Strategic Meetings Management

Since coming back from NBTA’s Masters program, I’ve been thinking about practical ways to counter the rap in the press that business meetings are wasteful -- especially for companies who got TARP funds.  I’m hopping mad about this because, far from being wasteful, I see daily proof that meetings – managed well – actually help companies spur business.

A good tactic is to show just how firms can continue to hold events while controlling their meeting budgets and reaping good ROI.  Here are best practices for fighting wasteful spend:

• Streamline meeting planning with automation that reduces employee time managing logistics, creates online registration sites and automatically manages requests for proposals (RFPs) – from start to finish, save with suppliers by analyzing competing RFPs and consolidated spending reports that point out new areas for negotiation,

   

• Prevent unauthorized spending with electronic meetings approval software, Save resources by including corporate contract terms in hotel RFPs (to avoid hefty cancelation fees) and re-using canceled meeting space for new events.

 

StarCite has found that companies save up to 25% of their meeting spend employing strategic meetings management. If you’re struggling to control meeting spend, now is a good time—no, the most opportune time—to look at how a SMMP can help you save and grow your company’s business.

 

Ticked off about unfair criticism of meetings in the press? Take action by signing this online petition  supporting meetings as an engine of economic growth!