Most people in my profession cringe when asked: “what do you do?” Why? Because the ‘easy’ answer, “I’m a meeting planner” gets the response – “oh, a party planner, what fun!” The more complicated answer “I’m an experience curator” or “I’m a connection facilitator” or “I’m an event professional” get blank stares. How to best […]
Comments Off on Meeting Professionals – Really Magicians! Continue Reading...Are you a brand fan? How can you incorporate those elements into your own business to help you stand out from the pack? I have always had a fascination with Disney – its characters, films and theme parks. The way they seem to intrinsically understand their customer and their ability to create a sense of […]
Comments Off on Incorporating You into Your Brand Continue Reading...Have you ever attended a meeting/workshop that sounded great and yet when the speakers started talking you wondered why you were there? Well, that was me recently – I had signed up for a seminar about the new tax code and it was marketed to “small business, entrepreneurs and enterprises …” As a small business […]
Comments Off on Why the Heck Am I Here (at this meeting)? Continue Reading...When you think of awards ceremonies, what comes to mind? Long speeches, an endless procession of winners, interrupting your meal, same old same old? While most of us don’t have the budget for big splashy productions, we can use our creativity to add some unexpected elements to make it fun! Here are examples from […]
Comments Off on Add the Unexpected to your Awards Program Continue Reading...As meeting planners we always ask our attendees to complete evaluations. We ask them how the content was, how they liked the speakers, the food, the venue. That feedback – that data – is important in a strive for continuous improvement. Using Plus/Delta Charts Equally important is to ask your team to evaluate the meeting. Do you […]
1 Comment. Continue Reading...If someone asked you how well you follow directions, what would your answer be? Now, if someone asked you how well you give directions – would your answer be the same? Very often what you mean to say and what is interpreted are two different things. Here are two activities that reinforce the importance of […]
Comments Off on Communication – Giving & Receiving Directions Continue Reading...This summer I got to spend a week in one of my favorite vacation spots – Newport, RI. In our many years visiting the city, I’ve always enjoyed its welcoming spirit and sense of hospitality. In walking around, you can’t help but notice pineapples – as décor inside and outside buildings, on flags, house signs […]
Comments Off on Are your Meetings Welcoming? Continue Reading...As a meeting planner, it’s standard practice to go through the list of venue staff who worked your meeting and allocate tips as a thank you for those who have gone above and beyond. This is something extra budgeted for as we know that not everyone shares equally (or is included) in the automatic gratuities/service […]
Comments Off on Unexpected Thank Yous Continue Reading...Thinking about your future A few years ago, I attended a seminar about changes in the workforce relating to retail and hospitality – two fields that are all about customer service. The panelists talked about looking for candidates with core skills; transferable skills that could be supplemented with training. They also reminded us to keep […]
Comments Off on Career Reinvention – What’s Next? Continue Reading...