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New Article: Selecting the Right Meeting Planning Technology – A Step-by-Step Guide
There are thousands of meeting planning technology products. With the plethora of programs, where do you start? This article is one I recently wrote for MeetingNews guides you through the steps to be considered in this process. 
New Article: Event Data Management (EDM) - The Next Killer Application for the Meetings Industry
The white paper was developed with the collaboration of my partnership with Jeff Rasco and Rodman Marymor (Tech3Partners). It proposes a new method of integrating event data to yield substantially improved meetings and meetings management.
New Article: An Example of EDM in Its Infancy - A Look Into the Future
Event Data Management (EDM) will change the way that meetings are measured and managed. This article looks into the future on how this transition may unfold.
News
Corbin's Favorites File updated
http://www.corbinball.com/bookmarks/
"Corbin's Favorites" is the most comprehensive list of categorized Web site favorites for the meetings and hospitality industries found on the Internet has just been cleaned-up and updated with many new links.
MPI's Technology Village at EIBTM
http://tinyurl.com/c3vnd
One of the industry's largest tradeshows... A specific location for technology companies in the center of the hall along the center walkway... A superb meeting venue...
EIBTM, Barcelona, 29 November- 1 December 2005.
Security flaw uncovered in hotel room entertainment systems
http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,68370,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_1
Scary article about a vulnerability in many hotel guest room television infrared systems that can allow a hacker to obtain guests' names and their room numbers from the billing system.
TechTalk begins its 7th year
With nearly 6,000 subscribers in more than 60 countries, this newsletter keeps growing. I am honored to have your support as a subscriber and I send my hearty thanks the sponsors who make this newsletter possible. I welcome your feedback and support. Let me know if you have article ideas or would like to contribute an article to this highly select focused group. If you know of anyone that may be interested in receiving a copy, please forward this newsletter on.
24 Web Site Favorites for Business and Fun
2 Favorite Meeting/Travel Industry Sites:
Unusual Hotels of the World
http://www.unusualhotelsoftheworld.com
Looking for an alternative for your next hotel stay? How about a giant beagle?
IPlanOnline
http://www.iplanonline.com
New online meeting planning tools from MRA.
10 Favorite Meetings Networking/Matchmaking Sites:
One good contact at a meeting and be worth the entire price of the event. Here is a quick review of the major web-based players in this space. (The next issue will have the PDA/mobile-based networking products)
SmartEvent
http://www.expoexchange.com/products/rs_smartevent.html
ExpoExchange's tradeshow related networking tool.
IntroNetworks
http://www.intronetworks.com/
EIBTM's award winning networking site.
Leverage Software EventConnect
http://www.leveragesoftware.com/
Appears to be a combination of SmartEvent and IntroNetwork. Has related tools for corporations, associations and sales offices.
Columbia Resource Group Rio
http://www.crgevents.com/crgevents/Content.aspx?ID=143
CRG's structured networking tool highly acclaimed by major technology companies.
PeerFinder
http://www.peerfinder.net/
Easy user interface networking tool. Scheduling tool not included.
IntroPlus
http://www.introplus.com
Calinfornia-based web networking tool.
NetworkingMatch
http://www.networkingmatch.com/
Speed dating approach to business networking.
Common.net
http://www.common.net/index.jsp
Online networking site (similar to LinkedIn) with a free meetings related interface.
PowerMingle
http://www.powermingle.com/
UK-based matchmaking program.
Eveni
http://www.eveni.com
Swiss-based business matchmaking.
See the next issue of TechTalk (November/December 2005) for the list of mobile product /PDA-based networking tools.
3 Favorite Utility/Reference Sites:
Onada's Travelers Currency Cheat Sheet
http://www.oanda.com/cgi/convert/cheatsheet
Allows travelers to create and print a currency converter table for their next trip.
Other Helpful Travel Tools from Onada
http://www.oanda.com/channels/traveler/travelers.shtml
(Thanks to Jennifer Eifel for these link suggestions.)
Copyscape
http://www.copyscape.com/
New tool from Google for quickly checking if your site has been copied
9 Sites for Fun:
Airline Meal Photos
http://www.airlinemeals.net/
For you road-warriors -- more than 13,000 pictures of the airline food categorized by 469 airlines.
Museum of Online Museums
http://www.coudal.com/moom.php
About 90 online museums with more being added regularly.
GoogleMoon
http://moon.google.com/
Google has mapped the moon! Be sure to zoom in all the way!
One Amazing Parrot
http://www.koreus.com/files/200502/smart-bird.html
This is one smart bird! (video)
Top 10 Internet Buzz Words
http://www.cnet.com/4520-11136_1-6275610-1.html?tag=txt&tag=nl.e501
Are you guilty of using these buzzword phrases?
Top 10 Dot-Com Flops
http://www.cnet.com/4520-11136-6278387.html?tag=nl.e501
This list of the celebrity victims of the new-economy bust makes and interesting read.
Super Beer Ad
http://www.bigad.com.au/
Very cool beer Australian beer ad. Click "OK" to install the applet.
Wild wedding gowns
http://www.visi.com/~dheaton/bride/the_bride_wore.html
I don't normally follow wedding gown fashion, but this site is too wild to pass up.
600 sight gags
http://www.allowe.com/Humor/sightgagbrowser.htm?j=1
Some are hilarious. Some are "R" rated. Some are dumb.
2 Recent Articles with "Quotes from Corbin"
Embracing Event Management Data (The Meeting Professional)
http://www.mpiweb.org/news/tmp/2005/7/tech.pdf
Event data management (EDM) involves looking at all events from concept to final analysis, gathering information at every touch point. That information is compiled in a central pool from which we can tie any key data to any others, including past and future meetings. Article written by Tech3Partners.
Technology Tightrope (Northwest Meetings and Events)
http://www.nwmeetings.com/publications/article.xml?doc_id=1329
Meeting planners walk a fine line between what's new, what works, and what's not worth the time. This article, by David Volk, discusses how technology can assist.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION OF THE MONTH
The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century
Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Thomas Friedman, this is the best book I have ever read on the present and future impact of the "digital revolution" on society. Everyone in business and every parent should read this book!
QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have."
-- Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
SHORT-SIGHTED TECHNOLOGY QUOTE OF THE MONTH:
"Everything that can be invented has been invented."
-- Charles H. Duell, commissioner of the US Patent Office, recommending that his office should be abolished (1899)
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS/SUGGESTION?
Please send along any questions, ideas, or suggestion on how to make this newsletter more useful for you.
CORBIN'S SPEAKING CALENDAR
My speaking and consulting schedule for September/October will bring me to London, Paris, Kansas City, Eugene, Toronto, St. Louis, New York and likely a few other places as well. Click the link above for specific details. I would love to make your city one of my destinations as well, so please contact me and let's set a date.
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CONTACT INFO:
Corbin Ball, CMP
Corbin Ball Associates
506 14th Street, Bellingham, WA 98225-6107
Phone: 360-734-8756, Fax: 508-632-7730
Email Corbin
Web: www.corbinball.com
© Copyright 2005 Corbin Ball Associates.
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Thanks to our sponsors who make TechTalk possible:
PCNameTag
The online/offline registration solution more planners are choosing! Introducing PRO X™ Software…easy, fast, full-featured software for registration management from PC/NAMETAG, the meeting people you know and trust. Visit www.pcnametag.com/prox today to download a free trial, register for a preview webinar, or view an on-line demo. Call toll-free at 1-800-369-8622.
Convention badge holders, lanyards, ribbons, promotional products and industry publications
Visit Tradeshowstore.com's fully functional e-commerce site for your event-related needs. Great pricing, easy ordering and the ability to view proofs on-line. Contact Pamela Rodgers, +1 (972) 687-9225 / prodgers@iaem.org, with any questions.
Conferon
Trying to wade through the swamp of attrition and "rooms outside the block"? Let Conferon's experts help. To benefit from the industry's best buying power, contracts and practices, contact Conferon at info@conferon.com or call 330-425-8333.
RFiD Trade Show Technology, will provide a complete attendee management system for your trade show or event. Convention Strategy delivers a suite of RFiD solutions for show management, including exhibit lead management, real-time exhibit hall entrance monitoring, and education session attendance (ceu) tracking. New reporting capabilities allow increased booth sales and higher attendance! Call today - (866) 353-7521.
DotCom Your Event
Searching for an affordable and secure Event Registration Solution?DotCom Your Event specializes in pre-show, online and onsite registration solutions. From our fully customizable Conference, Gala and Proposal Management Systems to our inexpensive, feature-rich, "event ready" software the Event Wizard, our web-based solutions are guaranteed to maximize your time. Visit our website today to learn more about our free trial, free checklist and our free lanyard offer.
Barton & Barton, Ltd. specializes in marketing, public relations and sales for meetings and trade shows. Our unique selling approach and senior sales partners can take your mind off display advertising, sponsorships and exhibits for your annual meeting or trade show so you can concentrate on your attendee or member needs. Expert onsite floor managers are available to help with exhibitor relations at no additional charge with any representation agreement. Please visit our website or call 847-698-5069 to set up a consultation today!
nTAG
nTAG Interactive provides a complete system for on-site event management built around our break-through interactive name badge – the nTAG. The nTAG system improves attendee networking and automates polls/surveys, agenda management, card exchange, taking attendance, and messaging. Customers include GE, MasterCard, IBM, WellPoint, Lucent, Accenture and many others.
a2z Inc: a2zFloorPlan - a2aShowEZ - a2zShow
NEW – Take a look at why so many show organizers are switching to a2z's dependable web-based, real-time floor plan management, booth sales and expo software to increase booth sales and cut their work and headaches in half. Visit our website (www.a2zinc.net) for details about our new purchase and lease options, FREE demos and estimates - 410-740-9200.
Travel Planners, Inc.
Innovative housing programs for 25 years. Travel Planners covers every base from integrated marketing messages that boost bookings and registrations to contract negotiations. Our team works as your fulltime housing staff. Standard features of our Master Plan include best-in-class booking technology and a suite of attrition-reduction services.
 EIBTM -- 29 November-1 December 2005 -- Barcelona Spain
EIBTM Is The Premier International Event Dedicated To The Global Meetings And Incentive Industry. EIBTM attracts 5,000 industry buyers and 2,000 exhibitors from over 100 countries. Over 2,500 buyers at EIBTM are top-level decision-makers bought to the event as part its Hosted Buyer Programme®.
ConferZone
ConferZone is the first objective e-conferencing resource that tracks the latest technology and trends in the marketplace. ConferZone provides information on Web conferencing, video conferencing, voice/audio conferencing, collaborative conferencing as well as expertise on hardware, equipment and consulting services.
Attendee Management Inc. (AMi)
AMi breaks down the barriers to online registration, housing, travel and e-marketing. No license fees, no software to manage, just dedicated, experienced service. Pay only for what you need, and provide the solutions your attendees and clients expect. Contact info@attendeenet.com, or call 512.842.1612
CardinalWare
CardinalWare is a 4th Generation Content Management System that fully integrates management of information, personal profiles and distribution. Whether you need a new or better Website, online marketing and communications tools, integration with other data, or anything in between, CardinalWare may be right for you. Visit our Website or call us at 888-755-7075. |
