Whether your attendees will want to call it a bleisure (business/leisure) trip or a bizcation (business/vacation), your next meeting at a resort or lodge will provide all they need for success on both ends of the spectrum.

• Definitive Prohibition-era cocktail
  
• Try it with a twist
  

The Midwest resort or lodge you’ve booked for your next meeting or event offers so much more than you may realize. From recreation to relaxation, there are plenty of things to see and do after the meeting.

We all know that it’s important to take care of ourselves, from getting plenty of sleep to eating the right foods and getting enough exercise. I think we can all agree that some days it’s all easier said than done. When you travel frequently for your job, as many of you do, eating right and exercising often take a backseat. And when you’re in the throes of planning your event, sleep… forget about it. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

What’s that you say? Don’t know your birdies from your bogies and certainly don’t know anything about obtaining sponsors for that upcoming golf tournament your sneaky boss dropped into the program last week? Don’t despair – we’re here to help! And while you don’t necessarily have to know how to play the game of golf to be able to sell sponsorships, it wouldn’t hurt to learn a thing or two about the game so you can speak intelligently when the time comes. But we’re not aiming to teach you golf in this article, our goal is to help you sell sponsorships. 

If you’ve ever planned a meeting at an all-inclusive property like a resort or lodge, then you are well versed in the convenience factor these properties offer.

One of the biggest conveniences is the fact that everything is onsite. Lodging, meeting rooms, dining, special event venues, leisure activities... everything under one roof. For you, the planner, that means less hassle and worry about transportation and its cost. For your attendees, knowing they can, in most cases, easily go back to their rooms if they forgot something or even if they just need some quiet time on their own.

Ideally, this all starts at least six months out from desired date, but many times courses need to be reserved much earlier. Additionally, many title sponsors are verbally secured in the beginning of each calendar year for budget reasons. By all means, use the checklist below as a starting point remembering that successful planners will always make it work within their given time frame.

Wives. Husbands. Significant others. Partners. Life partners. BFFs. Traveling companions. You name it, and well, planners keep renaming it. Truth be told, auxiliary programs have been offered to convention-goers for many, many years now, but my how things have changed! 

The word ‘contract’ is enough to send some planners heading backstage, under the registration table or anywhere they can find to run and hide. It’s an ominous word but one that can’t be ignored in the world of meeting planning. In fact, contracts - their terms, implications, addendums and challenges – can truly be the bane of existence for many planners, mostly since none of us are lawyers. But many times, we have to think like one, and therein lies the challenges. Well written contracts are legally binding, which is the scary part for many planners. Since literally almost every major component of our meetings and events require some negotiations to be put into binding, written terminology, there’s really no way for planners to avoid them. 

When you hear resort or lodge, can you feel your breathing slow and shoulders relax? Attendees often feel the same way. By holding events in these settings, planners can not only provide a vacation-like atmosphere, but also a great learning and networking experience. From business professionals to medical students and lawyers, we hear from five planners the many reasons Midwest resorts and lodges are their perfect meeting solution!

It is no secret that being a good communicator is key to success in business. We value those who have the ability to communicate well, and that often includes public speaking. One proven tool to aid in the delivery of a speech or presentation is the teleprompter. However, knowing when and how to use one may be just as instrumental in earning that standing ovation.

We’ve gotten ourselves into quite a mess in this industry, and it’s time to do something about it. Our Request for Proposal (RFP) process is broken and jobs are at stake – maybe even yours someday soon.  

Here’s the sad truth: 

Shari Bennett is the Vice President of Event Planning for the Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association located in Topeka. An event planner for 24 years, her experience includes:

• Planning an annual statewide convention called the Kansas Agri Business Expo (KABE), known to be the largest indoor agribusiness show in the Midwest (covering 95,000 sq. ft. of tradeshow floor space in which she markets with an average of 1,200 attendees);
  
• Weekly receptions (14 total) for state legislators and lobbyists; 
  
• Legislative fundraisers both at the state and national level;
  
• Five golf tournaments; 
  
• Seven board meetings for both associations; 
  
• A Kansas Grain and Feed Association (KGFA) annual meeting (250 in attendance) and the Kansas Agribusiness Retailers Association (KARA) annual meeting (150 in attendance). 
  

You have a Facebook account and you tweet on a regular basis. Your day is not comlete without a post or two on Instagram. You’re a sucker for those cat videos on YouTube and you frequently check out your friend’s Tumblr.

In today’s world, it’s nearly impossible to not be connected through some form of social media. But what about your events? Should they be as connected as you are?

Providing quality educational opportunities is one of the many focus points for the association. Throughout the year, the Heartland Chapter strives to provide high quality sessions which are alternately offered in Iowa or Nebraska. Many of the educational opportunities are eligible for continuing education hours offered by the CIC for CMP and CMP-HC’s.