Let’s face it - you can’t escape or avoid technology, even if you tried…and as soon as you finally understand how to work your dvd player, blu-ray has become the new trend.

How are you supposed to keep up with technology trends for your meetings?

HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings National introduced a technology component to the show this year - with both exhibitors and information sessions on the understanding and using the latest trends in meetings. (ConventionPlanit.com hosted a technology information session…on search engines!)

If you attended the show, what did you think of the technology component? If not, is a technology component something you would find useful? How are you incorporating technology?

DePaul University in Chicago will open the School of Hospitality Leadership Fall 2009. The program will operate within DePaul’s business school as one of the few four-year hospitality programs in the country.

Students will be prepared to take on management roles in hotels, restaurants, convention facilities, and tourism ventures & spas…with two years of liberal arts schooling followed by two years of business schooling.

Long-term plans include adding graduate level courses, continuing education programs and a research center at the school.

The Global Hyatt Corporation has donated $500,000 to ASAE & the Center’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiative.

Over the next several years, Hyatt will allow the Diversity and Inclusion Initiative to build organizational capacity, and the learning and knowledge of resources needed to support diversity and inclusion in associations and nonprofit organizations.

The initiative strives to raise awareness in associations and nonprofit organizations by establishing a common purpose and goal to work toward.

APEX - The Accepted Practices Exchange, part of the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has instituted a new council to oversee:

1. new initiatives, including green meeting and exhibit data standards

2. relevancy of the seven existing initiatives, created with input from over 5,600 people

Since APEX relies so heavily on the input of meeting planners and suppliers, the Standards Review Council’s updates will help the industry to stay on top of changing times.

Check out APEXsolution.org to see how you can become involved!

Use your colleagues and industry peers to your advantage!

In the Refer a Meeting Professional Contest, each meeting professional colleague or peer you refer gives you a chance to win…

…a two night deluxe weekend stay, including breakfast and dinner for two, at the luxurious Trump International Beach Resort - Miami

plus-

Roundtrip airfare for two, compliments of American Airlines Group & Meeting Travel.

The contest ends September 30, 2008 - so make sure to check it out!

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?

If your budget is suffering from the economy, it’s most likely the food & beverage that will be cut down first.

Bonnie Wallsh, CMP, CMM, and Sean Curry, executive chef at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, have developed a list of cost-savings food & beverage tips, including…

• Dutch treat networking dinners – attendees join together for dinner according to topics of interest

• Evaluate costs savings of small groups eating in the hotel restaurant rather than a catered function with minimum charges

• Negotiate complimentary reception or refreshments at registration

Read the rest of the cost-saving f&B tips on ConventionPlanit.com and really get the most bang for your buck!

ASAE & The Center’s Annual Meeting & Exposition is just a few weeks away - August 16-19 in sunny San Diego.

Here are a few of the great information sessions you can attend:

-The Annual Meeting as a Measure of Success
-Social Media Marketing
-Knowledge Strategies for Better Meetings
-Assessing the ROI of Meetings Marketing

You can also earn 2.4 certification or 24 re-certification points toward your Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation!

ConventionPlanit.com will be there…will you? Visit us at Booth #1553!

What’s green and what’s not? Tell us what you think…

…For example, attendees snap up bottled water at conventions because it’s healthy, but it creates plastic waste.

Are strategically placed water coolers with paper cups just as good?

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.