I would have asked/presented the food and beverage question presented in the 2019 Meetings Today Trends Survey differently …  about the needs (versus wants) participants have. Especially when it comes to life-threatening allergies and religious restrictions. I asked the following people, listed alphabetically, to review the responses from the trends survey question and comment.

I reached out to meeting planners and others in our industry about what worries them most. The survey was conducted before the U.S. government shutdown that impacted many meetings, hotels, air travel and safety. Comments about a lack of respect and a lack of desire to learn were interesting. Those I shared the above link with and asked to comment are, alphabetically:

One question asked in the 2019 Meetings Today Trends Survey was “Do you have a written disaster/security plan?” The responses were 28% yes, 44% no and 28% working on it. This is the question and responses that, perhaps more than others, caught my eye. It’s also the one I’ve also written in more detail about in the blog section of the February 2018 Friday With Joan newsletter. I asked three colleagues to review and respond the article

Joan Eisenstodt interviews veteran meeting professionals about how planners can bring live theatre to meetings and events.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews Charlotte St. Martin, of The Broadway League, about how planners can incorporate live theatre into meetings.

Meetings Today's Joan Eisenstodt asks meetings professionals for their candid opinions on ethics.

Meetings Today's Joan Eisenstodt interviews major meetings and events industry job recruiters about what they see and ask regarding ethics.

Joan Eisenstodt shares the thoughts of Jordan Rudner and PCMA's Sherrif Karamat regarding the Tree of Life synagogue and Kentucky killings.

Joan Eisenstodt interviews Paul A. Greenberg, a journalist, professor of communications and former hospitality industry member, about ethics.

I can’t remember when Kristin McGrath and I first met. I do know we bonded over a passion for excellent meetings and issues outside the industry. Kristin has continued to be, for me and I’m sure many others, a trusted sounding board about work and life. We all need to remember that mentoring can also be reversed—that is, someone younger is a great mentor for those of us who are a bit older!