Give Me What I Asked For & How I Asked For It!

Being an event planner, designer & manager for the past twenty years you come to realize all the small details that come together to make an event a successful one. Over the years technology has made a lot of our day to day easier; but it has also made it harder. 

How you say? People have become lazy and complacent and no longer pay attention to the minute details that are needed to make the process smoother.

Which leads into my main pet peeve within my industry: Suppliers not paying attention to what is sent to them.

Scenario: I have just landed a new client; I am now sourcing for a venue and other items for their event. I create a detailed RFP (Request for Proposal) with every possible thing the client may need and finally how to contact me. I’m specific with my contact instructions; “after your review of the proposal should you have any questions or would like to set a time to speak please email me at (email address)”. That should be it right; wrong! Within hours of hitting the submit button I am receiving phone calls left and right saying they received my proposal and would like to speak with me regarding my needs. After speaking with a salesperson I realize that they have never read the event specifications that I have sent them.

Most suppliers don’t realize that I just mark you off my list and keep it moving; because if you can’t be bothered to follow details prior to an event; I am not convinced that you will follow them during my client’s event and that is not a chance I’m willing to take.

 I sent a request to your company because my client was interested in utilizing your services; so help me help you, please, please, please give me what I asked for and how I asked for it!!!

eRFP to the Rescue ~ Hotel & Venue Sourcing made Easy

eRFP, what is that??? If you have been in the meeting and event planning industry for longer than 10 years, you remember how we used to source and track RFP’s when we were looking to set up an event. Are you still using Email and Excel spreadsheets to send and managing your event RFP’s? Well if you are it’s time to move into the new way to search and source your venues.

eRFP to the Rescue!!! ACTIVE Network and i-Meet conducted a survey of event planners to get a feel on the frustrations that your fellow planners have when trying to set up an event; and the results have been complied and published in an article titled “What RFP’s Mean to SMBs: Turning Headaches into Solutions for Planners”.

As a planner like to handle all the aspects of setting up and managing an event for my client, but the having to work through various tools, is complicated, time consuming and draining. So your question is “Does such a tool exist?” Why yes it does; Active Regonline’s has completely overhauled and redesigned their software adding a robust and expansive Hotel & Venue search feature to it; now you can search, review and source a venue in one location without having to leave the event portal. Active RegOnline has created a datasheet on Hotel & Venue Sourcing; it’s a quick cheat sheet on how you can use the feature.

The Hotel & Venue Sourcing tools offers the following:

• A single location to source and track your eRFP’s
• An easy to use eRFP Wizard
• Access to ACTIVE Network’s Global network that includes expansive hotel & venue locations in more than 200 countries.
• Free specialist support for planners who want and/or need assistance during the planning process

Want to see what all the talk is about; visit ACTIVE RegOnline and try it out for yourself for free! This web-based application has no set up costs, no software to install, and no contracts to sign. With RegOnline your event will be up and running in no-time!

RegOnline offers best-in-class Online Event Registration Software and Event Management Software. Turn your next conference, meeting or trade show into a huge success. Event management software includes online registration forms, event websites, badges, event marketing, credit card processing and so much more.



Juanita E. Gaynor (http://i-meet.com/jegaynor)

President & CEO

Ellegant Affairs by Juanita (http://www.ellegantaffairs.com)



i-Meet.com is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events. With over 111,000 members in 175 countries, i-Meet brings professional networking, online marketing, and social tools to create awareness and a voice for the industry.

I’ve Been There is a travel history and sharing application for planners and enthusiasts.

Active Network, The New ACTIVE RegOnlineTM is Here!