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[...]

Okay, not really. It’s actually, according to The Chinese culture, the Year of the Snake, most specifically the Water Snake. We tend to call people who are untrustworthy, or sneaky, or all around slimy – snakes. But this is not the case at all when it comes to the astrological aspect. Instead, snake people are[...]

Disasters are rare, but they can be so big and devastating. having a bit of upfront knowledge can go a long way when you are called to act quickly. Here are some things for you to keep in mind should disaster befall your meeting. Keep the Lines of Communication Open: Your attendees are privy to[...]

This article is in a HelmsBriscoe newsletter and I wanted to make sure to share it with all of you! It allows you some insight as to how I work with my clients, all of which I adore. I divided into two parts as it is a longer than usual read, at least when it[...]

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[...]

It’s all a part of planning better meetings, capturing higher returns on investment and creating long term relationships with properties that are willing to demonstrate their knowledge of your expectations, and to fully support those expectations through contracts that speak to your particular meeting. For meeting planners, successful negotiation with a property is critical! The[...]

For as long as I have been in the meetings industry I have been a negotiator; it is a huge part of the meeting planning process. Negotiation takes a bit of finesse and a bit of savvy (maybe even a bit of sassy), but it also requires a lot of knowledge. We need to know[...]

Meeting Planners must navigate some crazy territories. You live the Amazing Race every year! First you are dropped off at an unknown location called Site Selection. Have you ever heard something like this before? “Hello Meeting Planner, this year we would like to have the meeting somewhere close, budgets you know, but it should have[...]

According to Meetings and Conventions, there are less hotel rooms. They state that the “total active US hotel development pipeline decreased by 10.1 percent in July over the previous year.” This fact was issued by STR/McGraw Hill Construction Dodge Pipeline Report only a few weeks ago. They went on to state that, “Currently in the[...]