Site Search & Select - Articles & News , ArticlesSite Search & Select - Articles & News , Articleshttps://www.sitesearchselect.com/blogs/articlesTue, 24 Feb 2026 17:13:51 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Making the case to C-Suite Executives for using incentive travel during a recession]]>https://www.sitesearchselect.com/blogs/post/making-the-case-to-c-suite-executives-for-using-incentive-travel-during-a-recessionIncentive travel can be a powerful motivator for employees, helping to drive business results. However, convincing your C-Suite of the value of incentive travel during tough economic times can be challenging. This article will outline key points you can use to make your argument persuasive.]]>

Incentive travel can be a powerful motivator for employees, helping to drive business results. However, convincing your C-Suite of the value of incentive travel during tough economic times can be challenging. If you're looking for tips on making a case for incentive travel, read on. This article will outline key points you can use to make your argument persuasive.  First, we'll discuss the economics of non-cash rewards. Then, we'll look at the psychology of how motivation matters in a recession. During inflationary times, rewards that trigger feelings might cost less while they deliver a greater return on employee motivation. Finally, we'll offer advice on getting started with incentive travel in your organization. By understanding these points and articulating them effectively, you'll be able to show your C-Suite just how valuable incentive travel can be in driving business success during these difficult times.

Inflation is a vicious cycle for businesses.

The current state of the economy is uncertain, but what is certain is rising costs. Inflation is on everyone's mind. This has a direct impact on businesses; as the cost of goods and services goes up, companies struggle to balance wages, salaries, and rewards to stay competitive while still being able to attract and retain top talent. Businesses have to make sure they are not only offering competitive salaries but also offering other benefits and perks that will make their company attractive to potential employees. Unfortunately, this cost has to be passed along to the consumer, increasing inflation. What's worse, during times of inflation, cash rewards lose their value faster. But you can champion alternative methods to reward employees. 

The Impact of Non-Cash Rewards 

According to research by Christopher Hsee and Yuval Rottenstreich at the University of Chicago, people tend to overweight the psychological value of rewards when making decisions. In other words, we often place too much importance on the "experience" of receiving a bonus rather than its actual cash value. This has important implications for incentive travel programs. During inflation, when cash rewards lose their value quickly, the psychological value of an incentive travel experience can increase. This means that employees are more likely to be motivated by the opportunity to take an all-expenses-paid trip to a luxurious destination than by a cash bonus of the same value. See the article Academic Research in Action: Non-Cash Rewards in a Period of High Inflation, published May 2, 2022 by the Incentive Research Foundation. 

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Site Search & Select's Incentive Program Expertise

Regarding incentive travel, working with a company with extensive experience and knowledge is critical to success. Site Search & Select understands businesses’ challenges in finding exclusive resort destinations within budget. We can help you make a case for incentive travel to your C-Suite before you make an executive presentation. Our services will help you find the right venue to motivate your employees and achieve your desired results. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you create a successful incentive travel program. 


Become a Corporate Event Superstar!

To conclude, incentive travel can be a powerful tool for motivating employees and driving business results, even during tough economic times. By understanding the economics of non-cash rewards and the psychology of how motivation matters in a recession, you can make a persuasive case to your C-Suite for using incentive travel in your organization. And by working with a company like Site Search & Select that has extensive experience and knowledge in the area of incentive travel, you can be confident that your program will be a success.


The Bottom Line

Watch this 5-minute video to understand the research and science behind the concept of Non-Cash Incentive Programs during inflationary times. 

S3 is always ready to help you with ideas and expertise

                        

By working with a company like Site Search & Select that has extensive experience and knowledge in the area of incentive travel, you can be confident that your program will be a success.

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

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S3 can help you with event bookings


By working with a company like Site Search & Select that has extensive experience and knowledge in the area of incentive travel, you can be confident that your program will be a success.

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

Find Out More
]]>Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:30:46 -0400<![CDATA[Meeting Venue Sourcing Success Strategies in a Post-COVID World]]>https://www.sitesearchselect.com/blogs/post/meeting-venue-sourcing-success-strategies-in-a-post-covid-worldThe coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to abruptly cancel or postpone events, meetings, and conferences. But with a strategic approach, finding an event space that meets all your needs is possible. Here are several tips for sourcing success in a post-COVID world.]]>

The coronavirus pandemic has forced many companies to abruptly cancel or postpone events, meetings, and conferences. It’s not just a matter of rebooking these meetings as the pandemic proceeds.  For those corporate and association event planners tasked with finding new venues at the last minute, the process can seem daunting. But with a strategic approach, finding an event space that meets all your needs is possible. Here are several tips for sourcing success in a post-COVID world.

The Problem of Hotel Compression

First and foremost, it’s essential to understand the concept of hotel compression. This occurs when there are not enough hotel rooms to accommodate a particular event or conference demand. As a result, room rates increase, and availability decreases.   On top of this, staff shortages are everywhere  — from ground transportation and hotel banquet staff shortages to final bill reconciliation delays. All are key components to contend with!
Corporate Event Planners can easily avoid the problems of Hotel Compression if they take the time to book their meeting space well in advance. However, with the current situation surrounding COVID-19, many event planners are finding themselves in a position where they cannot wait to book their meeting space. 

The Problem of Hotel Compression

First and foremost, it’s essential to understand the concept of hotel compression. This occurs when there are not enough hotel rooms to accommodate a particular event or conference demand. As a result, room rates increase, and availability decreases.   On top of this, staff shortages everywhere, from ground transportation and hotel banquet staff shortages to final bill reconciliation delays, are key components to contend with!
Corporate Event Planners can easily avoid the problems of Hotel Compression if they take the time to book their meeting space well in advance. However, with the current situation surrounding COVID-19, many event planners are finding themselves in a position where they cannot wait to book their meeting space. 
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Solutions for Corporate Event Planners

To avoid potential problems, corporate event planners must be proactive regarding meeting venue sourcing. Here are some successful strategies for meeting venue sourcing in a post-COVID world:


  1. Start planning early: As soon as you know when your event will occur, start looking into potential venues. The sooner you begin the process, the more options you’ll have to choose from.
  2. Use a venue sourcing company: A venue sourcing company can save you time and hassle by doing your legwork. They’ll be able to find venues that fit your specific needs and budget.
  3. Be flexible with your dates: If possible!
  4. Utilize technology: Several great tools and technologies can help you with your meeting venue sourcing. For example, Site Search & Select uses an RFP management tool ("S3 Excel Rain Man") that helps solve the problem of Hotel Compression. 
  5. Get creative: If you’re having trouble finding a meeting venue that meets all of your criteria, get creative. Think outside the box and consider alternatives such as remote destinations, smaller city-center properties, or retreat-style properties.
  6. Be prepared to negotiate: When it comes to negotiating rates, always remember that you have the power to walk away from a deal if you’re not happy with the terms.

Creative, Innovative Ideas for Corporate Event Planners

When corporate meeting planners look for creative and innovative ideas for their events, they rely on us at Site, Search & Select. We think outside the traditional hotel conference center or large hotel chain, which allows us to create memorable events within budget. 


  • New build properties that may not be backlogged in space due to COVID credits
  • Refurbished properties that have been updated with the latest features
  • Remote destinations that offer a unique and secluded setting
  • Less-traveled locations that are off the beaten path
  • Secondary or tertiary destinations that are often overlooked but have much to offer

Managing Your Budget

Prices are higher. Watching the bottom line is crucial, and understanding the pricing and contracting terms in newer destinations and properties. For instance, if you have traditionally held a program in a center city property and choose to take it to a resort destination, how do resort terms and conditions differ from center city properties? Site Search & Select can leverage its expertise and contacts to meet your goals. 

In today's fast-approaching post-COVID world, sourcing the perfect meeting venue can be challenging. However, finding the ideal venue for your next meeting or event is possible with the right strategies. 

Your budget is one of the most important things to consider when sourcing a meeting venue. Prices have increased significantly in recent months, so it is crucial to watch your bottom line. In addition, you should understand the pricing and contract terms in newer destinations and properties. For instance, if you have traditionally held a program in a center city property and decide to take it to a resort destination, how do the resort's terms and conditions differ from those of a center city property? Site Search & Select can leverage its expertise and contacts to help find a venue that meets your needs and budget.

In addition to managing your budget, you must consider the type of event you are planning. What are your goals for the event? What kind of atmosphere do you want to create? Once you have answers to these questions, you can narrow your search for the perfect meeting venue.

If you need assistance sourcing a meeting venue or managing your budget, contact Site Search & Select today. We offer event planning services, consultation, creative solutions, and vendor management. Our team will work with you to ensure that your next meeting or event is a success!


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The Bottom Line

Corporate event planners face a new landscape when sourcing meeting venues as the world slowly begins to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Site Search & Select has a wealth of knowledge and experience in meeting venue sourcing, site selection, and contract negotiation. 

S3 is always ready to help you with event bookings

            

We can provide creative solutions to problems that arise during the planning process. We also have a strong network of vendors that we can rely on to deliver quality services at a reasonable price. This combination of experience and relationships allows us to provide our clients with the best options for their meetings or events. Contact us today to learn how we can help you plan a successful event in the post-COVID world.

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

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S3 can help you with event bookings


We can provide creative solutions to problems that arise during the planning process. We also have a strong network of vendors that we can rely on to deliver quality services at a reasonable price. This combination of experience and relationships allows us to provide our clients with the best options for their meetings or events. Contact us today to learn how we can help you plan a successful event in the post-COVID world.

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

Find Out More
]]>Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:40:10 -0400<![CDATA[Creative Approaches to Finding Event Space in a Compressed Market ]]>https://www.sitesearchselect.com/blogs/post/creative-approaches-to-finding-event-space-in-a-compressed-marketToday there are problems trying to find event space in resorts, downtown properties, and conference centers. There are similar problems with securing flights, trains and non-hotel venues. There hasn’t been any available space in warmer climates for months.]]>

How to Avoid the "No Vacancy" Problem 

Many of us are experiencing some serious “NO VACANCY” and COVID related compression while trying to find event space in resorts, downtown properties, and conference centers. There are similar problems with securing flights, trains and non-hotel venues. There hasn’t been any available space in warmer climates for months. Last minute weekend corporate retreats?  Fingers crossed on finding the perfect venue . . .  there are weekend weddings planned EVERYWHERE!!  If there is a function space out there, it’s booked for a wedding on a weekend. 

How to Avoid the "No Vacancy" Problem 

Many of us are experiencing some serious “NO VACANCY” and COVID related compression while trying to find event space in resorts, downtown properties, conference centers. There are similar problems with securing flights, trains and non-hotel venues.  There hasn’t been any available space in warmer climates for months. Last minute weekend corporate retreats?  Fingers crossed on finding the perfect venue . . .  there are weekend weddings planned EVERYWHERE!!  If there is a function space out there, it’s booked for a wedding on a weekend. 

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Tips For Staying Ahead of the Mad Rush

Site Search & Select is known for creativity not only in the hotels, event spaces and local hospitality service providers we present to our clients, but now, we are expanding our approaches in the sourcing and contracting processes.

Sure, we all have our amazing global brand national sales representatives, right?  They work so hard for us and our clients love their multi selection of brands within the brands.  But with so many venues being fully booked in a compressed marketplace, S3 is  expanding and emphasizing more regional brands and independent hotels, venues and destinations.  There are many providers that are creative and out of the box providers that can deliver a unique service and experience and still exceed the client's expectation but they may not have the marketing dollars for full exposure.


Act Quickly

Some other suggestions we are discussing with our clients are, if you find a hotel that meets your needs, act quickly to confirm.  You may not have the luxury of planning an in-person site visit 30 days from now.  Conduct a quick virtual tour and determine if it’s viable to take an in-person site visit.  The longer you wait to confirm, the possibility arises that someone else will want your space. 


Meeting Host Buy-In

Please work with your meeting host to set expectations in this unique market.  They need to understand and be flexible with pricing, dates, patterns and contracting timelines.  They may not have the luxury of waiting.  Decisions need to be placed on a high priority status.

                                

Deposits - “Show me the money!”  

Many hotels have other clients that are willing to lay down a deposit very quickly to confirm their space.  As a New Yorker, I remember the days of finding my first apartment.  If I didn’t have a check with me to write for the deposit, the person behind me got the apartment.  While confirming space is not 100% like renting an apartment in New York City, these current times are the closest I’ve seen in my 35-year career.

Tips For Staying Ahead of the Mad Rush

Site Search & Select is known for creativity not only in the hotels, event spaces and local hospitality service providers we present to our clients, but now, we are expanding our approaches in the sourcing and contracting processes.

Sure, we all have our amazing global brand national sales representatives, right?  They work so hard for us and our clients love their multi selection of brands within the brands.  But with so many venues being fully booked in a compressed marketplace, S3 is  expanding and emphasizing more regional brands and independent hotels, venues and destinations.  There are many providers that are creative and out of the box providers that can deliver a unique service and experience and still exceed the client's expectation but they may not have the marketing dollars for full exposure.


Act Quickly

Some other suggestions we are discussing with our clients are, if you find a hotel that meets your needs, act quickly to confirm.  You may not have the luxury of planning an in-person site visit 30 days from now.  Conduct a quick virtual tour and determine if it’s viable to take an in-person site visit.  The longer you wait to confirm, the possibility arises that someone else will want your space. 


Meeting Host Buy-In

Please work with your meeting host to set expectations in this unique market.  They need to understand and be flexible with pricing, dates, patterns and contracting timelines.  They may not have the luxury of waiting.  Decisions need to be placed on a high priority status.

  

Deposits - “Show me the money!”  

Many hotels have other clients that are willing to lay down a deposit very quickly to confirm their space.  As a New Yorker, I remember the days of finding my first apartment.  If I didn’t have a check with me to write for the deposit, the person behind me got the apartment.  While confirming space is not 100% like renting an apartment in New York City, these current times are the closest I’ve seen in my 35-year career.

S3 is always ready to help you with event bookings

            

The final piece of advice that I can offer is work smart.  Know what your requirements are.  Be flexible with your programming, patterns and destination preferences.  If you can manage the current marketplace with these tips in mind, as Site Search & Select does, your sourcing and contracting process will take the “NO” off from the “NO VACANCY” sign. 

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

S3 can help you with event bookings


The final piece of advice that I can offer is work smart.  Know what your requirements are.  Be flexible with your programming, patterns and destination preferences.  If you can manage the current marketplace with these tips in mind, as Site Search & Select does, your sourcing and contracting process will take the “NO” off from the “NO VACANCY” sign. 

Michael Hudson, CEO | Site Search & Select 

Find Out More
Find Out More
]]>Sun, 24 Apr 2022 16:08:33 -0400<![CDATA[How to Create the Gold Standard in Availability Reporting Tools for Global Venue Sourcing]]>https://www.sitesearchselect.com/blogs/post/how-to-create-the-gold-standard-in-availability-reporting-tools-for-global-venue-sourcingA custom software approach streamlines finding venues and submitting results to clients. Our clients can easily select options and submit feedback. The comprehensive availability report is easy for event planners. Vendors like the ability to make concessions, counter offers, and get more business.]]>

The S3 Difference

What differentiates S3 global venue sourcing from its competitors is how we search for the perfect venue for client events. We have developed a custom software program and proprietary approach that streamlines finding available venues and submitting search results to clients. We developed the software with Excel Rain Man, a Woman Business Enterprise (WBE). The result is our clients can quickly and easily select options and submit feedback. The availability report is clear, comprehensive, and easy to read for experienced event planners. Vendors appreciate the ability to make concessions, make counter offers, and secure more business. Learn about the collaboration with Excel Rain Man to develop the software, the experience of Lowes Hotels & Resorts and San Francisco Travel Association as valued vendor partners. 

Credit: Asian Art Museum San Francisco - San Francisco Travel Association

Big Decision: Off the Shelf vs. Custom Software? 

Site Search & Select isn’t like its competitors in the global venue sourcing space.   When it was time to make a change with our RFP tool and how we report our search results to our clients, the big question was “do we utilize one of the off the shelf software solutions or do we go full circle and develop our own customized solution?” 

We knew it was time to consider a change when our volume was dramatically increasing but couldn’t increase the organization’s headcount. Isn’t that familiar to us all?  For several years, we managed our RFP and Availability processes in-house alongside a few white label customized client versions of an off the shelf software solutions commonly used in the events space.  Our experienced team members knew moving forward which properties, providers and reporting tools work best for our clients.   The S3 niche is to always be unique and stand out with every aspect of our work.       

We decided that we needed to create a customized solution that was going to be easy for our vendor partners to fill out. We also needed the tool to manipulate that data to create and populate beautiful spreadsheets. Our goal was to enable our clients to easily make their decision on the right venues and local suppliers.  Who could we turn to for a turnkey solution that transform these pain points into one of the strengths of our brand while still keeping true to our mission, vision and values? 


The S3 Vision is prominent throughout the Decision Process – Enter Excel Rain Man

Site Search & Select Vision: to celebrate and promote the inclusion and diversity of our global partners and highlight and connect these partners to our clients and their ever-evolving event needs.     

Excel Rain Man is the leading business entity for creating customized Excel spreadsheets that solve complex problems for their clients. This amazing Woman Business Enterprise (WBE) came to our aid with a diverse rescue plan that was perfectly paired for Site Search & Select and our clients. 
Jen Portland, CEO Excel Rain Man

Jen Portland, CEO of Excel Rain Man, has an interesting and inspiring story on the creation of her unique business.  She and others thought it might be untimely starting a customized spreadsheet reporting business during the 2008 economic crisis.  Truth be told, it was the best time for her to create this type of enterprise because of the economy. By 2013, the firm decided to officially forge ahead with their mission of equity diversity and inclusion and carve their niche and officially become certified as a WBE.  They immediately were able to show their uniqueness and leverage their certification and rise to the top of many departments of the New York City government.  They currently work with many organizations, multinational corporations and now during COVID-19 they have been making tremendous strides within the government sector to create custom spreadsheet solutions which often include automation of workflow.

To “Excel” or “Not to Excel”

That was the big question.  Excel is such a powerful tool. It’s been around for such a long time.  Even though the business world is very familiar with Excel, would our clients think S3 was still cutting edge if our solution was built on such a grand legacy program?  The answer is YES! 

Excel Rain Man is notorious for building out solutions that I like to call “Excel on Steroids.” 

The benefit of using an Excel based custom tool is two-fold.  The first one accomplished the S3 mission of increasing our bandwidth without increasing headcount.  The secret sauce is that the S3 customized solution starts with a color-coded RFP that each hotel partner fills out.  It includes pricing, dimensions, and all pertinent information for guest rooms, meeting space, food and beverage, taxes, concessions.  It calculates and converts all foreign currency to US$. 


That data is stored behind the scenes of the RFP.  When it’s time to create the client reports, we just add the selected RFPs as attachments, push a few buttons and the report begins to compile automatically.  Depending on the complexity of the specifications, it takes about 5-10 minutes to populate 5-7 tabs, convert foreign currency to US$ for every charge and convert square meters to square feet.  Other than a few tweaks, THERE IS NO HAND TYPING!  We can turn these reports around to the client in record time!

For our clients, we decided to take this approach because Excel is universally used in corporate office environments.  There is no learning curve and the Excel user base is extensive.  The software combines the power of Microsoft with easy customization for the meetings industry.  The product will always be supported because it’s backed by an industry giant.  It was a no brainer!

GEEK ALERT:  most people are not familiar with the underlying technology of these highly engineered spreadsheets.  Did you know you could slow down or speed up calculations?  Many of the field calculations in our tool rely on earlier calculations to populate. Excel likes to run fast.  It doesn’t like to wait for earlier calculations to tabulate.  In order to eliminate a crash and burn, you have to tell Excel to slow down or speed up.  This is just one item of many that our tools utilize that may not be familiar to the standard Excel user that help customize our delivery documents. 
Click on image to enlarge
Click on image to enlarge
Click on image to enlarge

​Why Clients & Partners Rave About Our Tools

"Building customized solutions is Excel Rain Man’s niche.  It’s what helps us differentiate within our space.  We continuously add on and enhance the S3 tool which help address the ever-evolving needs of their clients.“ 





Allyssa Tzavlakis – Project Lead,
Solution Finder and Developer,
Excel Rain Man

Excel Rain Man Website

“My hotel sellers admire how the information is assembled and flows throughout the S3 RFP.  All the information that they wish to convey is requested within the spreadsheet.  We especially like the concessions section that allows us to make counter offers if we cannot 100% fulfill the client’s concession request.  The tool allows us to communicate our interest and flexibility to hopefully secure the business.”


Ramel Kelly, Executive Director
National Accounts, Northeast
and Co-Chair for Diversity for Loews Hotels & Resorts 

Loews Hotel Website

“What sets Site Search & Select apart from competitors is they are a boutique firm that uses a creative and customized tool as an asset which delivers successful results for their types of client partners programs.  Their availability report is clear, comprehensive and easy to read for experienced event planners as well as their meeting stakeholders.” 


Susanna Flores, Director,
Convention Sales - Northeast Region
San Francisco Travel Association 

San Francisco Travel Website

Try S3’s RFP Tool for Your Next Event

Site Search & Select is one of the longest established and most successful venue sourcing intermediaries.  We listen to our customers, create unique solutions by offering cutting edge technology solutions to manage our projects and deliver the most creative results.  If you would like to know more about these tools, our operation, or the team’s worldwide knowledge of hotels, international contracting, and local hospitality suppliers please click below for a free consultation.   

Book A Free Consultation
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