Apr 13
Ashley ChalmersMisc Tidbits, Tips for Meeting Planners meeting planner feedback, overseas meetings, travel tips
For a meeting planner frequently dealing with international business, knowing current exchange rates is pretty common…but finding a good tool for exchange rates is a bit harder to come by.
Our favorite is http://www.x-rates.com/:
-It’s straightforward; no frills, just an easy to use table.
-Current exchange rates (updated daily)
Do you have a favorite planning tool or website? Check out some of our recommendations.
Apr 09
Ashley ChalmersMember News, Misc Tidbits, News, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows economy, hsmai affordable meeting, meeting industry, meeting planner feedback
You may remember a recent post asking some questions about the general feel of the meetings industry currently.
Our friends at HSMAI’s Affordable Meetings Mid-America and JSpargo were wondering the same question, and conducted a survey of conference attendees to get some answers.
Here are some of the highlights —-
1. Majority of event planners expect no more than 10 meetings this year, with most expecting 1-5. (This is comparable to last year.)
2. Budgets for events have decreased, but the majority of respondents reported that this decrease is moderate (10% reduction at most).
3. Most use a social networking service (#1: LinkedIn; #2: Facebook; #3: Twitter).
4. Customer Service is the most important booking factor by far (Price, Location and Size of Event Space were consistent factors).
We are happy to hear such positive information and minimal budget decreases, and hope this is a continuing trend. Kudos to the associations and companies who are continuing to keep meeting!
Planners — do you agree with the survey respondents?
Hoteliers — how will this information play a role in your day to day operations? Is it comforting to hear the number of meetings planners will be involved with is generally the same?
Mar 03
Ashley ChalmersMember News, Misc Tidbits, News, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows air travel, meeting planner feedback, technology, travel tips
As Smart Phones increase in popularity and function, it’s no surprise that many travelers are opting to leave heavy laptops at home.
USA Today has come out with a list of the best travel tool applications for the iPhone…
…so you can leave the laptop, French dictionary, map, and even the restaurant guide book at home.
Check out the top apps here…
Our favorites are FlightTrack (check up to date flight delays and cancellations) and Babelingo (translates text into 11 languages!!)
Which apps help you the most when traveling or planning??
Feb 06
Ashley ChalmersMisc Tidbits economy, meeting planner feedback
What is your top priority when planning a meeting in the current economy?
What is working for you and what do you hope to improve?
Feb 02
Ashley ChalmersContests, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting attendance, meeting education, meeting experiences, meeting ideas, meeting planner feedback, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows
Insuring Meeting Success
“Before hitting the road for your next meeting, train your total staff to insure its success: Whenever a staffer encounters one of your members in a conversation, ask one simple question: “What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned thus far?” Acknowledge and reinforce their response.
Using this simple technique, you’re getting your members to verbalize their ROI on-site. If they say it, it must be true!”
…this new meeting planning tip comes from Dr. Elliott B. Jaffa, President of Dr. Elliott B. Jaffa Associates in Arlington, VA, who just won our January Stellar Tip Contest.
What do you think? Will you use this question at your next meeting or conference?
Be sure to check out the Stellar Tip Archives for more helpful tips – vote for your favorite or post your own advice!
Jan 28
Ashley ChalmersNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners meeting industry, meeting planner feedback, meeting planning services, social media, Twitter
Do you Twitter?
Follow ConventionPlani for all the latest news, information and tips! We are always ready to chat with new friends!
Jan 05
Ashley ChalmersNews, RFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting attendance, meeting experiences, meeting ideas, meeting industry, meeting planner feedback, meeting planner help, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, travel
A Happy New Year to all, and welcome back to the start of a new week!
What hopes and/or resolutions do you have for your meetings and events this new year? How will you make them memorable?
Sep 25
Ashley ChalmersContests, News, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting ideas, meeting planner feedback, meeting planning services
Who knew you could get rewarded just for thinking?
Meeting planners, don’t forget to participate on the blog – the most insightful blog posting will win a $100 reward!
So start talking, let’s here what you have to say…
Sep 12
Ashley ChalmersRFP, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows issue of the week, meeting planner feedback, meeting planner help
Everyone makes mistakes – sometimes we forget things ourselves, and other times we have to pick up the slack for another’s…and sometimes these mistakes can be costly.
So this week, we want to know…
What is the biggest potential disaster you averted as a meeting planner and how did you prevent it?
Aug 08
Ashley ChalmersNews, Tips, Tips for Meeting Planners, Trade Shows meeting attendance, meeting experiences, meeting planner feedback, Tips for Meeting Planners
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?
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