As IMEX looks toward its second American event — in October in Las Vegas — organizers are strategizing ways to improve the experience. At last year’s inaugural event, buyers and buyer-attendees praised the online scheduling system, which let them make their own appointments with exhibitors. This year IMEX America is introducing a personalized inbox that […]
New meeting and hospitality industry hires, promotions: January 2012
Arne Sorenson, president and chief operating officer of Marriott International, will become chief executive officer when JW Marriott Jr. steps down in March. Robin Graf was appointed vice president of operations for Castle Resorts & Hotels’ 22 properties in Hawaii, Saipan and New Zealand. Carlson Wagonlit Travel named Andrew Waller president of CWT Europe, Middle […]
New hires, sales staff, convention industry appointments: September 2011
New hires and convention staff at hotels, service providers and tourism agencies domestically and internationally.
2010 PYM Town Hall Austin: State of the Industry Report
How to keep staff motivated, tailor your product to the economy and meet event planner expectations were some of the solutions discussed at this event, held on Feb. 24, 2010 in Austin, Texas, which gathered current PYM partners together to discuss current sales and marketing challenges in the meetings industry.
A fun little song about meeting
From our friends at Keep America Meeting: A catchy little song from TBA Global and artist NewSide, commemorating industry advocacy efforts. Check it out! (Hit “Play the Song” and wait for the magic to begin.)
Hoteliers warn value-added tax will stunt economic growth
If a value-added tax (VAT) is enacted to pay for universal health care initiatives, it will destroy the nascent growth the meetings industry is seeing, warned Marriott International Chairman and CEO J. W. “Bill” Marriott and President Arne Sorenson on the June 2 episode of “Your World with Neil Cavuto.” The VAT, which is common […]
Good news, part II
A couple of weeks ago, I posted some links to stories that presented our industry in a favorable light. I’m glad to say that there have been more of them to share. The New York Times ran a great article by Ben Stein entitled, “Don’t Blame the Business Trip.” In it, he points out that […]
2009 PYM Town Hall Dallas: State of the Industry
The PYM Town Hall: State of the Industry event was a partner appreciation luncheon hosted by Plan Your Meetings and held at Dave and Busters’ Dallas-Frisco location on March 5, 2009. The event was designed to be a group “think-tank” session between PYM advertising partners. The list of questions divided among the tables was created […]
Meetings mean business
Scrutiny of financial companies receiving bailout money has been intense, and many — such as Wells Fargo and AIG — have been shamed into canceling meetings and events. But companies that have nothing to do with Troubled Assets Relief Program funds are canceling meetings, too. More than half of the meeting planners surveyed by Meetings […]
