When negotiating a
hotelcontract, what is the first itemon your wish list you’ll give up?
“Complimentary upgrades. The bulk of
our meetings don’t have VIPs, and I would then have to spend time
figuring out who to give them to. They are more trouble than they
are worth. I don’t view them as an incentive at all.”
Kristin Wilson
Meeting Planner
Weyerhauser Travel and Meeting Management
Federal Way, Wash.
“If we had to give up something on our
wish list, it would probably be the minor changes that we make to
the hotel’s walk policy. We are willing to part with this
concession because ultimately, the hotels do a great job in taking
care of attendees whom they have to walk.”
Cassandra Smoot, CMP
Director of Programs
The National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems
Washington, D.C.
“My wish list is pretty extensive, but
I would say airport transfers to and from the hotel and
complimentary newspapers are two things we don’t need. A lot of our
people drive. And if someone really wants a newspaper, they’ll buy
it themselves.”
Everett T. Shupe II, MBA, CMP
Learning Events Manager
Goodwill Industries International
Rockville, Md.