What are some of the best experiences you’ve had at hotels or resorts? Maybe it was great customer service, outstanding facilities, special amenities, or other features.

Inquiring minds want to know so please let us know!

If you need to locate meeting planning services quickly, the new and improved Service Provider search on ConventionPlanit.com is what you’re missing…

Companies providing a wide variety of meeting services are located in easy-to-find categories.

In this area, you can submit an RFP for everything you’ll need to make sure no detail slips through the cracks…from General Service Contractors, to Audio Visual and even Lead Retrieval companies.

Go ahead…search away!

The award is based on a number of categories, including quality of information and diversity of services…

…if you’re planning an international meeting, the Berlin Convention Office will provide you the best information and the most expansive services.

Check out the Berlin Convention Office’s listing on ConventionPlanit.com to find out more about their services.

Susan Rosen of In the Event… is the winner of our June Stellar Tip Contest for this tip:

“When traveling outside the US, we’ve found it imperative to rent a local cell phone to keep in contact with the DMC and hotel staff. For internal communications we use our walkie talkies, but hotels do not use them any longer & most hotel staff are using cell phones for communications.

Our guests could find us no matter if we were at our desk or not… well worth the investment.”

For more great tips, visit the Stellar Tip Archive…you can even search by keyword to find the most relevant tips from your peers.

This article from BudgetTravel.com has some really helpful travel tips for emergencies like these and more…

1. Losing Your Passport: make a photocopy of your passport and driver’s license and pack it separately. Emergency passports can even be issued same day.

2. You Get Really Sick: review your healthcare policy; many provide coverage out of the country (but bring the local phone number, because 800 numbers often will not work).

3. Stolen Wallet: cancel debit and credit cards as soon as possible, file a police report, and notify the airline if your identification is also missing. Hiding a few $100 bills in a separate bag or article of clothing before traveling is a good way to protect yourself in a pinch.

4. Cancelled Flight: airlines are responsible for getting you on another flight. Calling the airline’s 800 number can be faster than waiting in line at the counter. If you’re involuntarily bumped from your flight, the airline is responsible for compensating you if you are not on another flight in the hour.

Check out the full emergency travel tips article for more useful and practical ways to prevent and deal with mishaps.

If you have a great tip of your own, feel free to share! Or, submit it to our Stellar Tip Contest for your chance to win the monthly prize.

element Lexington, in Lexington, MA, celebrated its grand opening on July 1. The property is a mix of smart design and eco-chicness. It will be the concept lab for the brand.

How do you think the element brand will impact non-eco friendly hotels? Will the environment impact your property selection for your next meeting? Or is element appealing to a niche market?

Are current hotel ratings systems outdated? Some of the new avant-garde properties and chains offer décor and style that may not match traditional ratings (like 4 or 5 AAA Diamond/Mobil Star), yet they are clearly high-end properties.

What do today’s travelers want from hotels? Send us the top 3 things you want from your hotel. Also tell us what’s not important.

Do you really care about the bed ruffle and someone knocking on your door at 9 p.m. for “turndown service?”

New event management courses are now available at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).

Meeting classes have been added to the Hospitality Management Program, which already includes courses on hotel management. Faculty members are active industry professionals.

Available Courses:

• Introduction to Meeting Planning
• Principles of Event Planning & Management
• Meeting & Exhibition Law & Ethics
• Federal Government Event Planning Strategies

Check out the full article on NOVA’s newest industry classes to learn more.

Hotel Highlights:

- Local community feel and flavor: located near the Arts and Design District

- 263 guest rooms & 4 executive suites: 32″ LCD HD TV’s, wireless internet, iPod jacks standard

- 15,000 sq ft of meeting space: use the Plum Perfect event planning program for the smoothest-run meeting

Check out the ConventionPlanit.com Newest Members page for a list of our most recent members and newest hotel openings.

A few years ago, leaving a laptop at home would have left many travelers isolated and cut off from the rest of the world…but as a USA Today article reports, the technology surrounding Smart Phones has made this possible.

Smart Phones with fast email and internet access like the Apple iPhone and Blackberrys have made it easy to stay connected to the office on the road…and occupy much less space than a laptop would.

With increased fees from airlines for baggage weight and checking, phones are becoming even more convenient to stay connected.

Do you bring a laptop when you travel? Have you ditched your laptop for your Smart Phone?