Plan Your Meetings

By Christine Born

When I used the word “recession” in a recent “good news” email about companies that took advantage of difficult times in the past and came out ahead, I got some negative feedback. People don’t like to say the word out loud. Generally, government and financial advisors, news commentators and press reports dance around it. But we all know what they’re talking about, don’t we? So, don’t worry about what it’s called, think about how to use it to your advantage.

The lead story in the latest AH&LA SmartBrief refers to a “downturn” looming, but it isn’t all bad news. The plus side for planners and visitors is that new projects are being added, in the face of increasing competition from other destinations, such as Las Vegas. Another news story, “Smaller meetings aim for more unusual experiences,” reports that with the economy going into a slump, small companies are increasingly valuable to hotels, which are placing a heavier focus on giving guests more of a creative experience.

How are you dealing creatively with budget limitations? How are the current economic “challenges” changing the way you do business?