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
30 Oct 09 More Cheap Seats, More Fees
Airlines will continue to discount tickets, charge more fees, cut capacity and look for other ways to raise cash to deal the the recession through the rest of this year and into next year, according to IATA in its global forecast.
IATA has again asked U.S. lawmakers and other governments to repeal laws and other restrictions that limit foreign investment in domestic airlines to enable the industry to compete as other industries do globally.
Consolidation, especially cross-border unions, and greater foreign investment would help many airlines save money. But the industry will need help from governments, too.
Tags: Cheap Airlines, Cheap Seats, Consolidation, Cross Border, Discount Tickets, Domestic Airlines, Foreign Investment, Governments, Iata, Lawmakers, Money, Recession, Unions
23 Oct 09 Reaching Your Business Goals
Sometimes during a rough economy, people just grit their teeth and try to get through it. While there is something to be said for that position, it shifts focus away from goals to mere survival. Don’t allow dust to gather on your meeting planner business goals during hard times.
Formalize your goal. Write it down and have a good long look at it. Are you dreaming the impossible dream? If you’re planning to buy Trump Towers sometime in the next year and your checking account is overdrawn, well good luck with that. Most people don’t latch on to the extreme and unreachable, still, it’s important to know where you’re going and how to get there.
Break your goal into workable sequences that can be achieved in manageable periods. Every milestone passed moves you closer to your big ultimate goal. Persistence pays off in every field of endeavor. Increasing your clientele is an admirable and attainable goal even during a recession.
Build a work ethic that surpasses your competition. Will Smith credits his success more to his work ethic than natural talent. He comments: “I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together, you are going to get off first, or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple.”
Tags: Attainable Goal, Business Goals, Checking Account, Clientele, Endeavor, Good Luck, Impossible Dream, Latch, Meeting Planner, Milestone, Periods, Persistence, Recession, Sequences, Survival, Teeth, Treadmill, Trump Towers, Will Smith, Work Ethic
12 Oct 09 Unique Event and Meeting Venues
When was the last time you held an event somewhere other than a hotel or convention center? There are other options, some of which are quite affordable. Any place that has enough seating for your group and can meet their needs is a potential event site.
Theaters aren’t just for plays and movies these days. Most of them are more than happy to be considered for an event. In fact, many movie theaters include an ad promoting the idea along with the upcoming features. Theatres are quiet, private, and they might even open the concession stand for your event. Private theater owners are as open to creating new revenue as chain theaters. Explore both possibilities and compare costs and available services.
Museums and public art galleries are feeling the economic pinch of the recession. Most of them have spaces that are ideal for business meetings. Using a local site gives your client the benefit of getting out of the office without expending a great deal of cash. Sometimes a fresh site will inspire fresh ideas in your team.
Don’t limit yourself to the same list of meeting places no matter how grand and exciting they might be. The more choices you offer clients, the more clients you may have.
Tags: Available Services, Benefit, Business Meetings, Choices, Concession Stand, Economic Pinch, Local Site, Meeting Places, Movie Theaters, Movies, Museums, Plays, Possibilities, Private Theater, Public Art Galleries, Recession, When Was The Last Time
06 Aug 09 Fourth Quarter Play Strategies–Conferences
Even though the recession brought the bailouts, which in turn brought scrutiny into meetings and conferences, emerging from the economic downturn does not guarantee that the meeting business will spring back. However, the hardships don’t not guarantee that it will stay in the toilet, either.
Fourth Quarter Cautions
Conference and business meeting planners may see a slight uptick in business with no real surge simply because companies are concerned about their images. There are articles all over–including blog posts here–about the idea of image and spending. The flip side of that is this: meetings are important to education, motivation, and technology sharing. You can be prepared for reluctant spending by having lots of alternatives to lavish accommodations, high-tech meeting environments, and expensive dinners with high-priced keynote speakers. (more…)
Tags: Bailout, Behinds, Business Meeting, Economic Downturn, Education Motivation, Flip Side, Fourth Quarter, Goldman Sachs, Hardships, Incentive Travel, Keynote Speakers, Last Quarter, Lavish Accommodations, Meeting Planners, Property Owners, Recession, Scrutiny, Strict Rules, Uptick, Warrants
09 Jul 09 Recession Ideas for the Wedding Planner
Although many families can still afford the services of a wedding planner, some no longer can. They are trying to save money and maybe even give a little more to help them get a better start in hostile economic conditions. However, there are some things you can do to help boost your business and not scare away people who only have a little to spend but need a lot of guidance. Here are some of those ways. See if you can use them as jumping off points to figure out more of your own.
Try Being a Helper
If a potential client is a little put off at your estimate for the wedding, try splitting some of the duties with them to help them keep costs down. For instance, you could say, “Getting the cake delivered on time and in good condition is a hassle, so why don’t I do that and you get the invitations done. That will save you money. Here is the phone number of the printer I use–tell him I sent you.” (more…)
Tags: Alcohol, Alcoholic Beverages, Bart, Bride And Groom, Coffee Tea, Cousin, Economic Conditions, Hard Time, Hassle, Invitations, Package Deals, Receptions, Recession, Refreshments, Sheet Cakes, Soft Drinks, Staple, Uncle Joe, Wedding Planner, Wedding Reception
14 May 09 Event Planning for the Recession: Banquetology
Ten years ago a company holding a big business event was expected to lay out a lavish feast for all those in attendance and their spouses. Businesses often spent tens of thousands of dollars on spreads that sometimes produced almost as much waste as it did fulfillment. Well, the recent crippling of the world’s economy has made these affairs a relic of the past.
With company event planners now wondering how they will feed attendees at their next function, enter Banquetology, the brainchild of the Crowne Plaza Melbourne Oceanfront Resort. Banquetology is a way of presenting meals in small portions with greater variety to satisfy guests, their diets, and the company’s financial limits–in other words, everyone’s bottom line. (more…)
Tags: Attendees, Brainchild, Budgets, Business Event, Calorie Meal, Calories, Chefs, Crowne Plaza, Dieticians, Diets, Event Planners, Event Planning, Feast, Girths, Psychological Aspect, Pushcarts, Recession, Relic, Sponsoring Company, Thousands Of Dollars
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