Meeting Planner Training
April 8, 2008
This just in: The University of Nevada Las Vegas is now offering live, college-level classes online featuring UNLV faculty, faculty from other prominent hotel colleges, and leading industry experts. Each one-hour, commercial-free webinar is designed to be a stand-alone learning experience. Event planners, meeting planners, and hospitality industry professionals can gain new levels of expertise…
Crisis Management & The Olympics
May 5, 2008
The Olympics are coming, and all these stories about China in the news have me thinking… Sometimes planning for the unexpected is just as important as planning for the expected. In my family, we actually have an expression for it. My mom was all too well known for her WCS’s or “worst case scenarios.” Was…
Detroit’s New North Terminal
May 15, 2008
As a provider of destination management services in Detroit, Special D Events staff can’t wait for September 2008. That is when the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport will open a new North Terminal, replacing the older Smith and Berry terminals. If you have traveled through Smith and Berry recently you understand why this is so…
Meetings in Detroit
May 22, 2008
Bravo Christopher Illitch! Michigan will benefit not only from the increased revenue, but also from the long term goodwill generated when meeting attendees realize what the Detroit area has to offer. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880520034 — Carol Galle
Voluntourism for Corporate Groups
August 19, 2008
In a recent article, Forbes magazine had this to say about voluntourism: “There comes a point — generally when you’re on your third margarita, sunburned over 60 percent of your body and the kids are screaming in the infinity pool — when you start wonder if there is more to the whole vacation concept than…
Emergency Preparedness for Attendees?
December 30, 2008
Recently, I signed up for a one day conference on line and was asked to provide my emergency contact information. After weeks of holiday shopping and enduring the barrage of sales people requesting my home phone number, my first reaction was to leave the field empty. However, upon further thought I realized that providing this…
The Value of Meetings & Events
February 9, 2009
Enough already. Not every corporate meeting or event is a boondoggle. While I agree elected officials should not be sunning themselves in the Caribbean at the taxpayer’s expense, there is considerable value in face-to-face meetings. Meetings, events and travel can be strategic cost effective ways to retain and develop employee talent, build engagement, generate ideas,…
The Value of Trade Shows
March 5, 2009
A new study by the Center for Exhibition Industry Research has put a price tag on the value of exhibitions. CEIR’s Cost Effectiveness of Exhibition Participation study determined that it costs about $215 to make an initial face-to-face contact with a customer at an exhibition. Included in that cost is exhibition construction, storage, exhibit space,…
Meeting/Event Planning Company of the Year
March 12, 2009
Well, it’s really true what they say… It’s an honor just to be nominated. I just learned that Special D Events has been named a finalist for “Michigan’s Best Meeting/Event Planning Company” award. Thanks to our Michigan clients and colleagues who cast their vote for us. Wish us luck on May 13 when they announce…
Debit Cards at Cash Bars
April 9, 2009
Does anyone carry cash anymore? I don’t. My debit card does the trick — except when it comes to cash bars. I had a client ask me the today to arrange for a credit card machine at a cash bar, and the hotel thought I was crazy. I agree, it could slow down the process…
Alternative Event Venues
April 28, 2009
Looking for an alternative event venue for your non profit or community event? We are currently investigating the use of a high school for a client’s membership event. It’s non traditional, for sure. But, it offers the breakouts (classrooms), general session (auditorium), and parking we need. If you can get the school administration to agree,…
