10 AmA2Zing Affirmations for Success & Abundance

Associating with positive people is at the core of success. People who stretch you and ask you to share your expertise force you to dig inside to be sure you reach the roots of what makes you unique so accept every opportunity to dive into self-discovery.  Lisa Kraus with Plan Your Meetings is one of those individuals who turned my sour grapes complaint into sweet wine. Because of that experience, I have become a raving fan and speaker whenever she needs me to help out. Be sure to use them and their suppliers as a resource. They are committed to education, relationship building and collaboration. Check out their Knowledge Series  www.planyourmeetings.com/pym-knowledge-series/ and their town hall meetings on You Tube.

I had the pleasure of working with Plan Your Meetings this week at the Sheraton Sand Key. Do yourself a favor and take a close look at this resort. The service team is extraordinary! They have longevity, commitment, quality and creativity on every level of the organization. They partner and collaborate with planners to learn your needs and exceed your expectations. The leader of this sales organization is always upbeat and positive. No matter what question you ask Jack Guy, he will find a compliment to share.

These are just two samples of some great partners that have touched my life and I invite you to experience them as they are worthy of special attention in the world of meetings and events. I promised affirmations that are guaranteed to make you smile when you repeat them and live them and believe them.

Ten Affirmations for Success and Abundance

- I am open to the flow of great abundance in all areas of my life.

- I allow the universe to bless me in surprising and joyful ways.

- My grateful heart is a magnet that attracts more of everything I desire.

- I exude passion, purpose and prosperity.

- I am always led to the people who need what I have to offer.

- My day is filled with limitless potential in joy, abundance and love.

- I always have more than enough of everything I need.

- The more I give away, the more it multiplies and is returned to me.

- As my commitment to help others grows, so does my joy and wealth.

- I am thankful for all the blessings in my life!

Keep coming back for more!        www.a2zmeetingsandevents.com

Suppliers Feed Our Needs

My goal as a professional meeting planner is to serve our industry and educate hoteliers, clients and suppliers on best practices to build and maintain healthy, permanent relationships. I had the opportunity to wear many hats at a recent Meeting Professionals International meeting and there are so many suppliers who really impacted the outcome of that meeting. Each hero played an integral part in making it special. The Holiday Inn Harbourside on Indian Rocks Beach served and incredible meal. I guaranteed 5% over the registered guests and set the room for 10% over. How exciting that we actually had a 20% increase to our counts as walk ins and 0 no shows!

Carolyn Casey remained calm and had tables set while we started our program. Food service was delayed slightly which left our speaker no time to have her meal. Kathy Potts at Oncore Performance Group, LLC will hold your attention and while you hear her story ... you will be thinking about your own. What changes do I need to make in my life so I am living my passion? What IS my passion? What is getting in the way? She is no nonsense and digs until she finds the answer ... sometimes (probably most times) the voice that keeps us from our dreams is fear rather than reality. Kathy is dynamic, real and creates a relationship when she is working with you. Her singing talent is a bonus and a real gift! She made me laugh and made me cry and left a mark on my brain and heart.

I write a thank you and include a recommendation for her talent as a guest speaker and she returns the following:
“Linda is the type of professional to roll-up her sleeves and jump-to the task at hand. As the keynote speaker for MPI's April Meeting, several key leaders were out of town, and in the last moments Linda raised her hand to take-on responsibility for ensuring the success of the meeting. Linda created a relationship with me prior to the event, reviewing details such as AV Equipment, Agenda Flow, Marketing Tables, and such. When I arrived, she was ready to begin work immediately- creating a warm, while highly productive atmosphere. As it turned out, I was unable to eat lunch which was served during my presentation. Without missing a beat, Linda ensured I had a packed lunch waiting (and boy was I grateful for her extra initiative!) Linda has a charm about her that attracts laughter, as well as focus on the tasks at hand. If you want a personality to accompany the competence needed to plan your meetings ahead, call on Linda!”

WOW! Who knew that the meal would be a detail that would be noticed! I just did what was right and treated her the way you should treat a partner. But what came next really stopped me in my tracks.

Kathy Potts tells me ... There's more to the story...
On the way home, I came across a homeless man. He didn't look like the typical homeless guy. Very clean-cut, muscular, well dressed...something wasn't quite right. His sign said "Hungry" - that's all.
With a full meal in the box sitting next to me, I rolled down my window and called him over, "Hey man...I have a meal here for ya! We have steak, chicken, vegetables - but I'm sorry to say, I already ate the potatoes."
"Thank you ma'am. I'm kinda new to this. I've only been homeless now for 3 days, and I'm embarrassed, but so grateful - thank you so much. My wife is going to be so thankful."
Linda - your kindness has reach that is beyond your imagination ;)
Please...do post the testimonial :)
(oh...and grabbed a bite at home) - hope that isn't seen as disrespectful. I just thought he needed the meal more than I.

Random acts of kindness to one another are so far reaching. Treat your supplier’s right and watch the world around you become a brighter place where relationships grow stronger and we all feel heard and cared for. Visit my website for other articles on supplier relationships. a2zmeetingsandevents.com/blog Treat 'em RIGHT!

Is it REALLY glamorous?

So you've exhibited in a few tradeshows and you feel like:

• you've figured out how much of what to bring so you aren't lugging things home or throwing it in the trash ( the green team is watching you!)
• how to theme your booth to attract a crowd
• what special items you'll bring for anyone who gives you a great request for proposal
• a target list of who your key prospects are
• a target list to check out the competition
• non competitive supplier vendors you need to chat with
• which of the educational workshops you will attend (or not) for the sake of networking

Take a peek at the "other side" by visiting http://a2zmeetingsandevents.com/blog

Fam Trip, Group Site Tour, Hosted Buyer Program … When can YOU go!

Regardless of what you call it, be sure you really are a qualified attendee. Don’t go if there is no chance you will book the venue in the foreseeable future. No one wants to be part of a trip where an unqualified buyer is taking advantage of the venue. In my last hotel we did 6 group site tours or familiarization trips in one year and each group was comprised of 10 – 12 planners.

It is a lot of work to organize flights, ground transportation, special dietary needs, gifts, a theme and an agenda where everyone gets to know new people and it is still educational and fun. We created the format once and duplicated it 4 times for just captive meeting professionals and twice for independent meeting professionals with their client. We did not invite significant others to keep it very business focused and found a Thursday – Saturday program worked best in that it did not cut into too much personal time.

To get 12 attendees, you need to invite at least 50 planners. Having several dates to offer helped to get qualified planners in at a time that best suits their schedule. We made it casual, interactive and left an afternoon for optional activities to show the variety of what your attendees can do in their spare time. Spa appointments were always a huge hit but city tours, attractions or special events can also be worthwhile. We kept it personal and focused so each guest felt like we recognized the most important person in the world. The cost is usually over $1,000 per planner so expect a well orchestrated follow up plan to track the success.
It is also wonderful if the local Convention & Visitors Bureau attends to talk about the destination, partner opportunities and the type of services they provide. Any preferred vendors should also participate to showcase their offering.

Depending on the ratio of business from the local market, it is fun to attend a “Show the Love” event that is a single meal with educational content or a dinner and overnight event. If you are doing a fair amount of business with a local venue, you should occasionally “shop” the venue to experience the service when the sales team is not around. That is the service that your guests receive.

No matter what you call these types of events, they can be an extremely effective use of your time in planning a meeting or event and build an amA2Zing lifetime relationship bond between the venue team and the professional meeting planner.

Tips to delegate tasks and keep control of what really matters

I spoke with a corporate meeting planner recently and she said “I’m happy to have a job but I lost my assistant in the downsizing and now I am doing the work of two people. I feel as though I was demoted. There is not enough time to do it all and do it well.”

Did you know you can hire a professional meeting planner to do all the research, negotiate all components of the meeting, ensure the best rates at no cost to you or your company?
Regardless of whether your meeting is an intimate board meeting, an intense sales training meeting or a multi-day trade show, what you want and expect as your end result is the same.... a successful and well received event. As all professional meeting planners know, the key to a successful event is dependent upon the seamless execution of your details.
If you have experience in the meeting planning industry, you may be quite capable of managing the event yourself. Assistance with advance research may be all that you need to get the process started. If you do not have background in meeting and event planning, allow a professional consultant to lead you on the path to securing the right site with the right terms.
A professional meeting planner will save on your budget expense and add some cost effective enhancement ideas. They will partner with you and become an extension of your team. They can yield a more detailed site selection process along with a better contract, all the while insuring the needs of your event are considered.


Why isn’t there a fee for this service?
Independent meeting professionals do not charge any fees to our clients for hotel site selection services because we are compensated by the hotel you choose on each room they sell to your group. Hotels give us a placement fee, this does not inflate your room rate what so ever. Your buying power is increased because we book thousands of rooms per year, at multiple properties. Hotels compete for your business, benefiting you with the lowest room rates available. It is in the best interest of the hotel to offer great rates to our clients, so we may in turn book their hotel or their brand again for other business.


Will hotels raise their rates to compensate your placement fee?
No. The hotel rates that A2Z Meetings & Events receives are at least as competitive as those you might find on your own – with the placement fee already built in. A2Z is able to negotiate these great rates due to the large quantity of business we direct to the hotel industry. The added bonus is that we know the rates and seasonality of properties throughout the country so we can make recommendations of how and where you will get the best value for your dollar.


Are meeting planners biased when choosing a venue?
An independent meeting professional will have your best interest and needs as their first priority. You are the decision maker as to where the meeting goes. Our job is to negotiate the best overall value package so you can make the best decision. The placement fee is fairly standard within the industry, so the meeting planner's "pay-out" is comparable wherever the meeting is booked. Professional meeting planners rely heavily on their reputations and the referrals they acquire so you can be confident they are going to work hard to earn both your business and your respect.
Enlist a planner that is honest about receiving a placement fee. We have over 27 years of experience in the meeting and event planning industry. We have earned a reputation by providing quality services based on an honest and ethical relationship with our clients and the properties you select. We work hard to gain and maintain your trust.


Are there other services available besides site selection and contract negotiation?
We are experienced in all avenues of professional meeting and event planning and have a team of service providers that assist us when a group chooses to have us work the meeting. The fee based services available are listed on our A2Z Meetings & Events website. Many independent meeting planners only provide the complimentary site selection and contract negotiation services while we will see you through from A2Z!

Managing Your Priorities

HAPPY February!!! It has been a little chillier than we Floridians are used to but it is giving us the time to stay cozy and get those New Year Resolutions accomplished … My primary goal was weight loss and I am pleased to report I am down 11.5 pounds in 5 weeks! I’ll be happy to share my success formulas if you have an interest. Basically, it is about eating healthy and doing exercise … imagine that! The greatest deprivation has been eliminating my favorite adult beverage but the detoxification of all Caffeine, Refined sugar, Additives and Preservatives (CRAP) has been essential. It has been fun to invent new recipes that are creative, quick and easy. How are YOU doing on YOUR primary priority?

With regard to business, I promised to step up my game on writing about the things that will be most helpful to you. Your comments have been so important … there was a time when I thought I was casting thought to the wind! I appreciate the energy that comes back from you as you inspire and ignite more energy. Think of how that makes people respond to your requests when you feed them praise. WOW! It creates a power that can make mere mortals move mountains! We cannot motivate anyone other than ourselves but we can inspire others through affirmations. So go find the stars in your life and let them know how they have impacted you.

This month I am focused on a fundraising event and awareness for an organization known as Dress For Success. This group restores dignity and hope for professional women in search of a new job. Women are referred to the agency and have a set appointment to meet with a volunteer that will help them select 2 suits, 2 blouses, a pair of shoes and a briefcase from the donations at the boutique. They will also assist with resume writing and have a computer lab to investigate opportunities to go out on interviews and launch their new life.
Please plan to attend the fund raising Fashion event at SAKS FIFTH AVENUE February 25. Reservations are required and seating is limited. Details are found at http://bit.ly/9frpI7 .You will be in good company!

Also in the news … http://bit.ly/dvTzj7 … the latest on the Sustainable Business Conference & Expo. The topics will be announced later this month but mark your calendars!

Finally, the video intro to the website is on line! Keep coming back for more!