Latest news with #FlightDelays
Skift
12 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Time for Plan B: 5 Situations Where You'll Need a Backup Plan
Flight delays. Unexpected weather. Renovation snags. The list of things that can go wrong at a meeting is a long and winding one. Plan B's are not just about the weather — so many other things can go wrong. Following are 5 of the most common potential problems planners face, and how to plan for the worst. 1. Speaker Delays Just like everyone else, speakers' flights can be canceled or delayed. As a rule of thumb, it's always smart to bring in a speaker the evening before the event — but some refuse to travel an additional day. To make the trip easier, remind speakers in advance of any requirements for getting through security and consider paying for priority tickets and TSA PreCheck (if they don't already have it). Put aside money in the budget for transportation costs, in the event that the speaker needs to take an alternate flight. A typical figure for contingency costs for a meeting is 10% of the total budget. There are also unforeseen circumstances, such as illness or personal emergencies, that can cause a speaker to cancel. The time to protect yourself is at the contracting stage. The contract should outline the cancellation policy, as well as penalties for non-performance. If you are working with a speakers bureau, will they be responsible for a replacement? If not, Plan B would be to vet a group of local backup speakers who live locally or nearby to fill in on short notice. Worst case, you might have to livestream the speaker. Speak with the AV representative in advance of the meeting to discuss their streaming capabilities and requirements. If you are going to use Zoom, make sure to use a paid subscription; the unpaid version has a 40-minute time limit. They also should be able to arrange for cameras in the room to allow for a live Q&A. 2. Bad Weather It's important to do your research and speak with your local CVB to understand the weather risks specific to the destination. Beware that seasonality is also changing, with shoulder seasons — a popular choice for meetings — now at risk of less-than-optimal weather. Ask for examples of other meetings faced with bad weather, and what actions they took. Make sure you have a strong force majeure clause if you are forced to cancel because of inclement weather, such as hurricanes. If your cancellation clause includes a fee that increases incrementally the closer it gets to the meeting, you could face a high penalty if you are forced to cancel close to the date. Outdoor events, like a beachfront cocktail reception, that are meant to be highlights of a program, can be ruined by rain and wind. It's important to consider whether the backup space in the hotel will be sufficient. DMCs can be a helpful resource for making your event a wow, with decor, entertainment, and experiences — even if it ends up indoors. 3. Staffing Shortfalls The hospitality industry has struggled with a labor shortage since the Covid pandemic. Now, immigration enforcement and an anti-immigrant sentiment are adding a new layer of complexity. An exclusive Skift Meetings survey of U.S. planners shows that they expect to grapple with the effects of Trump-era immigration policies, with growing concern about hotel staffing across the board. More than two-thirds of respondents (72%) said they expect hotel staffing to be affected in 2025–2026 because of immigration policies. It's essential to set guarantees that the hotel will have sufficient staff based on a ratio — for example, one waiter for every x-number of attendees at a banquet and one waiter for every x-number of guests at a buffet. Housekeeping is no longer a given, so you need to spell out for attendees whether the hotel offers daily housekeeping, if they need to call a number to get their room serviced, or if they have a standard schedule, such as every other day. All of these details need to be outlined in the contract, which should cover performance on-site. As a Plan B, some planners report bringing in their own service teams to back up hotel banquet staff. But in most cases, the main strategy is strong communication, so attendees are clear up front about service expectations. There's also no guarantee that hotel food outlets or room service will be open during late-night hours. If so, communicate with attendees about backup food delivery options. If there is an issue, let the attendee know you have reported it to management and send an amenity to their room to make up for the inconvenience. 4. Hotel Renovations It's exciting as being among the first groups to witness a newly renovated hotel. However, few renovations stay on schedule, due to price fluctuations, supply chain issues, brand requirements, and labor shortages. So it's important to build protections into your contract, and to discuss contingencies with the hotel in advance. Ask to see the general contractor's report, which includes project due dates, to make sure the renovation is on schedule. If not, sometimes, there's an easy solution, as was the case with one planner whose small group meeting was going to be the first one to use a newly renovated Chicago loop property. When the date grew close, the meeting and guest rooms were completed, but the kitchen was still under construction. She worked with the hotel, which was part of an upscale chain, to bring in catered meals from its other Chicago properties, and guests never noticed. For hotels under renovation, it's important to include specific clauses outlining the consequences of delays, including potential compensation for costs incurred or liquidated damages for non-performance. Set a cutoff date after which time you may terminate the contract without liability, and require that the hotel assist in finding alternate arrangements. 5. Change of Management Changes in ownership or management can be disruptive and lead to staff turnover and confusion. For Evya Richards, meeting manager for The Energy Council, a changeover from a corporate hotel to a franchise turned into a nightmare. The hotel did not inform her of the change until less than 30 days before the meeting, and every one of her contacts — the GM, the salesperson, the CSM, the banquet captain, and the food and beverage director — left. Communication was nonexistent. 'No BEOs, no room diagrams, nothing,' she said. Fortunately, the meeting came together at the last minute. It's important to ask if a hotel is franchised or corporate-owned or -managed. There can be differences in flexibility, brand standards, and contracting. The other benefit in working with a corporate-owned or -managed property is that you can move to a Plan B hotel in the same chain if the trouble persists.
CBS News
a day ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Heavy rain disrupts flights at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
Heavy rain is disrupting air travel in and out of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) on Monday afternoon. As of 3 p.m., a ground delay initiative was in effect for departing flights from FLL, the Federal Aviation Administration reported on its air traffic status website. A total of 24 flights have been canceled, 13 arrivals and 11 departures. Another 75 flights are delayed, with 33 arrival delays and 42 departure delays. Flight impacts widespread Authorities said the destinations affected by cancellations include major domestic hubs such as Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark and Atlanta, as well as international cities like Nassau, Bahamas. Delayed flights involve a mix of domestic and international destinations, including Houston, Montreal, Canada and Kingston, Jamaica. While weather in South Florida is a contributing factor, authorities noted that airline operations and other national airspace management issues may also be playing a role.
