The Los Angeles Times recently posted an article confirming the Justice Department really did not pay $16 for a single muffin.  With an in-depth investigation by the inspector general it was determined the muffin was just part of a continental breakfast which included other items, inclusive of tax and gratuity, totalling $16 per person.  Phew!  Muffin-gate solved.

I cautiously joke about this article and the subject at hand; in all seriousness stories like this and mis-information such as this have a drastic negative effect on our industry.  The original story stating the indecency of the Justice Department spending $16 per muffin was on page 1 of the Sunday Times; this follow-up was found buried beyond page 4.

For those professionals in the industry we have grown accustomed to the food costs  of hotel venues across the globe.  Therefore, we look at a continental breakfast of $16, inclusive of tax and gratuity, in Washington, D.C., and think "Wow!  What a bargain!  Great negotiating on behalf of the planner." However, for the general public and many of our esteemed lawmakers they don't understand.  And educating them about Food Cost Control and Labor Costs of hotel venues, will not benefit anyone.

These types of articles do shed light on our industry.  Some may say that will benefit us - and it could. However, others know that when you get put into the spotlight things can go drastically wrong very quickly when you aren't prepared.  Are we prepared?

Within the same article it stated Senator Charles E. Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary, made the following statement “The fact remains that the Justice Department is spending $32 on Cracker Jack packages and $600,000 on event planners and not minding the taxpayers who are footing the bill."

Again, Senator Grassley's "crack" (excuse the pun) about the Cracker Jack's was misguided and not correct.  But as a fellow event planner I wonder - is he correct about the $600,000 spent on event planners?  And then I wonder, well how many events is that? How many attendees? Are these events within a year time-frame or over multiple years?  There are facts missing from these statements but at this point the comment is out there and it is setting the general public and our lawmakers brains atwitter.

We know the U.S. meetings industry directly supports 1.7 million jobs, $263 billion in spending, a $106 billion contribution to GDP, $60 billion in labor revenue, $14.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $11.3 billion in state and local tax revenue.  But do others outside the industry?

We know what is required to hold a successful G-8 Summit. Or a UN Conference.  Or any other meeting that brings together the world's leaders to make decisions, to create partnerships for the success of millions of people.  But do others outside the industry? 

So how do we ensure mis-information, in an age of knee-jerk technological reaction, not diminsh the viability of our industry and the hard-work done by hospitality industry professionals?  How do we promote the positive effects of our work to those outside our industry?
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Even with all the technology running rampant in our society, face-to face meetings will continue to remain important.  A recent interview article from PCMA's Convene magazine (July, 2011), reconfirmed this fact for me. Lisa Ling, journalist, was being interviewed for her upcoming general session at the DMAI Annual Convention, when asked about the "...importance of face-to face interaction." she stated, "....until you actually are able to interact with someone, look someone in the eys and engage them in conversation, can you really expect to be to....make decisions about people?"   No, you can't. 

Ms. Ling further went out to discuss the hinderance of human prejudgemental tendencies that occur within each of us, without us really taking the time to get to know people.  Because of this human judgemental nature and without face-to-face meetings in conjunction with reliance on technology, could we actually be taking steps backwards into truly becoming a global community?

Possibly technology makes it easier for us to connect on a more global level - reaching other countries, other organizations across time-zones and oceans.  However, how much are we really learning and understanding about those other countries - the culture, the customes, the people - through the technology?

With face-to-face meetings and actual in-person experiences, we can learn and understand more.  Meeting people in person, shaking hands, looking into their eyes, and sharing a human connection - not electronically-based or induced - provides us humans with the connections important to creating a community.
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I am pleased to announce our current website updates have been completed. We are not focused on offering our clients a strategic 3-pronged approach to help meet their event management needs.  Check out the new website and I welcome your thoughts, opinions and suggestions.
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Website changes 08/04/2011
 
Over the next few weeks check back to see ongoing website updates and changes and we continue to improve on our offerings to our clients!
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WEC Follow-up 07/27/2011
 
I just returned from MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) held in Orlando, FL.  What a great event!  Over the days I was able to connect with other planners and industry professionals - expanding my database of contacts, was able to continue to education myself and flew home with stacks of great ideas and interesting projects to potentially implement.  In addition I co-presented with Kassia Dellabough from George Washington Univeristy on the Core Skills Seminar.  With 20 delegates in the class representing 4 different countires and varying years of experience we went through the all-day seminar focusing on the varioius steps of the event-planning life cycle.  For more information, check out my article write up in One+ Magazine posted on the "News/Events" Tab.   If you can find an opportunity to attend a conference or program like WEC - immersing yourself with other industry profressionals - I recommed you do so.  You will be able to continue to grow professionally and personally!
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I just posted the last of 3 webinars I conducted in partnership with Meeting Professionals International.  Check them out on the News/Events page.  Also, this Saturday, July 23 - if you are in the Orlando area (and/or attending the MPI WEC) don't miss the 2011 WEC Core Skills Seminar taking place from 9:30 am - 4:30 pm at the Orange County Convention Center.  This is free to all industry professionals!  What a great opportunity to learn the Core Skills of meeting planning with myself and co-presenter Kassia Dellabough from George Washington University.  Click on the following link for more information:  http://www.mpiweb.org/Events/WEC2011/Events/fullschedule/sessiondetails?S=3523
 
Hope to see you there!
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