Meetings Today

You’re Charging How Much?!: The Case for Smarter F&B Budgeting

Food and beverage (F&B) can make or break a meeting or event. And certainly, the complete absence of F&B can set in motion kvetching like you haven’t heard since the last time you managed a meeting without it. Just try to have a meeting break with no coffee! It's the cost and perception and reality of what goes into pricing that is driving a wedge in our industry. Let's attempt to understand more.

The Power of Reading Books: Life, Spirit and Knowledge Enhancement

In the Grant Snider illustration, “the beloved book,” we are shown the life cycle of a treasured book, perhaps like one of your own—from its yellowed dust jacket, to the inscription by a loved aunt; scribbles in the margins, frayed pages and cracked spine; the old book smell and perhaps a missing page but you still know it by heart and pass it along to another generation. I prefer print books—the touch and feel, the sense of holding words in my hands. The ability to pass along a beloved book to someone else to love and share then with others. It continues the cycle of learning and reading.

Hospitality Education Must Change to Include All Life Events

When planning life-cycle events, including end-of-life events, we need to learn to ask better, deeper questions that are not able to be answered with “yes” or “no.” We need to broaden what hospitality and meetings courses and programs teach to broaden the opportunities to support others in life events and to provide new opportunities for employment.

Why Reading Is Fundamental to Professional Success

I’m always finding new and interesting things to read and I truly believe it is an easy way to benefit your career and sharpen your mind—and maybe even unwind, depending on what you choose to read. Staying current on the news can certainly help you in your event planning. Though my preferred method of reading is in print, on paper, I do also read digitally. I know regardless of what and how you read, it will be of benefit.

Where Life, Death, Grief and Hospitality Connect

Now or next week, at a meeting or event where we are to network and enjoy ourselves—or perhaps in your office—someone, maybe you, are or will be grieving. Perhaps you have been asked, as I was, to help plan a life celebration for a co-worker or a friend or a family member. Because sometimes, just as we are asked to help plan joyous events, we are asked to help with end-of-life events.

Are There Stupid Meeting Questions? It Depends!

You know the questions: "Where's the bathroom?" asks a participant standing under the restroom sign. Or you, the planner, asks "Who is the hotel's owner?" to which the response is "Why do you want to know?" To questions about making changes in meeting formats, the response is too often "We've always done it that way. Why change now?"

IHG Joins Marriott and Disney in Eliminating Mini Toiletries

Amid Historic Political Disruption, Puerto Rico Remains Open for Business

Hilton Celebrates 100 Years of Business and Giving Back [Meetings Today Podcast Transcript]

Major Hotel Chains Sued for Room Fees

The Future of Working With CVBs: 4 Key Tips From Expert Meeting Planners

2 Meeting Pros Analyze the Trump Presidential Seal Mishap

PCMA, Destinations International Announce New Event Partnership

Boise Centre Unveils New Art Installation

Cvent’s 2019 Top U.S. Meeting Destinations List Features a Few Surprises

Laguna Beach’s Las Brisas Restaurant Refines Menu Amid Renovations