Blog Entries for JoanEisenstodt

9.11.01. Katrina. Rita. Ike. Bangkok. Mumbai. You.

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

As many as 100K tourists are stranded in Thailand, unable to depart. Airline schedules around the world have been disrupted. Thailand is both a major (traditional) tourist and incentive destination and is a 'hot spot' for medical tourism - which means that people who took time off to go or those en route also may not be able to get there.

Airines cut flights into and out of Mumbai, with disruptions rippling across the world and likely to continue to [...]

Industry's economic issues contd.: SF deals for 8/09!

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Everyone wants to paint a rosier than it is picture on the industry and the economy. I've been looking for things to write and have only heard some of the not-so-good stories.

Today's summary from bizjournals.com had a few stories that portray some of the problems, one of which has an upside for anyone who needs to book in San Francisco in August 2o09.

The other story told of the halt in Marriott and Starwood projects in Hawaii. That can't bode well for any [...]

Crying fowl

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

It's that time of the year when, with Thanksgiving in the US approaching, we turn our thoughts to ...fowl ... for which I have a great fondness.

I'm a pretty discerning consumer of turkey and chicken in particular. When I'm told that my club sandwich will have turkey on it, I always ask if it's real turkey (sliced off a bird) or turkey roll. You know, I've never had someone tell the truth! I guess like those who go to Vegas to New York, [...]

What would New York City be without theatre?

JoanEisenstodt — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Each of us is concerned about how the economy is impacting us personally. I know we are - after our car was hit and declared (by insurance ) a total loss (with neither of us injured) we are buying a car that was not even remotely budgeted.

This article in today's New York Times shows the impact this economic crisis has as the dots are connected. Just follow the trail of the money or lack thereof to the banks to the backers to the producers to the actors to the stan [...]

To boycott or not: continuing the conversation

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Boycotts can work; they can also hurt the people in service jobs who will suffer if there is less or no business. If an organization, company, or individual determines to boycott a company, city, state, or other entity, it should be undertaken with care and consideration after research is done.

The boycotts that began the US civil rights era in the 1950s were tremendously effective. (The late) Rosa Parks, one of the people I most admire, effectively began the Montgomery, AL bus bo [...]

Making the most of a bad situation

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

2:30 a.m. EST and I'm up and getting ready for a 3:45 a.m. p/u to DCA for my flights today, the first of which is at 6 a.m.

It's an international flight; the airline says arrive 2 hours ahead so I do...

...to find the counter not staffed.

We called the airline and they said that the counter opened at 4:45. I suggested they might change that since a competing airline was already open and checking people in. We each got an apology and a "well [...]

Will we boycott Utah ...

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

..and California, and Arizona, and perhaps Arkansas too as destinations for meeting?

The consideration of a Utah boycott has begun. On this web site is more information.

What about companies and organizations that have bylaws and policies of non-discrimination? How will they treat these states? Isn't this also a matter of social responsibility?

In my opinion - reflecting only mine and not that of the owners or operators of Meetings Collaborative - it is [...]

The election is about more than a new President.

JoanEisenstodt — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Ballot initiatives in a number of US States will impact our industry: CA, FL and AZ voted to ban gay marriage. And in Arkansas, the ban on adoptions by those who are LGBT.

Now for some of you reading this, it's a non-issue - or it's an issue with which you agree .. on one side or the other.

When Doug Manchester, owner of (among other hotels) the Hyatt Manchester San Diego put in over $100K to back Prop 8, there were boycotts of that hotel.

Do y [...]

VOTE! on 11/4 in the US and make it more fun

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

from colorofchange.org: Thought these were neat ideas and very meeting-planner like!

>>How to Start a Party at the Polls

You can do this while you're waiting in line yourself, you can come back after you've voted, or you can go to other polling places in your area where you hear there are long lines. Here are some ways you can make the wait easier and more fun for voters:

Bring water, food, snacks. A lot of people might not have realized how long they'd have to wa [...]

Economic news continues to hit our industry

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 23:00:00 +0100

A spate of articles today in just one of the news services (bizjournals.com) I receive:

From Boston, news of cuts of personnel at tourist attractions and the CVB. And it's the state where there is a proposition (Massachusetts Question 1) on the ballot to again vote on eliminating the state income tax which will further decimate the budget.

From Birmingham, AL, news about a potential increase in rates at hotels.

Even air travel is down says this arti [...]

NEWS!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I read - lots. Colleagues ask how I do it and I say that I don't know how not to read and to learn from what I read.

Next week, I'll facilitate a session for the PCMA Southwest & Pacific Chapter and the UNLV PCMA Student Chapter at UNLV about connecting the dots to the industry's future. In this session, we'll look at news items and trends and see what the impact may be on our world of work.

Here, at MeetingsCollaborative.com, we [...]

Travel: If the economy doesn't get you...

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

TSA will.

Not only are travel costs high and the hassles increasing, now comes word that a discussion of politics might be a concern. It's not so much what you believe (although that is a consideration), it is that others are interested in what is going on in the upcoming US election.

Politics are of great interest to me and something I talk about frequently. I will travel outside the US right after the election and will be curious, based on the outcome of the Pres [...]

Over-the-top meetings and events?

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

What is "over-the-top" when it comes to meetings and events?

Do we judge based on the cost of guest rooms? Travel costs? Mode of travel (private jet v. commercial; first class v. coach)?

Is it the cost of food and beverage or the specific items served?

How does entertainment play into our view of what is 'too much'? And if the 'swag' sparkles, is it bound to raise eyebrows?

An AIG incentive trip, held shortly [...]

Doing the right thing ...

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

in a time of financial hardship is tough.

When I first moved to DC, I listened to some industry colleagues talk about padding their expense accounts because, well, they thought they deserved the extra money.

Today, I listen to planners who, believing they are not paid enough and that they work harder than their salaries indicate, rationalize taking (airline, hotel) points so that they can have some time off using the points earned as a result of the work they are paid to do.< [...]

Destination selection and financial hit-be very afraid

JoanEisenstodt — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In the meetingscollaborative.com discussion boards, we're having a good discussion about destination selection and the current state of the economy.

We know that there are air fares and added travel fees to consider. Hotel room rates and other charges seem to be stable (v. rising or decreasing.)

The bigger considerations to me are the health and safety of those who attend our meetings. Safety first.

This article in the NYTimes spells out what we [...]

If Dubai feels the hit ...

JoanEisenstodt — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

what are the rest of us to do?

As I read this article in the 10-5 New York Times, and saw that there was concern even in Dubai, an oil-rich nation that has boomed in ways that to some of us are a bit obscene, I wondered about my town - Washington, DC - and others like Chicago, Cleveland, San Francisco, Portland, etc. - and how we will survive this economic downturn. [I gather we can't officially use the word 'crash' without causing angst among many. It sure [...]

Did you read the blog about the poor hotels?

JoanEisenstodt — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 23:00:00 +0100

I blogged a few weeks ago about the poor hotels that were fighting the ADA revisions, saying they would cost the hotels too much to retrofit to be in compliance with the new regulations. One of our industry associations was fighting this revision of the ADA, the first since its inception.

Today, an article I received from a google alert, gave me an indication that the hotels could make far more money than they were going to spend .. if only.

Demand retrofitting! Among [...]

"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 [...]