http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles 2008-12-03T21:12:38Z http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/maximizing-the-value-of-trade-shows 2008-12-03T21:12:38Z

Despite the challenging economy and the rising cost of travel, many companies still recognize the great value of exhibiting and attending trade shows. To get the most out of an event, industry experts recommend the following tactics to help make the experience more valuable, profitable and worth the time and expense:

ExhibitorsHave an objective: Exhibitors have different reasons for participating in events, so be clear about your goals. Do you want to sell a product, reach out to existing and/or potential clients, raise industry awareness of your brand, introduce a new product or service, or merely show a presence? Do your homework: Carefully research each show and select the events whose attendees best match your target markets. Choose events based on your targeted demographic and objectives and make cal... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/winter-round-up 2008-11-30T01:09:17Z “Lucky Chuck” Kapelke

CityCenter DiningFor the foodies in the crowd, no fewer than seven new dining hot spots will accompany the opening of Aria, the resort casino at CityCenter, when it opens in ...

CityCenter DiningFor the foodies in the crowd, no fewer than seven new dining hot spots will accompany the opening of Aria, the resort casino at CityCenter, when it opens in late 2009. Top chefs around the world will serve up their fare in the hotel-casino at the heart of the new center-Strip megalopolis. (Aria will have a 300,000-square-foot convention space and is already booking meetings for 2010.)Michael Mina will open American Fish, a seafood restaurant; Sirio Maccioni, owner of Le Cirqu... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/spa-savings 2008-11-30T01:06:29Z Julie Keller

Chances are, like the rest of us, you are feeling the effects of our faltering economy and are being forced to cut corners and save whenever you can when it comes to your next event. Pricey extras,...

Chances are, like the rest of us, you are feeling the effects of our faltering economy and are being forced to cut corners and save whenever you can when it comes to your next event. Pricey extras, like spa visits, are likely to be one of the first items on the chopping block. But don’t be so hasty. “A spa visit is the best activity for planners to offer their clients during times of uncertainty,” says Lynne McNees, president of the International SPA Association. “When... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/independent-planner-guidelines 2008-11-30T01:03:25Z Jeffrey S. Tenenbaum

By taking heed of a few legal concepts and utilizing protective measures, it is relatively simple for meeting planners to minimize personal liability exposure while effectively doing their jobs and...

By taking heed of a few legal concepts and utilizing protective measures, it is relatively simple for meeting planners to minimize personal liability exposure while effectively doing their jobs and representing the interests of their clients.Agents versus PrincipalsUnder our legal system, the law says you can only sign contracts in one of two capacities: either as a principal or as an agent. If your organi-zation signs a contract as a principal, it is telling all other parties to the contract... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/laugh-it-up 2008-11-30T01:00:37Z Macie Schreibman

What do you get when you cross a Yale graduate with a Ringling Bros. clown? Success. Okay, so it’s not really a joke. The outcome in this case actually goes by the name Susan Landay, owner of...

What do you get when you cross a Yale graduate with a Ringling Bros. clown? Success. Okay, so it’s not really a joke. The outcome in this case actually goes by the name Susan Landay, owner of Trainers Warehouse (trainerswarehouse.com), a business that offers hundreds of innovative products to help trainers and presenters engage their audiences across all industries. She doesn’t attribute her success, however, to the lessons she learned at Yale or The Kellogg Graduate School of Man... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/drive-online 2008-11-30T00:55:55Z John Anderson

With BlackBerry, iPhone, Twitter and numerous instant messaging products in the hands of just about everyone, sending and receiving information in the blink of an eye, who has time to wait for a fax these days? Certainly not meeting planners, who need to know the status of room lists and blocks, like, now, as shutoff dates and potential penalties loom.

Unfortunately, many planners rely on e-mails and phone calls to busy hotel sales staff to transmit and receive vital updates, information that can change as soon as they hang up the line. But thanks to Passkey, the online service provider for group reservations management, the planner’s life is about to get easier, and faster. Already well-known for their reservation service, Passkey is set to launch its new Planner Dashboard feature at the end of January, allowing users to see real-tim... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/interview-with-kay-burke-cmp-cmm-company-meetings-senior-manager-jcpenney-plano-tx 2008-11-30T00:53:25Z

Kay Burke, CMP, CMM joined the meetings and event industry more than 18 years ago, and has worked with companies such as Sprint, RIA and Pearle Vision. For the past five years she has served in management at JCPenney, where she currently directs teams responsible for company meetings and special events held at the Plano home office complex as well as external meetings.

Q: How many meetings do you plan a year? What type are they?A: Meeting Services at JCPenney encompasses planning for approximately 125 company meetings and events held at external hotels and venues, as well as 5,000 at our home office. We manage various public event spaces within our 2-million-square-foot complex, which includes 50 meeting rooms, an 8,000-square-foot ballroom, a 7,000-square-foot rotunda, 50,000 sq. ft. of enclosed atrium and an outdoor fountain patio.  Q: What type of i... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/trade-shows-staying-relevant-by-following-trends 2008-11-30T00:34:48Z Lisa Plummer

Much like the industries they represent, trade shows are evolving. To stay competitive, business sectors must keep up with trends and adapt to changes, and so must trade shows. Influenced by factors such as the economy, corporate belt-tightening, the environment and advances in technology, trends in U.S. trade shows appear to parallel those of the global business world. In this sense, the trade show industry is an ever-evolving universe directly impacted and influenced by the modern business climate.

At this time, industry experts agree that the biggest trends in trade shows include economically driven shifts in exhibitor and attendee behavior, applying technological advances such as online social media and a growing interest in sustainability. First and foremost, however, the industry has the economy on its mind.The Almighty DollarThe state of the U.S. economy has had a significant impact on many industries, and trade shows are no exception. Along with rising costs of fuel and travel, co... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/old-is-new-again 2008-11-30T00:30:02Z Macie Schreibman

Historic hotels prove old doesn’t have to mean old-fashioned

At a time when major brand hotels are opening fast and furiously, adding to a burgeoning inventory of contemporary designs, it might be a   good time to step back—literally—and take a look at the West’s historic hotels.They’re intriguing, they’re charming—and their meeting space as well as their guest rooms are anything but cookie-cutter. They don’t fit into any one mold—they’re anywhere from mid-century modern high-rises to clas... http://www.smartmeetings.com/articles/show/beyond-logistics 2008-11-30T01:47:32Z Sandi Cain

Strategic meetings management benefits both organizations and planners

Nationwide economic turmoil has turned everything on its head, including mid-year forecasts that meeting planners often count on for the following year. At this time, no one—not even the top economists—seems to know how to stem the tide of red ink. What is for certain is that the corporate market—already limited by tightened reporting rules—is likely to face even more scrutiny by boards, shareholders and the media for their spending decisions.That’s not to say th...