In today's business world, much of our time is spent attending meetings and conferences. A 2014 PricewaterhouseCoopers study examining meeting attendance and type found that more than 1.8 million meetings occurred in the United States over a year's time, with 225 million participants. The majority of these meetings were business/corporate (50 percent), followed by conventions (27 percent) and trade shows (12 percent).In-person meetings are a critical part of any business strategy, providing networking opportunities, personal connections and focused time to solve important issues. However, meetings can also have an unnecessary negative impact on the environment and broader sustainability efforts. READ MORE

We've all been there. First, the finger tapping and darting eyes - will I make it in time? Next, heart palpitations and small beads of perspiration. Oh God, please don't let it happen. Amidst an intense feeling of dread and potential hyperventilation…the unthinkable. The black screen. Push any button you'd like and nothing, I mean nothing will happen. Immediately your mind races, how many important calls, vital e-mails and essential Facebook posts will go un-received, unread and un-liked?? In this unfathomable and unconnected state, one has to wonder…why didn't I plug in at my last stop? READ MORE

Wow! What a year 2015 has been for groups and conventions! For the first time since the down economy in 2009, I feel confident in saying that travel and group business is not only back, but it is better than ever! We have seen reports that some of the 2015 have had 20-25% growth in attendance over 2013 & 2014 attendance. Group business represents over 30% of all travel numbers now, which means it represents over 500 Billion Dollars (and small meetings - less than 50 group rooms per night - allocates over 2/3 of this number). With 2015 almost behind us and 2016 lurking around the corner, there have been some new trends in the group and convention market segments. These are not new concepts necessarily; however they are being creatively reintroduced into the group markets. READ MORE

An event manager who can successfully assist a meeting planner to create a smooth, trouble-free event is an extraordinary asset for any hotel. The relationship between the meeting planner and the event service manager creates loyalty that drives repeat business for a property or brand. READ MORE

Chicago is built on convention business, and it's never going away, but the practice of booking large room blocks three to five years out limits ADR growth as meeting planners with short memories seek to extend the benefits they have accrued during the down cycle and are reluctant to give up negotiated gains when the market rebounds. This is something intrinsic to the nature of the market and just has to be dealt with as part of the cost of being in the business. It presents a challenge in setting rates for future business in uncertain times. READ MORE