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Access sample proposals and RFP examples from nearly every type vendor you can think of, from airlines to transportation, and everything in between…because let’s face it, we could all use an extra boost during crunch time.

Check back often for new submissions and ideas to make your meeting a success - or stay up to date with our rss feed!

Fall is quickly approaching, which means lots of tradeshows!

(Be sure to visit ConventionPlanit.com at Booth #3064 at Affordable Meetings National, including your favorite blog moderator…)

So, how do you make your event memorable? How will your organization connect members with social media at your next convention or annual meeting?

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!

Check out this great ConventionPlanit.com video tutorial!!!!

It’s really short, and you’ll be an expert on the site when you finish watching it - which means you’re going to save lots of research time!

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!

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?

Orlando is making it easy to get a great meal for not a lot of cash…September is Orlando’s third annual Magical Dining Month.

Guests can dine at some of Orlandos’ most popular restaurants and get a three-course dinner for as little as $19!

Here are some of the over 50 participating restaurants:

Emeril’s Tchoup Chop
Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant
Graze Restaurant
The Oceanaire Seafood Room

I’m getting hungry already! Get more information on these great meal deals and read the full article.

If yesterday’s tech info post tickled your fancy…

…here’s some extra help to get you started:

Watch this short video from MeetingsPodCast.com on how to use Flickr Video for your next meeting or event.

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.

Here’s a fabulous & practical tip for your next overseas meeting: rent local cell phones to save time and energy!

Susan Rosen of In the Event… is the winner of our June Stellar Tip Contest for this tip:

“When traveling outside the US, we’ve found it imperative to rent a local cell phone to keep in contact with the DMC and hotel staff. For internal communications we use our walkie talkies, but hotels do not use them any longer & most hotel staff are using cell phones for communications.

Our guests could find us no matter if we were at our desk or not… well worth the investment.”

For more great tips, visit the Stellar Tip Archive…you can even search by keyword to find the most relevant tips from your peers.