01 Apr 11 10 great options for your next special event or corporate meeting
- SeaDream II—SeaDream Yacht Club
- Liberty of the Seas—Royal Caribbean
- Celebrity Millennium—Celebrity Cruises
- Silver Spirit—Silversea Cruises
- Pride of America—Norwegian Cruise Line
- Seven Seas Navigator—Regent Seven Seas
- MSC Splendida—MSC Cruises
- Allure of the Seas—Royal Caribbean International
- Carnival Dream—Carnival Cruise Lines
- National Geographic Endeavour—Lindblad Expeditions
Tags: Art Facilities, Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Celebrity Millennium, Club Liberty, Entertainment Options, Incentive Travel, Lindblad Expeditions, Mdash, Meeting Planner, Msc Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Pride Of America, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean International, Seadream Yacht Club, Service Adventure, Silver Spirit, Silversea Cruises, Specialist Company
25 Feb 11 Must have gadgets for every Event and Meeting Planner
Speaking of neck support…Travel pillows are not a new invention for the weary traveler, but how many are made of memory foam, come with a drawstring for a more customized fit AND have a pocket for your mp3 player? It’s the perfect combination for getting sleep on the plane when the passenger next to you snores louder than a lumberjack with a chainsaw.
Tags: Coffee Shop, Constant Search, Country Travel, Cup Of Coffee, Hammacher, Html Nbsp, Kensington, Life Savers, Lifeline, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Must Have Gadgets, Nab, Ori, Power Converter, Practicality, Rsquo, Small Appliances, Travel Converter, Weary Traveler
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
06 Oct 10 What Are You Doing to Change Your Meeting Planning Up?
The same meetings over and over can be boring and might be a great way to have the management and/or powers that be wonder how important a meeting planner is. On the other hand, a meeting planner that is always trying new ideas for meetings is highly desirable even if they fail. After all, it is difficult to justify the cost of a scheduler after a company gets into a rhythm but if that scheduler seems to be constantly trying to improve efficiency, then they are certainly worth keeping as they are nothing if not a team player.
The question becomes one of how a meeting planner can continue to keep meetings fresh. Here are a few great ideas:
- Check in with other meeting planners online. There are many meeting planning related forums online and that is usually a good sign that there are professionals looking to network on some level.
- Listen to what people in the office say, then hear them. Are people complaining or offering ideas? Can those ideas be made practical?
- Learn everything about sales and psychology. Selling meeting ideas is no different than selling anything else. If the first few ideas don’t get off the ground then it is unlikely that further ideas will fare much better.
Tags: Efficiency, Forums, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Meeting Planning, Online Meeting, People, Psychology, Rhythm, Rsquo, Scheduler, Team Player
29 Sep 10 Will Meeting Planner Salaries Continue to Rise? Probably…
Meeting planners are in extremely high demand by companies that are just starting to learn that there is a lot more to planning events and meetings than they thought. The fact that so many companies are in a position where they need to step up to the plate or pack their bags and shut the doors has proven to be extremely beneficial to meeting planners. The demand for meeting planners continues to increase and salary is climbing as a result of the skewed demand and the relatively slow uptake in supply.
For this reason alone it would seem very likely that meeting planner salaries will continue to increase over the next few years. This does not mean that the job will be getting easier. In fact, it could very well signal an increase in non-planning related tasks and possibly a fusion with other job descriptions such as office manager and/or secretary. Larger companies are likely to have more need for dedicated and excellent meeting planners and thus it would seem likely that the competition in the high end will continue to drive salaries up.
This also means that the disparity between the highest and lowest pair meeting planners will probably grow over the next decade, with corporate meeting planners in big cities seeing the largest increases while meeting planners in smaller businesses will probably experience the smallest increase in overall salary.
Tags: Corporate Meeting Planners, Disparity, Doors, Fusion, Job Descriptions, Larger Companies, Lot, Lowest Pair, Meeting Planner, Next Decade, Salaries, Salary
21 Jul 10 Meeting Planner Self-Assessment
If you are a meeting/event planner that needs to have a way to perform a self-evaluation, consider the following points:
• Don’t look at success – The success of a meeting can, and probably will, be claimed by other parties. When an event or meeting does not go as planned, the onus of responsibility tends to land on the shoulders of meeting planner. This is certainly unfair, so look at the matter analytically and discover why some things and other things do not.
• Don’t look only for failures – It is easy to think that it is easier to learn from failures than success, but this is not necessarily true. Learn from everything you can.
• Create checklists – Create checklists and try to quantify the steps to what your organization considers to be a great meeting. Isolate those factors that you can control, and focus on those. Keep records in case the blame starts to roll downhill in an unfair manner, but be wary of pointing fingers uphill.
• Compare notes – Ask others for honest feedback and ideas for improvement. Remember that doing a good job is less important than finding subtle ways to remind others that you do a good job. Show your professionalism by looking for ways to improve your performance and add to your job-related skills.
Knowing how you stack up in these ways can help you negotiate raises and bonuses more effectively.
Tags: Event Planner, Good Job, Honest Feedback, Meeting Planner, Onus, Pointing Fingers, Professionalism, Rsquo, Self Assessment, Self Evaluation, Shoulders, Subtle Ways, Success
28 Jun 10 Best Cities for Meeting Planners
Businesses all over the world need meeting planners, but there are some cities that are simply more desirable than others when it comes to being a meeting planner. Here are a list of great cities to consider moving to if you are a meeting planner:
Chattanooga, TN – The seat of Hamilton county is one of the most affordable places to live, is gorgeous, is situated close to Memphis and Knoxville, and has a booming tech sector that needs more meeting planners by the day.
Las Vegas, NV – Las Vegas is one of the most desirable cities to live in primarily because its night life is its day life too; this city never even thinks about sleeping. Convention centers, buffets, attractions and more all make Las Vegas a great place for an active meeting planner to live in.
New York City, NY – New York is often called the capital of the world, and it certainly is one of the most popular places for a meeting planner to make a living. While everyone else says that if they can make it in the Big Apple then they can make it anywhere, it is not difficult for meeting planners to find work in New York City.
San Diego, CA – San Diego has great attractions, parks, and several large corporations that need meeting and event planners.
Tags: Apple, Best Cities, Buffets, Chattanooga Tn, Event Planners, Hamilton County, Large Corporations, Las Vegas, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Memphis, Moving, Need Meeting, New York City, Night Life, San Diego Ca, Vegas Nv
14 Jun 10 Meeting Planners That Save Money Can Earn Big
Meeting planners are often called upon to schedule meetings and other events, but there is often a sub-surface conflict that rarely gets addressed. The issue is the bottom line: money. Simply put, meeting planners that learn how to go about their tasks cost effectively can become very popular with the powers that be. Here are some tips:
Skip the Starbucks and buy and cappuccino machine – Spending money for coffees at a meeting seems like a great idea, and it is if it is a rare treat. Instead, look into purchasing a cappuccino machine and make delicious caffeinated beverages on the spot. It saves money in the long run while simultaneously making the business look as if it cares a lot about the comfort level of its staff.
Colored markers – Markers are great tools, but they do not all have to be black or red. It is easier to express many different statistics with many different colors, and colored markers are not very expensive. More lively presentations and a lack of confusion at prices comparable to what people pay for black or red markers is a bargain by any definition.
Whiteboards and rubbing alcohol – School districts on a limited budget already know this truck, but not all businesses do; wiping down whiteboards after a meeting is important, but water alone will not do the trick. Instead, use rubbing alcohol for a deep clean that will extend the life of a whiteboard substantially.
Saving money in these ways is a great way to justify a promotion for any meeting planner.
Tags: Bottom Line, Caffeinated Beverages, Cappuccino Machine, Coffees, Colored Markers, Conflict, Confusion, Different Colors, Great Tools, Lively Presentations, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Rubbing Alcohol, Saving Money, Schedule Meetings, School Districts, Spending Money, Starbucks, Whiteboard, Whiteboards
07 Jun 10 Meeting Planners Make Breaking the Ice Easier
Most meetings come with a measure of tension integrated deeply into their very fabric. This is not unexpected because two or more parties tend to be attempting to both work to their individual benefit, but a smart meeting planner can actually reduce this tension in a few ways. Reducing tension can create a meeting environment that is more productive and causes all parties involved to work to their mutual benefit rather than look for individual opportunities that tend to come at the expense of one another.
Tables and presentation tools – Tables and presentation tools should be arranged in such a fashion that everyone is facing the same direction. The subliminal message of seating rivals or separate parties facing one another are those of conflict, but seating people side by side creates a sense of cooperation. Make sure that the room and charts/presentation materials are properly set up.
Lighting is important – Many venues, especially corner offices, have a tendency to pick up light at specific times of the morning or afternoon. Heightened light levels that are directional in nature tend to make some parties feel as if they are being assaulted by the light, and they may become less friendly as a result.
Comfort is paramount – everyone involved in a meeting should be made to feel comfortable. A stellar meeting planner knows this and makes preparations ranging from special meals and drinks down to height adjustable chairs for the vertically challenged.
Tags: Adjustable Chairs, Breaking The Ice, Conflict, Cooperation, Drinks, Environment, Fabric, Fashion, Lighting, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Mutual Benefit, Nature, Paramount, Presentation Materials, Presentation Tools, Rivals, Subliminal Message, Tendency, Tension
04 Jun 10 How to Plan a Meeting Time and Venue with Difficult Participants
Meeting planners are required to constantly prepare meetings, which is far more complex than it seems on the surface. To being with, the entire process is far less linear that it seems on the surface. Some might believe that organizing meetings starts with contacting individuals or parties, or perhaps contacting venues to see what is available; neither is necessarily true. In fact, this particular combination of factors can actually end up being something of a chicken and egg problem, where one is constantly trying to find purchase on a slippery slope.
This entire process can be made far simpler by starting with an approach that is more time sensitive in nature. Start by contacting parties and offering a few choices, and checking for blackout times and dates. This should be a simple selecting process that empowers participants by allowing them to choose from a selection of available times. Once that is accomplished, it will be far easier to actually schedule a venue. Hopefully, the selection of a venue will not result in unsatisfied parties or participants that will no longer be able to attend.
As previously mentioned, the life of a meeting planner is not as simple as it might seem on the surface. Remember that when dealing with your meeting planner next time.
Tags: Available Times, Blackout, Chicken Egg, Choices, Egg Problem, Meeting Planner, Meeting Planners, Meeting Time, Nature, Participants, Slippery Slope, Venue
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