Event Professionals Library

MEETING MANAGEMENT

Often burrowing unnoticed within an organization's operational costs is spending on meetings and events. The popular acronym for this category of spend is Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), which is connected and sometimes grouped with Travel and Entertainment (T&E). Aberdeen reviewed survey data from more than 300 enterprises and determined that best-in-class organizations can control MICE like other spend categories. Aberdeen has found that best-in-class organizations have achieved cost savings, such as the 11.4% annual savings on meetings spend reported in this new benchmark report. Aberdeen's research also revealed certain technology solutions facilitate strategic meetings management, particularly the adoption of corporate meetings calendars on an enterprise-wide basis.

Outsourcing – The New Business Solution
by David Peckinpaugh

According to the Outsourcing Institute, global outsourcing will exceed $120 billion by the end of the year. In the meetings industry, outsourcing for non-core services has grown tremendously especially in the wake of 9/11 and the softening economy. Corporate officers and executives face enormous challenges in today's competitive marketplace and the decision to outsource has taken on new and weightier proportions.

Published in On The Mark Newsletter, Fall 2002

Small Meetings: Small Numbers Disguise High Profile of Association Board Meetings
by Barbara Nichols and Brad Weaber

Seminars don't get no respect. And it's not hard to understand why. Most seminar programs require a disproportionate amount of meeting space to the number of guest rooms used. The revenue they generate, largely from food and beverage, is minimal. And an even bigger knock on seminar business is the high cancellation rate and when it occurs: 30 days out is not atypical. That doesn't leave a hotel a lot of time to resell the space.

Published in Convene Magazine, November, 1995

How to Determine Seating Capacity for F&B Functions
by Brad Weaber

Nothing is more frustrating to a meeting planner than a food and beverage function that goes awry. Ironically, most of the logistical challenges of a f&b function can be avoided by meeting planners if the proper formulas are applied well before the event. Blocking the correct space is only one of several areas that should be managed for a successful "sit-down" event.

Published in Convene Magazine, July, 1996

Control Food & Beverage Costs Without Sacrificing Quality
by Barbara Nichols and Brad Weaber

Published in Convene Magazine, February, 1996