I’ve got to admit it—our May /June edition definitely has relationship issues.
And we’re not talking about commitment phobia here—actually, it’s all about the relationships you, as a meeting planner, foster with preferred vendors.
Our “Membership Has Its Privileges” story, written by Contributing Editor Ruth A. Hill, explores the benefits of setting up a healthy relationship between your organization and its supplier suitors—and also how taking a strategic attitude in this area can benefit your career.
On the face of it, the benefits are obvious: You steer a lot of business in the direction of one supplier, the lower the prices you get. But at least one caveat to consider is that signing on with a single provider can encourage complacency in the absence of competition. Limiting your options can also result in less-creative planning, as you can get hemmed in by the myriad rules and regulations preferred vendor agreements can present.
We also see how some very astute planners set up and manage their preferred supplier relationships with dexterity and purpose.
Speaking of dexterity, our Lifestyle Lessons story, follows the trend of corporate America investing in the health and wellness of its workforce through programs such as nutrition counseling, gym discounts, therapeutic massages, and yoga classes.
Our May/June issue also profiles university venues on page 28. Having just returned from the International Association of Conference Centers Annual Conference, I had the pleasure of learning even more about these thoroughbred learning environments, which often boast premier audiovisual capabilities, on-campus experts who can be used as speakers, and serene settings that are conducive to the pursuit of knowledge.
If only I would have realized that when I was in college.
May also marks the kick-off of our 17-city series of meeting planning educational events. If you haven’t already, make sure to check out www.MeetingsMarket.com to find out the exciting presenters and content that will be delivered starting on the 17th in the Phoenix area.
The first Midwest market will occur in Minneapolis on Sept. 12.
Maybe I’ll see you at the show. As usual, make sure to pretend like you know me, as it really impresses my publisher. I’ll buy you lunch.
Seriously, though, our Meetings Market Academy + Exhibition provides an impressive lineup of the top educators in our field. Depending on the location, the shows will include tech guru Corbin Ball, leading meetings industry attorneys Jonathan T. Howe and Barbara F. Dunn, events expert Gloria Nelson, management maven Bonnie Wallsh, all-around meetings master Joan L. Eisenstodt, and our own Michele C. Wierzgac, who organized the content of the shows in between writing her “Forward Thinking” columns in this magazine.
Sounds like pretty good company if you ask me.
Thanks for thumbing through our May/June issue. We hope you continue to enjoy all of the new products—and the new look of our magazine so expertly crafted by Art Director Scott Kambic and the whole production crew here.
