Erin Johnson knew that something had to change. A few years ago, she was working in the meeting-planning department at American Express, handling big meetings and big budgets for Johnson & Johnson Co. But while everyone in her department...

Lawrence Sherman Posed an interesting question in his column “Same Time Next Year?” (January/February 2007, page 15) Why do so many of us go to the same meetings year after year? Certainly the collegial environment is a benefit. However, with more...

These are not the Best of times for the pharmaceutical industry. More regulations, increased federal scrutiny, pricing pressures, and a tarnished public image all cloud the present — and future — of the industry. But along with these challenges...

I often have a difficult time describing just what I do for a living to my friends and family. It should be simple, but it just never is. I always start out by saying that I work in continuing medical education; and, like it or not, that is what I...

IF YOU COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE WOULD YOU BE? On a beach in Jamaica with my wife/partner/best friend Sherry and our daughter, Brittany. WHAT'S PLAYING ON YOUR IPOD? Here's some of what's on heavy rotation: Michael Buble's new CD...

A new white paper from Meeting Professionals International, Mapping the Future of On-Site Learning, can be downloaded at www.mpiweb.org. The paper documents many of the sessions at MPI's Professional Education Conference-Europe in March in...

At the Annual meeting of the International Association of Conference Centers, held April 19-22 at The Heldrich, New Brunswick, N.J., nearly 500 conference center operators heard that while business was very, very good, the demand for conference...

The Alexandria, Va.-based National Business Travel Association has taken significant steps toward going global. Since April 2, the association has had an Asia-Pacific subsidiary — NBTA-Asia Pacific — through a merger with an organization formerly...

At the Meeting Professionals International Professional Education Conference-Europe in Copenhagen, association leadership announced a six-part strategy to become a more global organization...

A panel of experts gathered at MeetNow! 2007 in New Haven, Conn., to delve into the sticky ethical issues that plague the meetings and hospitality industry. The panel, part of a conference sponsored by the WestField and Connecticut River Valley...