May 30, 2011 by Melissa Bailey
A h e r o i s s o m e o n e w h o h a s g i v e n h i s o r h e r l i f e t o s o m e t h i n g b i g g e r t h a n o n e s e l f . - J o s e p h C a m p b e l l H o n o r i n g t h e b r a v e m e n a n d w o m e n t h a t h a v e s e r v e d o u r c o u n t r y . . . Y o u r f r i e n d s a t

May 27, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
We have all lost them...that perfect customer who slipped away. Our rationalization might be "it must have been price" or "they went with someone with more and/or less experience". Once in awhile, it is important to examine the real reasons why we might have lost that business. Although the scenarios below may seem preposterous and we would never do any of these things, we all get busy and sometimes take existing business for granted. See if any of these tips ring true.Tip #1...

May 25, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
I have planned several product launching events in the 11 years I have been a meeting planner. Some have been great and some so-so. You might be surprised to learn it isn't always about the budget! It is more about the environment and the content. Lets focus on these two considerations and I will share a couple of checklists to use to make your next event stand out. First, the environment. Here is a checklist of things you need to consider: Who is going to be invited? Is it employees only ...

May 23, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Trade shows are about networking. Period. Trade show booths are sold with the expressed purpose of: Meeting prospects Generating leads and Building business relationships. Most booth exhibitors have two duties: Man the booth at all times Promote the company's products and services. With the demand by upper management to reduce costs and show better ROI at trade shows, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get the extra staff you may think you need to make your booth e...

May 20, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Five Things to Do When a Speaker Cancels Do NOT Panic. Gather Your Team to Brainstorm & Put Out a Call for a Speaker. Advise Management & Keep Communication Flowing. Pivot to a Solution that Fits YOUR Audience. Check Your Contract's No-Show Clause. Imagine this: You are a planning a large, multi-day conference in an unfamiliar city far away from your hometown. Meeting Rooms and Registration Area set? Check. Powerpoint presentation equipment ready to go? Check....

May 18, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Aaahhh...technology, isn't it grand? We are surrounded with computers, web camera, Tablet PCs, and smartphones. Who needs to meet face-to-face anymore, when we can e-mail, Facebook, Skype, or Tweet information to our colleagues or audience? The short answer: We do. The long answer: We must continue to meet face-to-face in order to continue business relationships and partnerships. Period.Here are a couple of survey results that can help you justify that next business sales meeting or association ...

May 16, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
At the beginning of 2011, Jeremy Victor wrote a blog on B2Bbloggers titled "50 Ways to Make 2011 Rock".  I don't know about you, but I'm not much into New Year's Resolution, however, I am a big fan of taking stock of your life, both personally and professionally, especially at the beginning, middle, and end of any year. So, as we approach the middle of 2011, I found 4 of his 50 ideas pertinent to association events and thought it's time to re-visit these ideas (Note: these numbers...

May 13, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
As we enter into warmer more pleasant weather, all sorts of events, meetings, and gatherings are moving outdoors. Whatever, the reason, it is very easy to incorporate a projector and screen rental into your outside plans. Here are some ideas  on how to use this technology to jazz up the event. Before beginning, lets set the bar on projectors. Many people think LCD projectors can only be viewed when the lights are down and the audience is still. This is not the case any longer! Technology i...

May 11, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Booz & Company just released their annual study called "The 2010 Innovation 1000: How Top Innovators Keep Winning." They surveyed over 450 company executives worldwide who cast their votes for the top 3 companies they thought were the most innovative. Lets apply their findings to the meeting industry since they are simple, common sense approaches. Here is the list (drumroll please) in order of innovation: AppleGoogle3MGEToyotaMicrosoftProcter & GambleIBMSamsungIntel You mi...

May 09, 2011 by DeDe Mulligan
Have you considered renting Tablet PCs for your next meeting or event? Perhaps even considering buying this new and innovative technology? Below are some reasons why you should consider Tablet PC rentals and the advantages renting has over purchasing this equipment. Overall, attendees and event organizers can get more done at a meeting and event when Tablet PCs  are used because everything can be accessed in one location: program materials, email, social media, notes, mind mapping, PowerPoin...