article thumbnail

Seeking Innovators, Experts, and Educators in Meeting Planning

MeetingsNet

Whether your meetings specialty is event design, contract negotiations, operations management, sustainability, risk management, virtual events, speaker trends, food & beverage, or something else entirely, our call for speakers is seeking fresh voices to educate and spark new ideas for meetings and conventions.

article thumbnail

Yes, You Can Negotiate Catering

Connect Your Meetings

We all know catering can be the largest expense on the master account, but we don’t realize the several areas that can be negotiated to stretch your catering budget. Working with the hotel during the planning and execution of the event can save you money for your next meeting. Hotel catering typically drives 35 to 40% profit.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Advanced Hotel Negotiations, From the Hotel Side

Connect Your Meetings

Register for “Advanced Hotel Negotiations, From the Hotel Side” To be a more effective negotiator, meeting planners will learn how hotels evaluate their businesses and manage their inventory of space, rates and dates. Learning Objectives. Pritzker Award for Excellence. Website: contactplan.com.

article thumbnail

GMID’s Canadian origins: Getting to know Kathy Fortier

MPI

I started on an education committee for one year, and then was the vice president of finance for three years. This experience has allowed me to be well versed in all areas of planning from both sides. This brings a unique skill to the negotiating table and also allows me to educate my employer on the supplier’s perspective.

article thumbnail

Peer-to-Peer Connections Matter for Career Advancement

MeetingsNet

After covering the meetings industry for 32 years, one of the few things I know for sure about this business is that nobody would hire me to be a meeting planner. The reason I’m waxing on about in-person experiences is that each of the four executive women I interviewed for our latest issue’s cover story said that very same thing.

article thumbnail

Job Hunting During COVID: What Meeting Professionals Need to Know

SmartMeetings

With a computer and internet connection, you have access to a world of education. Many organizations, including Smart Meetings , have turned their events virtual. In your spare time, turn your attention to a virtual meetings education. Thinking about dipping your toes in another industry?

Meetings 126
article thumbnail

Insider’s Guide to Banquet Menu Strategies to Stretch Your Budget

Connect Your Meetings

Catering is often the largest part of a master account, but many planners accept inflated prices, unrealistic minimums, setup fees and other charges without negotiation. This session will help planners see where the profit centers are and where there are more leverage and latitude in negotiating group catering. Register for Webinar.