While numerous hotel RFP tools exist, many meeting and event planners are interested in creating their own hotel RFP. The question is, what should they include in tbat hotel RFP?

Event planner Eileen DeGrazia approached me with this question earlier this year. That's because she, like many event planners, isn't interested in entering her personal event information into a large database. But many hotel proposal examples do exist to figure out what to include in your own hotel bid. With a review of hotel-specific RFP tools, online hotel RFP sites, hotel RFP standards set by the Convention Industry Council, and insights from the National Business Travel Association, I've compiled a list of items that you may wish to include when creating your own hotel RFP.

Learn more about what to include in a hotel RFP.

It's a tough way to get the message across, but maybe more people will begin to gain a greater appreciation for event planners. On November 24, 2009, party crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi attended the first state dinner of the Obama administration, and people are demanding an explanation about how this happened (See video, Gibbs Dismissed Press Briefing Questions About Rogers' Role in Crashergate).

Well, it's the one time when White House Social Secretary Desiree Rogers has apparently dropped the ball, but as many event managers know - even one time can be too many. Although Rogers holds a Harvard MBA and an impressive resume in business leadership, including board roles for causes, her current post demands a seasoned event manager's touch.

In a city that's already filled with wannabes, it's probably difficult to figure out who belongs and who doesn't. And that's partially why the social secretary's office exists for the White House. However, as reported by Michael Isikoff of Newsweek, earlier this year Rogers dismissed the staffer on her team whose job it was to manage guests at the gate for official White House events.

And rather than accepting or assigning that responsibility within her team for the state dinner (one of the highest profile events), Rogers apparently deferred the function to the Secret Service, and her image has been splashed in the media as she made her own grand entrance to the event (not to mention being known for hosting her own table).

What's even more challenging (but hasn't received as much visibility) is the event's timing: the first state dinner was scheduled to honor the Prime Minister of India on the week anniversary of security breaches that led to the Mumbai attacks (which began November 26, 2008).

Now the situation has faced political and media scrutiny - including a request by the President for a full investigation. The Secret Service has stepped up and blamed itself for the error. The problem is, that's not sufficient and all eyes have legitimate reasons to point the error back in the direction of the White House and Rogers for allowing the Salahis into the event.

For those who have had crashers at their events, it's a bit upsetting at first; it usually becomes a funny story later - no harm done, but not when it's related to the White House.

Read my commentary, Crashergate security officer suspensions, committee hearings and Presidential order to review gate crashers situation should end.

Photo: Desiree Rogers (left) with First Lady Michelle Obama at a preview of the State Dinner, November 24, 2009. Photo Courtesy of Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images

Welcome back from the Thanksgiving holiday. As many event planners are busy this month executing their annual business holiday parties, it's also helpful to note the various holidays and dates on the calendar this month to round out the year:

• December 12 (Saturday), Hanukkah (begins at sundown the previous day)

• December 25 (Friday), Christmas
• December 26 (Saturday), Kwanzaa
• December 26 (Saturday), Boxing Day (UK, Canada, Ireland)
• January 1, 2009 (Thursday) New Year's Day

For those looking to next year, check out our 2010 Calendar of Holidays and Major Special Events which expands important dates in our calendar, highlighting international events and public holidays around the world.

On November 24, President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted their first official State Dinner for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur of India. The menu: vegetarian-inspired in honor of the Prime Minister -- prepared with the help of guest chef Marcus Samuelsson of New York's Aquavit restaurant. Entertainment: after dinner performances included the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Marvin Hamlisch, Jennifer Hudson, A.R. Rahman, and Indian-themed dancers. The venue: a tent on the South Side of the White House for 339 guests.

Well, maybe increase that count to 341. By now I'm sure many of you have heard about the White House State Dinner crashers. Regardless of the nature of the show, reality TV stars and their wannabes are probably cut from a similar breed. I'll avoid naming both so that they're not given extra visibility.

You have to wonder, how did they get in? Perhaps it's because Secret Service were assigned the welcome table rather than event staff. Armed with an attendee list and directions not to allow anyone but official guests to pass, the right event coordinator will greet everyone upon arrival, but never allow anyone into the event without proper invitations and identification.

Check out Lindsay Pellagrino's video on the basics of assembling an event guest list.

Photo courtesy of Andrew Harrer-Pool / Getty Images