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

Jill Stone

Your Meeting Matchmaker Fairy Godmother

Get More Attendees Guide

Get More Attendees

One of the top questions you will hear in the days leading up to your event is, “How many tickets have we sold?” or “How many people have signed up?” Some events have the luxury of being so well known that they sell out overnight (you’ve all heard of One Direction, right?). But other events[...]

ROI for Sponsors and Exhibitors

A few months ago I wrote about a plan for ensuring that the ever-important ROI happens for your event. If your events include sponsors and exhibitors, their ROI greatly affects your ROI! They look to you to create opportunities for them that will make it worth their while to be a part of your event.[...]

Aaaargh, Get Ye Off My Room Block!

There be pirates about, Meeting Planners. And I am not talking about the eye patch wearing, rum drinking types. These pirates are not out for your ship, but for your rooms. With growing frequency, conference organizers are seeing false companies, posing as housing bureaus or hotel representatives, and offering discount room rates to attendees. This[...]

No More Saving Daylight

On November 2, while you are tucked away in your nice cozy bed, the time will magically fall back one hour; 2am will become 1am once again. Yes, Daylight Savings Time ends and clocks around the nation will fall back one full hour. Though this yearly event has a tendency to mess with our schedules,[...]

Who’s Stealing Who

Meeting planners are too busy to be waylaid by something like identity theft; if it were to ever happen it could take a ton of time, energy and resources to get out of it. It seems like every day we are being alerted about another security breach, whether it is a popular store or bank.[...]

Bring on the Food Trucks!

Bring on the Food Trucks

There’s fast food and then there’s food that can literally go “fast”; as in food that travels quickly from one place to another and is so yummy your guests will want to try it all.  The food industry has taken to the road, literally, with food trucks. Food truck selections are as diverse as the[...]

Setting the Stage for Learning

Setting the Stage for Learning

Attendees to annual meetings, sales meetings, conventions and such are there to connect and LEARN.  These events offer a reprise from the everyday and allow colleagues to stay up-to-date, find out what’s new and expand their skill sets. I don’t have to tell you meeting planners out there, that each detail in event planning is[...]

The Streamlined Meeting Planner

Streamlined Meeting Planner

You do the job of three people; this is a meeting planner trait that cannot be denied. As a result, you are always looking for a way to streamline. Here are some things that will get you there! Networking: You are great at setting prime networking opportunities for your attendees, but are you spending time[...]

Out and In

Out and In

Recently I wrote a blog about how the word Outsourcing should be out, but the word Insupporting should be the new in buzzword; as it very much, and more aptly, describes what I do for my clients. And, yes, I totally made the word up, so if anyone has a connection with the Webster’s Dictionary[...]

Flight Etiquette; the Uncomfortable Stuff I/We Endure

People who share a flight together will more than likely never see each other again.  This may be why some folks misbehave.  Don’t you wish they could all be as lovely and well mannered as you and I? Maybe you can help me with some ways to handle these sorts of situations. As a person[...]