With spring well on its way, the climate for Midwest meetings is heating up.
We hope that at the time you’re reading this the winter weather has packed it up for the year and you are at full speed when it comes to getting down to the business of planning your meetings and events through the rest of the year and beyond.
Too many planners, it seems, haven’t planned for the inevitable when it comes to creating their meetings, however.
Last issue we published the results of our 2007 Meetings Market Trends Survey, and nearly 60 percent of the respondents noted that they don’t have a written emergency/contingency plan in case disaster—manmade or natural—strikes. While many planners rely on contingency plans supplied by facilities, it is essential to prepare a plan for each meeting, as the safety of your attendees and the financial health of the organization you plan for are on the line.
I’m sure the vast majority of planners recognize the need for a written plan, but the problem may be not knowing where to begin. To help get the ball rolling, Contributing Editor Ruth A. Hill took on the task of contacting some industry notables who are well versed in disaster management. Check out her A Risk-Attitude Adjustment story on page 30 to get your plan in motion.
While making sure all of your bases are covered when it comes to disaster planning is a crucial part of your job, selecting the best site for your meeting is the bread and butter.
To help your site-selection process, Meetings MidAmerica annually polls its readers to find out what Midwestern hotels and resorts have risen to the top of their lists during the past year. Turn to page 11 to peruse the ballot for our Best of MidAmerica Awards. This is your chance to give some love to the meeting facilities that have done right by you and your groups over the last year. We’ll publish the results in our July/August issue.
On a housekeeping note, I’d like to welcome veteran meetings industry journalist Maria Lenhart to our team as senior editor. Maria has written for or held senior editor positions at many of the major meetings industry trade magazines you’re familiar with, and because of her stellar resume brings a wealth of experience to the table.
Finally, turn to the news section to discover some highlights of MPI’s Professional Education Conference–North America, which served as a showcase both for the revitalized city of New Orleans and the association’s new president and CEO, Bruce M. MacMillan, who emphasized the need for MPI adapt to a global environment and further its outreach to college students considering a career in meeting planning.
And speaking of education, Meetings Media is all about learning this year, via our Meetings Market Academy + Exhibition and bi-monthly webinars, so school is in session. Makes me wish I had attended school more often.
As always, make sure to send us an e-mail, to editor@meetingsmedia.com, with any observations or tips you want to share with fellow planners, as we’re all only as strong as our ideas and collective knowledge.
