. These could include: how much and who to tip, how to stay please and thank you in the local language, suggestions for appropriate dress, and portable currency exchange guides. A section discussing which situations are friendly photo opportunities (or not) will give camera buffs something to mull over. Good manners are easy to pack, improve communication, and guarantee a welcome on a return trip.
Tags: Bingo, Camera Buffs, Communication, Cruise Experience, Currency Exchange, Excitement, Good Manners, Group Members, Helpful Hints, Many People, Meeting Planning, Participant, Participants, Photo Opportunities, Ports Of Call, Return Trip, Simple Game, Slang, Social Graces, Travel Brochure
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 […]