Free Hotel Listing

Feeling generous this afternoon – giving away 2 free Web brochures on my website to the first 2 hotels in touch with me.  ciara(at) findaconferencevenue.com.

Cool Hotel Apps – StayHIP

Hotel Booking made easy with a wide selection of hotels worldwide……

Created in conjunction with TravelCLICK and Mobiata, this app brings you the coolest hotels around the world. Enter a city or zip, or just tap to find your current location. Better yet, use the keywords to find just the right vibe for you. Search tonight, next week or next year and compare hotel locations with built-in Google Maps so you can make sure you’re near the action.

Never mind the big chains and the economy hotels, StayHIP™ brings you only the most chic and unique hotels in the world. Where the coolest people stay apparently! And you can book your room right in the app.

More tips on saving money on Conferences, Meetings and Events

Great Conference Hotel Dublin

Tips compiled by Dave Kovalski & Sue Pelletier

• Talk to the chef – this is a great one…
  

Meet with the chef to see if you can use the same menu as another group that was meeting in the facility. Asking the chef to preparing more of the same food in advance can result in cost savings. Also, check with the chef for seasonal or regional specialties, which may be less expensive.

• Know that lines are OK

At cocktail receptions, don’t be afraid of having medium-sized lines at the bar. Long lines are a no-no, but lines that are five or six deep encourage networking and discourage overindulging on cocktails.

Networking space at Fitzpatricks Castle Hotel Kiliney

• Don’t pay more for drinks

Whether it’s a cash or a hosted bar, don’t pay more for drinks than you pay in the hotel outlets (bars and restaurants).

• Lock in the menu prices

If the hotel will not provide a specific menu in advance, at least agree that the menu prices will not increase more than a fixed percentage per year.

• Order as much as possible “on consumption.”

Uneaten food and drink can be returned and not charged. This works well with soda and packaged foods like potato chips, but can also be done with perishables.

There are 2 large conference/event rooms at this Dublin Hotel

If you liked this blog post, you will like  other tips in the category on ” How to arrange an event on a shoe string…”

Planning tips for Conferences, meetings and events – how to save money

Crowne Plaza Meetings

Phew, feeling the relief to posting the first post of the year!!   I am kicking off the new year with tips on savings on meetings, conferences and events.  Be a savvy meeting planner this year….

The following has been compiled by Dave Kovalski & Sue Pelletier along with my own 2 sence!

10 Ways to save on meetings and conferences….

• Know your history – confirm less numbers with the hotel than what you are expecting…

The odds are that not everyone is going to turn up – look at the patterns of attendance, there will be a percentage that does not turn up but you have confirmed numbers with the hotel and have to pay for them anyway.  A hotel will always be able to accommodate more on the day.  Also, history has proven that not everyone who goes to a meeting will eat every meal, to avoid paying for unconsumed meals and drinks, look at historical patterns of how many people actually attend food functions, and how much they consume at breaks and at cocktail parties.

• Control what’s served – keep an eye on the tea/coffee refills…

On breaks, food service workers will often refill empty coffee urns to the top, even if there are only five minutes left in the break period. At some $90 a gallon, that’s a lot of money going down the drain. Make sure they check with planning staff first before refilling, particularly in the last few minutes of the break. Same thing with wine. Tell food service personnel to open one bottle of red and white per table and fill glasses on request.

• Order bulk breakfasts – for a full breakfast go for buffet, not plated.

For continental breakfasts, order in bulk, not per-person packages. The packages often include more food than is necessary. By ordering in bulk, you can cut it in half. And if it’s a full breakfast, offer buffet meals, not plated.  Breakfast butties have also become very popular – breakfast in a roll effectively.  Again, this facilitates networking time.

Conference room Crowne Plaza Dundalk

• Negotiate corkage fees or use house wines

In Ireland corkage fees can vary from 0 to €12 and CuriousWines.ie will give you a great price on cases of wine with free delivery!  House wines can be negotiated with the venue, inevitably they will want to serve their wine over giving you corkage, so negotiate hard.

• Use stand-up/pod tables

For cocktail receptions, use stand-up tables instead of sit-down tables. People are more likely to network, and they are less likely to hang around and drink and eat all night — saving you money.  This style is also becoming very popular for lunch also, so delegates can maximise their networking time.

5 more tips will be posted tomorrow….

Conference Room Dublin at the Clarion IFSC