Archive for the ‘meeting planner’ Category

Increase the ROI of Meetings

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Most meeting and event planners have probably already read about how companies want more value than ever before from their meetings these days. While this can create more work for planners, there are some things you can do to keep costs down while increasing ROI.

Think Replacement

If you need to help the company save money on a tight budget, replace these meeting parts:

Replace the reception with a working lunch — this will let people meet and network, as well as enjoy a meal together. Replace the open bar idea with team building exercises or mind storming training–these programs have a much better chance of improving the ROI than a bunch of drunk employees blowing off steam. Replace entertainment with a spa wellness trip. You will have more refreshed folks ready to work. Replace land based venues with a cruise meeting, and save as much as 40%. Cruising is all-inclusive, so Planners may be surprised to know that meeting rooms, meals, A/V equipment and luxury accommodations are all included in one low price.

Think Reduction

What if your client says, “Okay, that’s wonderful, let’s cut out the reception, evening entertainment, and the open bar welcome reception meet-and-greet! So what do we do on the last day?”

Cut those activities, and tell the client that not only will they save on the usual expenditures that don’t improve ROI on the cost of the meeting, but they can eliminate the last night’s hotel bill as well.

By just replacing the non-ROI generating activities and events, you have already increased the value of the meeting. Your client will be grateful for that for a long time. And happy, satisfied clients translate to more meeting planning business for you in the future. So, it pays to find every way to cut out unnecessary expenses and increase meeting ROI for your clients.

Increase meeting ROI with a cruise event. Cruising offers a savings of as much as 40 percent of the cost of hotelvenues, since a cruise is all inclusive. Go to Seasite.com to use the state-of-the-art cruise meeting planner, and make your next company event a cruise event!

Employee Incentives - Know What to Offer

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Have you ever considered why or if employee incentive travel is more preferable than a cash bonus? Is there more to incentive travel than purely compensating employee(s) for a job well done?

Figuring out the things that motivate your employees is a principal aspect of conducting business. It is essential to know specifically what motivates each person as an individual. If the bonus were a trip, where would your employees like to go? Would they like to be pampered with a spa vacation, go on a cruise to exotic destinations, or is they more intrigued in open-air activities such as skiing or golf? Making the bonuses you offer is more likely to persuade employees to do their greatest to make the trip.

Incentive travel is an aspect in keeping valued employees members. It is more cost effective to retain skilled individuals working for you rather than to train new people on a regular basis. Thanking employees for a job well done is something else that should not be overlooked. Those two words can stimulate workers on toward a common goal, particularly in difficult times.

Team efforts that earn a wonderful trip for the team involved promote the weaker members to work toward the capability level of the stronger team members. Contests can stimulate but they can also make staff to work against each other. Cooperative efforts many times get more valuable results and turn out employees who are more loyal too.

An all inclusive cruise meeting is one great way to motivate and thank employees. Putting together a corporate event such as a conference or a business meeting at sea makes a lot of sense, especially when it comes to getting the greatest value from the investments. Cruising can literally slash the cost of land based venues by 25-40%, allowing planners to persevere with today’s shrinking budgets. Why not make your next corporate incentive event a meeting-at-sea?

Seasite.com, the first online group cruise planning tool, permits event planners to capitalize on the value of all inclusive cruise meeting and incentives. A cruise can slash the cost of land based venues by 25-40%, allowing planners to persevere with today’s shrinking budgets. Why not make your next corporate incentive event a meeting at sea? Take a look at Seasite.com today!

Cruise Events and Corporate Wellness

Thursday, November 5th, 2009

Meetings at sea can be the perfect venue for corporate meetings of any size. The conference may be small, intimate, and intense or a huge function that fulfills continuing educational requirements, or rewards employees for a job well done.

Everyone can leave a cruise just a bit healthier, these days. Gone are the days when a cruise was a never-ending buffet and shuffleboard. Shipboard dining is still exceptional and often gourmet, but it is no longer about indulging in empty calories. Cruise ship dining selections are offered to accommodate every need and lifestyle from vegetarian to gourmand.

Cruise ships are well equipped when it comes to hosting corporate events, pleasing the requests of the most stringent client. The best news is that these ships are more cost effective, compared to other standard conference venues. All inclusive cruise meetings can cut the cost of land based venues by 25-40%, allowing Meeting planners to persist even with today’s shrinking budgets.

The demand for physical activities on a cruise has increased considerably. Corporations are wisely heedful that physical fitness is important to preserving their team members productive and healthy. Many cruise lines have the latest gym equipment and contract trainers to aid their guests stay in top shape. An alluring ocean view can relax the mind and boost the spirit while the body works away on the elliptical machine.

Pampering is also beneficial for the body and spirit. A ten-minute chair massage enhances blood flow to the brain and the extremities, leaving the person relaxed and more accommodating. It can be an amazing team building event as well. Some cruise lines offer reflexology sessions, another great way to rejuvenate body and mind. Overall, a cruise leaves a corporate team well fed, healthier, and better prepared to meet the demands of the business world.

Another fabulous feature about a cruise meeting is the opportunity to experience several destinations as you cruise along.

Why not make your next corporate incentive event a meeting-at-sea?

Seasite.com, the first online group cruise planning resource, allows event planners to capitalize on the value of all inclusive cruise meeting and incentives. Cruising can cut the cost of land based venues by 25-40%, allowing planners to be successful even with today’s shrinking budgets. Why not make your next corporate incentive a meeting at sea? Take a look at Seasite.com today!

categories: cruise meeting,incentive cruise,meeting at sea,cruise event,group cruise,meeting planner,event planning,travel,corporate wellness,wellness,employees

Careers in Event Planning

Saturday, August 1st, 2009

When preparing for a different career, one of the most weighty aspects you must consider is the salary. Meeting planner incomes vary broadly depending on the specialty and who you talk to, but there are a number of common guidelines to check when deciding on a career.

National Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.Bls.Gov) reports that in May of 2006 a convention planner’s median annual wages were $42,180, with the bottom end of the income scale at under $26,000 and the upper ten percent making more than $70,000. The agency further separated the specialties, stating business, professional, and political event planners made the highest amount, around $45,000, and the lowest wages were earned by persons in the travel industry at $38,270. Salary.Com reports current salaries at $53,532, with variations allowed for location and category.

Salary by Type

The type of planning you would like to do will determine a lot vis–vis your income and benefits. Corporate Meeting planners can get paid around $45,000 as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, but there are diverse types of corporate event planners. For example, meeting and convention planners could make a bigger salary than those who put together department and team building meetings.

Outside the corporate world, employees of nonprofits often have a little lesser salaries than corporate planners, but freelancers experience a more arduous time — they are self employed and some times labor additional hours as well. College and university event planner incomes may be more in the middle to low end of the event planner pay range.

Salary by Location

If you are interested in a particular location for your event planner career, you must look for statistics by state and city. For example, if you presently reside in a little town in Iowa but aspire to relocate to the East coast, do a study not only on average salaries, but also on cost of living, commute times, job availability, etc., before you reach your final decision. You may discover that a city that offers superior salaries also has a high cost of living and it would benefit you to look for a new place.

Nonetheless how you make your career decisions, investigation and education are important.

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Event Planner Salary Outlook

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

When preparing for a different career, one of the most imperative aspects you must consider is the salary. Meeting planner incomes vary broadly depending on the specialty and who you talk to, but there are a few common guidelines to check when deciding on a career.

National Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.Bls.Gov) reports that in May of 2006 a convention planner’s median annual income were $42,180, with the bottom end of the income scale at under $26,000 and the upper ten percent making more than $70,000. The agency further separated the specialties, stating business, professional, and political event planners made the highest amount, around $45,000, and the lowest wages were earned by persons in the travel industry at $38,270. Salary.Com reports current salaries at $53,532, with variations allowed for location and category.

Salary by Type

The type of planning you choose to do will determine a lot as regards your pay and benefits. Corporate Meeting planners might earn around $45,000 as the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, but there are various types of corporate event planners. For example, meeting and convention planners could make a superior salary than those who organize department and team building meetings.

Outside the corporate world, employees of nonprofits often have a little lesser salaries than corporate planners, but freelancers experience a more arduous time — they are self employed and some times labor additional hours as well. College and university event planner incomes may be more in the middle to low end of the event planner pay range.

Salary by Location

If you are interested in a certain location for your event planner career, you ought to analyze statistics by state and city. For example, if you presently reside in a tiny town in Iowa but would like to relocate to the East coast, do a study not only on average salaries, but also on cost of living, commute times, job availability, etc., before you reach your final decision. You may observe that a city that offers lofty salaries also has a high cost of living and it would benefit you to look for a different place.

Nonetheless how you make your career decisions, investigation and education are important.

About the Author: