Since hotels typically issue credits for cash deposits on canceled meetings, and companies often can't use those credits before they expire in six to eight months, why not provide a service for companies that want to liquidate the “assets” of...

It was a simple, yet accurate, symbol of RCMA's 30th Anniversary Conference and Exposition: a red carpet at the main entrance to the bright, wonderful Tampa Convention Center, RCMA's home for the week. That red carpet — and a gathering of...

It's no surprise that the one-two punch of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the stagnant economy has slashed the number of hotel development and renovation projects scheduled for 2002. Marriott will open 125 properties this year, versus 170...

Overseas travel has inherent health risks, some serious, some minor. Here's what you can do to ensure that your attendees will feel no pain when they go beyond U.S. borders...

We basked for so long in the glow of an ever-expanding economy and a strong meeting market that planners and hoteliers may have forgotten what a buyer's market is like. And many haven't forgotten — they never knew. Anybody who has been in the...

Doing business internationally is increasingly common. But how is it possible to know exactly what to do when working with a variety of cultures...

Who would start a meeting-industry Web site in today's iffy economy? Charlie Robinson did. A 28-year-old with a sales and marketing background, most recently with Starwood's Washington, D.C., national sales office, Robinson started HotMeetingDates...

In my role as president of RCMA, people sometimes will ask me what the organization is all about. Well, RCMA 2002 in Tampa provided me with reminders...

Have you unpacked from RCMA 2002 in Tampa? Of course, you placed your clothes, shoes, brochures, and other materials in their proper closets, drawers, and file cabinets weeks ago. I'm wondering if you have unpacked your mind...

“Learning about what's happening in hotel contracts was very informative. I was reminded that it's very important to have the courage to ask for the provisions that you want in a contract. I also learned to ask for audit forms from the hotels...