Perched 1,000 feet above the Pokhara Valley with a spectacular Himalayan backdrop, Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge provides a perfect haven, the essence of tranquility. Ideal for guests pre- and post-trek, or for those wishing to take day walks exploring local communities, bird-watching, gentle exercise, or just to relax in a typical Nepalese rural setting.
Tiger Mountain Pokhara Lodge is a member of Secret Retreats, a select group of some of the world's most special experiences.
Built of hand-cut stone, the cottage rooms provide welcoming, understated seclusion with cool slate and parquet floors, rich Tibetan rugs, handmade wood furniture, and original artwork. Large windows and glass double doors maximise the glorious views of the amazing location. From the lodge gardens you can enjoy the majestic peaks. There is as much activity or gentle relaxation as you wish, with your programme designed to meet your personal preferences. One can easily while away an entire morning gazing at the inspiring views.
The lodge is an ideal base for guests to relax in a rural mountain setting, away from the bustle of Nepal’s cities.
With a central lodge, bar and dining room, the comfortable rooms are arranged in clusters of cottages resembling a Nepali village. All have attached bathrooms, private verandas and Himalayan views. Daily table d’hôte menus feature a range of Nepali dishes and continental specialities made from local fresh ingredients and home-grown herbs and garden salads. Guests enjoy bird walks and day hikes through the forests and villages, escorted by trained local guides. The secluded, award-winning swimming pool reflects the white peaks. Masseurs offer a range of Ayurvedic and shiatsu therapy; yoga and meditation sessions are also available. For the adventurous, paragliding and micro-light flights against Annapurna’s backdrop are thrilling options. Pokhara sightseeing, museum visits, golf and exploring the lively lakeside are all popular activities.
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert 54 лв (286 kr) 720 kr - 60%
For example, to keep the same standard of living that would require 36,000 kr in Gävle you would need to make just about 17,881 kr (3,401 лв) in Plovdiv.
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert €59 (₨4,858) - -
For example, you would need at least ₨69,992 (€854) in Pisa to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ₨49,000 in Gaya.
Dinner for two at an Italian restaurant in the expat area including appetisers, main course, wine and dessert €52 (₨4,236) - -
For example, you would need at least ₨64,403 (€786) in Wolfsburg to maintain the same standard of living that you can have with ₨47,000 in Gaya.
Meeting planners, is the bottom line hanging over your head when you search for a destination? You might find more budget-friendly options by skipping the popular, first-tier locations and looking at... Read More ›
West Michigan farmers and food processors have created a $1.5 billion agri-food industry, propelling the region to the top 25 percent of similar regions nationwide. Learn how abundant fresh water, a... Read More ›
One of the best things about living – and recreating – in West Michigan is spring. And summer. And fall. Winter, too! Michigan’s four distinct seasons mean outdoor enthusiasts are never bored. From... Read More ›
Whether it’s Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or something that hasn&apos;t been created yet, social media has become part of the fabric of everyday life. Because of that, meeting and event... Read More ›
Today’s young professionals know that where you live is where your life happens. Work life, personal life, and community life are all wrapped up in place. And place is determined not only by... Read More ›
Michigan, the state that put the world on wheels, is now redefining the mobility paradigm in the U.S. In fact, few cities of comparable size are as focused as Michigan’s second largest city – Grand... Read More ›
Experience Grand Rapids was there to support him in whatever way he needed. Ruppert said most people find that hard to believe. “When I approach someone locally to offer our services, they’re always... Read More ›
Our most recent story on manufacturing in West Michigan highlighted the variety and growth of this region’s manufacturing base. Manufacturing jobs grew 23 percent in West Michigan between 2009 and... Read More ›
Food and beverage teams at hotels and meeting venues have to be flexible to cater to the needs of their various clients. Meal planning for hundreds of high school students might look very different... Read More ›
As a meeting planner, sometimes the best option for a meal is to encourage attendees to venture out into the host city and enjoy the local flavor. Thanks to its location in the fertile farming area of... Read More ›
When Experience Grand Rapids began working with an organization that would bring 3,000 mostly Hindu attendees to the city, they reached out to Fred Stella, Prachark (which is Sanskrit for Outreach... Read More ›
Earlier this year we shared a list of 10 audio-visual terms that meeting planners should know to ensure effective, efficient communication with vendors and clients. Ten terms doesn’t even scratch the... Read More ›
Grand Rapids, Michigan, already capitalizes on the namesake river running through its heart. The city’s convention center and three of its downtown hotels sit on the river along with its performance... Read More ›
West Michigan is enjoying one of the fastest rates of tech industry growth in the U.S. But what sets the industry apart in Grand Rapids may surprise you. This is the second in a two-part series... Read More ›
Meeting planners don’t have to be expert caterers, hoteliers or transportation service providers. They do, however, need to understand the language of those industries in order to effectively plan a... Read More ›
West Michigan is enjoying one of the fastest rates of tech industry growth in the U.S. But what sets the industry apart in Grand Rapids may surprise you. This is the first in a two-part series... Read More ›
If you’re in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a meeting or a conference and the organizers set you free for lunch, you have been given a gift. Dozens and dozens of restaurants – most of them locally owned... Read More ›
Spectrum Health, for instance, recently announced a new venture capital fund that will invest $100 million in health-related companies over the next seven to 10 years. Specifically, Spectrum Health... Read More ›
The Michigan association representing student councils, honor societies, and their advisors recently held the largest annual student leadership gathering in its history, something that would not have... Read More ›
If you want some help organizing your visits, Grand Rapids Beer Tours , Discovering Michigan Beer Tours and West Michigan Beer Tours can arrange a walking tour for your group, complete with tastings,... Read More ›
The young Michigan hop industry has grown tremendously over the past 10 years. The first big hop farms in the state included Empire Hops Farm near Empire, Hop Head Farms in Barry County and Michigan... Read More ›
Many destinations have “signature events.” If you go to Hawaii, chances are you’ll attend a luau. Headed to Orlando? An event at Disney is likely in your future. But what about Grand Rapids, Michigan?... Read More ›
In Michigan, people know parks are not just for summer. And nobody knows that more than the Michigan Recreation and Park Association, now known as mParks . When the organization recently met in Grand... Read More ›
As home to dozens of neighborhood galleries, two downtown art museums, one of the largest volunteer-driven arts festivals in the nation, a top-100 most visited art museum worldwide and an... Read More ›
Businesses, medical and educational institutions, visitors and residents continue to drive demand for new hotels, residential properties, life science investment, entertainment venues, restaurants,... Read More ›
Grand Rapids and Kent County, Michigan, are known for their strong agriculture business, including farm markets and farm experiences. In fact, even those in the agriculture industry gather here to... Read More ›
“Grand Rapids? Why Grand Rapids?” That&apos;s what Laura Smith, chief advancement officer for the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies , heard when NASAA announced last year that the 2016 assembly would... Read More ›
Meeting planners know that the closing speaker is not the end of the experience. With great content delivered strategically, you can extend the reach of your event for weeks, months or even to the... Read More ›
Grand Rapids first earned its Beer City USA moniker in 2012 . Since then, its reputation for quality craft brews has continued to grow, with the addition of several more breweries and repeated media... Read More ›
Research shows that meeting planners think a majority of their attendees consider the use of event apps to be a necessary part of their event experience, especially for the millennial generation.... Read More ›
Four-part harmony is the activity of choice when members of the Pioneer District Barbershop Harmony Society meet for their conventions. However, when organizers choose a location, they do want to have... Read More ›
Since 2004, students from more than 100 high schools across Michigan have been meeting in Grand Rapids to hone their leadership, citizenship and technology skills through the Michigan Association of... Read More ›
There are almost no limits to the uses of crowdsourcing. Large companies like Starbucks use it to keep an open line of communication with their customers, seeking new product ideas. Individuals use it... Read More ›
For a long time, the conventional wisdom regarding the millennial generation was that they were so accustomed to using technology, they had no interest in attending live conferences and meetings,... Read More ›
The Michigan Reading Association is a regular visitor to Grand Rapids for its annual conference where between 1,500 and 2,000 attendees from across the state gather to learn and share ideas on the... Read More ›
Each year, thousands of students and instructors gather in the DeVos Place convention center and DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids for the annual Michigan Music Conference . For many students, it... Read More ›
For meeting planners, the generational shift in attendees is not a new challenge. They made the transition from baby boomers to generation X, and now they’re facing generation Y and millennials.... Read More ›
Mentors, by design, are extremely helpful. In your career or personal life, they provide trusted guidance and advice for major decisions. Some meeting and event planners are scaling down that proven... Read More ›
It would be very difficult to find fruits or vegetables growing outside during the winter months in Grand Rapids, Michigan. But every December, that is the main topic of conversation inside the DeVos... Read More ›
The Mid-America Oireachtas came to Grand Rapids for their competition in 2012 and had so much fun, they came back in 2013. More than 3,000 young Irish dancers from 14 states filled area hotels and the... Read More ›
When the topic of the national conference for CEOs for Cities is “The Art of a Collaborative City,” Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers a prime example: ArtPrize . CEOs for Cities is a national network of... Read More ›
In 2012, the American Quilter’s Society brought one of its annual shows to Grand Rapids for the first time. They have been coming back ever since. Here are some scenes from their 2013 show, when more... Read More ›
The fact that Grand Rapids is home to the Meyer May House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright drew the interest of the Chicago-based ​ Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy for its annual conference in... Read More ›
It&apos;s always nice to hear what your guests are saying about a visit to your home. Over several months, we collected feedback and comments from meeting organizers and attendees at various events held... Read More ›
Grand Rapids joined an impressive list of cities hosting the annual International Herpesvirus Workshop , the largest annual gathering of students, researchers and scientists studying the biology and... Read More ›
The annual delegate assembly of Goodwill Industries International brings together about 500 people, including the CEOs and board members from more than 140 Goodwill organizations across the United States and Canada. That’s a lot of good in one place!... Read More ›
Video jail visitation demonstrations, examples specially manufactured toothbrushes, and workshops on jail management, use of force and complying with federal laws were on the agenda when the American Jail Association’s 32 nd Annual Training Conference and Jail Expo came to Grand Rapids The American Jail Association represents the 3,300 jails throughout the United States and members gather each year for training sessions and exhibits of the latest services and technology for the industry.... Read More ›
Each April, meeting rooms and exhibition halls in downtown Grand Rapids are transformed into building sites, hair salons, restaurants and other scenarios. Instead of bottled water and notepads, the rooms are supplied with power saws, electrical tools or blow dryers. That’s what happens at the annual state competition of SkillsUSA Michigan .... Read More ›
Music is in the air when the International Trumpet Guild Conference comes to town, as they did recently to Grand Rapids. In addition to workshops, education sessions and vendors, the event includes several concerts that are open to the public plus some "late-night jam sessions" at local night spots.... Read More ›
“It’s an opportunity for practitioners, researchers, and even policymakers to come together to talk about how Michigan children become better readers and writers,” she said. “It’s a week where we... Read More ›
Quite often, DeVos Performance Hall and DeVos Place convention center are alive with music. They certainly are when the Michigan Music Conference comes to Grand Rapids. “Music is about collaboration... Read More ›
Over the years, we occasionally have taken the time to produce videos about the groups that choose Grand Rapids as their meeting destination. Sometimes it&apos;s a big "Thank you!" message, and sometimes... Read More ›
Whether you are looking for a new place to live, a great vacation spot or a location for your next meeting, Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an affordable destination. But don&apos;t just take our word for it.... Read More ›
2.3 million. That&apos;s the number of passengers who passed through the gates of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport last year as they traveled to or from Grand Rapids, Michigan. While it&apos;s the... Read More ›
From a cavernous conference hall, to a plush ballroom, to a public museum, transforming a space to meet a target audience is a hurdle faced by all meeting and event planners. Today we chat with Jamie... Read More ›
Tax day has passed, and you have done your patriotic duty. (Or, you filed an extension and at least have some breathing room.) It&apos;s the perfect time for a little spring cleaning in the office, and... Read More ›
Having been in the meetings and events industry for 25 years, Amy Young, president of Destination Consultants , knows a little something about avoiding career burnout. It starts with never expecting... Read More ›
When you&apos;re traveling by car to an unfamiliar place, how much do you rely on your phones mapping app and the turn-by-turn directions? Or maybe you use a GPS tool like Garmin or Magellan? Either way,... Read More ›
Incorporating sustainability into meetings and events has been around long enough that its a given for many organizations, but not all. According to the 2015 Meetings Focus Trends Survey , only... Read More ›
Inspirational. Energizing. Motivating. Educational. That&apos;s usually the goal for large meetings and annual conferences. But does that mean all your speakers and programs have to be about wildly... Read More ›
You are asked to speak at a conference, but the event organizer put strict limitations on your format: You have only 5 minutes and can use only 20 slides. Q&A will be allowed after. Could you do it?... Read More ›
Some say you should never mix business with pleasure. But we&apos;re here to tell you that it just might be a great way to increase attendance at your event. How? By highlighting how your attendees can... Read More ›
Everyone has that "one thing" they need to make their life easier, streamline their presentations or change their business for the better. There&apos;s a chance one of these programs could be it. Check... Read More ›
Technology needs connected to meetings and events are changing with each new innovation. (Remember when you had to wait for a paper survey to let a speaker know what you thought?) It&apos;s safe to say... Read More ›
Locals know the many advantages of using public transportation, from saving money on gasoline to being able to enjoy a good book instead of stressfully navigating traffic during the evening commute.... Read More ›
Do meetings really matter? The recession that bottomed out in 2009 had many organizations considering that as they looked at their dwindling budgets. A recent survey shows the meeting industry, after... Read More ›
The golf outing is a mainstay of many conferences and events. But along with it comes the challenge of planning an alternate outing for non-golfers that appeals to a wide variety of interests. For... Read More ›
Last month, TEDx celebrated its 10,000 th event . According to the TEDBlog , since the authorized local offshoot of the original TED conference started in 2009, they have been held at an average rate of... Read More ›
When you think about a traditional meeting, you might picture a large ballroom room at a hotel, brimming with rows of round tables or staid, stack chairs all facing the speaker at the front of the... Read More ›
When it comes to getting feedback from meeting attendees, surveys and evaluation forms only go so far. Wouldn&apos;t it be great to be able to sit down and really talk to some customers when you&apos;re trying... Read More ›
The growing trend of shared workspace is creating a new option for meeting and event planners looking for ways to shake up the breakout session. Shared workspaces, or coworking spaces , are sites... Read More ›
When it comes to choosing a destination for a meeting or event, there will always be certain factors that push the decision one way or the other: Type of facility or meeting space Rates, concessions... Read More ›
We asked eight meeting planners what their must-have item is that they need to have with them onsite at an event. Here&apos;s what they said: "My iPad with external battery back up charger, iPhone with... Read More ›
When the staff at Experience Grand Rapids gives gifts to Meeting Planners, at trade shows, or to groups who come to visit the city (like their Customer Advisory Board), they like to go local. "We try... Read More ›
Amy Young has been a meeting planner for more than 20 years, but she never runs out of ideas.That&apos;s because she sees the world differently. "Pay attention to the world around you," said Young,... Read More ›
According to the 2010 Census Bureau, 13.4 million people in the US worked from home at least one day a week, up 35% from ten years earlier. Do you have visions of joining them? If you find yourself... Read More ›
Can your hometown compete with Las Vegas as a conference venue? For Configura , which has its North American headquarters in Grand Rapids, Michigan, it certainly did. For the first five years of the... Read More ›
One form of interaction that is important to include as a teaching and meeting tool in all industries is the webinar. Webinars are, by definition, a web-based seminar that allows for presenter and... Read More ›
Thanks to the expansion of our collective environmental conscience and advancing mobile technology (tablets, event apps , etc.), the lives of many trees are now spared in the event planning industry.... Read More ›
The new year is a great time to try something different. Instead of planning your next event at the tried and true convention centers or hotel meeting rooms, take a look at the colleges or... Read More ›
For as long as Liz Heinzman can remember, she has never celebrated Thanksgiving on Thanksgiving. Her feast was always moved to another day because Thanksgiving was spent traveling to the annual... Read More ›
This fall, Patricia Janes worked alongside about 100 other tourism professionals in the state of Michigan to breathe new life into the historic Mill Lake Youth Camp, an aged, decrepit state park in... Read More ›
QUESTION: Who is the most qualified to convince an organization to hold their next conference in a certain city? ANSWER: Someone who is familiar with both the needs of the organization and what the... Read More ›
More and more CVBs are expanding their roles when it comes to working with event planners by offering services above and beyond securing venues and hotel space. They are partnering with planners to... Read More ›
If you&apos;re wondering about attracting young professionals, often referred to as Millennials or GenY, and want them to engage at your event or conference its important to recognize that this is the... Read More ›
As president of both the National Speakers Bureau and the International Association of Speakers Bureaus , Brian D. Palmer is a magnet for stories. "People who plan events love telling about things... Read More ›
Meeting planners are well-versed in using Twitter to #promote their events. It&apos;s become an essential tool for building buzz and connecting with attendees before and after your event. But Twitter is... Read More ›
Networking is a valuable business activity when done correctly, but it takes work. Too often networking events can be dominated by forced, awkward interactions and banal banter while exchanging... Read More ›
Every event planner has that moment - possibly daily = when they wish they could clone themselves to get more things done. One possible solution arrives every summer in the form of a fresh crop of... Read More ›
Ben Stein&apos;s portrayal of a monotone high school economics teacher in the iconic 1980s movie Ferris Beuller&apos;s Day Off is likely used by teachers everywhere as a prime example of what not to do. But... Read More ›
Wrap Up Right: Work with your host city&apos;s CVB to evaluate your meeting...and proactively plan the next one.
Veteran meeting planners know that an event isn&apos;t over when the last speaker leaves the stage, the last exhibit is packed up or the last attendee checks out. An event isn&apos;t truly put to bed until the... Read More ›
Within a month of LinkedIn&apos;s 2003 launch, the fledgling professional network had a user base of 4,500. Ten years later, its membership has grown to over 238 million users in 200 countries. If... Read More ›
All guests want their hotel staff, and others they encounter in a destination town, to be friendly and knowledgeable. But what if they could prove they were friendly and knowledgeable with an official... Read More ›
When was the last time you booked group air travel for your event? Some experts say those occasions are becoming more and more rare. The reason? Online sites like Priceline and Expedia have... Read More ›
A few days before the Michigan Music Conference in Grand Rapids last January, Betsy Purcell, MMCAssociation Manager, realized that in addition to all the other tasks on her plate, she had about two... Read More ›
How real is your site visit? Nancy Beecher, director of programming for the Michigan Women of the Church of God , learned that one of hers was not as real as it should have been. "The ladies were... Read More ›
Danke. Merci. Grazie. Gracias. Obrigado. Thank you. No matter how you say it, its a key part of maintaining client relationships. Plus, its just plain nice. "On a typical sales call, we&apos;re always... Read More ›
When Steve Cauble planned the 2013 annual meeting of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel , it included childcare and ministry programming for 500 children. "We not only had 22 rooms of... Read More ›
Social media is here to stay and, used effectively, it can be a tremendous tool for meeting and event planners. "One of the biggest benefits of using social media for a conference is that it gives you... Read More ›
When conventions come to town, everyone wins. The city gets exposure, restaurants, hotels, museums, and other attractions see revenue go up, and attendees get to try something new - a city they... Read More ›
When the Ann Arbor CVB decided to dedicate $500,000 in funds to a partnership with Pure Michigan , they knew they&apos;d reap dividends. They just didn&apos;t realize the page views for the Washtenaw County... Read More ›
Floods, evacuations and chaos rarely leave people smiling, but a few weeks after Tammy Brown faced all three at her SkillsUSA Michigan state conference in Grand Rapids, she can&apos;t help but smile.... Read More ›
Conferences and events by their nature attract like-minded people. But that doesn&apos;t mean attendees have the same background, especially when it comes to being tech-savvy. Some people never leave home... Read More ›
One of the biggest challenges facing meeting planning professionals? Finding good speakers...and then making sure the audience likes them, too. Sure, you can watch for signs of engagement and... Read More ›
When you plan meetings nationally, and want to make the best match between cities and events, its important to have a wealth of knowledge about what different cities have to offer. But time and... Read More ›
In our post last week on what makes some businesses - and meeting planners! - successful while others flounder and fail , one thing became evident: discipline and organization are essential to both... Read More ›
Why do some businesses succeed wildly, while others falter, become irrelevant, or crash and burn? From the outside it may look like sheer luck and circumstance, but according to Great by Choice... Read More ›
When Destination Management Association International (DMAI) debuted their Economic Impact Calculator in late 2011, DMOs welcomed the idea of reliably quantifying the value of events taking place in... Read More ›
As "going local" becomes more and more desirable, meeting planners are looking for ways to incorporate regional foods and community organizations into their events. As a leader in the farm-to-fork... Read More ›
Grand Rapids is preparing for the third annual LaughFest, an 11-day comedy festival that raises money and support for Gilda&apos;s Club Grand Rapids , a free cancer and grief support community named in... Read More ›
As we&apos;ve written before, there are definite pros and cons of planning your event during a major public event in your host city. Key to success in an event mashup? The "planning" part. The last... Read More ›
Tennis courts. That was the venue Jennifer Ederer, owner of Modern Day Floral in Grand Rapids, MI, worked with as she planned a large corporate event last summer. Her client wanted the event to... Read More ›
In a world where Words With Friends and Foursquare dominate our downtime, creative event planners are turning their attention to games. Specifically, they&apos;re attempting to capitalize on our cultures... Read More ›
Fancy, flavorful cocktails with homemade infusions, palate-stretching combinations even at casual establishments and the expanded offering of small plates. Those are among 17 of the hottest trends... Read More ›
People attending a convention with a thousand others will remember it, if only for its scale. Smaller functions have to work a little harder for that wow factor. And as the economy continues its... Read More ›
In its annual "State of the Meetings Industry" survey report, hospitality management company Destination Hotels & Resorts unveiled 6 new trends that will be affecting where, when, and how to hold... Read More ›
Meeting planners strive to design meaningful, engaging events. Although they focus on every detail, particularly cost, sometimes they feel pressure to justify expenses. Previously, we talked with... Read More ›
Every meeting planner knows that speaker bureaus can provide you with excellent, well-known speakers for your event. You also know that kind of talent comes with an awfully high price tag. When you... Read More ›
Meeting planners: looking for entertainment options beyond the usual comedians or music? Consider joining the growing number of organizations taking advantage of "agritourism" to bring meetings out of... Read More ›
Tools like Twitter , Facebook , and LinkedIn provide a perfect opportunity to help your meeting&apos;s attendees connect with one other and promote meetings before, during, and after the actual event, when... Read More ›
It goes without saying (but we&apos;ll say it anyway) that the digital world is constantly in flux, challenging everyone to keep up with the latest Facebook policy change, that new must-have app or the... Read More ›
For Kathy Woronko, manager of brand event experiences at Steelcase Corp ., holding the office furniture manufacturers dealer conference in their hometown of Grand Rapids made perfect sense. "We have... Read More ›
Considering a theme party for your next meeting? Maybe a luau or an under-the-sea adventure? Veteran event planner Amy Young, CMP, has one thing to say: Go big, or go home. "If you&apos;re going to do it,... Read More ›
As meeting planners, you dedicate lots of time to scouting, organizing, and getting things just right for meetings that other people attend. You focus on conference rooms, bed counts, and meals. You... Read More ›
When you&apos;re planning a great event, you want as many potential attendees as possible to know about it. Creating buzz online via social media platforms is one of the most effective ways to help spread... Read More ›
When meeting planners reach a high level of knowledge, expertise and experience in the industry, they face the question: should I get certified? One of the best-known certifying bodies, The Convention... Read More ›
As a meeting planner, it&apos;s likely you have a smartphone. A survey of meeting planners by M&C Research found that 90% of you do. Of those, 98% use apps for everything from work to entertainment... Read More ›
Mobile apps are popping up at conferences everywhere, but as a meeting planner you may not yet be sold on the idea of using an app to present information and help your attendees plan their meeting... Read More ›
Have you ever wondered how to use Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms to help plan and execute a more successful meeting? Our FREE, 48-page ebook offers tips, information, and... Read More ›
Event planners, this questions for you: Did your last FAM trip include playing Jeopardy or the Amazing Race with other attendees? Or earning CEU credits? If not, you weren&apos;t in Grand Rapids, MI.... Read More ›
When we asked Aaron Wolowiec of Event Garde LLC to lead a continuing education class on justifying conference expenses, he had a fundamental problem with the premise. "I don&apos;t think justifying... Read More ›
In the "old days" - say, 6 or 7 years ago - meeting planners focused primarily on logistics: The questions of when and where they would hold their conference and what types of facilities were... Read More ›
Any time hundreds or thousands of people gather in one place to share ideas and make connections, there&apos;s a big opportunity to make a big impact, and not always the kind we&apos;d like. According to Nancy... Read More ›
Wow . That was my one-word reaction to the list of speakers at the 2012 ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition. Not only did they set us up for the election with James Carville and Karl Rove , but the... Read More ›
As events manager for Gordon Food Service in Grand Rapids, Barb Beurkens holds eight private trade shows a year each attracting up to 10,000 food service professionals. The company&apos;s market area... Read More ›
Ben Stein&apos;s portrayal of a monotone high school economics teacher in the iconic 1980s movie Ferris Beuller&apos;s Day Off is likely used by teachers everywhere as a prime example of what not to do.
But teachers aren&apos;t the only ones who can learn from that. Who else? (Anyone? Anyone?) Basically, all public speakers and presenters can take note, especially those with an adult audience.
"The number one thing is to make it interactive," said Kristen Jack, Ph.D., an assistant professor of Hospitality & Tourism Management at Grand Valley State University with a master&apos;s degree in adult and higher education. "Adults do not like to be talked down to. They like to actively participate and they like to be able to share their knowledge."
"Those are key things to keep in mind when vetting speakers for your next event, whether it&apos;s a small gathering or an annual convention. A person may know the content you need delivered, but have no idea how to deliver it effectively."
Jack said speakers should avoid the lecture format as much as possible by interspersing small group discussions or breakout sessions. Unlike traditional high school or college students, adult learners bring life experiences to the table, which can greatly benefit the conversation.
Jack said she often sets up speaking venues as a round table, with attendees on an equal footing. "It&apos;s technically an educational session for them, but I do it where were all sitting at a round table so the format of the room says &apos;conversation&apos; versus &apos;I&apos;m going to lecture.&apos;"
Chris Longstreet, director of learning experiences at Choice Hotels International and an adjunct GVSU professor, has a detailed system for ensuring his speakers are prepared and effective.
Speakers get temporary access to corporate websites and Choices learning management systems to allow them to tie their messages to specific programs, initiatives and training.
Longstreet&apos;s team reviews a speaker&apos;s materials and content within two weeks of the event to ensure accuracy.
He encourages speakers to interview audience members ahead of time to gain real life anecdotes for the presentation.
"To me, effective speakers begin with an effective relationship," Longstreet said. "I work hard to create a positive and open relationship with our trainers and contracted speakers."