Over the years I have bookmarked some of these sites for my own reference, both in organizing events and in my capacity as a planning partner to my clients when engaged to speak. Fellow planners and speakers have sent along a few more links for my use.

Here is a reference guide to some of the websites that offer practical and use-it-now information for meeting planners.

I hope you will find the information referenced here to be helpful in the planning and delivery of your next meeting, training or conference event. Please drop me a line or call me if you have questions or if you would like to explore where I might be able to be of assistance to your group. bob@ideaman.net.

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Click on the sites you would like to view:

http://www.canadianspeakers.org/ Canada’s premier site for access to professional trainers, facilitators and keynoters. Protect your investment with a professional like Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey.

http://www.nsaspeaker.org/ USA based site of the National Speakers Association – The voice of the speaking industry. Experts who speak.

CAPS and NSA are two of the founding members of the International Federation for Professional Speaking. Bob is a professional member of this group.

http://www.successfulmeetings.info/ Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey has developed a comprehensive site with free downloadable checklists, tips and professional techniques to help you make your next training session, or convention a success.

http://cstd.ca/ Canadian Society for Training and Development. Canada's leading network of workplace learning professionals. Bob ‘ideaman’ Hooey from www.trainersplus.com is a National Member of this group.

http://www.trafficbuild.com/ Since 1992, corporate marketers, trade show organizers, special event planners, and publishers have benefited from our customized, turnkey promotion solutions.

http://www.impaccanada.com/ Check out their resources section. Book marked a great website lately related to the meetings, conferences, incentive, special events industry, OR an independent businessperson? Let them know, and drop me a line too: bob@successfulmeetings.ca.

http://www.trainersplus.com/ A new resource and development site from Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey with a focus on the research, design, development and delivery of value added training programs.

http://www.specialeventsite.com/ Designed to serve the needs of Event Professionals, SpecialEventSite.com is an easy-to-use tool for accessing industry-specific information and for purchasing products and services over the Internet.

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html Need to make a phone call to someone far away? Need to arrange a videoconference, telephone- or net-based meeting with several people spread around the globe? This utility should help you find a convenient time, so that no one has to be up during the wee hours of the night.

http://LeadersEdge.biz/ A collection of wisdom and writing from some of North America’s top experts. Articles on meetings and presentations are included in this collection.

http://www.business.com/directory/advertising_and_marketing/event_and_conference_planning/reference/ Business.com has some good reference materials.

http://www.adminprof.com/resources.htm Administrative Professionals - A reference website aimed to help make your job easier by consolidating resources to one convenient location.

http://www.infolab.com/ Now called e-mark solutions, provides high velocity lead generation and tactical marketing services.

http://www.AlbertaSpeakers.com/ Veteran Alberta-based speaker and trainer, Bob ‘Idea Man’ Hooey recently launched a site aimed at profiling local Alberta Speakers he has heard and would recommend in person. Some of North America’s best speakers come from Alberta.

http://www.mmaweb.com/meetings/ Whether you're a professional meeting planner, a company offering event services or a supplier of products for the event industry, the Meeting Guide offers information and connections you won't find anywhere else.

http://www.meetings411.com/Default.asp? A premier tool for meeting planners. Search for Hotels/Venues, suppliers, create and send RFP's, and reverse auctions. Also Features SPA Meetings!

http://eventplanner.com/ Welcome to EventPlanner.com - your online meeting, event and travel planning resource. EventPlanner.com has been serving the professional planning industry, as well as the business and leisure travel industry since it's inception in 1994. Companion websites Eventannouncer.com and travelannouncer.com

http://www.mpnetwork.com/ Welcome to MPNetwork.com, an interactive meeting place for group meeting planners to source their meeting requirements from selected industry suppliers. Visit this site for Meeting Planning discussions, regular Chat Sessions, Supplier Information and much more. Has the Premiere Properties Directory, the Event Sites Directory, the Show Directory, and the Buyers Guide.

http://CanadianSpeaker.ca/ From the creative mind of Canada’s ‘Idea Man’ Bob Hooey, who is proud to be a Canadian. A focused site of Canadian speakers, profiled by invitation only. Some of North America’s top speakers come from above the 49th parallel.

http://www.guidestar.com/ Meeting Productivity Process (MPP) assists meeting managers to improve and measure the results of their large group meetings. For over a decade, MPP-driven meetings have produced dramatic measured meeting results.

http://mcmag.com/ Meetings and Convention Magazine new and improved on line site with information we can all apply to succeed.

http://www.corbinball.com/ The Meeting Technology Headquarters: The world’s most comprehensive site about meeting planning and events technology. Corbin is a REALLY great meeting technology speaker. Honoured by MPI and NSA for good reason.

http://www.b-there.com/default.asp The only fully integrated system providing e-commerce solutions for meeting planner and event organizer. The system saves time, money and offers revenue- generating opportunities.

http://www.conventionplanner.com/ Meetingslink.com is the most cost-effective and comprehensive site designed for meeting and event planners throughout the world.

http://www.meetingnews.com The complete online source for news and information for the meeting, convention, incentive and trade show professionals. MeetingNews.com features the latest industry news, searchable article archives, crucial business resources and much more.

http://www.mpiweb.org The recently redesigned MPIWeb. Deeper content and easier navigation are two new features, as well as a brand-new media centre with updated news, information and research.

http://AccreditedSpeaker.com/ In 1981, Toastmasters International launched its professional level accreditation program, to recognize those speakers who had a demonstrated excellence in speaking. In 1998 Bob became the 48th Accredited Speaker in the world. To date only 54 people have earned this honor, and 7of them are Canadians.

Book mark this page, as we will add additional links as we find them. If you find a good link and would like to share it with your fellow meeting planner professionals, email us: bob@ideaman.net If you happen to find a dead link, please let me know too.