Saw this on Pharma Gossip and had to share:

I would certainly hope so, giving that a survey by Special Events magazine found that half of the respondents were already writing one. And I have to admit that some of my favorites are blogs by special events people, especially when they post photos of some of the things they are doing (or wish they could be doing).

The article includes some interesting success stories, with “success” meaning blogging is bringing in new business.

While I can’t say this blog has made me a millionaire (or financial gain of any sort, for that matter), since I started it back in 2003(!) I’ve met more interesting people, made connections I can’t imagine having made any other way, and gotten some great ideas for stories (and feedback on stories we already ran). While I don’t think blogging is all that cutting-edge anymore, the only reason I can think of not to be writing one is that you just aren’t interested in this particular way of communicating with your clients, colleagues, and others who just might mean potential business.

From door locks to in-room safes to guest databases, HotelChatter takes a look at five ways a hotel room’s safety can be compromised, and what you can do about it.

I know, it’s been spring for almost a week, but the juxtaposition of snow in this morning’s forecast and someone sending me this video this morning just makes me need to post this:

Thanks, Debbi! I needed that.

Just in case you were wondering, yes, there are proper ways to get through airport security with a service monkey (you never know, an attendee just might ask). Of course, they also cover service dogs, but I don’t see anything for guide ponies.

(Today must be animal day here at f2f, with posts about weasels, cats, and now monkeys. Or else I’m just procrastinating again.)

In other TSA news that is probably more relevant to the majority of travelers, TSA may install devices at airports to detect and track personal gadgets.

This just made me laugh. From Indexed

:

I just read this by Maddie Grant on SocialFish, and think it is brilliant:

How do you herd cats? …You tilt the floor. You point everyone in the right direction, not just through words but through action and through intent.

She’s talking about an association CEO’s role in evolving an organization to be more social, but it could apply to any one of us who, for whatever reason, find ourselves chasing after a bunch of unruly metaphoric kittens these days…

There’s a lot of interest these days in putting on hybrid events, but there’s also a lot of anxiety over how to do it right. So it’s a good thing that Mike McAllen put together this free e-book, which describes what went into producing the EventCamp NYC hybrid meeting earlier this year. I haven’t read it yet, but it’s on my list.

Had to scramble to put this article together yesterday, but at least we got in a few thoughts on how the healthcare reform bill that passed on Sunday and is scheduled to be signed into law by the President today could effect pharma meetings for HCPs and CME.

But I’d really like to know what you think. Please drop a comment below or e-mail your thoughts to me. I won’t share them without your OK, but inquiring minds want to know…

(X-posted on Capsules)

After last year’s tough climate for meetings, the meetings industry began fighting back with campaigns of its own. But nothing takes the sting out of negativity more than humor, as Hyatt shows in a series of videos touting the importance of using a hotel that really “gets” meetings (though they don’t make “accidental planners,” those for whom meetings is just a sideline, not a full-time job, look very good). From the New York Times:

“The meetings business was slow in 2009, and slow as we come into 2010, so we thought the timing was right to put out an aggressive, confident invitation to get together again,” [Amy Curtis-McIntyre, senior vice president for marketing at Hyatt] said.

Check out these examples:

Ultra Lounge

Teppanyaki Chef

Thanks to the Meetings: Minnesota’s Hospitality Journal, for the pointer!