29 October 2009

President's travel shows why meetings are important

US President Barack Obama, who so far has visited more countries in his first year in office than any other US president before him, has prompted some in the meeting business to hold him up as an example of the value of business travel and face-to-face meetings.
 

"It is obvious by the president's actions that he sees the importance of personally meeting with other leaders to advance the objectives and business of the US," Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI) President and CEO David Gabri said in a statement. He added:
 

"In other words, he and his team of specialists opted to personally meet, rather than teleconference, e-mail or simply call. Shouldn't American businesses and organizations be following these same sound business practices? After all, that is how business works."
 

According to the McClatchy Newspapers' Washington Bureau, the president has visited 16 countries since taking office on Jan. 20 of this year, surpassing the 15 nations visited by Presidents George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford during their first years in office.
 

"Many of [Obama's] overseas trips have centered on international meetings, such as the G-20 economic summit," author Steven Thomma wrote in his report. "Others have included Obama's attempts to rebuild international support for the US."
 

Said Gabri:
 

"The president's actions visibly reinforce the importance and effectiveness of meeting together face-to-face to advance your agendas and objectives, to enhance important relationships, to recognize and motivate achievers, and to provide direction and leadership. It shows that 'Meetings Really Do Mean Business' and are critical to keeping businesses and organizations alive.’"
 

By David Wilkening
 

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• Depends on resources & topics
  
  

  Face to face vs telepresence meetings should be evaluated based on your available resources, people that should be included in the meeting, and topics to be discussed. Sometimes it's best to have face to face mtgs, but this article is offering weak evidence to justify its need and unfortunately instead seems like it's just trying to spur a trend for the travel industry. In our global and electronic world, please consider what's best for your particular situation.

  By Christine Donnelly, Friday, October 30, 2009
• We paid for all his vacations!
  
  

  Would have been nice if he was able to accomplish something worth wild other than a game of golf and time with some go O'Bozs with out tax dollars.

  By Lloyd Anderson, Friday, October 30, 2009