New twist on a Bridal Shower gift!

Wedding season is fast approaching and our own Piper Sather has been tasked with helping out with her cousin's bridal shower. Piper's cousin happens to be a casual, laid-back, practical gal who appreciates the basics so, in lieu of presents, Piper and her mother are going with a money tree.

Each guest has been asked nicely to send a check instead of having to shop, wrap, and possibly ship, which is a huge savings of time, gift wrap, and other resources. Then the checks will be cashed and a tree will be decorated with a variety of denominations. Knowing the creativity of the Sather family, the tree will be festive and most appreciated.

Guess there are some occasions when money does grow on trees!

Lucy’s Legacy – The Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia at Pacific Science Center

The exhibit is about Lucy – the 3.2 million year old Australopithecus afarensis. This I knew going in. I knew we’d see Lucy. What I didn’t expect was the amazing history lesson about Ethiopia that preceded Lucy.

It makes sense. Lucy was discovered in Ethiopia. Ethiopia is rich in history, culture, tradition, and politics. Room after room of artifacts, visual story boards and your own personal listening device to get the scoop on specific items tagged in each room. We learned about the Rastafarian movement and their very interesting tie to Haile Selassie, the former Emperor of Ethiopia. We learned about the stone churches of King Lalibela that were sculpted directly from the bedrock. We learned about kings and queens, wars, cultural traditions, coffee, religion and the progression of humankind.

Lucy’s Legacy is fun for all ages – a great family experience. Along with me on this journey was my sister, my parents and my niece who is 11 years old. We each found something that intrigued us. We each came away talking about the same things and different things. In true PacSci fashion, there were hands on items that keep the kids learning and intrigued, from fossils that you could touch, to spices that you could smell – watch out for the dinosaur poo.

I’ve studied a lot of world cultures, always been interested in and appreciative of how others’ environments have grown, but somehow I missed Ethiopia – until now.

Don’t miss Lucy’s Legacy at Pacific Science Center until March 8.
http://www.pacsci.org/LUCY/

Here’s the blog that I read prior to my visit:
http://www.nerdseyeview.com/blog/2008/10/20/we-love-lucy-field-trip-to-the-pacific-science-center/

An Analysis of the Economy

We’re all feeling the crunch of the economy. I thought this article gave a good overview of some of the changes that we’re all experiencing and putting into motion. I think we can all relate – whether we’re corporate planners, association planners, or 3rd party planners.
Enjoy the article!
Jeanne

An Analysis of the Economy’s Impact on Meetings and Incentives - an excerpt taken from Corporate Meetings & Incentives Magazine, 12/2008

There is no way to sugarcoat the news about cancellations and cutbacks in the meetings and incentives industry, but there are trends that can—and should—be treated as opportunities for planners and suppliers.

Greater percentages of planners said they are canceling more meetings than incentives; of course far more meetings than incentive programs are held every year, so in terms of absolute numbers, there will still be more meetings than incentives. Going by the wayside are true or “pure” incentives—those luxury programs that are travel rewards with no education or training included. (Also out the door are hosted spa treatments and high-ticket celebrities and speakers.) While incentive planners still spend far more per head on incentive programs than on meetings, both meeting and incentive expenses will be scaled back, as much for perception as for budget reasons. Those programs that might have been headed outside the U.S. will book closer to home or to more regional locations that are easier to get to.

According to Smith Travel Research, convention hotels, which represent 12 percent of the U.S. room supply, have trended lower than other types of hotels in both average daily rate and revenue per available room. STR sees this as an opportunity for smaller-market convention hotels that are less expensive since planners are far more price sensitive.

STR also cautions hotels to not cut their rates too steeply, so that the climb back to higher profits is not as precipitous as it was post-9/11. However, hotels at every price point will be more willing to negotiate with meeting planners, if not on rate, on many other concessions.
Clearly, all segments of the meeting marketplace are shifting to destinations that offer good airlift at affordable prices, with enough direct flights so that attendees don’t have to add on a night due to travel. Those cities that offer good airlift and affordable hotels will obviously come out on top.

There are opportunities for smaller cities that are considered drive-in markets; all segments report taking some national meetings and making them regionals in order to cut costs or attract more attendees.

Planners who have contracted with hotels and are having to cancel are paying cancellation penalty fees in some cases, meaning hotels can recoup some—but not all—of the revenue that would be attached to the meeting actually taking place.

Association meetings are not canceling at the rate of corporate meetings, as to be expected, since meetings are the lifeblood of associations and association business needs to be conducted. Associations also have the advantage of loyalty and brand awareness among potential meeting-goers, but many will move their education online in order to cut costs. Corporations will likely schedule more meetings around large association events they attend, called co-locating, in order to save on expenses.

And hotels that are willing to help meeting planners be creative with meetings, sharing ideas that they’ve seen at other meetings, finding cost-saving measures that will help the planners’ budgets, will win the business.

The biggest opportunity lies with companies that offer online or virtual meeting applications, which will replace many face-to-face meetings. And hotels that are able to offer both—live meetings and enough meeting space and appropriate audiovisual equipment so that planners can extend the live meeting to those who are not able to attend—will definitely survive this downturn.

Statistics from Corporate Meetings & Incentives Magazine respondents
Meeting managers canceling one or more meetings
• 56 percent (of that number, 58 percent cutting up to 20 percent of meetings; 16 percent cutting between 21 and 60 percent)

Postponing meetings
• Nearly a third, 31 percent, said they are postponing meetings until later in the year or to 2010• 40 percent said they are planning quarter-to-quarter (wait and see, not yet canceling)

Changes to meetings - Shortening length/days of meetings
• 52 percent shortening the number of days
Taking larger or national meetings and making them into smaller or regional meetings
• 31 percent said they are taking larger meetings and making into smaller or regional meetings

Reducing number of attendees
•48 percent reducing number of attendees

Site selection/changing destination based on airfares and costs
• 65 percent said they would choose meeting destinations with lower airfare • 65 percent said they would consider using less-expensive properties for meetings• 20 percent said they would book during the shoulder or off-season

Moving meetings online
• 42 percent of those who are canceling or postponing meetings said they would replace them with virtual meetings or teleconferencing

photo courtesy of Tiffany Diamond

Though almost all staffers were snowed in during the Seattle Snowpocalypse of ‘08, all had their laptops and virtual connections at the ready to keep business running as usual. There may have been more hot cocoa breaks than usual and a few may have taken some optional “Snowman Time,” but our event managers and coordinators kept action items in check.

Even when the snow finally stopped, the streets of South Lake Union remained iced over due to low traffic. Office coordinator, Tiffany Stevenson, credits YakTrax for keeping her upright on her treacherous walk from the parking lot on the days when she could make it in.

As if multi-tasking at work isn’t hard enough, Director of Event Operations, Rebecca Partman, was able to simultaneously email, participate on can calls, move forward on a project and orchestrate the kids, husband and dog to find and don snow clothes, boots, hats, gloves and unbury sleds not seen for the last 360 days … without breaking a sweat! Admittedly, having a Snuggler handy right at close of business was a big bonus.

Holly Hall, Event Manager, found no issue with the snow at all. Being from Colorado, she welcomed the fluffy white stuff by the foot at her house. Her Labrador retriever and 16 month old Son were the source of great comic relief from the forward momentum of work. Nothing beats working from home under the warmth and comfort of a blanket while watching a new snow fall.

Stay tuned for more stories of how the RTP staffers braved the snow (or didn’t)…

A Season for Thanks and Giving

As the holidays approach, I would like to pass along my special thanks to my staff at RTP, clients, colleagues, friends, and family. At RealTime Productions we believe in giving back to our community through service and charitable contributions. We know this year has been difficult for many and that is why RealTime Productions’ staff has chosen 3 charities in which to contribute to this season in lieu of client gifts. Our contributions will help put smiles on the faces of young cancer patients, food on the table for a family who might otherwise do without, and nurse sick animals back to health so they have a chance of adoption. Help us help our neighbors and those in need during this season of giving. You can learn more and help contribute to these worthy causes along with us.

American Cancer Society / Camp Good Times - http://www.campgoodtimeswest.org

Northwest Harvest Food Bank - www.northwestharvest.org

Seattle Animal Shelter’s Help The Animals Fund - www.cityofseattle.net/animalshelter

Happy Holidays and thanks for giving!

Jeanne Berry

Be True to Your T&E Budget – Factor in the Fees!!

As we all travel for events and site inspections on a regular basis, the old ways of calculating T&E don’t work anymore. Fees can account for up to 50% or more of your actual ticket costs and those need to be figured into bids or quotes to clients or into your own T&E budgets.

Here are the steps to take to avoid fees:

• Book direct with the airline and book online (savings: $6-$25)
• Don’t choose a seat at booking, but check in online as early as possible to pick your seat for free (savings: $5-$20)
• Don’t change your flight plans (savings: $75-$100)
• Walk your bags into the airport terminal yourself (savings: $2-4 per bag)
• Take carry-on luggage only and check-in early – also picking a seat in the back or middle of the plane will give you best chance of finding space in the overhead bins (savings: $15-$25)
• If you check luggage, check only one piece per person and make sure that it doesn’t go over 50 lbs!! Only pack what you need and figure on wearing some things twice (savings: $50-$125)
• Pack a snack and a pillow/blanket and buy water or beverage in the terminal (savings: $3-25)
  
  
  Airfare represents a mere fraction of the total cost to fly these days. From the time you walk into the terminal until the plane lands, your total fare will surpass the quote you received from your favorite travel site when you booked the flight. "Every week, it's a different airline and a different fee," says Anne Banas, executive editor for travel advice site SmarterTravel.com. Blame it on sky-high fuel costs, which have sparked billion-dollar losses industrywide. (Only Southwest Airlines, which locked in fuel prices eight years ago, remains comparatively fee-free.)
  Looking for ways to make up for those losses -- without scaring off customers by raising fares -- airlines now charge for the most basic amenities. "We are truly going to an a-la-carte system," says Tom Parsons, CEO of discount airfares site BestFares.com. "It's down to the nickel and dime from here on out."

For consumers, the best defense is to factor in the fees each airline charges when comparing fares, Banas says. Here are seven instances in which fees are assessed:

Booking
Except for Southwest, every major airline charges a fee to book a flight over the phone. The worst offenders are Delta Air Lines, Frontier and United Airlines, which charge $25 per ticket. Third-party travel sites like Expedia and Orbitz charge between $6 and $12 per ticket for online booking. To avoid these fees, book directly on an airline's Web site, says George Hobica, publisher of fare-tracking site AirfareWatchdog.com.

Redeeming frequent-flier miles
"Some people have been collecting miles for years, and now they have to pay extra to use them," Parsons says. US Airways charges $25 to $40 for you to book a flight using frequent-flier miles. American Airlines charges $5. As of Oct. 1, the airline is charging new fees for rewards upgrades ($50 to upgrade from coach to first class on a domestic flight, for instance) and higher mile requirements (a round-trip ticket to Europe costs 20,000 more miles). Worse, it's extremely tough for frequent fliers to redeem their miles now that airlines are cutting back on flights, Parsons says.

Choosing a seat
Opt to stretch out in an exit row, and it'll cost you. AirTran charges a flat $20 for those seats, while United charges anywhere from $14 to $109 per flight. Even if you aren't angling for extra legroom, you can get charged just for choosing a seat. Spirit now assesses a $15 fee to passengers who choose a window seat, $10 for an aisle and $5 for one in the middle.

Changing a ticket
Southwest is the only airline that doesn't charge domestic ticket holders for altering an itinerary. Change a flight on any other airline, and you can expect to pay a fee ranging from $75 (Alaska Airlines, for online changes) to $150 (American, Continental, United and US Airways).

Curbside baggage check
Don't feel like rolling your suitcases inside the terminal? It'll cost you. Northwest and US Airways charge $2 per bag for curbside check-in. Delta charges $3.

Checking bags
When it comes to checking luggage, it's now a virtual fee-for-all, Banas warns. American, Northwest, United and US Airways all charge $15 for the first checked bag. And while Delta announced it would stand firm against invoking such a fee, it has doubled charges for a second checked bag to $50. Think you can avoid the second-bag fee by stuffing everything into one case? That may end up costing even more. Going just 1 pound over the 50-pound limit triggers an overweight fee of $29 (AirTran) to $125 (United).

In-flight amenities
Forget about relaxing with a soft pillow and a cold drink. Only a few holdouts, including Continental and JetBlue, offer free drinks and snacks anymore. US Airways, for example, now charges $2 for nonalcoholic drinks. And be prepared to get hit in other ways. Want a pillow and blanket on your JetBlue flight? That'll be $7.

Relationships

“Business would be easy if not for people.” Robert Kiyosaki’s (richdad.com) father is quoted saying this and for business entrepreneurs or team managers, it is sometimes a truth. So if you choose to have people in your organization, you must be able to lead and manage those people.

As the number of people grows, the number of relationships grows. For example a one-person company has zero internal relationships; add a second and the relationship dynamics kick in. By adding a 4th person, you now have 6 relationships, 7 people = 21 and 100 people means 4,950 relationships!!

With this much going on, you must also grow your internal communication systems and procedures or you’ll end up with internal chaos. Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of hiring team members that have great technical skills but lack equally great people, leadership and communication skills. So before adding employees, you must honestly answer the following questions:
1. How are my/their leadership skills?
2. How are my/their organizational skills?
3. How are my/their people skills?

To put the right people in place, you “set the example and you will be a magnet for the right people” to find you. Do what you say, hold yourself to the highest standards, work to exceed expectations, learn from your mistakes and then share those lessons with others.

Thanks Robert for reminding me how to be a good leader here at RTP!

Rebecca Partman, Director of Event Operations (and person in charge of finding an hiring really great people to work with our fantastic team!)

PS If you are looking for a great company to work for, please send your resume to me at rebeccap@rtpevents.com. I'd love to hear from you!