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 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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Knowing how to evaluate and work with an AV service provider is no easy feat. Not knowing much about the company except for sort-of liking the smooth-talking sales representative can sometimes lead to a miserable experience rife with technical issues and lackluster service. Too often this critical decision is also based solely on whoever comes [...]
Planning a basic meeting is not as cut and dry as everyone wants to make it, because every meeting has its own personality. Before you can plan one, you need to know three things:
The purpose of the meeting.
What you want to accomplish at this meeting.
How much you have to spend – a.k.a., the budget.
Once you [...]
Many years ago I had a boss who was the “King of Clichés.” His office was filled with motivational or thought-provoking sayings, like “You can’t expect what you don’t inspect.” I’d often sit and wonder, “Why? What was the point?” As I got older and had more experience, I realized it was not the saying, [...]
