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onfused about tipping? Who to tip? When to tip? Who adds a tip automatically? What to look out for? Ever really study a room service bill? Read this article. This might help clear up some of those shades of gray.
If you don’t know all the ways to make your travel easy, you just might enjoy hearing how one traveler has found ways to simplify the travel experience. Check out this article and relax and enjoy your next journey.
Read moreCheck out this article from Successful Meetings magazine to help meeting professionals to be more responsible in their very important roles.
Good news about upward trends is always good for the soul. Take a look at the recent travel industry report from Travel Weekly.
Are you familiar with the TED conferences? If not, check them out. They have an interesting conference format that works for them. If you are thinking of tailoring your conference to resemble a TED conference, you might want to consider the points made in this article first.
Environmental awareness is a growing concern, especially in the world of business. You can help boost your company’s green image by hosting an event using environmentally conscious components. There are many eco-friendly elements you can incorporate into your business style, from advertising materials and operational supplies to the lunch menu. Here are just a few tips for how to throw a successful corporate event that will make a minimal impact on the environment:
1. Bring the Green Inside
Look for creative ways to use recycled materials for your next banquet, seminar, or official event. You can use bioplastic materials for trays and bowls, bamboo or corkboard for hanging signs and banners, wood tables that can be recycled after the event, and more. Think about the effect your event will have on the environment and look for ways to use recycled or recyclable materials. Or, simply have your employees carpool to the event; every little bit helps.
2. Reduce Your Paper Usage
It takes hundreds of trees to print paper invitations for your event, so consider using social media and e-mails to reach your potential attendees. You can also use recycled paper to advertise your event and decorate your event station. Take advantage of this high-tech world we live in and incorporate links to your company’s website, online registration avenues, Smartphone apps, and online updates on your event’s schedule.
3. Expand on Green Initiatives
Plan meetings, events, and activities that place emphasis on your company’s environmental goals. This will educate your attendees on environmental consciousness and boost your company’s reputation as a leader in green business initiatives.
If you need help throwing an eco-friendly event, then call Meeting Services Unlimited. We specialize in helping business professionals host unique events that will inspire their potential customers and grow their business. If you want to host a meeting, trade show, seminar, or conference, then visit our website to see a list of the many event planning services we offer or call us at (317) 841-7171 to get the professional help you need.
Our recent blog posts have included information on using social media tools to plan an event, how to promote meetings online, and keeping attendees energized with the right food. If you are looking for more information on these topics, here is a list of resources. For even more information, call (317) 841-7171.
By Debbie Locklear
Reports indicate that organizations invest billions of dollars on meetings and meeting-related activities but very little on training to help spend that money wisely. Hence, hundreds of thousands of meetings are organized each year by people who do not have enough spare time to study new ideas and techniques that will make their meetings more cost efficient and effective.
A meeting is a business tool, and to be effective, it must offer concise, lively, accurate, organized information in an atmosphere that’s conducive to the meeting’s objective. Many organizations have a difficult time accepting the fact that their meetings are not as productive as they might think, despite their huge investment.
Individuals who devote only part time to planning can certainly handle the responsibilities-when given the proper training. Unfortunately, there is a lack of training in the meeting-planning industry, preventing many meetings from reaching the level of professionalism and effectiveness that is inherently possible.
The heart of the matter is that the difficulties and problems of planning and managing meetings are almost universally underestimated. Meeting planning is a profession that requires certain skills and past experience.
There is an art and science involved in developing and operating a successful meeting. A professional planning consultant is a synthesizer of information, creating result-oriented meetings based on a clear understanding of meeting dynamics and the systematic planning process.
The top priority of a professional meeting planner is to avoid the traditional approaches to meeting planning that are often wasteful, erratic and produce ineffective results. A planner’s role is to provide expert assistance in every phase of meeting planning, making sure that even the smallest details haven’t been overlooked.
Some of the benefits to hiring a professional meeting planner could include:
Consideration should be given to determining how much time should be spent on actually planning a meeting. Those organizations that have done this view meetings as an investment in dollars as well as an individual’s time. In order to maximize their investment of time and money, many of these companies have developed a department specifically for meeting planning.
As more independent planners open their doors, a word of caution: Thoroughly investigate the companies that are under consideration.
To do this, review the following checklist:
Based on this information, an evaluation of a company’s ability to produce successful meetings will be easy to make.
Hiring a professional meeting planner will allow an organization to draw from years of experience to access their needs realistically and fine-tune a meeting to best suit financial and programming objectives.
Remember one fact, however: A meeting is only as good as the attention paid to the smallest detail.
By Debbie Locklear
Selecting a site for a meeting or event is the most important, challenging and misunderstood phase in meeting planning. Since the space reserved and the flow of the meeting can enhance the program’s objectives and interactions among people, site selection is important.
The challenging aspect of selecting a site is that many pieces of the project may be unknown. It becomes necessary to anticipate and visualize a variety of different structures. Many people misunderstand the site selection process because they see it as a glorious opportunity to be wined and dined. In actuality, the process is a time-consuming, serious and often physically and mentally exhausting process.
Inspections require thoughtful advanced preparation, thorough research, an eye for detail and when visiting sites in one day, an exceptional memory. The follow-up is critical in order to document the verbal commitments made by eager sales people. This step is vital because once a contract is signed, any promises not recorded may be lost.
In order to conduct a successful inspection, it is necessary to know your group’s strong and weak points, the objective and purpose, the budget and attendee needs and preferences. In addition, the number of guest rooms, date patterns and daily agendas are a vital need prior to the inspection. The set-up needs for each session help to secure the proper meeting space, taking into consideration ceiling heights, freight entrances, etc. A facility will also want to know guest room pick-up, rates, meal counts, master account charges and credit records.
Your job will be to find out the facilities’ high, low and average rates, their occupancy levels at various times of the year and week. Inquire about the internal stability of the staff to provide an indication of the facility management.
When the actual tour of the property begins, look at the following areas on the way to and in the guest rooms:
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Ask to see the worst room. Make note in your follow-up letter to avoid booking any of your guests in those rooms if necessary. Call the operator and see how long it takes to answer the phone.
By Debbie Locklear
The key to pulling off a successful meeting hinges on a number of elements. However, the primary item for success is advanced meeting planning.
Projects that have been organized with short lead-time will typically reflect some of the same characteristics. The most notable one, due to the meeting planner racing around in all directions, develops an ineffectual performance and potentially can alter the effectiveness and profitability of a meeting.
To maximize your organization’s investment in a meeting, advance preparation is a necessity for producing the results desired.
Meeting planners, when given the time to do a thorough and accurate job, should clearly define the purpose and objective of the meeting. This first step permits the planner to develop a meeting that will generate positive responses from the attendees.
Through advanced meeting planning, more time is available to investigate a variety of options, such as locations, special activities, theme development, meeting format and production. The meeting planner won’t have to settle for something merely because it’s their only remaining option.
Negotiating for the best services and facilities at fair prices is possible when there’s as much time as possible available. Whenever the options are limited due to availability, negotiations will generally not be too favorable for the planner.
The goal of any professional meeting planner is to create original events to compliment the meeting’s objective. With plenty of advanced planning, a planner has the opportunity to be creative. Nothing quite inspires a meeting planner like the ability and freedom to produce a meeting that is so unique in design that it stimulates enthusiasm in the participants.
Promotional plans can be useless without the proper amount of lead-time. If the goal is to generate attendance at the meeting, time is required to promote it properly. The promotional plan should include a pre-attendee analysis (ask attendees what it will take to get them to the meeting), a date saver (a method to announce the date of the meeting), a teaser (a mailer that generates interest) and the registration brochure.
While developing a meeting requires time, it is worth the investment. There is a universal law that applies to meeting planning as well as other situations: You get in return what you put in.
Professional meeting planners suggest the following minimum time schedule for planning exceptional meetings:
One-day meeting – promotion needed – 8 months
One-day meeting – in-house attendance – 6 months
Two-day meeting – promotion needed – 10 months
Two-day meeting – with activities – 12 months
Three-day meeting and up with activities – 18 months
In short, maximize your meeting planning efforts by planning in advance. You will save money, but also produce a higher quality meeting, generate attendance and avoid the tension created when the planning process is accelerated.
By Debbie Locklear
1. Arrange for nightly turndown service for overnight guests. While this service is fairly standard, it can be an exciting tool of communication. Send a note with information about the next day’s activities with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Reinforce the theme of the meeting with specially designed chocolates wrapped and placed on a pillow.
If your meeting lasts for more than one night, the excitement this surprise creates is an automatic topic of conversation. Providing opportunities for attendees to interact is vital to the success of the meeting.
2. A coffee break can lack imagination – the same old soft drinks, coffee and sweet roll syndrome. Budget constraints can play a role in how extraordinary the break is, but with a little preplanning and assistance from the facility, some energy and excitement can take place. It is a break – a time to refresh the mind and body.
If the budget will not permit the purchase of extra break items, arrange to have the luncheon dessert served during the break. This simple alteration is a refreshing and pleasant treat for attendees.
For a psychological change, have the hotel decorate the break table with greenery, flowers or perhaps a décor that will compliment the items being served.
Just for fun, have the soft drink cans displayed so they spell out the organization’s name or logo. This will never fail to generate conversations.
During breaks, try serving items such as fruit, ice cream bars, cookies and milk or yogurt. The change will aid in the relaxation of the attendees which will allow them to use the break as a refresher.
To energize the attendees, incorporate a stretch break conducted by a fitness expert into your program. This will increase their level of productivity during the next portion of the meeting and is added at little or no extra cost.
3. To meeting planners, keeping up with what’s “hot” goes beyond being a mere avocation – it’s an essential part of the job. These days, more meetings include a special event than ever before. Theme parties are especially popular and change in design faster than hemlines.
Some favorite theme ideas that encourage interaction are Monte Carlo nights. This type of high-energy activity will allow each attendee to participate in a variety of activities where they feel most comfortable.
Movie Star Parties (with real stars or with impersonators) create a fantasy atmosphere that relaxes attendees after a long day. An audience can be entertained and allowed to participate in a “Name That Star” contest, with prizes for the winners. “Look-A-Like” contests can be successfully conducted when advance notification and specific instructions are given to attendees.
Themed event ideas are plentiful and more planners are beginning to recognize the benefits and impact these activities have on the attendees. In order to be sure your event or theme is right for your organization, a few things should be considered. These considerations are what help to create an activity that is best suited for your audience.
With all of this information gathered in advance, you should have an easy time identifying the perfect event for your group. This is a procedure many planners do not give enough attention to. Information gathering will set you apart from the amateurs.
4. Another area that can be inconvenient and annoying to attendees is the on-site registration process. While long lines are often unavoidable, the wait can be made enjoyable. Incorporate one of these ideas into your next program and observe a more relaxed, happy attendee.
Arrange to have a strolling magician in the registration area. The sleight of hand entertainment will help the attendees forget about the inconvenience.
You may want to try a music group, possibly a small choir from a high school. The result is the same. The distraction keeps the attendees’ minds off of the fact that they are standing in line.
These ideas are effective, but consideration should also be given to the placement of the registration area. Logistically, the registration table or counter should be easy to see. Have the group name clearly identified, allow for free flowing movement of attendees, and have the area staffed adequately.
If you have not made the effort to accommodate your attendees in every possible fashion, the endless complaints will haunt you.
To be successful in the meeting planning industry, be creative, know your resources and ask if your suppliers can do anything that your imagination can create. You may come up with winning ideas for you, your organization and the attendees.
By Debbie Locklear
Knowing the value of your group’s annual business to the hospitality industry is the first step to take to maximize your potential to save on expenses. Before contacting any suppliers to discuss your meeting, write a list that will give you answers to the following 20 questions.
Now, assuming that you have answers for all of the above questions, this is how the information will affect your ability to negotiate a fair contract.
Typically, a hotel facility is most interested in booking groups with overnight rooms. This is their largest source of revenue. Therefore, if you know how many rooms your group tends to occupy, you will be able to begin to build your groups value to the facility.
The number of double verses single occupancy rooms will give the hotel a good indication of the number of guests in the hotel and the facilities increased potential to sell more in their outlets (i.e. dining rooms, lounge, gift shop, etc.). This knowledge will allow the facility to estimate increased revenue in long distance and local phone charges.
When a group has a low cancellation and no-show percentage the facility is in a good position to fill your block prior to your cut-off date or the date all the guest rooms will be released for sale to the general public. At this point you should consider your risk of having the rooms in your room block sold by the hotel, prior to the cut-off date. This is not an action the hotel normally would take if your no-show and cancellation percentage is low. However, if your group happens to be one that has a high percentage of cancellations and no-shows, you will need to monitor your room block very closely. This is not to say that the facility still won’t sell into your room block. Therefore, negotiate a penalty to the hotel if they breach the contract and sell into your room block prior to your cut-off date.
If you find your group has a need to arrive prior to the published check-in time or depart after the published check out time, you should negotiate special arrangements. Your VIP rooms should be allowed to check-in or check out at a specified time and the hotel should secure an area large enough to accommodate all of your group’s luggage. Do not allow your guests to have their luggage at risk, by permitting the hotel to pile it up in a corner of the lobby.
If you find your group is a high volume user of the dining room at a particular time of day, negotiate to have adequate servers during that time and keep this information on hand because it does give your group value.
Know your food and beverage needs. If you are offering an open/host bar during one of your events, negotiate the purchase of liquor by the bottle. Typically, this is the most economical method of ordering. Your food and beverage needs give you the greatest value, after the overnight rooms.
If you have the luxury to be flexible on your meeting dates and the pattern of the week, you will find yourself in an ideal negotiation position. You will find the facility willing to compromise in ways they would not consider at a busier time.
Depending on the facilities relationship with their parking garage, you may find that if your attendees typically drive to the meeting, a special rate can be negotiated. Certainly, however, this is another revenue source for the facility and it contributes to your group value.
The use of audio-visual is also a revenue source for the hotel. If they don’t stock and manage their own audio-visual department they still receive a commission from the supplier they contract. Know that you do not have to use the facilities audio-visual company and have the right to seek lower prices. The fact that you will possibly use an outside company, will allow you to negotiate costs with the facilities’ supplier.
If you have hospitality suites sponsored by companies attending your meeting, inform the facility of the revenue they represent. Without your group’s business, the facility would not have the revenue from the hospitality suites. This knowledge grants your group more value.
Know your meeting space needs for each day and be as specific as possible. If you have a tremendous need for meeting space and a small need for overnight rooms, the negotiation process is more complicated.
If you know you have attendees with special needs, you should be certain the facility is in compliance with the American Disabilities Act. You may also negotiate for special equipment needs to accommodate your attendees.
Knowing your group’s dietary habits is important when you begin your negotiations. If you find your group prefers a vegetarian option, negotiate a menu(s) to meet your needs. There are some catering services that have no flexibility, creativity or customer service standards to help you meet your needs following the signing of a contract, so do not leave the menu selection process to chance.
If you have the option to schedule more than one year at the facility, offer them a multiple year contract and see how this strengthens your negotiation power. If it does nothing for your groups contract, don’t give that facility more than a one-year contract.
Negotiating does not begin and end with the facility. Any supplier to the industry is open to negotiations. Once you have the knowledge of the value of your business you will successfully negotiate contracts with any supplier. The key point is to be fair in your negotiations and to insist the facility treat you the same.
By Debbie Locklear
Professional Meeting Planners brings expert advice – Let’s face it. Most people are not meeting planners nor are they convention planners, but there are professional meeting planners and professional convention planners across the country. These meeting planners and professional convention planners have years of experience negotiating hotel and vendor contracts, coordinating registration for major trade shows, conventions, seminars and conferences. They are experts at recruiting trade show sponsors, managing booth sales, and a multitude of tasks that go into executing first class seminars, trade shows, conferences, convention and other types of meetings. And with that experience comes expert advice. It’s in your best interest to hire a seasoned meeting planning and convention planning professional.
Meeting Planners can save you money – Professional meeting and convention planners have spent years establishing relationships with hotels, equipment rental companies, caterers, convention and conference centers, promotional firms, entertainers and more. Meeting planners and convention planners are able to leverage their buying power to negotiate the best services at reasonable prices for all your meeting logistic needs. Whether it is establishing housing for participants or promotional material for your convention, meeting planners and convention planners know from experience where to get the best deal and how to execute a successful meeting within your budget.
Professional Meeting Planners have Connections – Did you know planning a typical trade show on average requires hundreds of phone calls and emails to prospects in order to assure its success? In addition, dozens of calls are made to the hotels, convention center, audio-visual company, promotional services, city officials to acquire permits, sponsors, etc. But not to worry! Meeting planners schedule every last detail that needs to be arranged. They know who to call and when. Meeting planners and convention planners are connected. The support of a professional meeting planner and convention planner will make your job easier.
A Meeting Planner brings Vision – If you have never executed a large meeting, a meeting professional will be able to offer vision to the meeting planning process. A meeting planner is not only a facilitator but an extension of your team. A seasoned meeting planner has attended, studied, planned and executed hundreds of meetings, seminars, conventions and trade shows and can advise you on what has worked for others and what has not worked. A meeting planner will evaluate the scope and nature of your meeting and help develop a theme and a vision to create a successful meeting. A professional meeting planner and convention planner will use that information as the basis for your conference, convention, seminar, meeting or trade show and make your vision a reality.
A Meeting Planner brings Creativity – In today’s media saturated world, it is sometimes hard to get the attention of your target audience. Meeting Planners have usually seen just about everything. From trade show booth magicians to sponsored golf outings, to celebrity impersonators. There are many creative things that can be done to not only promote your meeting event, but to make your convention have the impact and success you expect. Whether your goal is education, professional networking, celebration or recreation, a meeting and convention planning professional can suggest a myriad of creative idea that can be used to make your meeting a success.
A Meeting Planner can make your meeting profitable – With so many convention and trade show options a potential exhibitor, sponsor and attendee faces you must strive to stand out among the crowd. A professional meeting planner and convention planner can make that happen. Professional meeting planners and convention planners enroll in their own continuing education that allows them to learn the latest marketing techniques to increase trade show exhibitors, sponsors and attendance at conventions. All of this education is used to make your meeting more profitable. In addition, the negotiation skills of a professional meeting planner and convention planner will provide direct bottom-line savings from nearly every vendor involved in your convention.
A Meeting Planner will communicate with your speakers – When you have found the perfect presenters and speakers for your meeting it is very likely they have come from or through your knowledgeable membership. These presenters and speakers need to be informed of critical data to help them have the best opportunity to share their knowledge with your attendees. A professional meeting planner and convention planner will communicate all the important details with the speakers and presenters as well as collect information needed.
A Meeting Planner will share their resources – A professional meeting planner and convention planner has developed many resources over the years that can be valuable to your meeting, convention, trade show and seminars. Just the mere nature of a professional meeting planner and convention planner brings them in contact with hundreds of meeting vendors, speakers, entertainers and facilities. A professional meeting planner and convention planner is happy to share names, pricing and contact information with you to assure the success of your meeting, convention, trade show and seminar.
A Meeting Planner will earn your respect and repeat business – Once a professional meeting planner and convention planner has taken your meeting, convention, trade show or seminar from concept to completion, that professional meeting planner and convention planner is of great value to you. They have experienced every aspect of your convention and know the intricate workings. This knowledge leads to a future of successful meetings, conventions, seminars, trade shows and conferences.
A Meeting Planner is an extension of your staff – A professional meeting planner and convention planner will work with your staff, board and committee to make the most of your experience throughout the planning process. With all the connections, knowledge, experience, creativity, resources and vision a professional meeting planner and convention planner has to offer your meeting, convention, conference, trade show or seminar will flourish and provide attendees the experience they seek.
We plan and manage conventions and trade shows for professional associations.
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