HSMAI University Audio

Vicky A. Betzig, CMP is the President and Owner of Meetings Industry Consulting. Her company provides meeting and convention management services as well as a wide range of consulting for meetings and hospitality companies. Her expertise and experience of more than 24 years in the industry make her a sought-after consultant, speaker and trainer. Formerly the vice president of a leading third-party meeting management and consulting company, Vicky headed the company’s meeting, convention, tradeshow and event management team.

Vicky is active in meetings industry organizations, having served on the Boards of Directors for the Greater Midwest Chapter of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), and for both the Chicago and Wisconsin chapters of Meeting Professionals International (MPI). Vicky has received numerous industry awards, including the prestigious Planner of the Year Award twice – from MPI chapters in both Wisconsin and Chicago, as well as the 2004 Co-Author of the Year award from PCMA and the 2006 Robert J. Donovan Award from the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA.

This interview gives highlights of her presentation at HSMAI's Affordable Meetings National, Sept. 9-10, 2009 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington DC, "Tricks of the Trade: The Magic of Successful On-Site Meeting Management." It also touches on how to establish cost controls in the area of food and beverage, including quantity and guarantee controls, menu planning, and negotiating.

For more information, visit www.affordablemeetings.com.