Todd Squiers’ Post

Getting familiar with a group's schedule while they are "in-house" allows event planners to develop an operational rhythm during the group's stay. That being said, each group brings on new and different challenges each week for aspiring event planners. Go Hospitality Dawgs!

Getting familiar with a group's schedule while they are "in-house" allows event planners to develop an operational rhythm during the group's stay. That being said, each group brings on new and different challenges each week for aspiring event planners. Go Hospitality Dawgs!

I just returned from the annual IPEC (Independent Planner Educational Conference) hosted by NorthStar – and I am ANGRY!   Why? Because I met one of the most respected heads of a very well-known hotel sourcing company who confirmed exactly what I’ve been telling my clients. Here is what he said:   ·       “I do not negotiated rates on behalf of our clients”   ·       “I do not work for the client – I work for the hotels”   ·       “I do not take phone calls or answer emails”   ·       “Everything from the clients needs to the hotel responses must go thru the app”   ·       “I do not accept proposals from any properties outside of the app”   ·       “I do not do research for the best venue on behalf of my clients – I depend on the properties that reply via the app”   He also doesn’t do a bunch of other things - like make sure the contract with the venue reflects the proposals. Helps with planning the event. Help with a/v or F&B. He basically lets a computer do all his work because he is “too busy” to deal with all the details or represent the best interests of his clients. He says his “system” makes it easy for both the client & the venues & thus they are paying for “convenience.”   If he was your planner, wouldn’t you be angry too?   With SmallConferences.com you are NEVER a 2nd rate client. You always come FIRST. We make sure YOU get the very best deal & negotiate on your behalf. We work for YOU not the venue. Please take 1 min to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eNMkmD7P   #gatherings #events #event #partyplanner #eventplanning #party #birthday #eventdesign #weddings #eventmanagement #birthdayparty #eventorganizer #weddinginspiration #corporateevents #weddingplanning #meetings #meetingplanner #restaurants #restaurantbusiness #hotels #hotelsales

Planning a conference and not sure where to start? Here are a few tips that can help you kickstart your planning process. https://lnkd.in/er8BsXzU - Location: Selecting the right venue is crucial for the success of your conference. - Build a Mock Schedule: Outline a preliminary schedule for the conference to give an idea of how the days will flow. - Accommodations: Ensure attendees have comfortable accommodations by securing a block at a nearby hotel. - A/V Services: Invest in quality audiovisual services to ensure presentations run smoothly and attendees can fully engage with content being shared. - Catering: Food plays a significant role in creating a positive conference experience for attendees. - Transportation: Facilitate easy access to the conference venue by providing information on transportation options available in the area.

I've never organized a conference in a hotel ballroom. Since the start of my career, the choice of the venue has always been one of the key priorities. Right after defining the concept of the event and draft program. Because your venue needs to be a canvas for the experience you are creating, not the boundaries you need to fit in. Literally and figuratively. However, choosing unique venues for each event comes with its set of challenges: 1. You never know 100% of its specifics and peculiarities before signing the contract. It's just something you need to be prepared for. 2. You will need to work with a new venue manager every time. Many of them are not used to running your type of event, and they are also not used to people knowing what they want and how they want it. 3. You will need to adjust your program anyway due to certain limitations or needs of the venue. The good news is that when you navigate all of the above, there will be the element of surprise & delight for your team and attendees that will 100% upgrade the overall experience! P.S. Inspired by the jungle-style venue appraisal post by Katrine Rasmussen 🌴 #eventmarketing

Organizing an event goes beyond finding the right place and managing budgets. It is also about choosing the right content! In the platform next door, I'll chat with Craig Sullivan, Founder and President of California Lodging Conference (CLIC), in The Good Content's next episode. He will share his experience organizing one of the best events in the hospitality industry. We will discuss how he chooses the panel topics and guest speakers and what makes an event successful. Tune in and talk to us ;) #contentcreation

Transform your party offering with our ultimate guide to hosting memorable themed parties! 🎉 Dive into expert tips on selecting engaging themes, optimizing operations, and delivering magical guest experiences. 🪄 Whether you aim to boost bookings or create standout events, this guide provides everything you need for success. 🌟 🔗 https://ow.ly/bCsp50RGCLJ

🎈 NEW BLOG POST🎈 Meet Sertifi’s new event manager, Ginger Hart, CMP! In today’s blog post, with +20 years managing events for big names like Google and NASCAR, Ginger spills the tea on her biggest event to date – renting out Disneyland for 10,000 people – and how manual processes from hotels almost kept her from pulling it off. The Beginning: “The thought of hosting a Disneyland event was fun, but it was equally cumbersome due to the paper pushing that came with it.”  The Middle: “The manual process was not easy, but it was the only way. The only other option was not having the event.” The End: “I’m able to work from my phone and no longer worried about credit card details sitting in a paper tray unguarded. I’m free from jumping through hoops to event plan as I please.” Read more about what Ginger has to say about the effects of working with hotels with and without digitalization here: https://lnkd.in/gN8pxuTt #sertifi #newblogpost #eventmanager #hospitalitytech #authorizations #payments #hotels #events #weddingvenue #protectyourbusiness #paymentsolutions #creditcardprocessing #merchantservices #creditcardauthorizationform #eventmanagers #digitalsolutions #venueservices #revenueprotection     

Check out the weekly listing of the most popular discoveries on EPN Daily, this week it seems Hospitality Net is proving rather popular with visitors! The top 10 can be seen here https://lnkd.in/eAUZBux4 #EventIndustry #Blogs #Posts

Let’s MICE things up! We've got another exciting milestone to celebrate! Sharp-eyed observers may have already noticed: MICE has a brand spanking new website. And it's not just any website makeover! With this redesign, we're charting a whole new course for MICE Operations. Spoiler alert: after 10 years, we're bidding farewell to our faithful blue and saying hello to... Purple! Warmer, more creative, and original. We felt it was a much better fit for our clients: the new generation of event planners who are all about creativity, innovation, and hospitality. All to ensure their guests have an unforgettable experience right from the get-go. We firmly believe that event planning is fundamentally a creative process. Every venue has its own unique vibe, and boring quotes just don't cut it. That's where MICE comes in. We give event planners at every venue the tools they need to turn every event into a one-of-a-kind experience. Without the hassle or time-consuming processes. Our new website is just the beginning of what we have in store for this anniversary year. So, with great anticipation, we invite you to explore it at www.miceoperations.com.