What do you want when you open this magazine? Event marketing ideas? Technology updates? Event management solutions? Destination news? Chances are one or another of those subjects speaks directly to your needs and your responsibilities. But where to find it in our pages? In the past, readers looking for technology info, for example, could find newsy items up front, reviews in the back, and smatterings elsewhere.
You folks are way too busy to have to search for information. We launched this magazine three years ago to serve the information needs of tech company event planners. That mission hasn't changed, but we are honing our delivery. Starting this issue, instead of stirring everything into one big TM stew, we're dividing our content into tracks to make it easier to find what you're after.
Three tracks will appear in every issue: Event Planning, Marketing, and Technology. Two tracks, Motivation and Show Biz, will alternate issues. Here are some examples: If technology is your thing, turn to page 119. You can read about the newest efforts in wireless hotel check-in, network projectors, and an online technology center launched by the Professional Convention Management Association. If event management is what you're looking for, turn to page 41. We've got news on a commission-free online RFP service, commentary on the state of hotel fees, and a conversation with Conferon's Bruce Harris, among other things.
It's probably worth mentioning what has not changed. Up front we still have our meeting industry news, destination reports, and calendar of tech meetings. And on the final page is Chat Room — you still never know what you're going to find there.
Well, we hope we've nailed it, that these targeted sections will help you find the information you really care about. Thanks for your support and feedback; keep it coming.
On another subject, I want to remind you about Meeting Visions 2001. For the second year in a row, TM is co-sponsoring this conference on emerging technology and the meetings industry. The location — Maui in December — doesn't hurt when asking our Editor-at-Large Dave Erickson to step up to the podium, and few events feature such targeted content and broad range of meetings experts. To learn more, visit www.mauitechnologyforum.com.
Enjoy the issue,