An Independent HelmsBriscoe Associate | 636-678-7661 | jstone@helmsbriscoe.com

Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

Capturing the Elusive Meeting Spend

Have you heard the saying, “Jack of all trades, master of none?” Well, when it comes to meeting planners, the saying should be “Jack (or Jill!) of all trades and master of all you survey!” Am I right or am I right? Yes, my dear meeting planners, you not only have to be super creative[...]

Be a Tip-ster

You may have heard that TIPS was originally an acronym for To Insure Prompt Service. You may even have heard that tips were once given before service; the bigger the tip given up front, the better the service expected.  According to Snopes, however, the word “tips” actually “slipped into the language as underworld slang, with[...]

Who Can Take on the Tasks at Hand? Part 2

Last week I shared with you some helpful helpers; those who can assist, do odd jobs and help you shine on line.  Today we are going to look at a couple more people who can help you make your event a super success! The Visual Aide(s): Yes, you could make your own videos, take your[...]

Negotiation Time

According to a recent article: Average daily hotel rates will likely increase 3.2 percent throughout next year. Increases will vary by market, with the top business destinations able to command much higher prices. Meetings and events spending continues to grow, with an average 4.8 percent increase expected in cost per attendee, per day, along with[...]

A Taxing Situation

As a meeting planner you are all too aware that taxes can do quite a number on your budget. Taxes must be figured into the meeting-planning equation; the price of rooms in one city may sound quite reasonable at first, but once taxes come into play, those rooms can quickly go from affordable to astronomical.[...]

Event Branding

You hear a lot about “branding” now-a-days. It is an important part of any company’s presence in the market place. The brand is an idea or image that brings people to a place of knowing; they know what the brand stands for, what service or product it provides, it’s overall message, and the emotion/feeling/statement behind[...]

500 Million

A surprising article from USA Today Travel revealed that more hotel rooms than ever were sold between January through June 2012. Over 500 million room nights – a new record has been set! If you have been traveling as of late, you are also aware that room rates have gone up.  During 2008 – 2009,[...]

Why You May Not Need Me

As much as I would love for each of you to call me TODAY and engage me to assist you in finding the perfect place for you meeting, you may simply not need my help. And, here is why: You have tons of time on your hands: Perhaps you are one of the few meeting[...]

On Budget

As meeting planners I know the word “budget” can cause a bit of  teeth gnawing and jaw grinding. You can create the best, most awesome, outrageously amazing meeting, but if it does not come in on or under budget, those powers that be will not be very happy. The next time you are in budget[...]

RFP Organization 101

Welcome to the RFP Organization 101 Class. Oh wait, what are you doing here? You do not need this class! Why? Because . . . . you have me. Okay, I know that organizing RFP responses from hotels ranks in your top five of fun when it comes to meeting planning. Oh, it doesn’t? It’s[...]