As stated in this space before, 2007 is shaping up to be the “Year of Education” here at Meetings Media. I guess we could’ve called the effort “No Planner Left Behind,” but I think we would’ve got a nasty letter from the U.S. Department of Education.
In addition to all the destination information, coverage of some of the hottest topics shaping the meetings industry and other assorted nuggets of knowledge included in each print edition of Meetings MidAmerica, a wealth of meetings industry educational content is available at your fingertips—for free—on MeetingsFocus.com as part of our ongoing series of webinars.
Need to glean some knowledge about successful negotiating? Check out last December’s “It’s All on the Table: Negotiating with Hotels” webinar, starring Boston-area planner extraordinaire Nancy Norman, president of meeting planning and special event company The Norman Group, who parlays her vast industry experience to deliver some solid advice on getting the most bang for your organization’s buck.
If advancing your career is job No. 1, then check out February’s “Career Strategies for Meeting Planners” session with Meetings Media’s own Career Forum columnist, Sheryl Sookman, principal executive of recruiting company The MeetingConnection.
The April webinar, “How to Get the Most Out of CVBs,” is facilitated by Margie Johnston, president of Revenue Resources and former vice president of sales at California’s Long Beach Area CVB. Information in this webinar includes:
- How CVBs operate and how they can help your organization
- The value-added services CVBs can provide at no cost
- How bureaus can assist with the site-selection process
- How to work with CVBs, alongside NSO and DMC partners
- How bureaus can help market your meeting or event
Finally, our latest offering, Contract Conundrums, which was offered in late June, gets to the bottom of navigating potentially vexing legal terminology in meetings contracts.
Barbara F. Dunn, Esq., an attorney and partner with meetings industry legal firm Howe & Hutton, educates planners about how they can keep their organizations—and themselves—out of legal limbo.
Some of the key points covered in the webinar include the following:
- How to protect yourself and your organization
- Identifying potentially damaging contract clauses
- Negotiating contracts
- Resources
- Laying the groundwork before negotiating
- Things you may be able to change, and items you may not typically change
To access any of these free webinars, go to www.meetingstoday.com/webinar and navigate your way to knowledge.