Maintaining Contact

Some meeting professionals fear that if they book speakers through a bureau they will lose the interpersonal contact that is so crucial for assuring success. As the client, however, you largely get to dictate what kind of relationship you want with both the bureau and the speaker.

For example, if you insist that the speaker call you directly on all matters related to the presentation, that the speaker stay in touch with you during the time leading up to the presentation, and that there be a full exchange of participant materials prior to the actual meeting date, all of this can be stipulated to the bureau representative.

Entire World has the Travel Bug

The Washington Post report that the "The whole world has the travel bug. And it's ravaging the planet."

"The world has shrunk -- and the tourist legions have exploded. The streets of Paris and Venice are so crowded that you can barely move. Cruise ships are filling harbors and disgorging hordes of day trippers the world over. Towering hotels rise in ever-greater numbers along once pristine and empty beaches."

The upshot for meeting planners: finding that special, out-of-the-way place is growing challenge.

Web Access at Meetings Sites

Want to know what options you have for Internet access in your area or in an area where you'll be conducting a meeting? Visit www.thelist.com and enter the telephone area code or zip code. You will then see a display of all the providers.

Don't Over-Pack the Conference

Packing the day looks good in the conference brochure but wears on attendees. Give them a mid- morning and a mid-afternoon break of 20 to 30 minutes. The day and whole conference will go better for everyone.

Meet in a Big Room!

A recent article in BusinessWeek reveals that thirty percent of white-collar workers still have private offices, according to a poll of 9,300 people by office furniture maker Steelcase. However the typical office has shrunk. It was about 16 by 20 feet a few years ago; it's about 8 by 10 today.

So, 320 square feet versus 80 square feet. For meetings then, choose larger rooms. People in tiny cramped offices will appreciate it!

Non-Hotel Meeting Sites

Unique Venues is celebrating 20 years as “The Voice” for Non-Traditional Event Venues.”

From their website: “Searching for a unique event or party venue, meeting facilities or conference centers? Whether you're a professional meeting planner or a volunteer planning a party, wedding, family reunion or event for your company or church, Unique Venues can help you find the perfect function room, meeting facility or conference center. Search our vast database of 7,000+ non-traditional event venues, meeting facilities and function rooms in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom: colleges, museums, mansions, theaters, conference centers, event venues, cruises, restaurants, business centers and more.

Reasons People Volunteer

Need help with your next meeting? Here is a roster of reasons why people volunteer:

1. Fill time

2. Repay a perceived indebtedness

3. Because someone they love benefits

4. To set an example for children

5. To work as a family

6. Someone they love is also involved

7. To meet people

8. To please someone else

9. To have fun

10. To gain skills

11. To gain experience

12. To be visible

13. To gain credit

14. To express their religion or belief

15. To find happiness

16. To employ otherwise unused gifts or skills

17. Because of tradition

18. As part of a group

19. To maintain health

20. To explore new learning, ideas

21. To heal

22. To avert loneliness

23. Because of interest

24. As a hobby

25. Out of concern

26. To receive a tax benefit

27. To counter-point paid work

28. As an extension of a job

29. Because they were assigned

30. To survive tragedy (cope)

31. To test leadership skills

32. To gain recognition

33. To acquire self-confidence

34. To be a change agent

35. To right a wrong

36. To work in a safe place

37. To save money

38. To have a purpose

39. To be a good neighbor

40. To get out of the house

41. To keep active

42. To experience new lifestyles

43. To feel a sense of power and success

80/20 Meeting Management

The Pareto Principle — the 80/20 rule — can be of great help in coping with a long list of tasks to be accomplished especially in regards to planning and conducting a meeting. The mind boggles at long lists and many people become discouraged before they start. Or they begin with the easiest, leaving the most difficult for the last, and never quite get around to them. It helps to know that most of the benefit to be derived from doing what is on the list probably is related to just two or three items.

Select those two or three, allocate a block of time to work on each of them, and concentrate on getting them done. Don't feel guilty about not finishing the list, because if your priorities are valid most of the benefits are related to those two or three items you selected.

Event Based Websites

www.MeetingsNet.com
www.RentalManagementMag.com
www.SpecialEvents.com

www.BizBash.com
www.Event-Solutions.com
www.ISES.com

Outlook on Conference Centers

Here’s a thought-provoking article on conference centers and why they are sometimes overlooked by meeting planners: Conference Centers: The almighty CMP is loosening up

“Conference centers aren't on many planners' radars, either because they don't know about conference centers, harbor confusion about them, or think they're too expensive to actually book…”