When I grow up, I want to be able to write like Patti Digh. For a weekly mind-stretch, check out her 37 Days. This one is pretty directly related to meeting planning, especially for planners who have international attendees or who plan meetings outside their home countries. Plus, it’s just beautifully written, and it made me both laugh and think. And be glad my junior high Spanish teacher at least taught us some usable phrases, like ¿dónde está el cuarto de baño?

It sounds as if the Hyatt Regency New Orleans fate is still unclear, according to an article in hotel-online. Its owner is trying to work up a public-private partnership, and it sounds like the city’s mayor is somewhat behind that happening. From the article:

Strategic Hotel Capital has not made a final decision yet on whether to restore and reopen the hotel.

“We will watch and see if the local, state and federal governments can get their act together, and how money will be dispersed and when,” [Laurence Geller, head of Strategic Hotel Capital Inc., which owns the hotel] said.

To date, he says he hasn’t seen effective coordination, and this worries him. “I’m terrified when there are three monolithic government agencies that have to talk to each other,” he said.

Meanwhile, the J.W. Marriott in New Orleans has reopened for business as of last Friday.

Just in case parking lot stripes and escalator railings aren’t far enough out sponsorship opportunities for your next convention: You can always offer to let folks sponsor the local wildlife (click here for more examples of logo-painted bugs. And no, I’m not endorsing bug torture, but this was too wild to pass up!)