Jeff Warner on CEOIntroNet

"By the end of the event people are talking to each other, and I think that's why these corporations spend thousands of dollars on these meetings."
 

Jeff Warner had the pleasure of sharing his insights on trends in meetings and events, and how technology has changed in the audio visual industry for corporate meetings and trade shows over the last 30 years.

Click here to watch the entire interview. 

The Jeff Show: Denver Tips

Vesta Dipping Grill

For those of you who know me well, know that I like to fly and am also a fountain of knowledge about American Airlines.

For example, did you know that the spare aircraft for planes that fly in and out of New York LaGuardia are parked in Newark? Last month I was headed to Denver for a gig. The plane to Chicago broke down in New York. It took four hours to get the plane to Chicago since the eleven minute flight for the spare plane took three hours because air traffic control held it in Newark. So, I sat at O’Hare Airport all day waiting for a plane. Did I mention that I love to fly? Not as much as before that day.

Speaking of Denver, here are a few tips:

• First, let's talk food. The area around Coors Field is very cool and features many new restaurants. I was impressed by the Vesta Dipping Grill. Their hook is (go figure) they have dipping sauces for everything -- from barrel aged hot sauce to basil emulsion to crème anglaise -- I mean everything. However, they offer unique and delicious dinners on their menu like Colorado Striped Bass or Madras Grilled Venison, and a terrific drink menu to boot.
• Now, let's talk about getting in, out, and around Denver. First, fly out of Denver early. Actually, try to fly out as early as you can to any destination.
• Forget about pre-check. The line is longer then the regular lines. Just use the first class security line. The TSA people don’t care what class you are in. Everyone is cattle to them.
• When driving to and from the airport, if they are not working on the interstate you are using , it means traffic is so heavy they forgot it’s a road. Take however long you think it’s going to take to drive to your destination and double the travel time.
   
• Denver drivers have two speeds, up your butt or stopped. Sometimes that's the same thing.

I was going to write about Hawaii this month but decided to wait until I'm back again in November. Next month, I'll circle back to Indy, which was supposed to be this time. Oh well, until next time.

The Jeff Show: Thanks for Not Flying

December has rolled around, and you probably want another travel tip. This month is easy. Under no circumstances do you want to get on an airplane towards the end of December. These weeks are for amateurs, folks. Unlike Thanksgiving, everyone is flying with about 4 boxes that are the size of a small bus. And God forbid there's a snow storm. Good times.

Actually, I really want to take a minute to say thanks to a few people.

I’d like to thank all our clients who send us through all those far flung cities to work for them. We appreciate your faith and trust in us, and without you we would be homeless. 

A special thanks to my wife, Nancy, who keeps me straight...that's not an easy job.

And another special thanks to Margaret who really runs the company and keeps us all in line at the office...that's also not an easy job. 

I also appreciate all our Project Managers and Technicians who work for us. Without all of them I would not be as grey or as old. Just kidding, they all do a great job keeping our clients happy.

So from me, my wife Nancy, my son Greg, and our puppy Hailey, we wish you a joyful holiday filled with love and peace...

...well maybe not Hailey, she is pretty busy trying to pull down the Christmas tree; but she should have it done by Christmas.
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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry of as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and Microsoft plan AV displays for meetings and events. Please e-mail Jeff you own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com, and your tip might be featured in our blog.

The Jeff Show: Scary Travels

Since it's the spookiest month of the year, Nicole, the glue that holds this newsletter together, suggested that we have a Halloween theme. “Do you have any scary travel tips?” she asked.  

Let’s see, getting into Dallas 20 minutes late on gate A4 to find out that the connecting flight is on time and departing from C28 is pretty scary. Or, how about any story that involves Miami International airport? Because we all have heart pounding travel tales that involve MIA.

When I seriously think about it, New Orleans comes to mind. Visiting "the Big Easy" is a haunting experience you can't find anywhere else in this country. Not only for the famous drinking in the French Quarter (although, that can be a mind altering experience), but for the city itself.  Walking through and around New Orleans is always a little scary to me. Sometimes it’s the people walking past me, but most times it’s catching an otherworldly glimpse out of the corner of my eye in one of courtyards that happen to be centuries old. Or, seeing one of those little dark shops off of Bourbon Street. To me, being able to purchase voodoo supplies for yourself or a loved one raises the little hair my neck. The look of the trees along the streets in the Garden district, seems a little ghostly. 

But for a real trip, take a day tour of the bayou. Something is sure to scare you out there.

But, New Orleans is really about the food.  Next time you visit there are two must-try places. The first is getting a muffuletta at CentralGrocery. It's located right on a sea wall of the Mississippi.  The wait to get the sandwich is forever, and there is no good place to eat it.  But it is the best, and try their root beer.

Right near the Westin, a popular ballroom in town called Mr. B’s Bistro. The barbeque shrimp for lunch is the real deal...and get extra bread.  Trust me.

Next month I hear that we are doing Thanksgiving recipes.  Yummy. I can’t wait.

The Jeff Show: Re-booking a Flight Due to a Summer Storm

June is very busy at WAV with three Microsoft events and two Honeywell events; and with the beginning of summer concert season, a myriad of other small events. As I write this, everyone is on the road except me. 

This makes me think about summer storm season around the old airport. That means at some point you (and I do mean you) will get caught at a gate with your travel plans delayed by Mother Nature. You and about 180 of your closest friends (ok they are not your friends) are trying to get a seat on the next flight home.
  

Everyone lines up at the ticket counter as two gate agents try to rebook 180 people with travel plans that are next to impossible. So, you’re looking at about a two hour wait just to talk to an agent.

You won’t have to wait if you have status or are smart. If you have status, the computer will automatically rebook you and send an email. If you’re smart, you can rebook your flight in no time and get a free drink for a mere $50. That’s right, head over to the airline club, pay the $50 one day fee, go upstairs to the desk and let the agent fix it. You're in the club, they are the best at what they do, and they never want to tick off a club member.  While the other 179 of your friends all battle for the last 3 seats on the next flight, the number just went to 2 as you get your boarding pass.

Problem solved.  But wait Jeff, what if you are in Smoot Wyoming where there is not a club. Just go past security and hit the ticket counter. It helps if you can give the agent puppy eyes. And remember; never be mean to a ticket agent. Mother Nature is not their fault.

I, myself. try to restrict my summer travel to taking the family to Door County. But when we drive by O’Hare every time on the way up, I promise to think of you.
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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry of as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and Microsoft plan AV displays for meetings and events. Please e-mail Jeff you own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com, and your tip might be featured in our blog.

The Jeff Show: Nabbing a Cab in Vegas

It was exciting to read all your smart travel tips in response to my plea for ideas. However, I must confess, almost everything started or ended with food. Let a tech out of a ballroom for 30 minutes, and they will find food. Please continue to e-mail me with all your travel tips. We’ll include some of them soon. 


So on to giving away the travel tip for May.

Sooner or later, everyone flies to Vegas. It’s a rule in our business.

When you get off the plane at McCarran International Airport, you'll fight the urge to play the quarter slot machines. You ride down and fight your way on to the tram. Hurling down through the tunnel, you arrive at baggage claim with several thousand of your friends. With no thanks to your air carrier, you wait a good half hour for your baggage. Then, it’s time to hustle outside and get into the cab line.

Now don’t get me wrong, the cab line is not as bad as used to be since the economy tanked. But snaking through that line can take a good half hour. It’s never fun – and I’ve always wondered if there was a way to bypass that stupid cab line.

But wait there is, and you walked right past it. The pesky sky caps that push their carts into your way are your salvation. Let them put your bag on that silver cart, and they will whisk you outside to the left of the line and straight into a cab. It’s the best couple of bucks you can spend in order to get to the casino and lose your money faster - just the way God intended it.

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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry for as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and American Airlines plan AV displays for meetings and events. E-mail Jeff your own travel tips to jwarner@warnerav.com

The Jeff Show: April 2012

Welcome to the first edition of WAV News. Since this is our first eZine, I get the honor of writing a column in the corner, The Jeff Show.

In addition to our endeavors, advice on AV, and planning meetings, I am imparting my great wisdom on years of traveling this big world and running shows. You’ll read important stuff, like finding a good sushi restaurant in the Sonoran Desert of the Southwest; or, how you can nab the last business class seat on a four-hour flight - back to that in a minute.

Here is what I’m also thinking. Since almost all my good ideas are the advice I most likely heard from someone else, I also want your help. Please send me your travel tips. Now in all fairness, you should get something for the idea. So I will give you credit for it. Just think of your name right here in the newsletter. It kind of makes you feel all warm inside.

On to the important part of getting upgraded to the last seat in business class.  Remember this, no matter what you may think; they always save one seat for airport release just in case someone runs up at the last minute with a wheel barrel full of money to purchase it. At the airport, it’s all about who gets on the list first. Get there early enough to be the first one to request the upgrade and you might get it. Unless you’re gold, then someone will bump you anyway.

On a serious note, thanks for taking the time to read this, and for letting us work for and with you.

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Company owner Jeff Warner has been involved in the industry for as long as he can remember as his dad, Harry, started WAV. He joined the company full-time in 1979, and travels the world to help big clients like Bankers Life and Casualty, McDonald's and American Airlines plan AV displays for meetings and events.