--- title: "What the Sochi Olympics Teach About Expectations" id: "21592" type: "post" slug: "what-the-sochi-olympics-teach-about-expectations" published_at: "2014-02-05T23:27:12+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T03:36:33+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/05/what-the-sochi-olympics-teach-about-expectations/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/05/what-the-sochi-olympics-teach-about-expectations.md" excerpt: "When reporters covering the Winter Games found themselves staying in half-finished hotels, they weren’t afraid to say something. Event planners could learn a thing or two from this. Plus: Feeling creatively tapped out? Use these tips to get your organization’s..." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "guest experience" - "hospitality" - "Meetings" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » What the Sochi Olympics Teach About Expectations ## When reporters covering the Winter Games found themselves staying in half-finished hotels, they weren’t afraid to say something. Event planners could learn a thing or two from the dust-up. Plus: Feeling creatively tapped out? Use these tips to get your organization’s groove back. For many journalists, covering the Olympics can be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But what many of the reporters assigned to this year’s Games found when they got to Russia offers a great lesson in meeting attendee expectations—and what happens when you fail. More details in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Heartbreak Hotels > Journalists in Sochi are live-tweeting their hilarious and gross hotel experiences [http://t.co/8I3Ea1aBVe (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/8I3Ea1aBVe) > [pic.twitter.com/bFIQZ1dFo3 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/bFIQZ1dFo3) > > — The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) [February 5, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/washingtonpost/status/430914084645531649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Atrocious amenities:** When checking in at brand new hotel, most guests don’t expect yellow water, stray dogs, broken elevators, and (gasp!) no WiFi. These are just a few of the problems journalists are encountering in Sochi, [according to The Washington Post (opens in a new tab)](http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2014/02/04/journalists-at-sochi-are-live-tweeting-their-hilarious-and-gross-hotel-experiences/) . Thanks to Twitter, many reporters are [comically live-tweeting (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/bruce_arthur/statuses/430565712089079808) their experiences, complete with [jaw-dropping photos (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/StacyStClair/statuses/430550673977913344) of the facilities. This is despite promises by Russia and the International Olympic Committee that the city—which has spent a record $51 billion in preparation for the event—would be ready for the Games, which start Thursday. Your next event will probably have working WiFi and fully functional lobbies, but there’s something to be said about planning here—and what happens when things go wrong and facilities aren’t ready. Short version: People complain. That’s why holding your event to a high standard is important. *(ht [@washingtonpost (opens in a new tab)](http://twitter.com/washingtonpost) )* ### Pick Up the Pieces https://twitter.com/E2MAssoc/status/431101237313159168 **Back to the start:** Out of original ideas for your organization? [Inc.com contributor Marc Barros points out (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/marc-barros/5-ways-to-bring-creativity-back-to-your-culture.html) that after the creative high of starting fresh wears off, new concepts might not flow quite so readily. To avoid stagnation, Barros (the CEO of camera company Contour) implemented a number of cultural changes to keep the thinking fresh at his organization: Among them, he gave employees unlimited vacation, got rid of meetings, and ditched formal department goals. Instead, he chose to drive his culture through a practical vision, focusing on two or three large company goals. “Creative cultures thrive on timely, spontaneous feedback,” he writes. “Whether it’s good or bad, feedback helps teams raise their own expectations.” *(ht @[E2MAssoc (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/E2MAssoc/status/431101237313159168) )* How does your association keep the spark going? Share your take in the comments below. CNN Sports producer Harry Reekie, showing off a problem with one of the network’s hotel rooms in Sochi. (Twitter screenshot) [Alexis Williams](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) Alexis Williams & Alexis Davis are contributors to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) [Alexis Davis](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-davis/) Alexis Davis is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-davis/) Tags: [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#guest experience](https://associationsnow.com/tag/guest-experience/) [#hospitality](https://associationsnow.com/tag/hospitality/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Contract: Building Stronger Destination PartnershipsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-contract-building-stronger-destination-partnerships/) - [VideoMelvin Tennant, CAE, President & CEO of Meet Minneapolis, Welcomes You to Great Ideas 2026September 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/02/melvin-tennant-cae-president-ceo-of-meet-minneapolis-welcomes-you-to-great-ideas-2026/) - [VideoASAE TV Daily Recap: Final Day at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/24/asae-tv-daily-recap-final-day-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F02%2F05%2Fwhat-the-sochi-olympics-teach-about-expectations%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !