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The 33 skills meeting and event planners need to succeed

June 27, 2016 by Kristi Casey Sanders 34 Comments

The 33 skills meeting and event planners need to succeed

Did you realize there are 33 essential skills you must master to be an efficient and effective event organizer? Here’s a preview of PYM’s newest educational series.

Filed Under: Career advancement Tagged With: career advice, getting started, mbecs, professional development

Remember, spreadsheets are our friends

July 29, 2013 by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP Leave a Comment

Also keep in mind that procurement is a verb, and that means it requires action on your part.

Filed Under: Project management, PYM Blog Tagged With: mbecs, meeting planning 101, meeting the standard, planning meeting, procurement plans, project management

Get your message out loud and clear

July 8, 2013 by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP Leave a Comment

Most good themes are developed in brainstorming sessions, either in groups or through your own imagination.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbecs, meeting the standards, meeting theme, planning 101, project management

The right preparation takes guesswork out of what-ifs

June 19, 2013 by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP Leave a Comment

Wow, the title of this section — standards and procedures for project management — is a yawn, don’t you think? But read on …

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbecs, meeting planning advice, meeting planning basics, meeting planning best practices, meeting the standards, meetings and events, project plans, standards and procedures

Crafting a solid project plan is a critical first step

May 22, 2013 by Terry Matthews-Lombardo, CMP

This attention to detail separates the most successful planners from the rest of the pack.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbecs, meeting planning advice, meeting planning basics, meeting planning best practices, meeting the standards, meetings and events, project plans

5 tips for building, growing your professional connections

April 24, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

No alliance can succeed if there is not equality and mutual benefit at its foundation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: best practices, conduct business communication, mbecs, meeting planning 101, meeting planning advice, meeting the standard, meetings and events

Getting the most mileage out of going face-to-face

April 10, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

There are a few simple items, which, if addressed, can turn nonbelievers into vocal advocates for your event.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: face-to-face meetings, mbecs, meeting advice, meeting best practices, meeting planning, meeting the standards

6 ways communicators can clean up their act

March 20, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

For both experts and newbies, less is more.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: communication, effective presentations, face to face, mbecs, meeting and event planning, meeting planning 101, meeting planning advice, meeting planning best practices, meeting the standard

In other words, don’t bring a knife to a gunfight

March 4, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

Communication basics are a practical necessity.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: communication, communication tools, email, face to face, mbecs, meeting and event planning, meeting planning 101, meeting planning advice, meeting planning best practices

Get that in writing! Spelled correctly, of course

January 17, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

Written communication can make us look like a superstar or an idiot in the blink of an eye. Some tips …

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: communication, email, face to face, mbecs, meeting planner education, planning 101

There really are times when email, text just won’t do

January 7, 2013 by Stacey Ruth Leave a Comment

As meeting planners, we are champions of the power of live, face-to-face communication.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: communicate verbally, communication, email, face to face, mbecs, meeting and event planning, meeting planning 101, meeting planning advice, meeting planning best practices, text

Make sure you and your team keep getting better

December 10, 2012 by Paula Rigling, CAE, CMP Leave a Comment

Take a step back and see if how you work helps your team members improve. There are a number of ways you can make sure you all get better.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbecs, meeting planning advice, planning 101, team-building

The best decision you can make today: Analyzing your decisions

November 20, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

Decision-making is integral to doing our jobs successfully, so it’s important to do a self-check to ensure that we’re making solid choices.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: decision-making, industry trends, mbecs, meeting and planning education, meeting the standard, professionalism

You can find time to stay current on news and trends

October 31, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

There aren’t enough hours in the day as it is. So how do we make time for staying current on industry trends? Try dedicating 15 minutes a day to education or adding “lunch and learn” sessions to your workweek …

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: industry trends, mbecs, meeting and planning education, meeting the standard

To fix any problem, you must first understand it

October 15, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

Problem-solving is the nature of our business and if you are not 100 percent committed to the project (the goal), you will never truly succeed.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: beauty and the brain, james rota and christy lamagna, mbecs, meeting the standard, planning 101, problem-solving

Time isn’t the enemy when you know how to manage it

October 10, 2012 by Qualena Odom-Royes, CSEP, CMP Leave a Comment

We have all heard “time is of the essence” and “time is money,” but how do you use the minutes and hours of the day to your advantage?

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbecs, meeting planning 101, planning 101, time management

Every planner deserves a massage, manicure or dance break

October 3, 2012 by Erica Prewett Leave a Comment

Managing production schedules. Selecting the menu. Planning meetings. Flight schedules. Walk-throughs on both sides of the city on the same day. Oh, and family responsibilities. It can be a lot on one person’s plate. But we’re not just one person. We’re meeting planners. And that kind of makes us superheroes. We can do it all. […]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advice & Best Practices, best practices, manage stress, mbecs, meeting planning, planning 101

Listening well opens door to good relationships

September 19, 2012 by Marla Watson, CSEP, CTA Leave a Comment

Working with colleagues is an important part of any job, but it’s crucial when planning meetings and events.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: mbec: 32.04, mbecs, meeting the standard, working with colleagues

Industry challenges Part 2: Economic, government obstacles

September 17, 2012 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

Meeting planners can’t keep the Euro from collapsing or prevent a double-dip U.S. recession. But they can prepare to be their own best advocates.

Filed Under: PYM Blog Tagged With: economy, gsa, industry challenges, mbec, mbecs, sunshine act

Today’s workforce is multicultural, are you?

September 12, 2012 by Kelly McDonald Leave a Comment

With societal shifts, and the impact of new technology, the meetings industry is a whole new world. Our tips.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: audience engagement, diversity, mbecs, meeting planning 101, professionalism

Boss vs. leader: Each has a purpose, which one are you?

July 25, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, Leave a Comment

Being a boss and being a leader are two entirely different things …

Filed Under: Being professional, PYM Blog, Staffing Tagged With: boss, leader, leadership, mbecs, professional behavior

For better or worse, first impressions create lasting results

July 11, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

Three seconds. That’s all the time we get to make a first impression. When you think about it, that’s a lot of pressure, especially in a business setting.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Advice & Best Practices, mbecs, meeting planning 101, project a professional image

Beware the shrimp boat, and look for the wow

June 20, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

Balance, form and function, scale, interest and unity are the guidelines to good design, says James S. Rota, who learned the hard way. Ask him about the shrimp boat.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: beauty and the brain, event design and decor, mbec 19.02, mbecs, meeting goals, meeting planning 101, meeting strategies

Ready, set … surprise! Averting disaster

May 30, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

For most, the blackout of the century would be a reason to cancel a program, but not if you’re an event strategist. Make sure you’re ready if any crisis, large or small, hits.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: averting disaster, Crisis Management, mbecs

Start at the end, and you will end up on top

May 15, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

Setting goals — creating excitement for a new product launch or helping the sales force deal with change, for example — should be what drives you. Your theme and message should support the goal.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: beauty and the brain, mbecs, meeting goals, meeting planning 101, meeting strategies

Logistics or design? Let the learning begin!

May 2, 2012 by Christy Lamagna, CMP, CMM, CTSM, and James S. Rota Leave a Comment

When planning a program, which is more important, the logistics or the design? The answer, just as with the proverbial “chicken or the egg?” question, depends on your perspective.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: conference design, event design, mbecs, planning 101, planning logistics

Do you have what it takes to be a meeting planner?

August 16, 2011 by Kristi Casey Sanders Leave a Comment

There are 33  skills that meeting professionals must master before they can achieve the Meeting and Business Event Competency Standards (MBECS). A joint creation of Meeting Professionals International and the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, the free public guide provides the first comprehensive, global set of standards for the meeting and event industry. The standards […]

Filed Under: Meeting industry news Tagged With: canadian tourism human resources council, corporate meetings and events, how to plan meetings, mbecs, meeting and business event competency standards, meeting planning, meeting professionals international







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Everything we do at Plan Your Meetings @ Meeting Professionals International is designed to educate, inspire and empower meeting planners, and connect them to the ideas and resources they need to plan better meetings and events. Read More…

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