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[...]

Hello Meeting Professional! With your job clocking in as number 6 of the most stress-related jobs, avoiding burn out is a must do for you. Here is an interesting fact; people who work only (nowadays, “only” is an appropriate word to use here) 40 hours a week get as much, if not more, done than[...]

Although those that are not in the hospitality industry think that all meetings and conventions are just an excuse to party, a la Fred Flintstones’ Water Buffalos Convention (Grand Poobah included), those of us “in the know” know that meetings and conventions are serious business. It is a place where people commune to exchange information[...]

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[...]

Thank you to everyone who participated in my Happy New Year contest. The winner is Mikel Robinson! Mikel plans meeting for a few associations, most notably the International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF), whose members include “experts in all aspects of Wildland fire management.” The organization offers a “neutral forum for the consideration of important,[...]

Maybe it is our can-do attitude, our difficulty in saying “no,” or our undeniable confidence in what we do, but meeting planners are often times viewed as modern-day miracle workers. And though the honor is quite appreciated, at times it can make us feel a bit wiggy, causing us to want to ask, “Are you[...]

Have you checked out your latest (February 2012) issue of Meetings & Conventions Magazine? Notice that none other than our own Roger Helms graces the cover. The article focuses on how third party planners have gained momentum as a definite and necessary player in the meetings industry. Meeting planners have watched their departments dwindle over[...]

There are many technologies that will make your meeting planning life so much easier. If you are not up on these technologies, then here is a soft nudge to get you moving in the right direction.  Don’t get left behind! Smartphones: If you are not packing a smartphone in your tote, then what are you[...]

Happy New Year to all you wonderful meeting planners out there. So, did you spend all your Santa Money and Gift Certificates? Well, here is your chance to win a little bit more spending fun and it is soooo easy. I have been hinting around about an upcoming contest and here we are. I will[...]