A lot of responsibility comes with being a tourist in another country.  In some senses, as an American traveler, there are some casual ambassador duties.  At the risk of being just another “obnoxious American”, I take every step imaginable to fit in in my surroundings, and pay attention to the customs and traditions of whatever...

It’s happened to most of us while traveling – getting bumped.  However I’ve been the recipient of both kinds, good bumps and bad bumps.  Allow me to stray from my typical blog model and share with you a couple of anecdotes from my now long and storied travel history.  Interestingly, both bump events happened when...

I was just awarded a tremendous honor by the writers of Connect Magazine, published by Collinson Media & Events.  Along with thirty-nine other deserving industry colleagues, the magazine bestowed on me a listing among the “40 Under 40” in the meetings industry.  This feature recognized forty emerging leaders in our industry with forty different success...

Hello?  Anyone home?  This has been the slowest month in fifty one months in business.  There have been numerous days over the course of the last four years and change where I’ve had more leads in one day than I’ve had in the last thirty.  Notice to suppliers.  I’m not ignoring you.  It’s slow right...

There’s a trend in the meetings industry that has come on strong in the last few years, away from the traditional tradeshow format, and towards appointment based reverse tradeshows and hosted buyer programs.  There may always be a place for the tried and true 10×10 booths and large exhibition halls.  It’s a great place for...

You don’t have to be a PhD candidate to be published and you don’t have to be a PhD candidate to feel the need to be published.  It’s one of the best things one can do for one’s self, particularly if one is in business on his own or if one is in the position...

There’s a new affliction hitting productive Americans in the work force.  Each year, mine has gotten worse.  And I know I’m not alone.  In the age of increased technological innovation, it’s become insufficient, it’s become lazy even, to be doing just one task at a time.  And I’m not speaking about walking and chewing gum...

Do you have a thousand items in your inbox, more than half of which are unread?  Is your deleted folder filled with emails you’re constantly going back to reference?  Do you spend five minutes each time you check your email, sorting and resorting your inbox, alphabetizing it, find the right date, hoping you remember the...

Too often, suppliers are caught in the trap of putting all of their eggs in the tradeshow basket.  Gone are the days when suppliers will leave a half-day’s work standing on the exhibit hall floor with a stack of RFPs as souvenirs.  Tradeshows have become meet-and-greets, a place to see and be seen, a place...

In 2001, my director at the Millennium Bostonian Hotel asked me to “explore” the government market since the economy had taken a serious turn for the worse and since the after affects of 9/11 were devastating.  As a young sales manager I was eager to take on a “mini-market” of my own and run with...