‘Essentials’ of Respect for Planning Meetings

Meeting and event planners can climb the ladder in much the same way as project managers

by Tyler Davidson

No one can accuse Heather Mason, president and owner of A Caspian Production, of not expressing lofty goals when it pertains to the value of meeting planners.

“My entire mission is to show that our industry is worth seven figures—the heck with six!” she exclaims.

And while expressing such seemingly over-the-top aspirations can be excused if one thinks it carries with it a touch of hyperbole, Mason makes some pretty good points and offers a system to back up the enthusiasm.

Mason believes that meeting planners should command organizational and professional respect similar to what project managers command, and that it’s up to planners to develop standards and measurement tools in order to demonstrate their gravitas within their organization.

“If you’re a project manager of a large company, even a vice president can be working for you and under you on a specific project,” she maintains. “Events should work like project management, because they’ve already established the protocol and respect we should be getting.

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The Perks of Planning a Meeting Just Got Better

Book a meeting by September 30, 2013, at a participating Starwood Hotels & Resorts property in North or South America and hold it by December 31, 2013, to receive: Up to a 100,000 Starpoints® signing bonus. A 2% rebate on master-billed rooms. Your choice of either accelerated room upgrades, (1/35) accelerated comp room policy (1/35), or complimentary welcome reception. Plus, members of Starwood Preferred Planner®, our reward and recognition program for meeting planners, are now eligible to earn 1 room night credit toward elite status for every 10 group room nights consumed and a 50% Starpoints earning bonus for Gold and Platinum members. To learn more about the benefits of working with Starwood, visit starwoodmeetings.com/offer.

Conference Centers: Sample the Best!

Wed., May 29, 2013
1:00 PM EST,
12:00 PM CST,
11:00 AM MST,
10:00 AM PST

Being facilities that are purpose-built for holding meetings, conference centers offer a refined, results-focused environment that ensures meeting participants focus on objectives and meeting professionals focus on outcomes more than logistics. In this webinar, we’ll see photos and examples of the best uses of conference centers and talk about how to adapt what others have done to make your conference center meeting even more successful.

Join Meetings Focus and Joan Eisenstodt, a premier meetings industry trainer and consultant, for this free one-hour webinar, and learn how you can use conference centers to their full affect.

Participants will learn the following:

• Differentiate how conference center spaces enhance objectives and participation
• Identify specific uses for conference centers
• Collect ideas to adapt to your meetings

Attractions: Where Meetings Meet Fun!

Original air date:
May 15, 2013




From waterparks and aquariums to world-renowned theme parks, attractions are an up and coming trend in the meetings world. Where else can you have a productive morning of business only to see your attendees relieve some stress in the afternoon? Our world of go go go should be replaced with go go whoa!

Join Meetings Focus and David Wagner, Meetings Manager for the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, for this free one-hour webinar, and learn how you can leverage conference facilities at attractions and waterparks to their full affect.

Participants will learn the following:

• Site Inspection Tips: How does an attraction differ from a “standard” meeting space?
• How to gauge the actual value of meeting at an attraction: It’s not always about the dollars and cents.
• Tips and tricks to meet at an attraction or waterpark resort.

Earn CEUs: This webinar is worth 1 clock hour of continuing education toward the initial CMP application and recertification through the Convention Industry Council.

New ‘Cabineering’ Concept Debuts in Yellowstone

‘Cabineering,’ a new lodging concept offered in West Yellowstone, aims to provide the comforts of home and the perks of a hotel for adventurous travelers in remote areas.

World's Best Airports Named

The annual Skytrax World Airport Awards, based on responses from millions of passengers around the world, have hailed Vancouver International Airport (YVR) as the best airport in North America and Singapore Changi Airport as the best in the world.

Billion-Dollar Revamp Slated for Miami Beach Convention Center

The two high-powered teams vying to redevelop the obsolete Miami Beach Convention Center will make final public presentations on their proposals Tuesday.

FAA Reprieve for WA Air Traffic Controllers

Five air traffic control towers in Washington state, part of 149 across the country that were slated to be closed due to federal government spending cuts, will remain open, at least until Sept. 30.

Sooner State Event Center Readies for Opening

The Enid Event Center in Oklahoma is now slated for a ribbon cutting on June 12 for its grand opening.

NY State Lodging Makes Compelling Comeback from Tropical Storm

DoubleTree by Hilton has announced the opening of its newest hotel in New York with the DoubleTree by Hilton Binghamton. Formerly the Riverwalk Hotel and Conference Center, the property experienced significant damage caused by Tropical Storm Lee in 2011.

Worst U.S. Airports for Flight Delays Revealed

Chicago Hyatt Wraps $168 Million Renovation