Feed Editor 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT Meetings & Events News Brief provides industry-specific news and information to meeting planners worldwide. Delivered weekly, the publication keeps professionals abreast of topics that impact the daily operation of their businesses. http://www.multibriefs.com/briefs/rss.xml en Only a third of companies centrally manage meetings and even fewer have a consistent meetings and events policy, according to Carlson Wagonlit Travel research released last week that claims a strategically managed meetings program and adoption of generally accepted best practices could shave up to one-quarter of companywide meetings expenses. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c2cd88acb 1 For the first time in the event's history, meeting planners were able to pre-book appointments with exhibitors at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International's (HSMAI) Affordable Meetings West Exhibition and Conference at the Long Beach Convention Center from June 16-17, 2010. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c44194e87 2 Since early last year, a group of technologists and industry vets who climbed the SeeUthere and OnVantage branches of the StarCite family tree began working on what they viewed as the next big thing in meetings technology. Like many tech startups before them, they chose a funny-sounding name, OotoWeb, took a readily available technology -- attendee management -- then worked to make it cheaper and more accessible. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c2f447d1f 3 Innovative companies are beginning to embrace Web 2.0 as a way to enhance communication, share information, and collaborate. The enterprise use of social media represents a new trend: "Business 2.0," that is about using the new web-based social networking applications in a way that fosters teamwork, customer touches, and collaboration seamlessly. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c310406f5 4 Five meeting professionals share their ideas. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c34d0838a 5 Meeting planners and suppliers can finally dig into the industry's long-awaited sustainable meeting standards. While the new APEX green standards won't officially launch until September or later, the first training program on how to use them will be held July 24, in Vancouver, British Columbia, just prior to Meeting Professionals International World Education Conference. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c32a6753b 6 Emirates Hotels & Resorts' long term commitment to sustainability and the environment through its hotels and resorts portfolio was recently rewarded with one of the most prestigious global awards in the travel and tourism industry. Emirates was honored with the Conservation Award at the 2010 World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) Global Summit, held this year in Beijing. The Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are the WTTC's highest-profile global accolade, recognizing best practices in sustainable tourism development, conservation and biodiversity protection. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c402782a1 7 Tourism spending rose at an annual rate of 3.9 percent during the first quarter, led by increased spending on hotels and other accommodations, according to a government report. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c2a50775cd06 8 When was the last time you ordered something in a restaurant and the wait staff brought you the wrong dish? Go ahead and think about that for a minute. You're probably thinking, "Uh-h, when was the last time that happened? Where was I?" 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c4261c37e 9 Does the management model of an association make a difference when it comes to financial performance? A new study conducted by the AMC Institute found that more standalone associations operated at a deficit in 2008 -- the first year of the recession -- than those managed by association management companies. 29 Jun 2010 16:00:48 CDT http://multibriefs.com/ViewLink.php?i=4c28c4680929c 10