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Thursday, 08 April 2010 14:36 |
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Feeling nickel and dimed nowadays? Join the club. The recent announcement of Spirit Airlines to charge passengers as much as $45 for each piece of carry-on luggage has left some people to wonder what’s next?
Sad but true, even the meetings and events industry cannot buck this trend. I recently was speaking with the catering department of a local venue discussing ways to implement green practices to my event. I requested they supply pitchers of water versus bottled water hoping to implement good environmental practices and cut costs for my client. Imagine my surprise when I found out there would be a dishwashing fee for each glass used!
And that’s not all. Here are just some of the other “convenience” charges new and old that we have to budget for when planning:
- Select hotels now charge what they call a “resort fee.” This grants guests access the pool and fitness center on site- a perk that used to come free with reserving such a room.
- Not a newly issue fee, but nonetheless still hard to swallow is the pricey Internet charges at hotels and convention centers for guests and exhibitors.
- Many hotels now are applying a mandatory bell or housekeeping gratuity to guests’ bills without disclosing these costs upfront.
- Planners and brides and grooms may have noticed that room blocks reservations are no longer a free service in some establishments. Some hotels charge up to $10 to hold the space for you.
Every facility is different and these charges may vary from place to place. One thing is certain, nowadays it is a must to read the fine print and research your options before making a commitment. Your wallet will thank you. |
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Monday, 05 April 2010 17:08 |
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Special D Events' subsidiary, The Anniversary Company is seeking an intern for Summer 2010 with an interest in marketing and sales. This unpaid internship will run from mid-April to August. Candidate should have strong organizational and telephone skils. Click to learn more about this great opportunity.
If interested, please send resume to Carol Galle at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or fax it to (248) 336-8610. |
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Friday, 19 March 2010 17:29 |
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Take back the tap! I just came across, “Free Your Event From Bottled Water”, a Practical Guide to Take Back the Tap at Your Next Event. Although it was written in 2008, the material is still very relevant and useful today. Go Green! Click here to read the article! |
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Monday, 22 February 2010 20:05 |
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Looking for a unique way to brand your next event? Snowmasters, an Alabama-based company has come up with an exciting option: Flogos – logos that fly! Turn your company’s logo into a “cloud” and have it released at your next indoor or outdoor event. Flogos can travel from 1 to 30 miles and float as high as 5,000 feet. To learn more about this innovative form of advertising visit their website: http://www.flogos.net/index.html. |
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Thursday, 18 February 2010 19:10 |
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Michigan-based event planners have a new option for green meeting and event transportation. The Night Move, Metro Detroit's Green Public Transit rents out 28- and 30- passenger shuttle buses for private events. The Night Move runs on B20 biodiesel, with emissions that cause 50% less harm to our ozone and our health. Think greener for transportation at your next event: http://www.thenightmove.com/. |
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Wednesday, 02 December 2009 00:00 |
The U.S. Green Building Council has released a new Green Venue Selection Guide:
Integrating LEED into Travel & Event Management. If you are looking to host an environmentally friendly meeting or event, you should take a look. http://lists.usgbc.org/t/1024217/24830502/2463/0/ |
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Monday, 19 October 2009 00:00 |
Carbon neutral. Carbon offset. Climate neutral. Can you define these green terms? As green meeting planners, Special D Events staff has been studying a helpful green glossary created by Travel Portland. It's a handy tool, so we thought we would pass it on. http://greenmeetings.travelportland.com/greenmeet101/greenGlossary.html Enjoy! |
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Friday, 16 October 2009 00:00 |
With industry conferences getting shorter and shorter these days, attendees need to make the most of their networking time.
Here is an idea that will help them do just that.
If your conference ends at 4 or 5 pm, many of your attendees will be able to catch a flight out that night. But, some will be stuck staying the night, or choose to stay the night in order to conduct other business in town the next day. Give them one more chance to mingle with their fellow conference attendees by holding a "Stragglers' Reception." It doesn't have to be long or lavish, but it will allow this group one last chance to accomplish their networking goals. |
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Wednesday, 07 October 2009 00:00 |
Is anyone using www.doodle.com? I just learned about this helpful tool to schedule board meetings, planning sessions, etc. It allows you to efficiently check everyone's calendars and set up dates/times that works for all. Since these types of meetings are often a part of overall event planning, I think this could be very useful.
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Monday, 28 September 2009 00:00 |
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A new study by Oxford Economics, a global research firm, provides clear evidence that business travel directly leads to an increase in both corporate revenue and profits. The study found that every dollar invested in business travel results in $12.50 in added revenues and $3.80 in new profits.
The Wall Street Journal recently referenced this study in an article which also touted the value of using technology to improve meeting ROI. Special D Events is encouraged by the results of the Oxford Economics study, and I'm pleased to say that we are continually researching new ways to use technology in meetings. The future is now.
To read the article, click here: http://online.wsj.com/ad/article/globaltravel-face
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Thursday, 17 September 2009 00:00 |
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On September 10, 2009 the legendary Tavern on the Green restaurant in New York's Central Park filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. In the world of special events, Tavern on the Green is an icon. From gala weddings, to corporate holiday parties, to film premieres, the restaurant has played host to an endless list of soirees. It's very sad to think that a restaurant whose existence personifies the word celebration could become only a memory itself. I wish the new owner (Dean Poll) who is set to take over the restaurant later this year, all the best. We're with you Dean, keep the dreams alive!
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Friday, 17 July 2009 00:00 |
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Special D Events' staff had the opportunity to assist with the speech/event this week by President Barack Obama in Warren, Michigan. Regardless of your politics, working on a presidential event is an amazing opportunity. The staff on the White House Advance Team are experts at high pressure, last minute high level event situations. And, when it comes to event security, it doesn't get any more complicated than this, particularly since the event was outdoors. In the end, the sun shined, the seats were full, and the event ran smooth as glass. Too bad the Secret Service isn't available to work all of our public events! They were the best. |
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Tuesday, 02 June 2009 00:00 |
High gas prices and even higher unemployment rates are prompting many people to opt for a “staycation.” The idea is to take a vacation in your own neck of the woods, discovering unique activities and places that are right under your nose. This concept could easily be applied to summertime corporate events as well.
Few companies consider using their own facilities for an event unless they are hosting a grand opening of some sort. However, many corporate locations have well manicured lawns and ample space for such gatherings. If it is an employee party that is being planned, the company office is bound to be a central location for most. It’s also a good excuse to have employees clean up their work space!
As for entertainment at the event, we have American Idol to thank. The singing craze is not going anywhere. People are fascinated by watching amateurs perform. Getting creative by using the human resources you have in house can be both cost effective and entertaining.
So if rising costs are threatening the life of your party, don’t cancel the event, just rethink your approach.
-- Lindsay Krause, Event Planner |
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Monday, 01 June 2009 00:00 |
Delta Air Lines will start offering discounted fares to those of us planning meetings and events.
Apparently, the discounts will be based on a program once offered by Northwest Airlines that allowed travel buyers to negotiate discounts of between 5 and 7 percent, excluding taxes and fees, for meeting-goers. The policy was particularly helpful when a meeting was expected to attract attendees from multiple cities. Organizers could offer the meeting-fare discount to people headed to the event, no matter which city they were coming from. Meeting fare policies also often eliminated Saturday-night stay requirements.
Delta offered similar discounts for years as part of its Delta Meeting Network product, but abandoned the program when it launched its “SimpliFares” initiative four years ago. SimpliFares eliminated enough restrictions on ticket pricing that Delta told corporate buyers that meeting fares were no longer necessary.
Thanks Delta! |
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