Going green saves green Not only do eco-friendly event elements go over big with attendees, they really do save money. According to a new white paper developed by Meeting Strategies Worldwide, a Portland, Ore.–based meeting planning company, reducing handouts for a 1,300-person conference over two days can save $2,000, 488 pounds of wood and 79 pounds of solid waste from the landfill. Reducing daily shuttles by 11 buses for a five-day, 40,000-attendee conference can save $60,000 and about 486,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. To learn more, visit the company's Web site by clicking here. For tips from Special Events on going green, click here ...

Caterers collect Although the corporate holiday party business tanked this year after the fall's economic meltdown, not all caterers were left high and dry. According to an online survey from Special Events, 45 percent of respondents say they were paid for at least a portion of the canceled event. Five percent said they were paid in full. Forty-eight percent of respondents said they were paid nothing. Many companies canceled their holiday parties this year, some for economic reasons and others simply to avoid appearing extravagant in tough times.

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