What better time do you have to cozy up with a book than during social distancing? Start preparing for those upcoming meetings with some solid professional advice. We, Meetingscouts have put together a list of 8 Meeting Planning Guides That’ll Change the Way you Plan your Meetings!! We ordered these meeting planning guides by ranking but all of them are top contenders for your business reading leisure. If you find yourself at home searching for a useful and educational read, try one of these meeting planning guides to help you sharpen your skills and be ready for when we can assemble again.
Did we miss a favorite book of yours? Contact us and let us know!
Editor’s Note: Meetingscouts is in now way affiliated with any of these books, publishers, authors, or distributors. We just want to share a list of good reads that make great meeting planning guides. :).
1. The Non-Obvious Guide To Event Planning
By, Andrea Driessen. 4.5 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: This book offers strategies on logistics, selecting speakers, and creating a plan for a successful meeting. Andrea Driessen, a conference speaker and author, presents many out-of-the-box ideas that you can implement right away.
Promising Review: My company puts on technology events and I sure wish I had had this book when we started doing them a few years back. Every page is full of the practical, down-to-earth tips and techniques that we have only started learning the “hard way.” Even the layout of this book is helpful. Big concepts are pulled out as pull quotes, there are numerous numbered lists, and most of her suggestions are accompanied by real-world examples. In short, my plan is to read through this book each time I start planning an event. – Byron
2. The Strategic Planning Guide for Event Professionals
By, Christy Lamagna. 4.5 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Christy Lamagna’s book helps you turn your events into part of your sales and membership process through strategic planning. Companies or Associations looking to use their meetings as a way to get-ahead of the competition should read this book.
Promising Review: As someone who has attended many events, what struck me most was how useful this book would have been for me to have read, before attending an event planned by someone else. If you want to avoid hosting a meeting that is ill-thought out or doesn’t achieve your goals, read this book. It has a number of concrete ideas of what planning professionals should be looking for, and does a great job of explaining to the user how using the concepts of strategic planning can be a significant value adder to your meeting. – Thomas
3. The Art of Event Planning: Pro Tips from an Industry Insider
By, Gianna Cardinale Gaudini. 4.5 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Learn from one of the industry’s best, Gianna Gaudini, an Executive Event Producer at Google! She offers some of her favorite tips and best practices, which can be applied to any type of event. You will get to read actual case studies and learn a lot along the way.
Promising Review: In The Art of Event Planning, Gianna Gaudini demystifies the process, challenges and joys of event planning at the highest level. Of course, she comes to the table as a highly seasoned professional, but she delivers incredible information that can be applied to a large event or the most intimate dinner at home, interchangeably. She makes it clear that events are not “easy,” but she is so generous with her experience and has so clearly outlined an effective work flow and process that her words will truly inspire even the novice – David
4. Event Planning: The Ultimate Guide
By, Judy Allen. 4.5 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Judy Allen provides some of her best practices comprehensive guide on event management. Learn about meeting coordination from beginning-to-end.
Promising Review: The MBA Book Of Event Planning. This book gets 5-stars. It is the best book about event planning in the market place today. We have been in the event planning business for 15-years and the author shows us some tricks and tips that we never dreamed of before. Not an inexpensive book, but worth every dime that you will pay for it. If I owned the rights to this excellent book, I would increase the size of the book to catalog size and spiral bind it so that is could lay flat when opened. I would also create a wide margin on one side of the page for user notes. – Charles
5. Event Manager
By, Daniela Liccardo. 4.5 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Liccardo discusses the emotional and technical aspects of meetings and events. After 20 years as a meeting planner, she includes what she has learned through all her experience.
Promising Review: As an event manager this book is a great manual. It is a very detailed book that looks into the world of event managers. The layout is great for a quick read.It seems that the author has drawn on a lot of experience in writing it and I thought it was excellent. In a short space of time I had a good idea of what would be required in planning an event. – James
6. Special Events: Creating and Sustaining a New World for Celebration
By, Dr. Joe Goldblatt. 4 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Dr. Goldblatt, a Professor and Renowned Event Producer, is an icon in the event industry. His published works have been used by students and professionals for decades. “Special Events” provides the skills to understand, plan, promote, and produce special events.
Promising Review: I have been using Dr. Goldblatt’s books for over ten years and having read the newest seventh edition I am very excited about preparing my syllabus and using the book for the class. The text offers a comprehensive logical way to teach classes with creative options for incorporating technology along the way. The integration flows wonderfully and although we all have our own styles, I appreciate the tech and use of QR codes throughout as well as the case studies. Thank you, Dr. Joe, for all you give to our industry. – Dianne
7. Boring Meetings Suck
By, Joe Pentz. 4 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Learn how to get the most of your meetings with this great read by Joe Pentz. We love his “Get-in, get-it-done, or get-out” approach. Break through the boundaries of the boardroom with this must read!
Promising Review: I only wish my bosses would read this. I need to slide a few under their doors. Yeah, there are some comical elements that don’t fit my style of meetings (in pharmaceutical supply) but there are so many fantastic gems (SRD’s…love that!) that are so helpful and useful. Love the starting late sucks chapter – love all the presentation advice and nuggets of help. The time savings of those two elements is worth ten times the cost of the book. Highly suggest it! – Jeffrey
8. THRIVE: The Facilitator's Guide to Radically Inclusive Meetings
By, Dr. Mark Smutny. 4 Stars on Amazon
What It’s About: Participation in your meeting is key to its success. THRIVE by Dr. Mark Smutny uncovers ways to make sure that everyone’s voice can be heard. Learn skills to make your attendees feel included and hear each of their voices.
Promising Review: Dr. Smutny reached out to me for feedback on this book because of my leadership and facilitator background as a military officer, educator, health care and inclusion leader. This is an easy, informative read with impactful stories and practical lessons to improve your facilitator skills. This guide is a wonderful resource that can be put to work in real life, everyday scenarios. I not only enjoyed reading it but learned so much! – Elis
Start Reading A Meeting Planning Guide Today
With these books and meeting planning guides, we hope you’ll be prepared for your meeting and truly standout. Meetingscouts makes it easy to help you book your next meeting. If you’re interested in how we can help you find out how by contacting us today.