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???