01 Jun 11 Break out of the boring and go for unforgettable at your next meeting
At every conference and corporate meeting, attendees are crammed into a hotel ballroom or conference center and basically told what they are expected to do. Whether its motivating them to do something, teaching them to do something different, or setting expectations for what you envision them doing, the message remains the same; you are telling them to change their ways because yours is better. That’s the main point behind David Gurteen’s article We must stop doing things to people. He goes on to say that “we need to approach people with ‘How can we work better together?’.”
Tags: Antithesis, Attendees, Audie, Auto Pilot, Cookie Cutter Approach, Cruise Ship, Engagement Team, Excitement, Free Time, Gurteen, Hotel Ballroom, Invitation, Little Time, Meeting At Sea, Meeting Center, Middle Of The Ocean, Rsquo, Social Interaction, Team Building, Traditional Hotel, Typic, Typical Conference, Voicemails
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
13 Oct 10 Are Tablets Right for Meeting Planners?
Tablet computers have been around for roughly two decades in one form or another, but they are starting to get a lot of attention thanks to the iPad. Many meeting planners are starting to wonder whether or not tablet computers might be a good match for their business needs. While some tablets might be a good match for business needs, the iPad might not be a good fit for all offices given its media-centric and hip image. Of course, some offices might be the ideal location to use the iPAd, especially if Macs are used throughout the office and already handle the scheduling chores. Failing that, look for a tablet that can:
• Handle easy input and possibly even handwriting recognition. In most cases it is more important to take quick notes for later, so be sure that the note taking capacity is very fast.
• A capacitive touch screen is very important for many reasons so do not look for any tablet without touch screen technology. Multi-touch is highly preferred.
• Battery life is also important as is the method of charging. If an app has a battery life that won’t last the day then there is going to be more than a little bit of trouble. If it can synch and charge at once, then the problem might not be so bad. WiFi synching is also a very desirable trait.
• Don’t forget the apps. A professional scheduling app that links to Exchange is very important because just about every third party professional scheduling app does the same. Exchange is where data is exchanged if you will forgive the pun.
• Don’t forget the apps! A tablet without apps that prove useful is just a hunk of metal, silicon and plastic.
Tags: Apps, Attention Thanks, Battery Life, Bull Battery, Capacitive Touch Screen, Chores, Decades, Desirable Trait, Handwriting Recognition, Hunk, Ipad, Little Bit, Match, Meeting Planners, Pun, Rsquo, Silicon, Tablet Computers, Third Party, Touch Screen Technology
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
04 Oct 10 Cruise Destinations Worth Contemplating
Cruise ships span the globe and tour nearly every major waterway. Some are large, some are small, and many are tied to cultures and their unique traditions. For example, there are ancient Chinese-looking ships of modern design cruising the Yellow River and similarly antique-looking modern ships cruising the mighty Mississippi disguised as traditional steamboats.
Some of the cruise ships are tied specifically to certain destinations, but other destinations are open to almost all kinds of cruise vessels. This creates a situation where a company not interested in a specific theme needs to know what different kinds of group cruises are available.
Here are just a few and what they say about the host company or organization:
- Hawaii – Hawaii’s lovely islands are a safe bet for a cruise, but they do not show much imagination. Some people appreciate this, while others do not. Be certain to evaluate customer/company image before choosing the islands of Hawaii.
- Mexico – Parties and drinking are still a big deal for certain crowds, and companies with a youthful and slightly rebellious image might want to consider options south of the border.
- Alaska – Alaska is gorgeous, but it is cold and not necessarily inviting. Companies need to consider cruise meetings to Alaska carefully because the message that the crumbling icebergs offer might be inappropriate.
- The Caribbean – The northern sections of the Caribbean offer plenty of very safe and well-known destinations while the West Indies chain offers great and lesser known destinations.
- Africa and Asia – These simply scream exotic but need to be carefully considered for a few obvious reasons, not the least of which is the travel cost.
Tags: Company Image, Crowds, Cruise Alaska, Cruise Destinations, Cruise Ships, Cruise Vessels, Cultures, Customer Company, Different Kinds, Group Cruises, Host Company, Imagination, Islands Of Hawaii, Mighty Mississippi, Northern Sections, Rsquo, Safe Bet, Waterway, West Indies, Yellow River
15 Sep 10 Does Booking in Advance Really Save on Venues?
There is an accepted industry pricing rule that states unequivocally that securing a hotel and/or conference center in advance will result in money saved. The same logic applies to flights and entertainment as well, but some are starting to wonder if this widely accepted rule is not being exploited by savvy vendors.
Determining whether a vendor is really offering good deals for an advanced booking or purchase contract is difficult, but there are some ways to make the whole process easier:
- The Internet – The Internet is easily the most amazing fact finding tool in the world, and it is full of forums that are used by people with similar questions and experiences. Take advantage of the many forums on the Internet and ask questions but don’t forget to use the search feature first or you might earn a written tongue-lashing.
- Switch the dates – Start by asking about a date closer than you actually want and then asking about a date further out. See what the difference really is, but also remember to factor in travel frequency to your logic. If you ask to book a hotel in the start of September, immediately after school begins, you might be seeing very different pricing than mid to late December due to increased holiday traffic.
- Ask for discounts – This might seem silly, but some people don’t bother to ask for discounts. Booking a hotel is a boon for both organizations and they should arrange to share that boon whenever possible/practical.
Tags: Advanced Booking, Book A Hotel, Book Hotel, Booking Hotel, Boon, Experiences, Flights, Forums, Good Deals, Holiday Traffic, Logic, Money, Purchase Contract, Rsquo, Search Feature, Tongue, Tool, Travel
09 Sep 10 The ABCs of Meetings at Sea
Meetings have traditionally been held at hotels, conference centers, and other land-based public venues, but all of that is changing. The new way to host meetings and major events is to do at sea on a luxury cruise ship. Why? Because of the ABCs of meetings at sea:
- A is for awesome service – Cruise ships are renowned in the travel industry for their unparalleled commitment to customer service.
- B is breathtaking views – Some hotels have nice views or quaint views, but few of them can match the views afforded by a cruise ship. One day it is a gorgeous island paradise, the next morning it is clear open waters until the ship eventually arrives in a port with historic interest. Hotels stay put, what you get is what you get.
- C is for customization – There really are not too many limits to what you can ask for and not reasonably expect to get on a cruise ship.
These floating resorts offer all sorts of options to make your cruise a truly unique and wonderful experience.
There was an ‘s’ at the end of ABCs, and it is small for a reason. That small s stands for savings, and the fact that you will actually save a modest amount of money by opting to have a meeting at sea instead of having it in a hotel with a conference room. No more caterers, no more booking a night club for a serious mixer, no more DJs to worry about. All you will have to do is determine where to invest those savings.
Tags: Abcs, All Sorts, Amount Of Money, Breathtaking Views, Cruise Ships, Customer Service, Gorgeous Island, Host Meetings, Hotels, Island Paradise, Luxury Cruise Ship, Meeting At Sea, Mixer, Next Morning, Night Club, Open Waters, Public Venues, Rsquo, Travel Industry, Unparalleled Commitment
07 Sep 10 What kind of inclusive incentives can be had on a cruise ship?
Cruises are popular for many reasons, but one of the most appealing reasons to businesses is the fact that cruises come with all sorts of travel incentives that are built right into the price. Inclusive incentives are popular with businesses for so many reasons, including:
- Easy pricing – Inclusive pricing is great, and inclusive incentives are simply amazing. What kind of incentives, how about food, fun, activities, and possibly even souvenirs?
- Less time spent shopping around – Nobody like spending their day calling 100 different caterers trying to see who will offer the best deal on a specific set of meals. The good news is that no caterers need to be called as the cruise price has top notch meals and a staff ready to serve them on call 24/7.
- Plenty of options – Want to make sure that you and your guests are pampered? Ask for free time with a certified massage therapist or personal trainer be included with the price of each participant.
- Some cruise lines go the extra mile – Concierge services are truly amazing, and can add a little something extra. Don’t be shy when asking, because you might be surprise to find out that some cruise lines offer business customers a wide range of time and money saving services such as special assortments of alcohol and even access to branded products/gift baskets made to order and placed in the cabins of participants prior to the cruise.
Tags: Assortments, Branded Products, Business Customers, Caterers, Certified Massage Therapist, Concierge Services, Cruise Lines, Cruise Price, Cruise Ship, Extra Mile, Free Time, Fun Activities, Gift Baskets, Money Saving, Personal Trainer, Rsquo, Ship Cruises, Time And Money, Top Notch, Travel Incentives
30 Aug 10 When Do You Need to Hold a Cruise Event?
Cruise events have been a popular choice for meetings and events of all kinds for years now, but not every meeting/event planner knows all that they need to know about planning cruise events. In fact, the lack of knowledge might turn some away from cruise ships. Here’s what a cruise ship has to offer:
- Low prices – Cruises are actually less expensive than hotels plus catering services plus entertainment expenses plus renting a conference room or meeting venue in almost all cases. Why? Because cruise companies build in the cost of all these services and distribute them across all of their customers all year long
- All inclusive options – All inclusive pricing makes cruises a cinch to plan. One price, one call, and the event can be planned. This saves time and money!
- Amazing catering – Want custom catering? You’ll have a hard time finding a better catering troop than those found on cruise ships. Shipboard caterers do catering day in and day out, every day and night. Nobody knows catering like these people!
- Custom meetings and entertainment – Want to have meetings in amazing locations instead of just a closed in room at the convention center? Try finding a better alternative than a cruise ship for even twice the price and you’ll be stumped!
- Some of the best restaurants and clubs anywhere in the world – It is important to play hard when you work hard, and that is why cruise ships pack some of the best restaurants, bars, night clubs, and even shopping centers around.
Tags: Best Restaurants, Caterers, Catering Services, Cinch, Cruise Companies, Cruise Events, Cruise Prices, Cruise Ship, Cruise Ships, Cruises, Entertainment, Event Planner, Hard Time, Lack Of Knowledge, Meeting Venue, Meetings And Events, Night Clubs, Rsquo, Shopping Centers, Time And Money
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
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