One of My Favorite Hotel Pools...

Lists are constantly being published about the best hotel pools...this topic is very close to my heart as I am a sucker for a great hotel pool.  As I have a chance to see these pools, I most certainly will keep my readers up to date.

My very favorite pool to date would be the amazing floating pool at Villa d'Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como in Northern Italy.  I had the opportunity to spend a few weeks at this magical place and I will never forget it.  I will talk more about the hotel itself in a separate post, for now, let's talk pools!  While Lake Como is most recently famous for George Clooney and Star Wars...it has a rich and abundant history.  The pool is not high tech, it has been around for a while.  The hotel was built in 1568, I am uncertain as to when the floating pool was added.  It is amazing to be enveloped in lovely warm water while overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes I have seen.

 Another view of the property from above, giving you a better idea of this amazing lake...

TripAdvisor Warnings about Hotel Self Promotion?

Recently it has come to light that hotels are posting rave reviews about themselves on TripAdvisor - a very well known site where folks go to get the latest information on hotels or other information they are seeking when planning a trip.

You can read the USA Today article here.

This allows me to once again talk about the amazing benefits of using HelmsBriscoe for site selection. We have over 1000 associates around the world. We have an internal message board type system, if we need information, we can ask a question and that question immediately goes to all of our associates around the world. Not only does this allow us to work with our colleagues globally in order to plan meetings for corporations and associations wherever they would like to go; but it also gives us the most honest and up to date information on hotels, destinations, contract issues, contacts, etc.

Here is an example of our page, and all of the resources we have access to:



Just another way we work to help our clients have the best meetings possible!

HelmsBriscoe Velocity Training Rocked!

Watch What You Tweet!

We are currently being hosted beautifully by the Arizona Biltmore, there are several groups of young people here as well, and I was able to hear a great example of how what you put out there can get ya into a heap of trouble!

One of the "young people", upset about her lack of a continental breakfast (which was NOT ordered as part of their program), decided to make some rude comments on Twitter! The Biltmore is very in tune with technology and keeps up to date about what people are saying...her comment got out, got to the group leader, and got her on the next bus home!

Meetings and Events Are Essential Business Functions, Spur Economic Growth

In adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward suspected corporate excess, policymakers have been demonizing companies for legitimate travel to meetings and events and for rewarding high-performing employees with travel. Handicapping businesses to score political points is shortsighted and erects barriers to recovery.

This type of travel helps companies build relationships, retain and develop employee talent, generate ideas and facilitate knowledge sharing that drives business growth. In a weak economy, doesn’t every company in America need more opportunities to promote recovery and plan for better days?

Trips have also been mischaracterized as CEO junkets. But attendees of incentive program travel, for example, are typically middle-class Americans who have earned travel to reward exceptional work.

Members of Congress who attack corporate meetings and events, yet attend their own yearly retreats should remember that good public policy addresses reality, not rhetoric.

Meetings Mean BUSINESS!

Meeting participants speak positively about their

experiences:

This information is courtesy of Meetings Mean Business, a website that details the value of meetings, not only to companies, but also to the economy.

When my company hosts a meeting, seminar, or training info session, my job performance benefits tremendously. Meetings are a way to tap into new ideas, generate revenue, and enhance my career.
Christianna S., Virginia

The value of human connections (meetings) is immeasurable. Recently, I chaired a task force of bright, passionate industry experts. We were given a charter and a clear plan of action. The team was dedicated and met weekly for several months, making steady progress against our goal. At the end of our time together, we met for a full day to review the work that had been done. Much to our surprise, the outcomes and recommendations previously agreed to by the team changed significantly once we had a chance to meet in person. Incorporating the knowledge gained through personal interaction we will deliver a much more relevant, meaningful recommendation. This is just a small example of the value of meetings...and of human connections. I think we all know that meetings will continue but the question is at what real cost if they are converted to virtual formats to reduce cost. In addition to the obvious economic value meetings deliver, we need to change our focus from eliminating meetings to measuring the value meetings bring - the effectiveness of meetings. Meetings were conceived to drive growth - now, more than ever before; we should ensure they do just that.
Cindy D., Pennsylvania

There is no substitute for face-to-face meetings. It is absolutely the best facilitation of planning, strategizing and communications. WebEx’s and teleconference are great for interim touch points, but cannot replace the face to face meeting. In projects I have been involved in where we tried to drive entirely through teleconference/WebEx the cost of miscommunication and delays was staggering.
David M., Connecticut

Nothing will ever replace face to face communication. It's a better and more accurate way to collaborate with your clients, as well as your partners and employees. Face to face meetings are vital to sales and marketing efforts. Meetings are just plain good business. Technology is great, but I can't shake hands with it. It can't give someone a reassuring pat on the back, or a smile for a job well done. With all due respect to social networking tools, if all your business is done with e mail, e learning and e networking, you’re going to end up working e lone.
Hugh Q., New York

I am in the meeting and hospitality industry and I see the value of meetings every day; things that cannot be replaced by email or conference calls or video conference. We do not waste our time trying to duplicate things that have no value. Much time and effort is spent on trying to recreate the meeting experience because of the value and effectiveness they have. But nothing can replace shaking of hands and looking into someone’s eyes when you trust them to become part of your team or your business or welcoming them into your family. To dismiss meetings as unimportant is to lose an opportunity to gain real trust between partners of all kinds.
Matt V., Texas