Identity Crisis: What Exactly Is a Meeting Planner?
So few people in the general public understand what meeting planners do. We can’t even decide what to call ourselves. Why does meeting planning have such an identity crisis?
Barbara Scofidio, Editor at Skift Meetings, is an industry-leading editor with over 30 years of experience in travel, meetings, and incentives. A founding member of SITE’s Women IN Leadership committee, she has spearheaded numerous face-to-face events and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. Barbara is passionate about advancing green meetings, CSR, and raising awareness of human trafficking within the meetings and travel industry. She serves on the Advisory Board of The Above and Beyond Foundation, which awards life-changing grants to front-line hotel employees.
Comfortable, No-Hassle Attire: Planners’ New Wardrobe
Both on site and at industry events, comfy, slip-on and wrinkle-free attire is the way to go.
Hotel Fees Meeting Planners Hate the Most
Destination charges. Administrative fees. Water excise taxes. Hotel fees can add 30 to 40% to a meeting budget.
Rethinking Next-Gen Events
For an event to be memorable for younger-generation attendees, it must be meaningful and authentic—not just creative.
The Neverending Fam Scammer Nightmare
As long as there have been fams, there have been fam scammers. They’re a costly nuisance that the industry can’t seem to get under control.
Beyond the Mocktail: 10 Planners Share Their Favorite Healthy Alternatives
Mocktails have been getting a bad rap lately because of all that sugar. Here are some creative alternatives for non-drinking attendees, from kombucha kegs to a water sommelier.
14 Meeting Pros Share Their Best Packing Tips
Who better to ask for packing tips than meeting planners who are constantly on the road? From the 5-4-3-2-1 rule to a portable Nespresso machine, they have all the tricks.
All This Talk About Planner Stress is Stressing Us Out
Could we be making our jobs more stressful by constantly talking about how stressful they are? Some experts say yes, and there’s even a term for it.
When Team Building Misses the Mark
No amount of bonding will help if employees are overworked, management is toxic, or the activity of choice is either ‘cliché’ or a poor fit for the group.
For Senior Women, Ageism is Real
Many senior women meeting planners and department heads are better at ‘making it happen’ than promoting their value to the C-level. Their jobs could be at risk because of that.