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Green Meetings Are Easier to Plan than You Think

Unless you’re one that still believes our earth is flat, most people realize that we all need to do our part to help our precious planet. This post isn’t intended to create a debate about global warming. Here we are assuming that our readers have done their own research and understand the importance of green meetings. My only advice for those that may be still caught up in the debate is to please stop listening to the politicians. Plain and simple they are not scientists and their comments are often made with a hidden agenda in mind. Okay, now that I’ve got that off my chest, let’s take a look at how easy it is to make your meeting a little greener.

Posting a Green Meeting Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Increased Responsibilities

Many people, including myself until recently, are under the impression that having a green meeting means additional tasks and increased responsibilities. Well, today that’s not the case. Especially with social media becoming more and more prominent in our lives. Technology is making it very easy to go paperless today. And many meetings are now conducted virtually with the use of video conference calls.

Many meeting planners are also telling me that a lot of their delegates are supporting green meetings. Many are actually inquiring with planners on how they can help make any meetings they are attending become as green as possible. Also many association meetings are leaving a positive impact in the cities where they are hosting their semi-annual or annual meetings. Often associations will have an activity that attendees can participate in that leave the city little cleaner or little greener.

Green Meeting Tips That You Easily Implement

Here are just a few green meeting tips that you can easily implement for your next meeting:

for smaller meetings consider video conference linking

make registration forms electronic and distribute information via social media

set up a twitter account for your meeting and ask attendees to start following it. Then communicate with your attendees via the twitter account with regards to updates, news during the conference etc.

work with your travel company to promote paperless boarding passes

if flying is a must, consider purchasing carbon offsets

for those that are concerned about supplier interaction, consider a virtual tradeshow

work with your hotel on energy-saving solutions. Make sure your meeting room has energy-efficient light bulbs and that they are turned off while you are not meeting.

Serve your water the good old-fashioned way. Make sure to ask that there is no bottled water in your meeting room

Hosting a green meeting isn’t as hard as you might think it is. Most companies that you deal with today will have policies in place that allow them to assist you in making green choices. For more information on green meetings, visit the EPA’s Green meeting page. Implementing just a few of the green meeting tips will help put you and your organization on a positive sustainability path.

Tips For Starting Your Own Event Planning Business

Cover of Start Your Own Event Planning Business

Are you someone that loves planning events? Even more than you love attending events? Perhaps you’ve been planning parties for friends and family as a hobby and wondering if there’s a way that you could actually make a living in the event planning business. It’s always great if you could find a way to make a living doing something that is a passion of yours.

The event planning business can be a very rewarding profession. But before you start your own event planning business you have to make sure that you know what running your own business entails. Running a business, while exciting, can also be very stressful. If you’re considering starting your own event planning business there are a few tips that you may want to consider a ahead of time.

Event planning business experience

Whenever someone asks me about how I started my own business, the first thing I usually tell them is that I got my experience working for a larger corporation. Now I’m not saying that you should go out and mislead another company by trying to learn the ropes on their dime. Actually if the event planning business is a passion of yours the company that hires you will actually benefit from your work ethic. I certainly would not recommend working for somebody else if you only plan on being there for 2 to 3 months as part of your training. If you are thinking of working for another company to learn the event planning business then, in all fairness, you really have to commit to this company for longer period of time. The purpose of working for another company is not so that you make mistakes on their dime. You should view working for a larger company in the sense that you will be learning from people that have the industry experience that you are seeking. Of course company trade secrets should be just that – their trade secrets. Anything that would be considered proprietary should be respected as such. Isn’t that how you would want an employee to treat your event planning business?

Event planning business accounts

Like any other independent business, there are always government accounts that you will have to set up and learn how to administer. This is one area of the business that, while many consider monotonous, is vitally important to understand and keep on top of. You do not want your event planning business to be in arrears with your taxes or remittances.

Networking for your event planning business

Networking is a great way of making contacts. Pretty much every industry has networking events. In order for your event planning business to succeed it is vital that you have many contacts within the industry. And of course the best way for making new contacts is to attend networking events.

Social networking has become a vital component of the businesses marketing strategy. Like face-to-face networking, social networking is another great way connecting with like-minded people, keeping up to date, and sourcing potential customers.

Event planning business certification and association memberships

Certification tells people that you have taken the time to invest in yourself. Furthermore it also tells potential customers that you know your stuff. There are many different types of event planning business certifications ranging from general business certifications to event and meeting planning designations. Talk to people that have already become certified and get their feedback on the various certifications available.

Joining industry associations also has many benefits. Associations provide up to date information on regulations and any changes that may affect your event planning business. Associations are also great way of finding out what certifications are best for you. Use associations to network with industry colleagues as well as obtaining much needed business leads.