Blog Entries

"Judgment Day" or how well did a speaker do?

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Speakers - trainers - presenters - faciliators - all needed at meetings. Organizations fret about the questions asked on evaluation forms, and those who present in any form frequently fret about how they are judged, er, ah, evaluated.

How do we know if a session went well? What tells us if people in the session learned from the session because of the content, the delivery, the room set or setting, or because valued colleagues were there?

Finally - a day to have caught up on [...]

When bad things happen in good cities

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Washington, DC - the place I've called home since 1978 - has an often maligned reputation.

It is referred to by politicians and newscasters (and, now, it seems ordinary citizens) as WASHINGTON, the place where all evil happens to harm this country. I shake my head in sadness every time I hear this since I know that we are a place of people just like any other and the 'evil' people perceive is only in the Federal enclaves of Congress, the White House, and othe [...]

Never let your badge hang near your pupik

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The proper place to wear a pin- or clip-on badge is on your right side so that others may, when you shake hands, see it easily. (This assumes certain abilities; the ADA and people with disabilities has been addressed here and will be again.)

Lanyards, which are (to my dismay) the rage at all meetings, make your badge land, at best, in the middle of your chest but more often than not, a lanyard will make your badge fall near your pupik. (Scroll [...]

Resurrection

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Today, Sat., 13 September, my husband and I and our friend, Bev, had an experience that left all of us a bit drained while also giving us so much food for thought.

The experience was "Resurrection", a play at Arena Stage in DC, that runs until 5 October. Its playwright, Daniel Beaty, says in the playbill "I have always been interested in exploring issues surrounding black men. When I read the [National] Urban League's 2007 Report, it became clear to m [...]

Let's talk turkey

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

It happened again .. at the convention center in a major city just the other day. It seems to happen almost everywhere.

This week it was the 'turkey wrap sandwich' which had that strange stuff on it that restaurants - and even room service in the best hotels - call what they put on a club sandwich. They tell you it's real turkey when you order - and when the in-room dining server brings your sandwich, you know it is not turke [...]

Did you hear the one about the poor hotels...

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

that were fighting the US Justice Department about renovating hotels to ensure they'll be accessible under the revised ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act?

When I read that story on a few industry web sites, I shook my head in wonder, sadness, and anger. How dare they say they can't do these renovations to ensure accommodation for all people when they can continue to put in fancy TVs and more and more amenities!

Then I read this story in the 9.6.08 Washin [...]

A room with a partial ocean view

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I've always chuckled at that description. Early on in my industry career I learned what it meant: IF your window opens and you can get your body sorta out the window and twist it mightily, you will see a bit of the ocean.

Too often I've been in a room which may be comfortable but has a "view" of the .. dumpster, or the parking garage, or the top of another part of the building, or a window of an adjacent building. I used "view" in quotes because a [...]

"Don't go there"

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I read this provocative article in the Sunday, 31 August Washington Post and wondered how our industry was contributing to the devastation of our earth and in some ways promoting what I consider to be unhealthy tourism.

It's a thought I've had before as I've watched areas in countries like Dubai being developed for what appears to be financial gain v. any thought to ensuring environmental sustainability.

And yet ....

I watched what happened in [...]

Lessons learned

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Have you been watching the Democratic National Convention? Read anything about it in print or on the web? Talked with colleagues who are there - either as delegates, guests, demonstrators, or volunteers?

Did you watch the Olympics and follow what went on .. beyond sports? Did you watch to see how crowds were handled?

Both events - and next week's GOP convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul - are all superb examples of how cities deal with major events.

As meeting [...]

The end of an era in conference centers

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I have been a raving fan of conference centers for years, having first used Aberdeen Woods in Peachtree City, Georgia for a client whose faculty and constituents raved and couldn't get enough.

IACC's standards were held in high esteem by meeting planners and by conference center operators. IACC ensured that those who carried the IACC 'seal of approval' met the standards.

Today, this article made me shake my head in sadness - realizing that Dolce, a compa [...]

Did you ever wonder...

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

... what it feels like to walk in someone else's shoes? Or ride in their chair or on their scooter? Or manage a day when pain overtakes you?

Recently, at an industry meeting (in a very large hotel) at which I moderated two sessions, I used a scooter to get around. (Sometimes my NHL makes me unable to walk long distances.) It was a fascinating experience - watching people ignore me and pretend I wasn't there by never looking down to my level, or the hotel that set the [...]

You oughta be in pictures...

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

A lively discussion has taken place among a few colleagues about a re-launch of a publication read by many in our industry. We have puzzled over the image on the cover of the first issue: a white male. His back faces out and thus we can't tell how old he is - he could be anywhere from 18 to 45 .. unless he's had his hair touched up nicely. He appears to be looking out a window.

Images, in marketing, are often what draws people in .. or keeps them out. [...]

Let the games begin!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Many who read this will watch all or part of the Olympic coverage from Beijing. As industry professionals, we will no doubt want to know more about the logistics of moving people and keeping them safe. No doubt we will analyze what we see!

We will wonder how the environment will help or hinder athletes from around the world. And we will wonder how the people of China will manage during the games and when the games end.

We will watch in anticipation - for th [...]

"Please refrain from smoking."

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Words and the use of language make me smile.

During recent waits in airports in the US, I heard, over and over, "Please refrain from smoking" and wondered why the announcements didn't, instead, say "Smoking is prohibited in this non-smoking facility"?

Then there was the 'crawl' on the flight information board: "Buy-on-board meals may be purchased on the plane."

Isn't that redundant?

Add to the list of interesting travel lan [...]

Must be new hotel d�cor, eh?

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Second time in the last 2.5 weeks that I've been in what are considered "upscale" hotels - and in one, now, even in the "towers" level.

The room is large - which is great.

It's reasonably quiet - until construction starts outside before 6 a.m.

Shower is great.

Bed is fair.

It's the towels - they are thin and raggedy.

And the sheets - nice ones but with holes.

It's the new décor, isn't it?

Will energy costs lead to less negotiating power?

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Why do we think that hotels, convention centers, conference centers and other venues are going to be able to negotiate 'deals' as if it were November 2001?

The market was soft then, after the terrorist attacks on the United States. Airlines were back with flights but many companies were still canceling or postponing meetings and business travel. We were all more cautious about what business we booked.

Today, we know the airline situation - and know that after t [...]

It's generational

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

E.J. Dionne, a columnist in the Washington Post (and often a commentator on MSNBC's "Countdown" with Keith Olbermann [who I confess I think is the sexiest man alive] wrote in the Friday, 25 July Washington Post about how the "youth vote" may make a huge difference in this year's US elections.

As I read this, I was heartened that it was so, mainly because I want more people involved in the political process - that is what a democracy [...]

Will everyplace look alike?

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

This story and the accompanying photos in USAToday on line today made me so sad.

As I look around North America and then to other countries, I am saddened to see how alike they are becoming with any vestige of what once was.

I remember when Seattle, WA, tore down all the small businesses across from the Sheraton and put up a building and mall that could be in any city. It made me sad. Why both traveling when it all looks like a [...]

An ethics resource

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The Institute for Global Ethics has one of the best training programs and web sites there is.

Go read the current issue of their e-news. Chock-full of good and thoughtful information.

Expectations....

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

and realities are often quite different. Once I am out of airports today (Saturday 12 June) I will write a review of a hotel in which I just stayed and where I facilitated a meeting for a client.

It has to do with expectations and the realities of a hotel, where you may have stayed before or even had a meeting. It has to do with a brand name that purports to be a higher end especially with this particular brand. It was, if you want a hint (and a b-r-o-a-d hint it is), [...]