JANUARY 2016 | Newsletter
 
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Sizing Up 2016
 
Well, we did it again in 2015. Everything we thought would happen, did. It has almost gotten too easy for us to predict the year ahead, so this year, we let our friends at Meetings and Conventions take a crack at it. 

In M&C's recent article, "What's next for hotels, airlines, trade shows, incentives and more," they noted that "Meeting spend is rising globally, led by the Asia Pacific region, followed by North America. Supplier rate hikes are a big reason, with hotels enjoying record performance and airplanes packed."

They predict that the seller's market will continue. That means once again, flexibility and planning need to be the key strategies. According to Michael Dominguez, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales Officer for Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International, "We're seeing a lot more flexibility from the meeting professionals when it comes to day...even week. You won't find something 90 to 120 days out."

The drop in oil prices can mean lower airline prices, but that could be offset by other airline fees, which continue to climb. Trade shows showed positive results. "Early numbers for 2015 show robust growth for exhibitions, and predictions for 2016 are calling for more of the same."

"To stay competitive and stretch your budget in 2016 and beyond, you need to have more options," says NHS Global Events Executive Vice President Sean Lynch. "That means looking at second tier cities, alternative arrival/departure patterns, and considering markets outside of North America with favorable exchange rates. NHS Global Events has developed relationships domestically and globally to be able to find you the right location at the right price for your meeting or event. We can help turn 2016 into a buyer's market."


NHS Global Events Core Value #1: Always Be On

New and Shiny and Serving You Even Better

You could tell, couldn't you? There's a certain lilt in Allison's voice when you call. And those who encounter us when we stop for a morning coffee and croissant see a little extra bounce in our steps. Yes, the crew here at NHS Global Events is happier than they've ever been.

"I didn't understand it when our real estate consultant first told me it would make this kind of a difference, but it really has," admits NHS Global Events President Bill Lynch. "We've expanded and improved our offices and it has had a decided effect on everyone here. And I think it has come across to our clients, vendors, and yes, even our loved ones."

Office space has doubled in our Skokie, Illinois, headquarters, but it has also enhanced the ability to communicate better within our team, to hold more meetings and to ramp up our technology. "We can now conduct more productive video calls using the latest technology or good old fashioned telephones," says Bill. "Wait, do we still use telephones?"

It's a long way from the small downtown Chicago that served NHS Global Events when it opened in 2000. And, more than ever, it allows us to continue to adhere to the tenets that you've come to expect from us: a company that listens, is empathetic, fast and efficient. 

You may never get to see command central here in Skokie, but just know that we have a bigger staff, bigger surroundings and a bigger commitment to serving you.


NHS Global Events Core Value #2: The Best Idea Doesn't Exist Yet

They're Back: The Attack of the Humans!
 
Technology and the information age was going to fix everything. Computers would take our jobs and make us obsolete. And to some extent and in some industries, it has gone a long way in doing that. But, oh my my, somewhere along the line, we've learned something else.

Humans can provide the human touch. And sometimes, that's exactly what we need.

In a fascinating New York Times article ("In a Self-Serve World, Start-Ups Find Value in Human Helpers"), author Farhad Manjoo makes a startling confession when he writes, "It's unfashionable to admit this in the age of Expedia, Priceline and other do-it-yourself online tools, but here it is: I miss travel agents."

Apparently he's not alone. Paul English is one of the founders of a new online company called Lola Travel, who says, "We think humans add value, so we're trying to design technology to facilitate the human-to-human connection."

According to Manjoo, Lola has an unusual interface. When you want to book a trip, you send a text with a request that can be as vague as you like. "The agent knows your general travel preferences and has access to the same tools you'd use to book a trip. But the agent also has...experience and data to help make decisions about the kind of trip you should like."

While there are half the number of travel agents in the U.S. now compared to 2000, Joe McClure, president of Montrose Travel in Southern California thinks they won't completely go away. "What's happened is information overload. There is so much information out there that people research themselves into a circle and they get confused. And then they call one of my agents and say, 'Would you just help me out?'"

At NHS Global Events, we have embraced this humanistic counterculture for the past 15 years. We know that you still need humans to communicate with who will pay attention to the details of your meeting or event and who will respond with urgency. You can bet we won't outsource that work to computers. Especially now, when humans are back in vogue.


NHS Global Events Core Value #3: Passion Trumps Everything

Make One Resolution That You'll Keep. And Be Happy You Did
 
I resolve to...and then you fill in the blanks with all those things you really do want to accomplish this year, but by January 16th you realize, you're just buried with too much work to stick to any of them.

And another year of resolutions comes and goes.

There is one way to give yourself the wherewithal to at least be successful with a couple of them. It means changing habits and bringing in a new partner that might lift your load a bit and allow you to take that Asian cooking class or really help your children with their math homework. 

Resolve to call NHS Global Events at 847-213-5555 (early in the year, while the resolutions still have a chance) to learn how we can help make you and your operation more efficient. Happy New Year!


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