I need a drink!!!

52 executives/ceos in one board meeting tomorrow and Friday...... 15 presentations and 52 sets stuffed and restuffed again because people keep sending changes (sorry trees).......power strips laid out and taped down to floors so each attendee can use laptops during meetings.........table tents placed and political standing for each of the 52 people taken into consideration as not to "offend" such 52 executives/ceos......changed rooming list 5 times in one day because of "changes".......... booked canceled rebooked and cancelled again sidebar meeting room for exec who wanted to have a breakout meeting.......tested Audio Visual in room....reconfirmed dinner counts.... reconfirmed transportation again.......took calls from executive admins asking questions all day long.......security badges secured from security team...... I NEED A DRINK........................

MOVING DAY!!!!!

For the past 11.5 years at my job, I have had to move department/office locations probably every 2 or so years. We just completed moving again this past week. What a nightmare. I know our department is small on paper 5 total people, but if they only knew how much space we all took up.... I mean......the shipping/receiving area alone is HUGE!!! and dont even get me started on our promotional merchandise closet. I have my suspicions that these moves are just a random source of income for the property managment people....but hey.....who am I to say anything.......

Here are some pics of the pack up. Yes......this is only a fraction of what we had to move....



here is our brand new shipping and receiving/packet stuffing area.


And....the all famous promotional merchandise closet. This one is under lock and key.....we have alot of people who like to come and shop for their clients and meetings here.... : ) coffee mug anyone?


And of course.......ta da......my brand new office. Or as I like to call it "organized chaos".

Well now that we are somewhat settled in.....on to the next meeting.....

Site Inspections Oh My!!!!

Now I have mentioned many times that my job is far from glamorous and fun as most people tend to imagine, but one of the perks I must say are site inspections. This is where you get to travel to a future meeting destination you are going to book for your group. This is done after you have conducted a thorough RFP (Request for Proposal) and reviewed the hotels and venues you would like to see prior to making a final decision and contracting those hotels/venues that are the best fit for your attendees. Now these site inspections are work, the agenda is usually jam packed so you can see all you need to see and your feet probably are bleeding or throbbing when it is all done. The good thing is you do not have 100 needy attendees in tow with you nor do you have to be up at 5 am and down at midnight. You get to see some really spectacular things in the different city destinations you visit, experience some of the culture and great restaurants in the area. This week I did a site in Key West.

First I flew in on a connecting flight on this!!!! Tell me about having a sense of mortality now that I have a baby!!! wow!!!

Now not all sites are going to be the "perfect" scenario....it rained pretty much the entire time I was there. Which meant I really had to "envision" the sun with my group enjoying the different venues. Hyatt in Key West is where I stayed. Pretty gloomy outside...but nice hotel.

We checked out the Hemingway house which I think had about 50 cats living on property...weird.

and the Truman White House. Great history. Kennedy stayed there during the bay of pigs.

We checked out a catamaran which can be used for a snorkel trip or a sunset reception. Because booze cruises are ALWAYS a good time. Check!

And of course the seafood restaurants were great as well.

There are a TON of bars on Duval. It is just hopping with all different types of people. It is kind of like a 6th street in Austin with all the live music and drinkeries. With a beach feel....

By this time I have stopped by the local CVS to pick up bandaids because I have gotten my typical site inspection foot blister. Fun times. Patch myself up and continue on...I am a viking!!!!

I tried keylime pie on a stick.....blah...dont think I am a keylime fan. Oh well. Too bad everything here revolves around key lime something.

Still it continues to rain.......and I look like a wet dog...and my foot hurts.

After all was said and done and I am at the airport getting my power point presentation ready for my executive team in order to make my recommendations.....my flight is delayed.......oh the travelling life of a meeting planner. Delays are never good and if you have a connetion.....boy....even worse!!! So almost 4 hours later I am finally on the tiny plane back to make my connection to houston and luckily there is a later plane back home (since I clearly missed my original flight) which I am able to get a seat on. Thank god!!! I just wanted to be home!!!! 4 hours late and I missed putting my son to bed after being gone 3 days. It really bites but it is what we deal with alot in this industry. Sigh. Now on to make some final decisions for my upcoming program. Cracking the knuckles now!!! Hemingway or Truman...hmmmm???

The Wonderful City of Nashville

Now out of my 11 years in the meetings business I have never been to Nashville for a program. And I just have to say....wow! What a great city!! The food, service, people, museums, nightlife are just awesome!!! I hope to be back there again for more programs soon! I also got to go see my best friend Aimee (Brady's godmother) while I was there visiting. An added bonus!!!

My group had dinner one evening at the amazing Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. Check it out http://countrymusichalloffame.org/ Pretty darn cool museum.
We then head out to tootsies where I had sweet talked the owner into a VIP table right up front! We felt like kings!!!! Check it out. I am a VIP!!!!!

Here is the whole group ready to party on Broadway!!!

Here is the Regional Vice President Todd and probably one of the COOLEST guys on the planet!

The next night we had a section of the Wildhorse Saloon reserved for my group. Great music and a great band!!!

And we had country western dance lessons for the group!!! It was pretty darn funny!!! Everyone had their country western attire on!!! And look at those hot boots!!!!

Yes we had all day business meetings going on in conjunction with this but that is not necessarily the fun part! : )

When I finally got home from being away for 4 days, my son I could tell was not happy with me. He cried when Damon tried to hand him to me. I guess this means I need to cut back on my travel!!! The guilt factor of a travelling meeting planner mom has begun to KICK IN. Took him a couple hours but he was happy I was home again!! I missed him terribly!!!