Planning Pod

JANUARY 7, 2025

In this article, well explore common pitfalls that lead to dropped leads, provide strategies to identify and address these leaks, and offer best practices for optimizing your event sales process. Proposal & contracting Now its time for everyones favorite part: closing deals. But never fear! Are your proposals crystal clear?

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MeetingsNet

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

The new meetings-industry A.I. engine is impressive, but planners need to understand how best to use its contracts section and how human expertise is still required. That’s the small print on the legal prompts in Spark, the meetings-specific generative-A.I. Warning: Please note that the generated output is not legal advice.

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Conferences that Work

JUNE 12, 2017

I love my meeting design clients, but there is one mistake I see them making over and over again. Clients invariably ask me to help design their meeting after they’ve chosen a venue! Read the full article at Conferences That Work. Here’s why they do it, and why it’s a mistake.

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Conferences that Work

DECEMBER 5, 2016

Van Halen ‘s 1982 World Tour performance contract contained a provision calling for them to be provided backstage with a bowl of M&Ms from which all the brown candies had been removed. I am well aware of the incredible demands made on meeting planners before and during events. ” — Brown Out , snopes.com.

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SmartMeetings

JUNE 13, 2020

Editor’s note : The lawyer quoted in this article is not providing legal advice. In the latest Smart Meetings Accelerator “ Top Planner Contract Questions Answered ,” Lisa Sommer Devlin, an expert in contract law at Devlin Law Firm , answers those very questions (and more) for planners. Devlin: Contracts Made Easy.

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Conferences that Work

MAY 14, 2018

Mythodology: Event socials are a good way to meet people. Participant-driven and participation-rich events provide far more opportunities to meet people you actually want to meet. Mythodology: Adding novelty to a meeting makes it better. But making your meeting better lasts. Reality : Novelty is a one-time trick.

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SmartMeetings

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

Negotiation experts share tips for building win-win event contracts The ROI is in the details when drafting a vendor contract. A win-win contract allows everyone to feel that their biggest risks are covered and they can partner in good faith to execute confidently while working creatively to deliver the best event possible.

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QC Event School

FEBRUARY 23, 2023

As an event planner, your contract is one of the most important documents in your business. Writing a solid event planning contract helps ensure that everyone involved understands their roles and responsibilities, as well as what they can expect from the event itself. So, let’s get started!

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Velvet Chainsaw

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023

Many of our clients have had to navigate unchartered waters as venue contracts (that were secured years ago) are now being questioned and challenged by members in states that have adopted discriminatory and women’s health laws that go against the mission and values of the association.

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Conferences that Work

NOVEMBER 13, 2022

Here are five examples of how explicit communication improves meetings. 1—Tell attendees how your meeting socials will be social! Want to make your meeting “socials” actually social? A little explicit pre-party communication will improve your meeting. Don’t just throw a party with loud music.

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MeetingsNet

APRIL 4, 2024

Planners: Do not sign venue contracts for event production, electrical services, internet access, and support services until you read the full document—especially if you are bringing in an outside audiovisual company for the event, which usually results in extra conditions and raises prices for certain elements.

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Smart Meetings

MARCH 2, 2022

Editor’s Note : This opinion piece is a version of an article first posted on LinkedIn. People are rejecting the old social contract, reevaluating their personal hierarchy of needs, and exploring a new path to happiness. The post Welcome to the Age of Intelligent Reduction appeared first on Smart Meetings.

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MeetingsNet

DECEMBER 20, 2022

If ever there was a force-majeure situation that meeting planners had not thought about, this is it. According to this article from CBS News , “it was a tsunami that engulfed the hotel and neighboring restaurants,” said Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey, noting that it was sheer luck that the aquarium failure occurred at 5:45 a.m.

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Guidebook

APRIL 23, 2025

This article will help you: ask the right questions. Having clear answers to the above questions will help narrow down your options so you avoid visiting venues that dont meet your basic requirements. Does the venues sound system meet your needs? What is the F&B minimum and what happens if you dont meet it?

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Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 13, 2017

Countless experts — such as accountants, plumbers, doctors, lawyers, and meeting planners — will take your money in exchange for advice or services. Or an attorney writes competent contracts but his drafts need to be carefully checked to make sure that changes you request are actually incorporated. I hope they help you too.

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SmartMeetings

OCTOBER 17, 2022

How can you, as a planner, structure contracts to be flexible? What can you do at the contract level to make sure that last-minute changes don’t have a negative impact on your event or your budget? Look into the history of pre/post stays with your attendees and contract accordingly. Start Sooner. Trust But Verify.

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EventPlanning

JULY 15, 2020

Creating event contracts can be intimidating. Don’t fret, this article will help you create a basic event contract that will include clauses to help protect your event business. Your contract is a tool that will protect your time, reputation as well as your bank account. One story in particular that comes to mind.

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MeetingsNet

AUGUST 24, 2023

Representing thousands of hotel workers in Southern California, Unite Here Local 11 calls for a boycott of the entire city by meetings and events. A few groups had already moved upcoming meetings out of hotels without a new union contract. A list of the union’s contract desires can be found in this MeetingsNet article.

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PCMA Convene

OCTOBER 30, 2020

Members of PCMA’s Catalyst community discuss when they might be able to invoke the force majeure clause in contracts for 2021 meetings. We have a 2021 contract in late April in Chicago for which we updated the force majeure clause to include COVID-19 as a specific situation that would allow us to cancel.

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Conferences that Work

MARCH 25, 2019

Though it’s clearly sensible to keep a conference running on schedule, we’ve all attended meetings where rambling presenters, avoidable “technical issues”, incompetent facilitation, and inadequate logistics have made a mockery of the published program. Stay on time! It seems obvious to do this. Stay on time!

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SmartMeetings

MAY 28, 2020

Editor’s note : The lawyers quoted in this article are not providing legal advice. When you begin planning in-person meetings again, the last thing you want is for an attendee to suddenly become ill and blame you for it. See also : How to Write Force Majeure to Protect Your Meeting from the Next Pandemic.

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SmartMeetings

APRIL 2, 2025

Contract Like a Pro Clear and comprehensive contracts help everyone involved. But legal language can be confusing, and its especially important to pay attention and make sure you fully understand every aspect of your contracts. This article appears in the March 2025 issue. You can subscribe to the magazine here.

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GEVME

JUNE 13, 2018

In his article for Smashing magazine , the founder of HybridConf, Zach Inglis, states that the aim of every conference organiser should be to create experiences that reenergize people and fill them with new zeal for their work. Make your final selection, confirm the final details with a host, and sign a contract. Invest in paid ads.

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MeetingsNet

AUGUST 6, 2024

getting flooded by Debby, some meetings could have their itineraries cut short—and face attrition fees. along with a few meetings that were caught in its path. Related Article: Force Majeure Clauses: Out of Sync with Natural Disasters? With the southeastern U.S. Hurricane Debby has left its mark on the southeastern U.S.,

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Conferences that Work

JULY 1, 2024

PSFG has a deep appreciation for the importance of meeting design. ” —Extract from an interview with Cath Thompson of Peace and Security Funders Group (PSFG) by Alec Saelens on January 25, 2024 Rachel contracted me in 2022 for design consultation on PSFG’s first online peer conference. Why does it matter?

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MeetingsNet

MARCH 10, 2022

Planners and hoteliers weigh in on how to protect meetings from the labor crisis. In the meeting industry, the phrase “It’s a relationship business” is often bandied about. We now proactively look at service-related clauses to include in our contracts. More than Ever, Communication is the Key. Grimes, Esq.,

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MeetingsNet

JANUARY 8, 2019

The best way to do this is to know your legal responsibilities and liabilities and make sure the contract is suited to the type of venue, location, and event. For instance, travelers may be afraid of the Zika virus, but it won’t get you out of a contract. Tyra Hilliard, Esq., Fear does not constitute force majeure.

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Conferences that Work

DECEMBER 18, 2023

Before 2020, I was designing and facilitating around a dozen in-person meetings and conferences a year. After COVID decimated the meeting industry, I focused on the design and facilitation of online meetings. He has stayed on top of new meeting trends and technologies for decades. 2023 in review I slowed down in 2023.

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SmartMeetings

OCTOBER 21, 2021

Heck, I almost did—see my previous article, “ The One-year Anniversary of When I Almost Left the Industry ”—so I can completely understand. Simultaneously, full-time, part-time and contract planning positions were slashed as “not needed.”. Supply, meet Demand as we move back into the world of live events.

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Conferences that Work

SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

For example, meeting rooms, specialized support staff, and travel budgets are often plentiful and generous. And if I can’t do a good job for them, whatever the quantity of work, I won’t sign a contract.). My contracts with large clients may involve more time and money than similar work for a smaller client (see below).

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MeetingsNet

JULY 10, 2023

Among the hotels affected by the latest strike are the 803-room Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles, with 56,834 square feet of meeting space, and the 747-room Westin Los Angeles Airport, with 56,170 square feet of meeting space. For meeting professionals, striking hotel workers present at least two significant challenges.

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MeetingsNet

JUNE 27, 2023

Be prepared for how deposits, billing, rebooking, concessions, and more are being handled by meeting properties today. This excerpt from “ What to Know About Event Sourcing: Part 1 ” is reprinted with permission from the Meetings & Incentives Worldwide blog. Advance deposits are a new and impactful trend. Rebook and Resale.

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Eventmobi

MAY 23, 2024

If a speaker agrees to participate, send them a contract that stipulates their role in the conference, the amount they’ll earn, and other pertinent details. Then draft and sign a contract that defines the role of each sponsor. . Sign up for a free demo of EventMobi today to see if the tool meets your unique needs.

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SmartMeetings

JULY 30, 2024

3 tips for events that meet goals and fit the budget As planners, we’re expected to deliver results while delighting our clients and staying on budget. For example: If you’re negotiating a contract in 2024 for a 2027 meeting, lock in menu pricing based on current prices. Check options for internet usage in the meeting space.

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Expo Pass

JUNE 13, 2023

Respond in a timely manner and be patient with setting calls and meetings. A quick way to gain more favorable terms is to offer a long-term contract. This is what it all leads to—the contract. Think of your contract as the seatbelt for your new relationship; if things crash, you’ll be protected. Deal or no deal?

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MeetingsNet

DECEMBER 2, 2021

A meeting professional’s expertise can go in any number of directions: marketing, adult education, event design, site selection, contracting, event technology … It’s a dynamic role. A discussion with any potential meeting venue should cover air-circulation and air-quality issues.

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MeetingsNet

DECEMBER 14, 2022

Many of the most-read articles from the past year will remain relevant in the year to come, with information on contract clauses and planning stress to EU entry regulation changes and, yes, shoes. Here’s our report from September 29, “ Hurricane Ian Damages Florida’s Peak Meetings Season.”. The top 10: Did you read them all?

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