Plan Your Meetings
Features
How to save time and money with CVBs
What exactly can convention and visitors’ bureaus do for meeting planners? How can they save you time and money? And what is their future role in the events industry? Join our panel of experts as they talk about the old-school and new-school benefits of tapping into this free planning resource.
This 40-minute video is part [...]
How meeting planning skills can boost your career
The job of a planner involves a lot more skill than choosing chicken for a banquet menu. But does corporate America know that? In other words: Can event and meeting planners leverage their skills to climb the corporate ladder?
Absolutely, says Amy Giglio, manager of talent acquisition for Columbus, Ga.-based Aflac, a supplemental insurance provider that [...]
News Briefs
President Obama endorses first-ever Travel Promotion Act
After seeing 2.4 million fewer overseas visitors in 2009 than in 2000, the United States is finally making the commitment to reposition itself as a frontrunner in the global travel market. On March 4, nearly a year after its introduction, the Travel Promotion Act (TPA) was signed into law by President Obama, making it the [...]
10 dirtiest U.S. hotels
This may be a buyer’s market, but not every hotel offering a good deal is a safe bet. To get the real “dirt” on a property before booking, check out TripAdvisor’s 10 Dirtiest U.S Hotels of 2010. The list is based off of customer reviews that rate their overall experience at the hotel, including the [...]
Competing hotels bid to pick up business from disgruntled Hilton HHonors customers
If you’ve been saving up Hilton HHonors loyalty points, they’re now worth less than you’d expect. However, competing hotel chains such as Starwood, Carlson and Best Western are picking up the slack, offering loyalty points and other incentives to make up for what Hilton has devalued. Read the full story here.
Update on Chile’s main tourist districts
Despite experiencing an 8.8 quake in the early morning hours of Feb. 27, Chile’s tourism infrastructure has suffered little overall damage, and the extreme northern and southern regions of Chile (the Desert and Patagonia regions) were not affected by the quake at all. Easter Island, which lies 2,300 miles off the coast of mainland Chile, [...]
‘Don’t defend the rate; defend the value of meeting’
If 2009 was “the perfect storm” that disrupted the meetings industry, then Danielle Babilino insists she was the poster child for everything that could have gone wrong.
“I represent the five-diamond, five-star Wynn/Encore in Las Vegas, which opened in December 2008,” explained the senior vice president of hotel sales at the 2010 Meetings Exploration Conference opening [...]
Meeting publication merry-go-round
Planners complaining of receiving too many publications may see their reading list thinned out dramatically over the next several months.
Penton Media filed for bankruptcy protection on Feb. 10 and submitted a “pre-packaged” Plan of Reorganization to eliminate $270 million of the company’s debt. Penton Media publishes such titles as Medical Meetings, Financial & Insurance [...]
Names in the news: March 2010
New hires and promotions throughout the meetings and hospitality industry.
Spotlight
Virtual (phone) assistance
Onebox Receptionist is a virtual phone system for small businesses (i.e., the independent meeting planner) looking to bypass the expense of hiring a receptionist or answering service. Onebox provides a 24/7 automated attendant that answers calls and routes them to you or your team. Features include a toll-free number, a studio-recorded customized greeting, voicemail (with e-mail notification settings), advanced call forwarding, faxing and conferencing options. For more personalized service, there’s also “live receptionist” packages. Plans start at $50 a month; no set-up fee required.
Advice from PYM
The importance of building relationships with your hotel sales contacts
Recently, at the Georgia MPI Meetings Exploration Conference, I had dinner with three of the opening general session panelists who would share their near-term outlook for the meetings industry. We all seemed to share the same sentiment: Our business is based on the benefits of people meeting face-to-face. That’s what meetings are, right? An opportunity [...]
The lost art of communication: March 2010 morsel
The step by step experience I have with banqueting managers across this country is pretty much the same everywhere. And, banquet managers: There is room for improvement. Time and time again, this is how things go:
Menus are negotiated and designed with catering and chef.
I put a lot of notes on my BEOs for banqueting and the kitchen.
I [...]
Negotiating your best deal starts with a strong RFP
In these economic times when every dollar an organization spends is being scrutinized, meeting expenses are under the microscope just like every other expenditure. What’s the single most important thing you can do to ensure you negotiate the best possible deal for your meeting? What one tool will save you time, energy and frustration in [...]
8 meeting planning steps that will save you money
Determine why a meeting is being held (i.e., to introduce new organization heads, create a new methodology, launch new product or build camaraderie, etc.). Understanding the purpose will help you separate the group’s needs from its wants and identify what they can do without.
Decide what type of property should be used based on the group’s [...]
Town Hall
Suppliers: What’s the biggest challenge you’re facing right now? What are some solutions? PYM Town Hall: State of the Industry luncheons bring together PYM partners to discuss current economic challenges and potential solutions. Held regularly in Atlanta and Dallas, the findings from each provide a snapshot of what’s going on and show how industry leaders are adapting to current market demands. Visit the Town Hall site for video clips, summaries and downloadable documents filled with the best solutions your peers on the hotel, CVB, restaurant, entertainment, transportation, products and services side have discovered.
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From the Blog:
PYM planner profile: Susan M. Fox, CMP
She plans between 45 and 95 meetings a year and loves every minute. This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Susan M. Fox, CMP, about the value of getting certified, the perks of planning meetings and what she enjoys most about her association with Plan Your Meetings. — Lisa Kraus
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Lisa Kraus is the Director [...]
Social media, contract clauses and spousal programs: discussions at 2010 PYM LIVE Austin
Engaging attendees using Twitter, multi-year contracts and budget challenges were among the topics tackled during the educational session at 2010 PYM LIVE Austin, held at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center on the University of Texas campus today.
Jeff Rasco (@JeffRasco) and Marla Werst (@ChicGeekGirl) helmed the roundtable discussion, which was inspired by our 2010 [...]
In Dallas educating and waiting for … snow?
It’s not unusual for winter events to be threatened by snow. But in Atlanta and Dallas? That’s just weird. Luckily, word on the street is that we haven’t had any cancellations for today’s PYM LIVE Event in Dallas, and we’re expecting some walk-ups. In case you aren’t able to make it, a transcript of the [...]
