In this time of economic uncertainty hotels are working with meeting planners to step up their concession and award systems. Take a look at this article on hotel award programs put out by Travel Weekly. Make sure, when planning your meeting to ask about planner points and double planner point options, many hotel brands are now offering upgrades. If you are not a member, join all of the programs - they are free! A few are mentioned below -
www.spg.com - Join Now! (Starwood Properties)
www.hilton.com -HHonors Join Now!
www.marriott.com -Marriott Rewards
www.hyatt.com - Hyatt Gold Passport - Join
www.omnihotels.com - Omni Loyalty Program
As a HelmsBriscoe partner we can make sure you are getting all the incentives offered. We know the brands, know the programs and know how to help our clients get the most bang for their buck. Let me show you how we can help save you time and money on your next meeting or site selection. As a HelmsBriscoe associate I work with Corporate, Association, and Foundation markets. As well as, military reunions and sporting events to help make their bottom line work for them.
Let's search together!
Hotels and venues want and need your business, especially now. HelmsBriscoe has wonderful exclusive partner programs that can make your job much more efficient. Let me go to work for you - free of charge.
Showing posts with label meeting planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label meeting planning. Show all posts
Monday, April 20, 2009
Friday, April 3, 2009
Meetings Are Worth the Cost!
Meetings are worth the cost. The Travel Industry Association of America compiled a comprehensive and aggressive campaign to change attitudes about meetings, events and incentive travel continues to reap results.
In addition to favorable stories this week on NBC's Today show, CNBC and the New York Times, an exchange yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives between Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV) is a clear sign that the tone has changed in Washington toward the value of business travel. Click here image or to play (may take a minute to buffer).The colloquy with Congressman Frank is a major win for our industry because it clarifies on the record the importance of business travel by the chairman of the Financial Services Committee and a respected House leader.
Remember corporate meetings, association meetings and incentive trips may be decreasing in size and budget, but they are worth the cost. To share industry information, as well as upkeep the morale of employees. This is a hard time for all America's, incentives are important -but must be kept in check.
As a HelmsBriscoe Manager for Global Accounts I can help make the meetings you have more cost productive. The exclusive partnerships we share with hotel brands, and convention and visitors bureaus is a one of a kind partnership. Try my site selection and contract negotiation skills. In this economy, you can't afford not to!
In addition to favorable stories this week on NBC's Today show, CNBC and the New York Times, an exchange yesterday on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives between Congressmen Barney Frank (D-MA) and Shelley Berkley (D-NV) is a clear sign that the tone has changed in Washington toward the value of business travel. Click here image or to play (may take a minute to buffer).The colloquy with Congressman Frank is a major win for our industry because it clarifies on the record the importance of business travel by the chairman of the Financial Services Committee and a respected House leader.
Remember corporate meetings, association meetings and incentive trips may be decreasing in size and budget, but they are worth the cost. To share industry information, as well as upkeep the morale of employees. This is a hard time for all America's, incentives are important -but must be kept in check.
As a HelmsBriscoe Manager for Global Accounts I can help make the meetings you have more cost productive. The exclusive partnerships we share with hotel brands, and convention and visitors bureaus is a one of a kind partnership. Try my site selection and contract negotiation skills. In this economy, you can't afford not to!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Deciding whether to hold your meeting or not?
Deciding whether to hold your meeting or not? Read on. The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) has a great point -counter point article on cutting meeting expenditures.
If you are still comparing costs - remember that HelmsBriscoe can be a valuable resource for you. Our buying power and exclusive partner agreements, along with expert contract negotiations, can make that meeting a no brainer, and good for your bottom line. Contact me for more information on how to help you save money and time - lcleary@helmsbriscoe.com!
If you are still comparing costs - remember that HelmsBriscoe can be a valuable resource for you. Our buying power and exclusive partner agreements, along with expert contract negotiations, can make that meeting a no brainer, and good for your bottom line. Contact me for more information on how to help you save money and time - lcleary@helmsbriscoe.com!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Corporate Meetings make sense of Stimulus Bill
Over the past few weeks our industry has been faced with the real possibility that government regulations would hinder corporations from using meetings as a legitimate business tool. As you know, several events have come under intense media scrutiny because they were being held by companies that were in so much financial trouble that they were reaching out to the US Treasury for support.
There is much debate on whether the coverage of these events was fair but regardless, they have created an environment of outrage and potential regulation that we fear will have unintended consequences. Last week, congress approved the following language within the stimulus bill:
20 ''(d) LIMITATION ON LUXURY EXPENDITURES.-The board of directors of
any TARP recipient shall have in place a company-wide policy regarding
excessive or luxury expenditures, as identified by the Secretary, which
may include excessive expenditures on (1) entertainment or events; (2)
office and facility renovations; (3) aviation or other transportation
services; or(4) other activities or events that are not reasonable
expenditures for staff development, reasonable performance incentives,
or other similar measures conducted in the normal course of the business
operations of the TARP recipient.
What this means is that the Secretary of the Treasury is going to establish a definition for ‘excessive or luxury’ expenditures. It is likely these regulations, while not having a legal bearing on non TARP companies, will influence the meetings policies of many organizations. This process will take weeks or even months and will give ample time for our industry to make our voices heard. What the industry has done to begin to address this issue is create a voluntary set of meeting guidelines to act as a model for companies and hopefully the Treasury Department.
These voluntary guidelines and speaking points are available through The American Hotel and Lodging Association. Read the points and understand the restrictions being placed upon the meeting industry. It is your duty, as a meeting planner, to inform your clients on pending legislation that may affect them tomorrow or in two years.
There is much debate on whether the coverage of these events was fair but regardless, they have created an environment of outrage and potential regulation that we fear will have unintended consequences. Last week, congress approved the following language within the stimulus bill:
20 ''(d) LIMITATION ON LUXURY EXPENDITURES.-The board of directors of
any TARP recipient shall have in place a company-wide policy regarding
excessive or luxury expenditures, as identified by the Secretary, which
may include excessive expenditures on (1) entertainment or events; (2)
office and facility renovations; (3) aviation or other transportation
services; or(4) other activities or events that are not reasonable
expenditures for staff development, reasonable performance incentives,
or other similar measures conducted in the normal course of the business
operations of the TARP recipient.
What this means is that the Secretary of the Treasury is going to establish a definition for ‘excessive or luxury’ expenditures. It is likely these regulations, while not having a legal bearing on non TARP companies, will influence the meetings policies of many organizations. This process will take weeks or even months and will give ample time for our industry to make our voices heard. What the industry has done to begin to address this issue is create a voluntary set of meeting guidelines to act as a model for companies and hopefully the Treasury Department.
These voluntary guidelines and speaking points are available through The American Hotel and Lodging Association. Read the points and understand the restrictions being placed upon the meeting industry. It is your duty, as a meeting planner, to inform your clients on pending legislation that may affect them tomorrow or in two years.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saving Money on Meetings - NOW
I have two clients I am working on meeting site selection options for 2009 meetings. Both clients are new to HelmsBriscoe and want to see a true advantange. Can we live up to what we promise?
My clients have been holding meetings on their own for years, so they wanted to see what we can do better - can we really save them time, money and provide unbiased feedback from a wealth of knowledge worldwide?
My first client has been holding an annual Holiday dinner for their employees - top notch hotel, food and beverage, etc... However, the economy brought me this account. How can we save money and can you really negotiate better rates than we can on our own? Yes, we can. I gave my client an analysis of 8 properties that fit their criteria, timeframe and budget - including the property they have been at for the past 7 years. The client had been paying for room rental and more than $200 per person, per room. The same property offered us a room rental waiver, with 80% attrition (usually 90%) and a $169 per person rate. The client was amazed and stated " they have never given us that low of a rate, not even seven years ago." Did the client go back to this property? Well, the contract is not signed yet, but they are looking at another property. Why? Because, of the room rates we negotiated, the property site inspection and a lower tax rate - which they had never looked at prior.
The above analysis offers several things you, as a meeting planner, will want to keep in mind:
1. Negotiate the attrition at 80% maximum - try for 0 attrition, alot of hotels are doing it now - at least for the next two years. "Attrition" is based on the amount of room nights you say you need, and how many you actually pick up. The hotels, in the past, have given very little leway on this. What you don't pick up, you are responsible for.
2. Negotiate that whatever rooms you don't pick up by a designated dealdine will be returned back into inventory, with no penalty to you.
3. Ask for 15% minimum reduction on AV
4. Ask for 2009 menu prices for 2010 functions...or ask for 10% off F00d and beverage in 2009.
5. Ask for water in pictures, instead of bottled water - this will save you money.
6. Always check out the complete tax breakdown. In our example above, the client narrowed the search to two properties, maybe 20 minutes apart, but in two different counties. One had a 16.75% tax rate the other 12%. More money saved!
The second client, is an international corporation. They have the skills, knowledge and buying power for just about anything. So, can we save them time and money?
The client gave me 48 hours to provide them with site options for their annual summer staff retreat - upper level management - most important criteria: must stay within the State of Ohio. I provided more than 15 properties that fit their specs within 24 hours. The pricing ranged from $99 for a Hyatt Regency to $150 at another upscale lodge in northern Ohio. The client is thrilled. Not only did HelmsBriscoe save them money, but we produced results in less time than originally designated.
Whether you decide to use HelmsBriscoe or not for your event or meeting planning - think about the following points:
1. How much time would it take your staff to find the properties that fit your designated criteria?
2. How would you appropriately rate the properties on rooms, meeting facilities, food and beverage and overall service? How would you know about upcoming construction or labor issues?
3. Would you have the buying power that we have - to get the rates you need to make your budget work for you?
4. Last, but most importantly, how much would all of these services cost you? Current employee salary? I am free of charge to you! A free resource to you!
Give HelmsBriscoe a try. I am amazed at the overall support all of our associates have on a day to day basis. You think of a question, we can get it answered. Even if you decide not to use us, remember the points we've discussed above.
My clients have been holding meetings on their own for years, so they wanted to see what we can do better - can we really save them time, money and provide unbiased feedback from a wealth of knowledge worldwide?
My first client has been holding an annual Holiday dinner for their employees - top notch hotel, food and beverage, etc... However, the economy brought me this account. How can we save money and can you really negotiate better rates than we can on our own? Yes, we can. I gave my client an analysis of 8 properties that fit their criteria, timeframe and budget - including the property they have been at for the past 7 years. The client had been paying for room rental and more than $200 per person, per room. The same property offered us a room rental waiver, with 80% attrition (usually 90%) and a $169 per person rate. The client was amazed and stated " they have never given us that low of a rate, not even seven years ago." Did the client go back to this property? Well, the contract is not signed yet, but they are looking at another property. Why? Because, of the room rates we negotiated, the property site inspection and a lower tax rate - which they had never looked at prior.
The above analysis offers several things you, as a meeting planner, will want to keep in mind:
1. Negotiate the attrition at 80% maximum - try for 0 attrition, alot of hotels are doing it now - at least for the next two years. "Attrition" is based on the amount of room nights you say you need, and how many you actually pick up. The hotels, in the past, have given very little leway on this. What you don't pick up, you are responsible for.
2. Negotiate that whatever rooms you don't pick up by a designated dealdine will be returned back into inventory, with no penalty to you.
3. Ask for 15% minimum reduction on AV
4. Ask for 2009 menu prices for 2010 functions...or ask for 10% off F00d and beverage in 2009.
5. Ask for water in pictures, instead of bottled water - this will save you money.
6. Always check out the complete tax breakdown. In our example above, the client narrowed the search to two properties, maybe 20 minutes apart, but in two different counties. One had a 16.75% tax rate the other 12%. More money saved!
The second client, is an international corporation. They have the skills, knowledge and buying power for just about anything. So, can we save them time and money?
The client gave me 48 hours to provide them with site options for their annual summer staff retreat - upper level management - most important criteria: must stay within the State of Ohio. I provided more than 15 properties that fit their specs within 24 hours. The pricing ranged from $99 for a Hyatt Regency to $150 at another upscale lodge in northern Ohio. The client is thrilled. Not only did HelmsBriscoe save them money, but we produced results in less time than originally designated.
Whether you decide to use HelmsBriscoe or not for your event or meeting planning - think about the following points:
1. How much time would it take your staff to find the properties that fit your designated criteria?
2. How would you appropriately rate the properties on rooms, meeting facilities, food and beverage and overall service? How would you know about upcoming construction or labor issues?
3. Would you have the buying power that we have - to get the rates you need to make your budget work for you?
4. Last, but most importantly, how much would all of these services cost you? Current employee salary? I am free of charge to you! A free resource to you!
Give HelmsBriscoe a try. I am amazed at the overall support all of our associates have on a day to day basis. You think of a question, we can get it answered. Even if you decide not to use us, remember the points we've discussed above.
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