Training Programs Announced:

For those individuals interested in becoming an event or wedding planner, we are now offering training guides for purchase.  Please click here for details on what is available.

Start Planning Now for Holiday Parties:

Don't wait, early planning is the key to success.  It's not too soon to start planning your holiday parties for the year. For a large event at home, consider hiring the services of a professional planner. See the Home Parties or the Holiday Parties page for more information.

It’s all in the details

If you watch the popular ABC show “Desperate Housewives,” you know that Bree is now a caterer. On a recent episode, her son noticed that 18 glasses were missing for an upcoming event. This one little detail could have made a major impact - the unmatched glasses would have been noticed. And what if there were no other glasses available? Would 18 of the guests be drinking out of paper cups?

These little details can make a difference in any event. Planners have an eye for these details. They make sure every table has a matching glass, flatware, dish and napkin. The dance floor is laid, the food is perfect, and the atmosphere is just right.  Why leave your next event to chance? Hire a planner to handle the details.

What is a Certified Meeting Planner?

If you have ever needed a meeting planner, you may have wondered what the designation CMP means. A certified meeting planner, or CMP, has spent hours studying the industry. According to Convention Industry Council, these professionals have been:

• Identifying a body of knowledge;
• Establishing a level of knowledge and performance necessary for certification;
• Stimulating the advancement of the art and science of meeting management;
• Increasing the value of practitioners to their employers;
• Recognizing and raising industry standards, practices and ethics;
• Maximizing the value received from the products and services provided by Certified Meeting Professionals.

Only 13,000 people have received this certification. Anyone can call caterers and venues to plan a meeting. Someone who has the CMP certification has a grasp of all the details. When you hire one of these professionals, you are getting someone who has worked hard to be at the top of their field.

Budgeting

According to Meeting Professionals International, corporations are expected to slash their meeting and conference budget by 17 percent in 2009. This is on top of the deep cuts made in 2008.

This does not mean doom and gloom for meeting planners. That’s because most companies know the secret behind good planning---a professional can save time and money. Professional meeting planners have contacts in the catering, hotel and travel industry that alert them to where the best deals are.

Can you afford to pay for all the mistakes you will make if you don’t allow a professional to do it right the first time?