A meetings industry professional, Wendy Shapiro has been working in the meetings industry for the past decade. She has organized meetings of all kinds and on all levels:

Association meetings, special events and corporate events
Local, national and international meetings
Hotels, convention centers, resorts and university meetings

Q: What is the appropriate attire for our next staff retreat?

A: The current trend is toward business-casual attire. According to Jon Grove, CAE, executive vice president of the American Society of Association Executives, "the main reason for business-casual attire is that it works. Casual dress is more conducive to effective learning. We know that people attend conventions and meetings for the opportunity to exchange ideas and create new solutions. Any barriers, real or perceived, to the free exchange of ideas will impair a meeting's success. We also know that most people attending meetings these days are baby boomers, who bring an entirely different sense of expectations to a meeting, one of which is comfort and flexibility."

Q: Speaking of Generation Xers, what does it take to motivate them?

A: In the January 1997 issue of Nation's Business, a simple answer to a complex issue is discussed: Gen Xers:

* Respond best to a management style that makes them feel important and part of the process.
* Are just as driven as Baby Boomers, but prefer to expend their energy outside the workplace, where they get some reward.
* Want control of all aspects of their lives, with the job being only one part.
* Do not respond to pressure or threats.
* Do respond to teamwork and individual development.

Q: I'm looking for a spot for a weekend getaway where I can relax my mind while working my body. Any suggestions?

A: The January 1997 issue of Smart Money listed the following options:

* White Stallion Ranch (40 rooms), Tucson, Arizona. Dude ranch with tennis courts.
* The Hermosa Inn (35 rooms), Paradise Valley, Arizona. Featuring casitas and gardens, also with tennis courts.
* Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort (66 rooms), Death Valley, California. Offering horseback riding, golf, swimming pool, and hiking.
* Le Meridien (300 rooms), San Diego, California. Offering 3 swimming pools, golf, tennis and a full-service spa.
* The Kahala Mandarin Oriental (371 rooms), Honolulu, Hawaii. Featuring a private beach, two swimming pools, exotic gardens and ample watersports.
* Hotel Westin Brisas (428 rooms), Ixtapa, Mexico. Offering a swimming pool, tennis, gym and watersports.
* La Cure Villas (4 villas; 26 suites), Costa de Careyes, Mexico. Each unit comes with a cook, maid, houseman and private pool.
* Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort & Spa (145 rooms, 27 suites), Cable Beach, Bahamas. Adults-only, all-inclusive facility.
* Hostellerie des Trois Forces (8 rooms), St. Barts. Located atop a hill with a beach below.
* Rendezvous Bay Hotel (20 rooms; 24 villas), Anguilla. Located on the beach.

: What keeps CEOs awake at night?

A: According to the February 1997 issues of Inc., Inc. 500 CEOs' biggest worries are: Competitors' strategies; Managing people; Keeping up with technology; Managing growth; Managing money; Raising enough money; Government legislation; Meeting orders; and lawsuits.

Q: Why is outsourcing a buzzword of the '90s?

A: Because "organizations today can afford to invest only in functions central to their core competencies," according to a recent article in Convene, the monthly magazine of the Professional Convention Management Association. They list the top 10 reasons for outsourcing as:

1. Improve organization focus.
2. Gain access to "world-class" capabilities.
3. Reduce and control operating costs.
4. Resources not available internally.
5. Free internal resources for other purposes.
6. Accelerate re-engineering benefits.
7. Function difficult to manage/out of control.
8. Make capital funds available.
9. Cash infusion.
10. Share risks.