Dec 30, 2011 by Melissa Bailey
& q u o t ; W i t h N e w Y e a r c o m e s n e w p o s s i b i l i t i e s , n e w r e l a t i o n s h i p s a n d n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s . & q u o t ; ~ A n o n y m o u s C h e e r s t o t h e N e w Y e a r ! Y o u r f r i e n d s a t

Dec 28, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
You schedule meetings and events on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis with the intent to keep the attendee engaged and interested in the topics presented. However, in all the hustle and bustle of planning and executing meetings, sometimes the little things can snowball into big issues. Here are 4 "No-Nos" to avoid at your next meeting or event:No Game PlanWhen you have no measurable goals, objectives, or plan for your meeting, your event will appear to be disorganized and uninteres...

Dec 23, 2011 by Melissa Bailey
& q u o t ; W i n t e r , a l i n g e r i n g s e a s o n , i s a t i m e t o g a t h e r g o l d e n m o m e n t s , e m b a r k u p o n a s e n t i m e n t a l j o u r n e y , a n d e n j o y e v e r y i d l e h o u r . & n b s p ; & q u o t ; - & n b s p ; J o h n B o s w e l l W i s h i n g y o u a n d y o u r s H a p p y H o l i d a y s . Y o u r f r i e n d s a t

Dec 21, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
As 2011 winds down to a close, many of us in the event meeting services business are busy calling, emailing, and direct mailing prospects trying to book business for 2012. We often engage in a flurry of activity in hopes that we will get a few face-to-face meetings that will ultimately lead to some business. Here are some business tips that have been around for a long time but are always good reminders as we ramp up our sales efforts during the next few weeks.Tip #1: Figure Out Your RatiosTake a...

Dec 19, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Have you ever wondered what the big deal is with iPads and tablets? Why can't you just do things with paper and binders? While the answer is, you can do the "same old, same old" way of running your meetings, attendees are demanding a better way to be engaged and wowed. Here are some important reasons why renting tablet technology makes sense at your next meeting: Up-to-date Conference Agenda. Any experienced meeting planner knows, things change at the last minute. Meeting rooms ge...

Dec 16, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
PowerPoint presentations are evolving just as technology is. Due to increased bandwidth and the availability of more powerful presentation services audio visual equipment, PowerPoint presentations no longer need to be dull and boring. Below are some emerging trends in the presentation arena.Light Backgrounds Are Back InWhen PowerPoint software first became available 20 years ago, everyone had white backgrounds with black text. Somewhere along the way, we felt the need to make our backgrounds dar...

Dec 14, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Event organizers know when attendees fully participate and enjoy the conference, they are most likely to return the following year. In addition, the attendee's manager expects a reasonable return on investment, which equate to, many business cards and sustainable leads. This is not a problem for the extroverted attendee, but what about those introverts? How can they achieve the same results?Lets define the personality traits of both an extrovert and introvert and identify some ways to engage the...

Dec 12, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Have you run into a situation where a hotel or conference services manger has pressured you into using their in-house AV supplier? While this may all seem like it is in the interest of great customer service, what you should know is that their underlying motivation may have more to do with money than what is in the best interest of your event. Meeting facilities recommend certain suppliers because they can earn a significant commission if you choose that supplier. However, since AV is such...

Dec 09, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Did you know there are 391 United States properties that are part of the National Park System that encompass 84 million acres of land and 4.5 million acres of waterways? When planning a small to medium sized meeting or corporate retreat, you might consider hosting it at a National Park. Here are some reasons to consider for having a meeting at one of America's treasures. They need your business. Parks rely on meetings and events to stay solvent, especially during the off-season. The fu...

Dec 07, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
According to the Worldwatch Institute, we, in the United States, generate 5 million tons of food waste each year between Thanksgiving and New Year's, which is 3 times more than any other time of the year. So, with holiday parties looming, what can we in the event meeting services industry do to cut down the waste and make our parties sustainable? Here are 8 ways to get you started:  Have a RSVP Process. When sending out party invitations, give attendees a date to reply. If t...