I daresay Ken Hennrich’s comments about Youthful Indiscretions (Inbox, Meetings West, February 2007) will bring a dearth of e-mails, especially if you were following the MiForum list [shortly after publication]. His last paragraph really struck me:
“A few years back, as an association president, I was amazed at the loss of ethics, as well etiquette, especially by the younger generations. I truly feel if this is not brought into check, it could very well be a major downfall to the hospitality industry.”
I teach 20-somethings as well as adults, and I couldn’t agree more—though I’m generalizing. There is a loss of ethics and a loss of etiquette. Not only will it be the downfall of our industry, but of all industries. Sure, it needs to come from the home, the early school years. I don’t believe it is my job to teach values and etiquette. We talk about ethics as related to our industry, but if they don’t have the values, the discussions are moot.
As for Crisis Counseling (A Risk-Attitude Adjustment, Meetings West, February 2007). I can’t tell you the number of salespeople I encounter who give me blank stares when I ask about emergency procedures during a site. I get answers ranging from “Don’t worry” or “I don’t know” to “Why do you need to know?” It is about education--and I try and do that with every site inspection and with every student. And I do get it in writing and add it to my contracts.
Sandy Biback, CMP
CMMImagination+ Meeting Planners Inc.
Toronto
Queen of Lean?
Sometimes I feel like the “Queen of Lean,” and it’s led me to some pretty creative outlets for design resources. A client provided a very low investment allocation for centerpieces for a motorcycle-themed event, so we converted the entry into a “biker bar” and the stage backdrop was the bar itself. I phoned the Goodwill Collection Center and asked them to select and sort out 32 pairs of black biker-style boots, and then I built centerpieces with tubed Tiger Lilies and wired Gerbera Daisies. Creativity is key to fiscal stewardship with all resources.
Gloria Nelson, CSEP
Gloria Nelson Event Design LLC
Winneconne, WI
MeCo Musings
When is a hotel contract binding?
Maureen Beck asked:
“I have a client who recently faxed back a signed contract to a hotel. The hotel and I had negotiated the contract back and forth and the hotel had issued a revised, final contract. A few days after my client had returned the contract, the sales manager phoned to inform me that she had double-booked. She has a group that returns every year and she had not yet put the recurring meeting into her system yet. The sales manager stated that the contract was not binding as she had not sent back a countersigned copy to my client. She requested that my group move their dates. My client was furious and he and others in the industry maintain that the contract is indeed binding. Is it?“
Responses included:
“I just attended a fabulous session on contracts for independent planners conducted by Tyra Hilliard. One of the many fabulous points that she made was that a contract is not valid until both parties sign, and it is always best to be the last signature on the contract. I don’t think your client has a legal contract with the hotel. Ethically, I think that the sales manager acted in bad faith.”
Bonnie Wallsh, CMP, CMM
