For the past few weeks the INTD team has been busy updating the site with a few changes since we launched on May 5th. In addition to spreading the word to meeting planners, DMC's and hospitality suppliers so we can add more jobs to the board, we have been developing our Travel Director and Tour Guide Tools which are now accessible to our Platinum Members.
The first thing we added, based on feedback from our members, was an invoice and expense report template. Our goal is for INTD members to use these forms while they are on the road to make life easier and to begin streamlining the billing process between freelance contractors and their clients.
I spoke to Keith Johnston with On-Site Events last week who just launched Plannermix.com (a new global community for meeting and event professionals) and relayed our vision for INTD members to begin using our forms and templates. I was pleasantly surprised and excited for him to tell me if that if his freelance staff started using our forms, he would gladly accept and distribute! Wow!! This made my day and reinforced my belief that we are headed in the right direction but it will just take time to get things going.
If all our members started using these forms, just think how much easier life on the road will become for everyone! How nice would it be to complete one form for every program you work and have access to the template online 24 hours a day??
As a member of INTD we encourage you to think of International Network of Travel Directors as your professional association and a resource for career development and networking. When you are on-site and have a few minutes, visit INTDONLINE.COM and connect on the message board and access the TD or TG Tools. Visit the TD Blog and post your comments, get involved and submit an article for the newsletter.
Stay tuned as we continue to bring you more information and resources!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Being Green - Are you doing your part?
Being "green" or Eco friendly is a very hot topic and has made its way to the hospitality industry, urging us to do our part by planning greener meetings. I think this is great and at times I wonder, what took us so long? But as I read more and more about the green movement in our industry, I noticed the focus is directed toward the supplier (hotels) and meeting planners.
As someone who supports being green, it made me question how those of us in the industry who have no control over the preparation or planning of a meeting or event could be green. How can we do our part as freelancers whose primary responsibility is on-site logistics?
I came up with 3 ways I am trying to be green when on the road….
1. Travel with an aluminum water bottle. Fill up from the pitcher in the meeting rooms or order one for your own sleeping room and the staff office. I started ordering pitchers of water with lemon from room service and use this to refill my water bottle throughout the week. I have room service refresh it for me daily. I even order pitchers of water for the staff office with lemon or oranges. If you speak to your conference service manager he/she may do this for you at no charge.
2. Reduce or eliminate soda consumption. I know, we need the caffeine based on the hours we work, but if your hotel does not recycle then try and sustain until you are in a location that does offer recycling. Plus, sodas are so bad for you! You will be promoting better health and helping the environment.
3. Reuse and recycle paper. I actually print on both sides of the paper for internal documents and I also send paper that is only printed on one side back to my office. If the company you are working for does not do this then maybe ask if you can speak to the hotel about recycling left over program materials before you depart.
I know it does not seem like much but every effort counts!
If you have tips or suggestions on how you are making an effort to be green when traveling, please let me know!
As someone who supports being green, it made me question how those of us in the industry who have no control over the preparation or planning of a meeting or event could be green. How can we do our part as freelancers whose primary responsibility is on-site logistics?
I came up with 3 ways I am trying to be green when on the road….
1. Travel with an aluminum water bottle. Fill up from the pitcher in the meeting rooms or order one for your own sleeping room and the staff office. I started ordering pitchers of water with lemon from room service and use this to refill my water bottle throughout the week. I have room service refresh it for me daily. I even order pitchers of water for the staff office with lemon or oranges. If you speak to your conference service manager he/she may do this for you at no charge.
2. Reduce or eliminate soda consumption. I know, we need the caffeine based on the hours we work, but if your hotel does not recycle then try and sustain until you are in a location that does offer recycling. Plus, sodas are so bad for you! You will be promoting better health and helping the environment.
3. Reuse and recycle paper. I actually print on both sides of the paper for internal documents and I also send paper that is only printed on one side back to my office. If the company you are working for does not do this then maybe ask if you can speak to the hotel about recycling left over program materials before you depart.
I know it does not seem like much but every effort counts!
If you have tips or suggestions on how you are making an effort to be green when traveling, please let me know!
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