Keeping it simple today -

What incentives are you offering members to keep them coming to your meetings in an uncertain economy where travel costs are increasing?

Conference attendees have spoken - on surveys and questionnaires, and even to the media - they are tired of being cold!

USA Today ran a really interesting article discussing why conference rooms tend to be freezing cold, and what people are doing about it…

…It would seem that the logic to turn the AC down before attendees arrive will prevent the room from overheating would work for the reversal…and that in a cold room the heat would blast before attendees arrive and the door opens to let the hot air out.

Does the problem work both ways? Or is being too hot considered so unacceptable that freezing temperatures perceived as the lesser of two evils?

What do YOU think? Do you/will you begin writing temperatures into your contracts?

Check out these meeting technology must-haves to make your meetings relevant and appealing to 21st century meeting attendees:

Web 2.0 Tools

• Social networking sites: facilitate networking and disseminate peer-to-peer knowledge.

• Establish a wiki: feature links to conference information & to replay conference speakers, tips on getting more out of the event, conference pictures, and links to conference blogs Wikis allow attendees to post information - so content discussions and networking start before the conference.

PDAs

• Create, send and manage announcements for events and exhibit and speaker information can be downloaded to attendees’ PDAs

• Replace your conference binder with PDA based-information from providers like Near Space and VisionTree

• Use Vindigo City Guide to download information on restaurants, movies, shopping, ATM locations and more

These tips are courtesy of Sue Tinnish of SEAL Inc., a popular facilitator, speaker, teambuilder, and trainer. Sue Tinnish publishes a monthly newsletter, “Tips for Innovative Meetings and Events.” Check out more great tips at www.suetinnish.com.

Technology has certainly helped to improve meetings, but does technology also have the ability to hurt face-to-face meetings?

Carolyn Burns Bass’ comment from our “Meeting Attendance Costs on the Rise” discussion brings this issue to light. She said…

“Social media has made great inroads into corporate communications. Blogs, discussion forums, webinars, etc., are great tools for ongoing projects, planning, and performance boosters. Still, as great as these tools can be, they can’t replace the in-the-skin experience of an on-site meeting, convention, or incentive trip.”

…What do you think? With all of the rising costs facing meetings we’ve discussed, are online meetings such as webinars going to increase, or replace face-to-face meetings? Through podcasts, webinar participants can even simultaneously watch the same lectures…without any travel costs.

The added bonus for this? The podcast can be uploaded onto iTunes, for example, and used for future reference. Not only are similar web-based alternatives more cost efficient, but they eliminate the hassle of travel and conserve the environment.

How can online meetings hurt a company? What do you think the future holds for the industry?

Airfares are soaring, checking baggage is costing money, and it even costs more to drive to the airport!

How will this affect meeting attendance this coming year? Will people stay home? Or, do you think more corporate meetings will be held in-house? Are companies holding more Webinars (for large groups) and/or conference calls (for small groups)?