For all meeting and event planners—and owners of an independent meeting planning company, especially—developing and leveraging a business network is critical to success.

Meetings industry veteran Eric Rozenberg shares stress management strategies for independent meeting planners.

February 2019 will see another major chain joining the cohort of hotels reducing the commissions paid to independent event planners, when Hyatt Hotels Corporation cuts its rate down from 10 percent to 7 percent. Can the trend be reversed? I don’t have a crystal ball, but I don’t believe so.

What is it that you want your clients and prospects to remember about you? Which category, product, service or niche do you want them to associate you with? What is the positioning you want to have? How will your prospects and clients remember you? Clearly define your market position!

Do you remember the moment when you were introduced to the meetings industry? How did you feel? I have been an entrepreneur and an independent planner for more than 20 years, and yes, to me every independent planner IS an entrepreneur. And we're facing similar challenges too!