Not long ago, only the most sophisticated and informed corporate travel, meetings, and procurement managers knew anything about strategic meetings management (SMM), the science of centralized meetings planning and management. Today, however, more and more companies see adopting SMM as a necessity in order to gain greater visibility into all meetings spend, boost control over expenditures, improve relationships with preferred hotels and other suppliers, and mitigate the everyday financial and security risks that come with holding events around the world. In Strategic Meetings Management Handbook: From Theory to Practice, eleven meetings industry thought leaders have come together to share their knowledge and experience in chapters about the most advanced SMM theories and best practices. In this book you'll find chapters on: The origins and history of SMM Maturing an SMM program at your own pace Coaching holdouts in your company toward full adoption Knowing when you've achieved success Making SMM work even without a mandate from senior management Managing the risks of meetings and events How a meeting charge card benefits your SMM program Expanding your program globally across your company's operating regions The payoff from meetings management technology Combining business and meetings travel for maximum savings and efficiencies Crafting a management strategy for the growing phenomenon of virtual meetings and events Funding your meetings program with commission from a Corporate Travel Department This is not a how-to book. Rather, Strategic Meetings Management Handbook: From Theory to Practice gives readers a grand overview of the development of SMM, its progression today, what the most advanced industry players are thinking and doing, and where SMM is headed in the future.