Blog Entries tagged 'Service'

2009 Looms Large

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

2009 looks like it will be an 'interesting'* year for all of us in the meetings/hospitality industry.

Hotel owners and management companies are laying people which means that service may suffer.

Budgets have been cut which means many will not be traveling and especially not traveling to meetings. Those who will travel will look for (and most likely find) bargains for air fares and hotel rooms.

Rates, negotiated and contracted, in some cases years ago, for 200 [...]

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 [...]

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), [...]

If all the service workers...

JoanEisenstodt — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

chose one day to stay home, what would happen?

It wasn't the first thing on my mind this morning when I left to go to a meeting. It was again pouring rain and a sloppy day. As I walked down the street, I saw one of the people who ensure DC's sidewalks are neat and clean. He was breaking up some boxes someone had left in front of an office building - and you know boxes that have been soaked - it was not a happy experience, I am sure.

He and I s [...]

Good service is no service? Really?!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Guy Kawasaki is one of the people I admire in this world - for the good he does, for the brilliance he espouses and writes.

Must admit tho' that when I read the headline, I scrunched up my face in wonder.

But it all made sense when I read the interview. http://www.sun.com/solutions/smb/guest.jsp

When was the last time THIS industry had service about which we didn' t have to comment?

How do we "get there"?

Guy Kawasaki is one of the [...]

An industry of relationships?

JoanEisenstodt — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +0100

In the past week, two very special people have died of cancer: Crystal Simmons, a student member of the MPI (Meeting Professionals Intl) DFW Chapter, and Beth Calveard of the TN MPI chapter. Both were young, vibrant women who brought so much to our industry.

I met Crystal, a recipient of a scholarship to the MPI Future Leaders Forum - applications for the 2008 World Education Congress Future Leaders Forum are due 28 March - available to stude [...]

Service!

JoanEisenstodt — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We have a great phone system in our office - updated it about 3 years ago - and then moved it when we moved our offices. I was impressed with the sales person who helped us with the move - even tho' there was 'nothing in it' for him.

During the move, he checked in frequently to ensure all was well.

Jump forward 8 months and he calls -- to just check in. He left that company and I, 'hardened' a bit by cold calls in our industry, was sure he 'want [...]