How can a promising idea be truly valuable if it remains confined? We understand the power of sharing ideas, and we’re dedicated to facilitating this exchange. Our specialty lies in orchestrating impactful meetings and events where the exchange of big ideas takes center stage. We’re deeply committed to the success
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3 Steps to Take Before Planning Your In-Person Meeting
Are you getting ready to plan or execute your first in person meeting since early 2020? If you are, take these 3 simple steps: Don’t panic – you just need a guide with a plan Pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage Call me – there are no strings
Read moreIs It Time To Plan A Retreat For Your Organization?
As we build momentum with the return of face-to-face meetings and events, we are seeing many of our clients holding Board Meetings and Corporate Retreats. Our clients are bringing their top leaders together to establish game plans for the short and long-term to ensure a successful recovery and sustained success.
Read moreMeeting Face to Face Again
A few weeks ago, two of our ConferenceDirect teams came together for an in-person meeting. Along with my counterpart Mike Ditter, we held a Team Baarman / Team Ditter joint team meeting with simple objectives for our time together: Prove that we could ‘safely’ meet face to face Enable us
Read moreThe Hospitality Industry is Changing – So Is ConferenceDirect
The meetings and events industry is going through incredible changes as we work to emerge from the current health and financial crisis along with the social and political unrest. This has impacted our company, the organizations that we work with and our hotel and industry partners. With these changes, meeting
Read moreLeaders: Know Your Strengths and Use Your Resources
If you are a business owner or lead an organization, it is imperative that you know the strengths and weaknesses of your organization, leadership team and yourself. As Darren Hardy (success mentor and former publisher of Success Magazine) stresses, trying to do everything in-house is no longer the best solution
Read moreHow Can Meeting and Event Planners Create Effective RFP’s?
One of the key roles we have as a meeting and event planner is to generate effective RFP’s that ‘sell’ the value of our meeting to the applicable destinations and hotels. The better information we provide, the better our initial proposal will be…which ultimately will help save us both time
Read more5 Must-Haves in a Trusted Hospitality Industry Outsourcing Partner
As professionals in the meeting planning industry going through the largest challenge many of us have faced, one solution to consider is whether to outsource portions of your meeting and event needs. This is especially true to virtual options for the short-term and hybrid meetings for the foreseeable future. In
Read more5 Ways Third-Party Meeting and Event Planners Provide Value
The recent health and economic crisis have made the outside consultant and meeting planning professionals (also known as third-party meeting planners) an even more valuable resource for organizations. With the layoffs of our hotel partners, many customers are struggling to find who they can speak with at the hotel about
Read moreDoug Baarman – ConferenceDirect’s Team Director of the Year for 2019
I want to thank our team for an amazing 2019. We accomplished great results for our clients, industry partners, ourselves and ConferenceDirect which this award recognizes. Although last year seems like it was a long time ago as so much has changed, it was a success due to our amazing
Read moreChoosing to be an Entrepreneur in the Meetings and Events Industry
“If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.” Frank A. Clark This quote is perfect for those of us who choose to be entrepreneurs in the meetings and events industry. We are traveling a path with lots of obstacles…and we love overcoming them. There
Read moreBuilding Better Relationships in the Hospitality Industry
Previously, I have shared the importance of relationships as professionals in the hospitality industry. Relationships are also important in our personal lives. Being the father of two daughters has been a blessing, however watching them go through the highs and lows of relationships (especially the break-ups) has been a learning
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