Event Planning

• 
  Mimegasite - Recent News

• Government Cans Travel Fee Hike

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  At the urging of travel industry associations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has withdrawn its plan for a 10 percent increase of fees paid by travelers entering the United States.

• U.S. Travel Industry to Add 90,000 Jobs in 2010

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Modest increases in leisure, business and inbound international travel will enable the U.S. travel industry to add nearly 90,000 American jobs next year, according to projections released yesterday by the U.S. Travel Association.

• Hyatt Raises Nearly $1 Billion in IPO

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Hyatt Hotels Corp. shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange today as the company completed a nearly $1 billion initial public offering, taking the company public for the first time in decades.

• CWT Teams With Tata Communications on Virtual Meeting Facilities

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Carlson Wagonlit Travel has partnered with Tata Communications in order to create CWT Telepresence, a service that grants CWT clients access to a global network of public telepresence suites where they can conduct virtual meetings.

• Carlson Marketing Sold

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Canadian loyalty management firm Groupe Aeroplan will buy the Minneapolis-based incentive firm for $175 million.

• 
  Mimegasite - Featured Articles

• Meeting People

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Meetings industry personnel announcements from MeetingNews magazine.

• Event Profile: Financial Company Meeting Attendees Break Ice

  2 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Company freezes costs at Las Vegas event.

• Venue Change, Low-Tech Marketing Boost Annual Promo Product Event

  1 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  The Promotional Products Association International in the past several years has significantly increased attendance and exhibitors at its annual exposition by changing cities, upgrading its technology tools and reversing course on its event marketing.

• Amgen Advances, Standardizes Meetings Reporting Technology

  29 Oct 2009 | 5:00 pm

  Amgen has pushed tech vendor StarCite to reconfigure its systems to accommodate conventions data, standardize input across business units and enhance reporting on the company's group spending.

• CIC's Green Meeting Standards Nearly Done

  28 Oct 2009 | 5:00 pm

  More than two years in the making, the Convention Industry Council's Accepted Practices Exchange process to create industry standards for green meetings is on pace to be completed by the end of the year.

• 
  Meetings Podcast

• Interview with Mike Cioffi Producer of The Adam Carolla Podcast

  Mike McAllen

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:39 pm

  Show notes- Today Mike McAllen of Grass Shack Events & Media interviews with Mike Cioffi Producer of The Adam Carolla Podcast and The Greg Fitzsimmons Experience Podcast and handles the new media for the Jimmy Kimmel show Mike talks about producing a podcast for a show that already has an audience, working on monetizing the podcast. Transcripts coming: Please leave us a question or comment, which we will try to address on the show ASAP! Email us at meetings podcast@gmail.com or here on the MeetingsPodcast site. www.MeetingsPodcast.com Music by the http://www.delgadobrothers.com/ Audio…

• New Twitter Tool for the Holidays- TwitterPeek Mobile Tweeting Device

  Mike McAllen

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:45 am

  Hat tip to my friend Stephanie Terroir (missgoogle) for pointing out this little device. The TwitterPeek- Mobile Tweeting Device with Lifetime Service Included -$199.95 So interesting that this device is coming out. I live in a land of smart phones and carrying another device to use twitter seems a little much. BUT as they write in the marketing blurb below. Some folks don’t “get” twitter yet and with all the hype I think this device might really work. I could see handing them out at events maybe to have everyone on the same page tweet wise. Or to your sales team and…

• Venue Selection Ideas- Claremont Resort & Spa Berkeley, California

  Mike McAllen

  3 Nov 2009 | 10:20 am

  Mike McAllen armed with a flip cam and a flickr.com account heads into the Claremont Resort & Spa in Berkeley California on the first of MeetingsPodcast venue search/venue selection series. Mike will be covering the San Francisco Bay Area. Meetings Podcast welcomes short videos of venues in your area to be included on the MeetingsPodcast site. If you do a video with us pleas geotag the video which will help planners if they are venue selecting. Email Meetingspodcast@gmail.com Here is another video I saw on Youtube which has a tad better production value than ours…. (not done with a…

• Interview with Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events

  Mike McAllen

  3 Nov 2009 | 7:22 am

  The Meeting Planners podcast source for what’s new and exciting in meetings and events industry! Mike McAllen of Grass Shack Events & Media interviews Sasha Souza of Sasha Souza Events Sashas Blog About Sasha Sashas Wedding Design Book: Please leave us a question or comment, which we will try to address on the show ASAP! Email us at meetings podcast@gmail.com or here on the MeetingsPodcast site. www.MeetingsPodcast.com Music by the http://www.delgadobrothers.com/ Audio mixing by www.RipTideGraphics.com Brought to you by Grass Shack Events & Media Copyright 2009 MeetingsPodcast…

• Inspiration

  Mike McAllen

  2 Nov 2009 | 8:38 pm

  Inspiration- Imagine having this guy walk out on your stage…… Hat tip to Brett Bumeter for the link.

• 
  BizBash National News

• TORONTO - EVENT REPORT: Feist Steps in to Perform at Holt Renfrew's Holiday Window Unveiling

  In a last-minute change to the lineup, singer-songwriter Feist stepped in for scheduled performer Kristin Chenoweth at Holt Renfrew's fifth annual Holiday Window Unveiling Thursday after the Tony winner cancelled her appearance due to an illness. “We’ve always wanted to have Feist. She’s Canadian, and the Abrams Brothers are opening for her, so it’s an all-Canadian lineup. That’s a first for us,” said Gwen Gibson, the retailer's director of special events. Gibson reported that organizers were notified at noon on Wednesday that Chenoweth was ill and…

• CHICAGO - EVENT REPORT: Michael Kors Opens New Chicago Store With Runway Show, Raspberry Martinis

  On Wednesday night, seamstresses and Elite models filled a vacant storefront that formerly housed the 900 Shops' Waldenbooks store, which became an impromptu backstage area for a Michael Kors fashion show. To celebrate the opening of the designer's new boutique on the shopping center's first floor, Michael Kors vice president of global communications Billy Daley enlisted the services of XA, the Experiential Agency, to produce a high-octane runway presentation and after-party within the 900 Shops. And according to XA event producer Katie Hall, the first challenge of the planning process was…

• LAS VEGAS - EVENT REPORT: Performance-Packed Latin Grammy Tribute Draws 1,000 for Juan Gabriel

  Preceding the big Latin Grammy night on November 5 was the Latin Recording Academy Person of the Year gala at Mandalay Bay on November 4, which honored Juan Gabriel. And with more than 1,000 guests attending “De Fiesta With Juan Gabriel,” the tribute dinner and concert in his honor was itself no ordinary pre-party. Charged with carrying out Gabriel’s wish to make it a party with friends rather than a staid honorarium was Gabriel’s longtime friend Mary Black, who produced the event. The tribute dinner is one of the most prestigious happenings during Latin Grammy week,…

• LOS ANGELES - EVENT REPORT: With Help From Lexus, Cedars-Sinai Gala Breaks Fund-Raising Record

  It might have been an unlikely year for it, but Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's board of governors gala vastly surpassed its past fund-raising success. The gala on Wednesday night at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza raised more than $2.6 million for the Board of Governors Heart Stem Cell Center through event revenue like sponsorships and ticket sales (which began at $500 for individual tickets, or $2,500 for packages). The Cedars events team, led by senior event specialist Stacy Seligman Kravitz and senior event coordinator Ken Hudson, oversaw the production, and the honorees were Justin…

• NEW YORK - EVENT REPORT: Hosiery Preview Styles Vignettes After Vargas Pinups

  In a bid to make a provocative statement for the debut of its new line of body-shaping underwear and hosiery, Sculptz turned to Alberto Vargas' iconic paintings of pinup girls for inspiration and produced a playful format for its launch Tuesday night. In place of a typical catwalk production, the Philadelphia-headquartered company wanted to show that its products are suitable for all shapes and can be worn every day, and so opted to build a series of seasonal vignettes and showcase its wares on live models of different sizes. Looking to get an edge over Spanx, its main competitor in the…

• 
  Michelle Rago, Ltd.—Blog

• MY NEW BABY GIRL!!!!!

  Michelle

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:33 pm

  I have always had a weak spot for elephants and baby ones PLEASE!!!!  My friend turned me on to this site http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp I literally flung my chair from out under me and flew to the nearest computer and got on immediately. I am now the proud mother of Mutara. Which we believe to means Gardenia…how perfect! You can help me foster Mutara by clicking on the site below, you can also see her whole journey. http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/asp/fostering.asp  http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/index.asp Please check out this amazing site! There…

• OH Martha!

  Michelle

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:20 pm

  A little birdie told me there is going to be a special issue of Martha Stewart Weddings on newsstands this Monday.  This issue is special because it’s  focused on my favorite…..Destination Weddings! We all know Martha puts out the most stunning wedding issues, I am expecting this one is going to be over the top strikingly gorgeous. I CANT WAIT!  Also I hear a wedding I recently did in Harbour Island is going to grace the pages! Now I really cant wait. Pick up November 9th I know I will be first in line. 

• Hollywood

  Michelle

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:28 am

  You will have to excuse the absence of a post on Friday but the City of Angels has been keeping me busy. I am currently posting poolside from the magnificent Chateau Marmont. This is one of Andre Balaz’s properties and one of my favorite. The Chateau exudes classic Hollywood Glamour. If you get the chance you have to stay in one of their unique bungalows. (www.chateaumarmont.com) I am thrilled to report that I am designing and planning the upcoming wedding of David Krumhotlz & his beautiful fiancée Vanessa Britting.  They are a wonderful couple with great energy and I’m so glad…

• Turn up the Heat

  Michelle

  28 Oct 2009 | 8:06 am

  Here’s a quick and easy tip for a gloomy, rainy Wednesday… if you want to warm up a space and give it elegant ambience, light some candles!We all use this technique when we want to take a relaxing bath so why not put that same effort towards your next dinner party or family wedding.I have tons of candles in my home. Sconces with tapers, floor standing candle stands for pillars and gobs of votives. It is the first thing I do when I get home.It’s super simple and makes a grand statement.   Exposed pillar candles on a fireplace mantle are oh so sexy and give off an amazing glow.

• My Version of Halloween

  Michelle

  26 Oct 2009 | 12:21 pm

  This Halloween I have decided to celebrate fall with an elegant dinner party and afew of my closest friends. Warm cozy sweaters and a comforting autumn menu sounds like a perfect Halloween evening for me. My inspiration for the design comes from an event I did at a private residence in western New Jersey.I love this party because it had playful fall décor which was less traditional. The varying shades ofclassic orange give it the Halloween touch I want for my dinner party.The flowers we used to create these table-top arrancements were gloriosa lillies, hens and chicks, scented geranium,…

• 
  READY 2 SPARK

• rent a . living Christmas tree

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:35 pm

  We've all be challenged with thinking greener. And for those of you who celebrate Christmas (or have clients who do), you face a big conundrum. Do you cut down a perfectly healthy tree only to have it displayed in all its glory for a few short weeks or do you buy a reusable (aka fake) tree in hopes of making a better environmental choice. Now we have a 3rd option called The Living Christmas Co.. The idea behind The Living Christmas Co. is that you rent a living tree which is delivered to your home or event, picked up and then replanted. You can even adopt a particular tree and rent it year…

• going global

  6 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  Two interesting new sites that have passed by my desk are:GLOBAL EVENT RESOURCESA partnership of media leaders (one of which is BizBash Media) in the event planning industry from around the globe. Their aim is to share information and give their audiences easy access to the best news and resources from all over the world. So, if you're planning an event in a foreign country, it's never been easier to get caught up on the local industry news.EVENT1001An international directory of products and services that serve the events industry. Select a location, a product/service and find local…

• haute . fire extinguishers

  5 Nov 2009 | 6:00 am

  I la, la, love these gorgeous fire extinguishers by Fire Design. Next time you do a tented event, bring these babies in!Lara McCulloch-CarterAuthor of the Special Event blog ready2sparkDirector of Marketing - Regal Tent ProductionsPast-President - ISES Toronto. Follow me on Twitter. Connect with me on LinkedIn. Become my Peep at EventPeeps. Befriend me at Events Network

• accomplice . the show

  3 Nov 2009 | 9:18 pm

  I'm very curious to know if anyone has experienced this show and if it's any good. I heard about Accomplice while half-listening to Conan O'Brien at the same time that I was frenetically researching future blog stories. In between strange turn-of-the century impressions, Neil Patrick Harris talked about the game / show / tour called Accomplice that he's promoting in Hollywood. It sounds very cool.From what I gather you buy a ticket and a time for this (let's call it a) 'show'. You don't know where you're going when you order your ticket. Instead, you get a phone call the day before you leave…

• monogrammed . vases

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:42 pm

  I quite like the idea behind these thoughtful monogrammed vases by Etsy seller MaidOfClay. Perfect for personalized centerpieces, thank yous or gifts. Each 4-1/2" - 5 inch high vase is priced at $48 USD.Lara McCulloch-CarterAuthor of the Special Event blog ready2sparkDirector of Marketing - Regal Tent ProductionsPast-President - ISES Toronto. Follow me on Twitter. Connect with me on LinkedIn. Become my Peep at EventPeeps. Befriend me at Events Network

• 
  Wedding Blog and Event Blog by Life Design Event Planning

• The ABC's of Wedding Planning :: L for Little Things Do Count

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:22 pm

  “They are going to throw the invitations away anyways”.  “Will people even notice the chairs”?  “I don’t want to spend a lot of money of flowers because the resort is just going to throw them away.”  “Lighting? I have enough décor. People won’t know the difference”.  These are all statements I hear when I talk to clients about designing their big day. You are right people probably won’t notice the lighting, upgraded linens, the extra flowers or they just might toss your invitation when the wedding is over but what the will remember is the overall…

• Easy to do Place Card idea for Thanksgiving and why are they so important to have.

  2 Nov 2009 | 7:30 am

  In these economic times buying expensive (place your fav home entertaining store name here) place card holders are something I would suggest not purchasing this year. Please don't roll out the ones from last year either...we have seen it and chances are you'll have the same guests attending. One option that is cheap and easy to get creative with is food! Take a potato, a small pumpkin, a small bell pepper, an onion, an orange, a pear, a squash or just use whatever you aren't cooking on thanksgiving just as long as it matches your overall design and color scheme and use it as a base for your…

• The ABC's of Wedding Planning :: K stands for Kiss

  14 Oct 2009 | 9:39 am

  Frederique Cohen PhotographyAt rehearsals I am always telling my clients to “hold that kiss.” Not only do I want them to revel in the moment because they are “sealing the deal” but because it’s a photo moment! So many couples do a small quick peck and the photographers can easily miss it. At your rehearsal practice a nice prolonged smooch and don’t be so antsy to rush it. The kiss is such a precious moment at your ceremony let’s make sure you can savor it with a picture.New to the series? Catch up on the other letters below!A :: AskB :: Bridal BarteringC :: CakesD :: Disaster…

• The ABC's of Wedding Planning :: J stand for Journal

  14 Oct 2009 | 9:33 am

  Image courtesy of InfedThe wedding day will be photographed and sometimes video-taped but what about documenting the experience of planning your wedding itself? I suggest to all my clients (and I include it in their packages) a wedding journal. This not only acts as the bible for massive note taking, invitation list making, and an exploration of ideas to ponder but it also can be a wonderful scrapbook of memories during the process of planning your wedding day. Can you imagine looking back and seeing the fun ideas you thought about including? Maybe look at what final details made it to the…

• Twirl Times Two :: A Opening Grand Party!

  13 Oct 2009 | 8:41 am

  Twirl is a boutique bridal party store that offers apparel that’s chic, modern, trendy and a whole lot of fun. They believe that a bride, and all those who stand by her, should look and feel stunning on the special day. Elegant bridesmaids’ dresses should complement the bride’s gown and add to the overall unique wedding décor.At Twirl you will find exclusive lines of dresses, handbags, wraps and jewelry for every member of the bridal party and the Twirl store in Chandler will now be offering apparel for the groom and his men as well. Their goal is to highlight the best features of each…

• 
  Event Manager Blog

• International Team Building: An Inspiring Cultural Affair

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:50 am

   When organizations go global, fostering an understanding of the culture and business etiquette at your various locations becomes crucial. How can you do this in a unique and inspiring way? A half day international fair with interactive team building is an approach worth considering.You can offer this as a stand alone or as an add-on to any conference, retreat or sales incentive trip. An International Fair: An Innovative Team Building Concept  How to create a splash with an International Fair It's very simple. Identify the key locations Invite tourist boards from the…

• New Weapon in the Battle For Attendees

  5 Nov 2009 | 5:46 am

      You worked harder than ever to attract attendees to your events in 2009.     You crafted the best programs, attracted the best speakers and selected the best venues.  Then you designed and executed your best marketing program ever. You even tapped into Social Media - blogged, tweeted, facebooked and flickr’d.   But still - for some of you - your best was not enough.  You fell short of your registration targets.   Help might be on the way. One of the last frontiers in audience acquisition is tapping into the social…

• Event 1.0 vs Event 2.0

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:21 am

  Let's kick it with the first post for Event Coup! Photo by swisscan via FlickrEvent 1.0Controlled by the fewSpoilingDisrespectful for the environment Sponsors generatedOfflineBrochuristicUntangibleExclusiveSylos basedTop downEvent 2.0Controlled by manyMotivatingGreenUser GeneratedOnlineSocial Media Marketed Tangible thanks to technologyInclusiveConversation BasedBottom upHave more? Add yours! Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• Welcome!

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:14 am

  Hey all this is Event Coup and it is the brainchild of Event Manager Blog. We started this blog to respond to the changing world of events and social media. We are ready to rock and roll with great writers and fantastc content so stay tuned! Permalink | Leave a comment  »

• 
  being SOCIAL

• Aisle Style Pics

  Sarah Bradley

  16 Oct 2009 | 6:44 pm

  SOCIAL Event Design & Planning was the design sponsor for the Aisle Style Opening Reception for the Charleston Museum's new exhibition. The party was really great and I have some amazing photos taken by my friend and owner of 120 Design, Christina Bailey! Ashley Bakery did the cake, which was even more stunning in person and they also provided a variety of other desserts in the monochromatic color scheme of peach and gray (gray sugar crystals on the sugar cookies, cool!) Other sponsors of the event included PDA Stage for lighting, Tiger Lily Florist for...flowers, Charleston Weddings…

• Fashion Education

  MFH

  14 Oct 2009 | 1:14 pm

  I highly doubt that brides of the 19th century were as concerned with color palettes and ice sculptures as the modern brides of today. Nevertheless, I’m sure that brides of the past were still very much concerned with style. The Charleston Museum has a special exhibit that highlights all things wedding from the past 150 years; starting with the bride's dress to groom's garments and even accessories. Not to mention all of your burning questions about wedding traditions will be exposed. Why was white so significant in choosing the gown or does blue really ensure great things for your wedding…

• All lit up!

  Sarah Bradley

  22 Sep 2009 | 7:32 am

  If you're looking for a unique monogram or letter to celebrate your new last name, do what our former bride Meredith did! One of her friends had a great prop connection and got her a real circus letter "R" for her new last name, Rose. This wedding was so fun and stylish, check out those bridesmaid dresses, too!photos: Ashley Brokop

• Musings of the Moment

  Sarah Bradley

  27 Aug 2009 | 7:38 am

  Photos: Josh Goleman, A Bunch of Bliss

• Bonjour Charleston Weddings

  Sarah Bradley

  17 Aug 2009 | 7:10 am

  SOCIAL's most colorful and electric wedding design made it onto the pages of the beautiful Winter issue of Charleston Weddings Magazine! It's really exciting to see Kristin, Russell and their bold style shine through in their wedding photos (well, mostly Kristin's, but Russell was a good sport as long as there was Miller Lite involved)photos: Jennifer Kemp, Charleston Weddings Magazine

• 
  About.com Event Planning

• A University Student Organizer Asks, How Do We Organize a Rave Party?

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:27 am

  I was just glancing at the latest questions in the event planning forum, and ran across this one: How to organize a university rave party? The concept of a "rave party" has changed over the years, so to avoid sounding like someone over 30, I thought that I'd share the question with readers. What would you recommend a university include in its rave party? I suggest the following: Begin the event after 10 p.m. and continue it until legally approved hours. Hire two or three bands and mix the styles of music (include Jamaican music). Project a laser light show on screens and buildings. Distribute…

• IMEX Partners with MPI to Establish IMEX America

  29 Oct 2009 | 9:32 am

  IMEX Group, known for its annual hosted conference (IMEX) in Frankfurt, Germany, has announced with Meeting Professionals International, Dallas, TX, that it will establish IMEX America for October 11-13, 2011. IMEX America will host 1,500 meetings and incentives buyers at the Sands Expo Center (Venetian/Palazzo) in Las Vegas, NV. About 80% of attendees will come from North America. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority participated in the launch announcement of Imex America. The program is being supported by other leading industry associations, including ICCA (International Congress…

• How to Organize a Bridal Show?

  27 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am

  Angela Shumba of Tsaduko Events in a small town in South Africa wanted to know what she should do if she were to organize her area's first bridal show. Robert Chevalier of Chevalier Associates, Inc., a bridal show expert and publisher of Bride & Groom magazine in Shewsbury, MA, offered Shumba his advice, including 10 tips for producing a a bridal show. From understanding the importance of setting goals to establishing criteria for the bridal expo, learn what you should know to organize a bridal show (or what to find at a bridal expo). Photo: Robert Chevalier, courtesy of Chevalier…

• 10 Corporate Holiday Party Planning Tips that Won’t Convey the Wrong Message

  20 Oct 2009 | 2:00 am

  'Tis the season for holiday party event planning, but how can event planners create a festive environment that will not be perceived as excessive or indulgent? Event planner Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions, Long Beach, CA, answered my earlier request for readers to share some of their best ideas to save money on this year's holiday party. From establishing the right holiday party theme to menu selection, meeting and event planners can save money and create an event that tells employees and clients that you value and appreciate them. Read 10 holiday party planning cost saving tips. If you…

• What is a Pre-Con?

  15 Oct 2009 | 2:19 am

  Whether you're planning a seminar, conference, incentive trip or even a wedding, one thing is certain: you will want to hold a pre-con meeting with event vendors and suppliers. It is held usually one or two days prior to the actual event, and is different from the walk through that occurs on the day of an event. Event planners should understand the following before attending a pre-con: What to expect during a pre-con meeting? What is included in the event resume? Learn more about how to plan a seminar. What is a Pre-Con? originally appeared on About.com Event Planning on Thursday, October…

• 
  Unique Venues

• Las Vegas Motor Speedway

  David

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:20 pm

  Talk about a unique venue! Imagine the thrill of having your next event at the Motor Speedway! This NASCAR track’s modern clubhouse and facilities are at your disposal! The Las Vegas motor Speedway is dedicated to ensuring total success for your group, exceeding all expectations! You and up to fifteen thousand of your closest friends and colleagues can enjoy all the excitement and thrills of Las Vegas on this 1500 acre premier facility! Few places leave so powerful and lasting an impression! The Speedway isn’t just for automotive enthusiasts either. The clubhouse can host…

• The Carolina Girl in Charleston, SC

  David

  5 Nov 2009 | 11:58 am

  Are you looking for a private party or wedding reception venue that will make a huge impression? Wanting to do something extraordinary for your next group event or function? If you’re after the extraordinary in or near Charleston, South Carolina, your search is over. The Carolina Girl, a luxury motor yacht capable of carrying 150 guests in comfort and style, is your answer – the perfectly unique venue you’ve been hoping for! The Carolina Girl’s home port is Charleston, South Carolina. From that berth, she can travel nearly anywhere there’s water, 365 days a year!

• Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington

  David

  4 Nov 2009 | 11:03 am

  Is your group or looking for Washington conference centers to hold your next event at? Tacoma, Washington, is one of the most beautiful cities in North America! Enjoying the moderate weather granted by the Pacific Ocean, this modern metropolis rests near the foot of majestic snow-capped mountains, offering amazing and inspiring vistas of Mount Rainier. The Pacific Lutheran University, a Christian school of higher learning, welcomes educational, community-oriented and religious-oriented groups to use the facilities of their campus for their meetings and events. Excellent conference facilities,…

• Nipissing University Residence & Conference Services

  David

  1 Nov 2009 | 7:27 am

  For a retreat, conference, executive meeting, awards presentation or any other gathering of up to 1000 guests anywhere within the Canadian Shield, you’ll want to consider the Nipissing University residence and conference services. Just 3.5 hours north of Toronto, centrally located between Ottawa to the east and Sudbury to the west, you’ll find an extraordinarily tranquil university setting suitable for any gathering, conference or event. The Nipissing campus rests upon a beautiful escarpment between two freshwater lakes. Easily accessible by both plane and train, this wonderful…

• Turbine Hall in Chester, Pennsylvania

  David

  29 Oct 2009 | 8:23 am

  Is your group searching for an elegant, powerful, truly unique East Coast event facility? The spectacular Turbine Hall is the clear choice for your next meeting, trade show, or event. This facility defines the term “stately”! Classic Corinthian columns soar towards 100 foot vaulted ceilings in one vast 28,000 square foot chamber! This majestic triumph once provided the electricity for most of the Delaware Valley. Having received some $75,000,000 in technologies, restorations and upgrades, it is now available for public and private gatherings of nearly any kind, making it one of the top…

• 
  Tradeshow Week - Behind The Story

• Rough Day, Rough Quarter at Viad, GES

  Viad Corp. held its third-quarter conference call this morning, and it couldn’t have been an easy call for GES Chairman, President and CEO Pa...

• Still, You Hear Stories

  As I try to crystallize my thoughts here, euphemisms keep popping into my head. When I “read the tea leaves,” do I see “light at ...

• The End Is Not in Sight

  There were two major breaking news items yesterday for the tradeshow industry: First thing in the morning was the news that Canon Communications ha...

• Who Is Your Eco-leader?

  We have been on a campaign here at Tradeshow Week for at least a couple of years. We’ve been trying to point out the efforts being made in th...

• What Is Dan Fenton Thinking?

  Dan Fenton, president and CEO of Team San Jose, apparently has not relented from his position that a local union gets first dibs on any event to be...

• 
  Tradeshow Week - Event Tech Blog

• MTO Summit Addresses Critical Issues and Stirs the Pot

  Michelle Bruno is a writer, blogger and event professional based in Salt Lake City, UT. She blogs about new media and face-to-face events at forkin...

• How to Use Social Media Before, During & After Your Trade Show: Simple & Powerful Strategies Every Exhibitor Must Know

  Susan Friedmann and Joyce McKee are conducting a teleseminar this Wednesday, November 4 on exhibitors and social media. They are sharing val...

• What is Inbound Marketing and Why Should We Care?

  Starting thinking about inbound marketing when you hear speakers talk about ways to monetize social media. There really is no other proven ...

• The Paradigm is Changing from Customer to Community

  Rick Calvert completed running BlogWorld last week. He also recently provided great thoughts with writer Michelle Bruno who interviewed h...

• Losing Control to Go Viral

  The most powerful approach for distributing a brand message through a community is outside of the company communication structure. Communitie...

• 
  Midcourse Corrections

• What’s Your Place [Association Or Conference] In The Brave New [Economy] World?

  Jeff Hurt

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:01 am

  Few industries are escaping the impact of the current cultural and economic forces. Web 2.0 technologies like social networks, blogging, 3-D worlds, live streaming, hybrid events with real-time virtual chat, and low-cost video cameras and production tools have created new ways for people to create experience, share and consume digital content. This shift is causing dramatic changes in many established business models and opening up new markets. Media like magazines and newspapers, the music industry and now conference producers and association leaders are feeling the heat. Many association…

• Since When Did Virtual Not Become A Live Experience?

  Jeff Hurt

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:37 am

  I’m tired of well-intentioned adults slamming adults, teens and kids that text. Especially those that text each other while in the same room. Is texting leading to the decline of relationships? I’m sick of association and organization leaders knocking online communities, social networks and live chats as inferior to face-to-face experiences. I’m also fed-up with event producers and face-to-face conference organizers bashing virtual experiences. You know, you’ve heard and read these comments too. Here are a few examples. “I can’t believe my teen was texting his friend who was…

• Eight Types Of Virtual Experiences

  Jeff Hurt

  28 Oct 2009 | 3:18 pm

  Are you thinking about adding a virtual experience for your customers or members?  Perhaps you are considering adding a virtual component to your next conference or event?  Ian McGonnigal, Executive Director, Program Strategy at George P Johnson defines a virtual event as “… a gathering of individuals who meet through a computer-generated environment at a prearranged time in order to acquire knowledge, share information, interact with each other and engage in activities of common interest.“ Are you considering intergrating a virtual experience in your current offerings? So whether…

• The Battle For Next Generation Conference And Membership Revenue Models Has Just Begun

  Jeff Hurt

  22 Oct 2009 | 3:01 pm

  Do you hear the thunder coming over the mountain? You know, the roar of uncertainty and the rumble of disruptive innovation marching towards the association and event world. What roar you ask? Or perhaps you say, “It’s just not true,” as you listen with deaf ears. Well, consider the following. Umair Haque, Director of the Havas Media Lab, has an interesting post, The New (New) Mediaconomy, on Harvard Business Publishing recently. He talks about the clash of traditional media and the Internet and says that asking, “Can media survive the www?” is the wrong question. Haque compares…

• Never Underestimate The Power Of A Great Story

  Jeff Hurt

  22 Oct 2009 | 8:58 am

  Stories are powerful. They can be more effective than rational arguments in convincing people and getting others to see things your way. Take a look at this video ad, using storytelling to connect. Did you smile or laugh at the end? I did. And I even forwarded it to others. Then we laughed together. Do you use stories to connect with your members, your customers, your event attendees? Here are four reasons you should use stories and storytelling to connect with others. Stories are universal, crossing age, culture and language barriers. Stories help people understand concepts, more than logic…

• 
  TradeShowWeek News

• Urban Expositions Cancels Material World

  4 Nov 2009 | 12:35 pm

  Urban Expositions canceled the Miami Beach, Fla., and Los Angeles editions of Material World, a 10-year-old show for the textile industry.

• Diversified Launches Seafood Show In Hong Kong

  29 Oct 2009 | 1:01 pm

  Diversified Business Communications will launch the Asian Seafood Exposition Sept. 7-9 in Hong Kong. The new event will be held in conjunction with another Diversified event, Restaurant & Bar Hong Kong, a trade show for the hospitality sector.

• IMEX Set to Launch U.S. Version in 2011

  28 Oct 2009 | 11:38 am

  Representatives from Meeting Professionals Intl., IMEX and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority announced the launch of a U.S. version of the IMEX show in 2011. The event will be held at the Sands Expo & Convention Center Oct. 11-13 and will be called IMEX America.

• Viad Q3 Revenues Drop 40 Percent

  23 Oct 2009 | 11:16 am

  Viad, the parent company of GES Exposition Services, reported Q3 revenues of $181.1 million, down from $302.3 million in the same period last year, a 40.1-percent decrease. GES' revenue was down to $106.6 million from $203.3 million in the same period last year, a 47.6-percent decrease.

• Golf Industry Show to Go to Las Vegas in 2012

  22 Oct 2009 | 11:12 am

  The Golf Industry Show will move to Las Vegas Feb. 29-March 1, 2012, according to six association show partners that put on the event.

• 
  MEETINGSNET | NEWS

• Commentary: Hotel Defaults—I Want to Believe

  6 Nov 2009 | 8:38 am

  As I follow the conversation and listen to hoteliers’ reassurances about the wave of hotel defaults and foreclosures in this brutally tough economy, I’m pretty sure I know what Fox Mulder would say if he were here: I want to believe.

• Insurance Advisory Council Marks 17th Year

  6 Nov 2009 | 5:43 am

  Marking its 17th year of gathering to discuss financial industry issues as they relate to incentive programs, the Lynette Owens Insurance Advisory Council met at Pinehurst Resort over the summer.

• Productivity Tools for 2010: What’s Coming Next?

  5 Nov 2009 | 9:59 am

  Game-changing hardware, operating systems, and ideas are on the horizon. Here are six to keep an eye on in the coming year

• TSEA Launches Hosted-Buyer Event

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:31 am

  The Trade Show Exhibitors Association has become the latest industry association to introduce a hosted-buyers meeting, announcing the launch of its new event, Face-to-Face Connections

• Hotel Industry: Trending Upward?

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:14 am

  The hotel industry saw marginal improvements in the third quarter, with occupancy and revenue per available room improving slightly from second-quarter numbers

• 
  Exhibitor News Network

• Don Freeman Appointed Chairman of Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Donald S. (Don) Freeman, Jr., chairman of a leading provider of services for events and expositions, has been appointed by City of Dallas Mayor Tom Le...

• Paradigm Imaging Introduces Booth Rx

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Paradigm Imaging Group, a distributor of large-format scanning and printing solutions, trade show displays and graphics, introduces Booth Rx. BRBR...

• DJ Heckes of EXHIB-IT! Honored as one of New Mexico's Top-Performing CEOs

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  DJ Heckes, owner and CEO of EXHIB-IT! Tradeshow Marketing Experts was honored today as one of the Top 28 business leaders at the New Mexico Business W...

• Beyond Exhibit Logistics Expands Orlando Operations

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Beyond Exhibit Logistics (BEL) has expanded their Orlando location to include a full construction shop that will support BEL's continued growth in the...

• Orbus Display Group Launches Full Custom Division

  4 Nov 2009 | 4:00 pm

  Orbus Display Group is adding a new division with the introduction of Origin, a full custom modular provider. Still based out of Illinois, the divi...

• 
  Special Events

• What You're Reading: Top 10 Special Events Articles for October 2009

  4 Nov 2009 | 3:32 am

  What You're Reading: Top 10 Special Events Articles for October 2009

• Product Gallery for Nov. 4, 2009

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:33 am

  Special Events Product Gallery for Nov. 4, 2009

• Venue News for Nov. 4, 2009

  4 Nov 2009 | 2:21 am

  Venue News for Nov. 4, 2009

• Special Events Business News for Nov. 4, 2009

  4 Nov 2009 | 1:35 am

  Special Events Business News for Nov. 4, 2009

• Hotels Look to Better Year in 2010, Special Events Survey Says

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:42 am

  Hotels Look to Better Year in 2010, Special Events Survey Says

• 
  BLUE SKY COLLABORATIVE

• Video: Bike for The Heart Raises $300,000 for For Women's Heart Health

  blueskycollaborative

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:29 am

  Sister to Sister, www.sistertosister.org, recently held a fantastic event called Bike for the Heart. I wrote about what made it awesome here - http://blueskycollaborative.typepad.com/blog/2009/10/charity-bike-ride-raises-over-300k-for-sister-to-sister.html Here's a nice vid from the event. Hopefully, those of you who are trying to organize...

• The Most Important Factor in Having a Successful Pledge Event

  blueskycollaborative

  28 Oct 2009 | 9:56 am

  Give your fundraisers at least 3 months to raise money. This applies to walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, marathons and any other type of athon or pledge event. Let's face it. The economy is a little scary and many nonprofits are scrambling to...

• Habitat For Humanity Build-a-thon Raises $100,000

  blueskycollaborative

  22 Oct 2009 | 7:59 am

  Habitat for Humanity Chapters in East King County and Seattle/South King County collaborated on a Build-a-thon that raised nearly $100,000 to build homes in 8 different location in King County, WA Habitat’s goal was to raise $100,000 – enough to...

• SBAWP Launches Viral Fundraising Campaign

  blueskycollaborative

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:17 am

  The Spina Bifida Association of Western Pennsylvania (SBAWP) recently launched "Light up a Life," a viral fundraising campaign. Participants in the campaign raise money online in order to meet their own fundraising goal. "Light Up A Life" can be found...

• The Sad Story of Fundable.com

  blueskycollaborative

  19 Oct 2009 | 1:07 pm

  Once touted as the next big thing, Fundable has crashed and burned on so many levels. Fundable is a service that gives individuals and orgs the ability to collect online pledges. Setup is free. Sounds good right? Oh, did i...

• 
  WORDPRESS TAG: EVENT-PLANNING

• A Low budget Green Wedding

  gorgeousandgreen

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:55 am

  It can be green and low cost too Over the summer I worked with a bride who was looking for floral design for a medium to large wedding, but wanted to keep it under $1000.  Now, I knew this meant we would have to work smart, but I was unwilling to make it look cheap.  The bouquet I think is the most important part, so I wanted to keep that looking fantastic, and that alone could have taken up 1/4 of her budget.  So we decided on very simple centerpieces and a lovely bouquet with some expensive touches as well as lovely and simple corsages and boutonnieres. The centerpieces: I rented the…

• Candy Buffet for rent!

  kennedyoccasions

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:07 pm

  Candy buffets are all the rage…weddings, birthday parties, even baby showers!  However, they can also be quite pricey.  Large apothocary jars can be $50-60 each!  With the costs of candy, scoops and table decor, buying all of these items can cost over $800!  And what in the world are you going to do with all of those glass containers after your event???  We think we have a solution… =) Kennedy Occasions is now offering our candy buffet (with scoops!) for rent!  We offer 3 jars with lids, one large wide-open bowl, two open-top containers, 3 large fish bowls, 2 large…

• H1N1 Webinars - Important Info for Meeting Professionals

  Vanessa LaClair

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:33 am

  This information isn’t from me personally, but I thought it was rather important and should be posted as much as possible within the event professional community.  Please read below: Free MPI Webinar Series on H1N1 for MPI Members Responding to the needs of our member community, MPI has launched a 3-part webinar series on H1N1 pandemic. This is FREE for all members; non-members can attend for $40 USD. This comprehensive program provides vital information on the H1N1 pandemic specifically in the context of the meeting and events industry. It begins this Friday, November 6, 2009. Please…

• International Events- What I learned

  acrump

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:54 am

  On November 3 and 4 I ventured into a new area of my life. I produced my first 1) international event and 2) strategy offsite. This was a very enriching and exciting process for me- although very difficult, exhausting and tiring. Here is a bit of background: I had 6 weeks to plan a 2-day offsite in an english-speaking foreign country for an international audience of 40+ senior level people I needed to both coach and coordinate our strategy facilitators, but also presenters and breakout discussions Key event organization principles: Proactive acquired and used community insight to develop a…

• Do You Need Event Insurance??

  impactentertains

  4 Nov 2009 | 7:44 pm

  Event planners are often puzzled over whether to purchase event insurance, and if they do, exactly what they need to insure.  Below is an overview to help you find the solutions. Insurance associated with events covers and protects planners in several specific areas. - General Liability insurance protects against a company and all parties involved in the event, the planners, venue, caterer for losses due to bodily injury or property damage caused by the insured employees or agents. - Liquor Liability insurance is sometimes needed, especially if you are in a venue in which the bartenders are…

• 
  A Delightful Day - Event Planning - Blog

• Nashville Wedding Vendors Spotlight: McNeal Video

  Mary Alice

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:16 am

  One question I always ask brides in discussing vendors, have you chosen or would like to choose a videographer for your wedding? So many brides put it off as a option if the budget allows, or loves pictures just enough, but after the wedding I have had so many say that they regretted not having a videographer capture the moments that the photography just couldn't do justice for. What about the vows that the two of you spoke to each other, the fun sorority or fraternity song at your reception, a favorite song that the band played that you and your new groom danced to, so many memories that…

• Downtown Nashville Wedding- Kimberly + Rashad

  Mary Alice

  2 Nov 2009 | 5:11 am

  We have the delight to work with the fabulous Kimberly Griffey and Rashad Watkins on their March wedding of next year at the uber modern Hutton Hotel! Enjoy the fun engagement pictures that Dove Wedding Photography took of Kimberly and Rashad at several downtown locations several weeks ago! I absolutely love this!! Show your personality in your engagement sessions! :) Congratulations on the beautiful pictures Kimberly and Rashad! Stay tuned for pictures of their gorgeous event next spring! ~ Mary Alice, Nashville Wedding PlannerA Delightful Day

• Nashville Wedding: Jenny + EJ

  Mary Alice

  30 Oct 2009 | 9:10 am

  We are truly blessed with the clients that we have the pleasure of working with, and one such couple was Jenny and EJ who were so thankful and so thrilled to be getting married! Their ceremony and reception took place at the Governor's Club Pleasant Hill Mansion in Brentwood on a beautiful June day and Dove Wedding Photography did their usual amazing job at documenting the day! Enjoy the sweet wedding day of EJ and Jenny!      The florals were created by Vintage Florals.   The beautiful wedding cake was created by one of my favorites, Maples Wedding…

• Fall Table Trends Part 3- Studio Wed

  Mary Alice

  27 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  The last of our table trends for fall is a mod Indian inspired tablescape incorporating navy, fuchsia pink, orange, and gold. Gold lanterns, filigree pink votive's, gold vessels, and tassels bring a modern look to traditional Indian elements. Enjoy the tablescape designed by Lemiga Events and here are the wonderful Studio Wed Atlanta vendors who brought this design to life: Photography - Project DuoFlowers - Chelsea Floral DesignsLinens - I Do LinensChina - Owen LawrenceCake - Sweet SensationsStationery - Ink & PaintRentals - Event Rentals UnlimitedMini Cake Favors - Sweet…

• Downtown Engagement session: Sarah and Chris

  Mary Alice

  26 Oct 2009 | 12:22 pm

  We have been working with a wonderful couple, Sarah and Chris, who will be getting married in April of next year, and Chris and Adrienne Scott took some wonderfully adorable engagement pics of the happy couple and we had to share. Enjoy!   See more of the adorable session here! Happy Planning! ~ Mary Alice, Nashville Wedding PlannerA Delightful Day

• 
  EVENTive Ideas by banquetevent.com

• Once In A Blue Moon - Perfect Party Theme!

  banquetevent.com

  5 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  It happens only rarely, when small particles in the atmosphere scatter more red light than blue, allowing less red light to be seen from the ground. This makes the moon temporarily appear blue. Although this phenomenon is quite rare, it has altered the meaning of the phrase “once in a blue moon,” which is now commonly understood to mean “every now and then." Roughly every 19 years, you get the blue moon double where you get two blue moons in a year. The last time that happened was in 1999.*Year: 2009 Month Date and Time: December 31st at 19:11 (or 7:11 pm). That makes this the perfect…

• Watch A Recap of the Northwest Event Show

  banquetevent.com

  3 Nov 2009 | 11:10 am

  Northwest Trade Show by 4th Avenue Media from 4th Avenue Media on Vimeo.

• Sit back, relax and enjoy shopping guys!

  banquetevent.com

  1 Nov 2009 | 8:00 am

  Most men hate to shop. It takes way too much time, they feel out of their element, and they end up getting really dorky clothes because they feel like not buying something is an admission of failure. As good as online shopping is - it is still not quite the answer. Enter the web camera, web phones and then enter the Trunk Club, a new way to shop online for guys. This is the answer to a lot of mens needs to avoid those stores.

• Herban Feast is exactly what it is!

  banquetevent.com

  28 Oct 2009 | 8:00 am

  Not all events call for the full service expertise of a catering team, so Herban Feast offers three different service options so you can choose the type of support you want for your event.Full Service - Herban Feast provides full service catering with a focus on you and your event. We've catered almost every type and size of event imaginable.Delivery - Perfect for smaller events, cocktail receptions and corporate breakfasts and luncheons. Pick Up - If all you need are a few platters to enhance your self-catered event, or if you’d like to bring something special to a party and time is…

• Getaway Right Here To Tulalip Resort & Spa

  banquetevent.com

  26 Oct 2009 | 8:00 am

  With Tulalip Resort’s combination of space options, high-tech capabilities, accommodations and endless entertainment, it’s easy to see why the Tulalip is regarded as one of the most outstanding meeting venues in the Pacific Northwest.Be sure to check out their Taste of Tulalip on November 14rh & 15th30,000 square feet of flexible meeting spaceOne 15,000 square-foot ballroomOne 4,800 square-foot junior ballroom, divisible into four equal size meeting rooms6,000 square feet of pre/post function event spaceFully equipped, complimentary state-of-the-art presentation toolsIndoor Oasis Pool…

• 
  HotelChatter -

• Whether You're Rocking Kicks or Stilettos, Make Sure You Get Our Memo

  juliana

  6 Nov 2009 | 2:03 pm

  Yes. We just referenced "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. SUITE: Best of In-Room Coffee Makers Inside The Bardessono Resort Five Best Hotels in DC for Under $150 ALSO: Tips for Using Your Credit Card Points to Book Hotel Stays HOSTEL: The Space Hotel The Ultimate Swine Flu Hotel Lindsay Lohan Brings Drama to Morocco Hotel Opening ALSO: Strike Two for

• Starwood Offers Up to 50% Off Regular Rates—But You Have to Book Soon

  MsRebecca

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  Put this on your weekend “to do” list: think about where you might like to spend the holidays or a winter getaway. If your answer is a Starwood property, and you’re ready to charge what will be a non-refundable rate now, you could save yourself some serious holiday cocktail cash. Until November 10—next Tuesday—you can score up to 50% off the regular rates at a slew of Starwood properties. And while there are blackout dates, there are still some hotels with availability for the holidays. Even better, when you use one of the Starwood property’s online booking pages…

• Cernobbio, Lombardy: This Week In Hotel Lust: Villa D'Este, Lake Como

  Heidi Atwal

  6 Nov 2009 | 12:10 pm

  Views of the lake and villa If comments made in recent months by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke are to be believed, then "the recession is very likely over." Most of us continue to scoff in disbelief, and inversely, there are others that may have missed the memo that the economy was in upheaval at all. We're talking about the well-monied types that have continued to swipe their Black AmEx cards with reckless abandon—on Michelin-rated dinners, sports cars, and certainly pricey vacations and hotel suites. Even for those of us sans trust funds or Swiss bank accounts, reading about…

• New York: Taking The Bad With The Good: Reviews of The Surrey So Far

  MsRebecca

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:44 am

  When we had the chance to check out The Surrey Hotel’s $60-million “re-creation,” we were impressed by the sheer prettiness of the new guest rooms. But not everyone shares our take. Over at the UK site, Globalista Travel Journal, this week The Surrey copped a dressing down for what the nameless reviewer called “a pointless refurbishment.” In the nature of being “fair and balanced,” we decided to compare Globalista’s opinion to recent reviews on TripAdvisor. Let’s start with those Gloablista grumbles, shall we? The things that ticked them off…

• Hilton Gets In On the Paris Hotel Package Bonanza—With Wine

  MsRebecca

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:10 am

  OK, if it weren’t already obvious that we should be taking a winter jaunt to Paris, here we have yet another Paris hotel package deal that sounds, well, délicieuse. And that's not because of its sexy hotel name. This time the package revolves around something we find it very hard to resist: French wine. This month is all about Beaujolais Nouveau. And even though it’s the time when your local wine store starts accepting its shipments of Beaujolais, surely a glass or three of the stuff would taste better in the mother land. That’s what Hilton is banking on with its new Wine…

• 
  Marriott on the Move

• Analysis Is the Key to Making Good Decisions

  5 Nov 2009 | 12:32 pm

  I recently read a book about General George Custer, famous for being annihilated in Custer's Last Stand at the Battle of Little Bighorn before the turn of the 19th century. Custer was a somewhat impetuous, but brilliant, officer. At the age of 23, he was made a Brigadier General in the United States Army and was an important contributor to the Union victory at . . .

• Being a Part of D.C.'s Heritage

  26 Oct 2009 | 1:10 pm

  As many of you know, our company started out as a small, nine-stool A&W root beer stand in Washington, D.C, more than 80 years ago. We quickly evolved into the restaurant business, opening a chain called Hot Shoppes.One of our very first Hot Shoppes was in the Columbia Heights neighborhood on 14th Street. The last Hot Shoppe closed its doors years ago, but the memory of that one on 14th Street is being commemorated . . .

• Colombia: The Newest Stamp on My Passport

  23 Oct 2009 | 11:51 am

  For as many years as I've been traveling, there is nothing like visiting a new country. My passport has stamps and visas for China, India, the UK, France, Spain, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates and now, Colombia since we just opened our first hotel in Bogota. I had never been to Colombia before, but the political and economic climate is much improved for travel and tourism.Our new Marriott near the Bogota airport is owned by Ricardo Poma, who runs a family business a lot like ours. They hold many . . .

• Marriott Celebrates 20 Years in Eastern Europe

  20 Oct 2009 | 12:52 pm

  This month we're celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Warsaw Marriott hotel in Poland. We opened the hotel back in October of 1989, about the time the Iron Curtain was beginning to fall. It was a milestone property for us because it was our 500th hotel worldwide and also the first Western-managed hotel in the city of Warsaw.Back when it opened, this hotel was . . .

• Chef Laurent Tourondel Serves Up BLT Burgers

  13 Oct 2009 | 1:17 pm

  We have had a lot of great meals in our test kitchen, but one of my favorites took place recently when we hosted Chef Laurent Tourondel for a BLT Burger lunch. Laurent has partnered with us on several restaurants including BLT Steak at the Camelback Inn in Scottsdale and BLT Market at the Ritz-Carlton New York Central Park. He has . . .

• 
  Corporate Event Thoughts

• Can You Afford to Miss the One Conference That Can Change Your World?

  Keith Johnston

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:50 am

  I thought it was time to plug one of my favorite causes and one of the best events in the industry:The 2010 Sustainable Meetings Conference Make it a point to attend, it is easy to get to, affordable (includes a year membership) and will forever change the way that you and your company view meetings and events.Keith

• When Social Networks Go Bad

  Keith Johnston

  5 Nov 2009 | 4:07 pm

  I am a member of LinkedIn, who isn't.....awesome tool it is indeed.I belong to many groups in my industry and comment to posts that interest me or where I feel my expertise may lend some help to someone. I do this when I have time, I do not spend much time doing this lately, we are swamped, which is a good thing. A piece of news (real news) crossed my desk the other day, posted by Serenity to PlannerWire. It was one of the most important things to make waves in the meetings and events biz in a long time and it made me stop and think of the ramifications of "its" mention. The news is: IMEX is…

• A great read for anyone in tradeshows

  Keith Johnston

  22 Oct 2009 | 12:44 pm

  Check out Serenity's article on tradeshow exhibiting:You Want Me to Pay What?! Part IA first-time exhibitor recently arrived onsite at a major meetings industry trade show with company check in hand and instructions from her boss in mind: rent a few furniture items for the booth. No problem, right?Upon speaking with show services providers, the exhibitor was floored to learn that she would have to pay $500+ for a simple pedestal and $200+ for a simple high boy table. No way! During the show, she couldn't quite comprehend the $1,000+ charges for Internet service—especially since her laptop…

• Scaling it Up in Denver: 2010 Sustainable Meetings Conference Registration Goes Live

  Keith Johnston

  13 Oct 2009 | 9:59 am

  CHICAGO - The 2010Sustainable Meetings Conference has opened registration with a new theme, adynamic keynote, a wide-ranging program, and the ambitious goal of drawing 500participants onsite in Denver, CO from February 9-11, 2010.The conference theme, Scalingit Up, underscores the growing importance of sustainability in meetings andevents, as well as surging interest in GMIC’s premier annual event (formerlythe Greening the Hospitality Industry Conference).“This conference is the opportunity for meeting organizersand hosts to address the sustainability issues that are redefining the…

• Sustainable Meetings Conference

  Keith Johnston

  15 Sep 2009 | 5:07 pm

  A quick FYI for everyone, Registration is now open for the 2010 Sustainable Meetings Conference. This year, it is in the great city of Denver! www.sustainablemeetingsconference.com! Anyone who is involved with the meetings and events industry should be there, no excuses! Keith

• 
  The Webinar Blog

• QA About Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro

  Ken

  5 Nov 2009 | 1:27 pm

  Gary wrote in with a rather long comment on my last post about Adobe’s latest release of Connect Pro. He asked a number of thought provoking questions and I thought I would answer in a new post rather than getting into a comments discussion. Here is Gary’s full comment: Hello Ken, I've been using Adobe Connect Pro ever since it was called Macromedia Breeze. It's been really interesting watching the platform grow and the option to bridge a teleconference line and VoIP is a big step forward and I can't wait until Adobe builds the functionality to have two way conversations no matter how the…

• Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro Gets An Update

  Ken

  3 Nov 2009 | 4:23 am

  Adobe has announced the latest version of their web conferencing software, Connect Pro 7.5. New customers and trial accounts start using it immediately. Customers who license and install the software on premises can get the new version shipped to them as desired. And customers running on hosted (SaaS) accounts will be migrated to the new version over the following weeks as Adobe updates a server at a time. I got a briefing and a demo ahead of time. There are a variety of enhancements along with the expected bug fixes that all software manufacturers add to upgrade releases. I’ll try to break…

• Comparing Web Conferencing Software

  Ken

  28 Oct 2009 | 1:53 am

  Jim wrote in and asked “What’s a good source to compare the various web conferencing applications before choosing one?” This is a question I have addressed in the past, but it’s worth talking about again, as it is one of the most repeated queries on this blog. The short answer is that I don’t know of any trusted, all in one source for comparing web conferencing applications on an equal basis. The closest you’ll get is Publicare’s site: webconferencing-test.com. It gives you some criteria they selected for making a rating system and points you toward some very usable software.

• Creating Exceptional Lead Gen Webinars

  Ken

  24 Oct 2009 | 8:29 pm

  MarketingProfs is offering a free white paper written by Joel Granoff entitled “9 Management Practices for Exceptional Webinars.” This paper is a must-read for enterprise marketers (particularly B2B) who plan to or currently use webinars to gather sales leads. I can’t praise the paper highly enough. In only 26 pages of clear, readable text, Joel gives incredibly valuable information that can be applied immediately to your company’s marketing webinar programs. He starts with some basic background demographics on the companies studied in a marketplace survey. One of the statistics I…

• Web Conferencing News Roundup

  Ken

  21 Oct 2009 | 9:11 pm

  This is one of those weeks when many web conferencing vendors coincidentally came out with newsworthy announcements and developments within a short time. When that happens, I like to call special attention to the burst of activity with a news roundup. Of course you can always follow press releases and articles hand-picked to reflect items of interest to our little community on the Webinar Success Industry News page. Mediasite by Sonic Foundry occupies an interesting niche in the web conferencing space. It is particularly well suited for “simulcasting” a local presentation (particularly…

• 
  ConventionPlanit.com Meeting & Events Blog

• Latest Industry Member Awards

  DamionRutherford

  2 Nov 2009 | 11:48 am

  This fall has been a busy time for us at ConventionPlanit.com, between traveling to trade shows & meeting planners and working to improve the website for you! Our member properties have also been busy – winning awards for their excellent meeting and convention services. Congratulations to: -Berlin: ICC Berlin has been voted Europe’s leading conference center for the sixth year in a row. Berlin was also voted as one of the top 3 best conference destinations in the world by Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine. The axica Congress and Meeting Centre at Brandenburg Gate…

• Memorable Hotel Pets

  DamionRutherford

  19 Oct 2009 | 10:40 am

  If you have a soft spot for pets, like us, you’ll appreciate ABC News’ list of America’s most adorable hotel pets. Kimpton Hotels surely wins for the most pet friendly hotels – several of their properties made this list for friendly animal mascots, including the Hotel Monaco Alexandria and The Muse. What’s your favorite animal on the list? Have you encountered a personal favorite that didn’t make the list?

• Tips for Hotel Privacy

  DamionRutherford

  7 Oct 2009 | 8:25 am

  With Erin Andrews peeping tom causing a stir throughout the country and raising security issues among hotels, we can’t help but think of a few ways for the hotel guest to take safety into their own hands. Even though many of the large hotel chains are reviewing and investigating their privacy policies, we see no harm in putting a few tips into practice now. 1. Keep your room number private: Be aware that at check in, it’s standard for the clerk to write your room number down on the key card instead of saying it out loud. 2. Stop a Peeping Tom: smear Vaseline on the inside of the…

• CVB Execs Say Planners Set Tone for Green Meetings

  DamionRutherford

  29 Sep 2009 | 11:56 am

  When it comes to making sure that cities, convention centers, and hotels offer “green meeting” options, one thing is clear: Meeting professionals are in the driver’s seat. At a recent Convene Green Alliance (CGA) Focus Forum event in Washington, DC, a panel of three convention and visitors bureau executives spoke to a group of meeting professionals about green meetings. All three executives emphasized that green programs are buyer demand driven, and each of them encouraged planners to let destinations and properties know that they must have sustainability programs in order to win…

• Historical San Francisco Penthouse Updated

  DamionRutherford

  22 Sep 2009 | 6:56 am

  You’re probably familiar with the San Francisco Fairmont for its 55,000 square feet of meeting space or for the views of the San Francisco Bay – but it’s the penthouse that may be the most famous. The spacious suite spans the entire eighth floor of the hotel, whose guests have included JFK, Prince Charles and Representatives of the Big Four – and just completed a major renovation. In an Associated Press interview, Tom Klein, regional vice president general manager of the hotel, says “You’ll just be blown away.” For $15,000 a night, the three bedroom…

• 
  gathering

• testing. testing. 1. 2.

  Krys Slovacek

  15 Oct 2009 | 6:08 am

  Taking the CMP exam isn’t something you have to do without help.  Well, that’s not true.  You DO have to take the test on your own.  But the path you take to GET there doesn’t have to be a lonely one. What I’m saying is – take part in a study weekend!  PCMA puts on some [...]

• feeling achy? check for a curly tail!

  Krys Slovacek

  4 Sep 2009 | 11:25 am

  Swine flu.  The H1N1 virus.  Whatever you call it, it’s a real thing.   Honest.  It’s not some government conspiracy created to ruin the meetings industry.  Darn.  I was kinda hoping it was a conspiracy.  Since it’s not, I need to create a plan to deal with it at our annual meeting in October. What am I [...]

• singing for your supper

  Krys Slovacek

  17 Jul 2009 | 6:41 pm

  O, what times are these?  Jobs are hard to keep, and harder to find.  I’m blessed to be employed, but I’m not taking that status for granted, and neither should you. Keep your resume updated.  If you lose your job, your head won’t be in a good place for creating a shining example of who you [...]

• what are you waiting for

  Krys Slovacek

  14 Jul 2009 | 12:10 pm

  I’m a perfectionist.  I’m also a procrastinator.  Anyone willing to admit they’re just like me? Well, thanks!  I’m glad to know I’m not alone.  And, I’m happy to tell you that I’ve been getting help for my perfectly procrastinating ways.  I have some tips for you, my friends! Don’t think about finishing the task – just start [...]

• i’m all atwitter

  Krys Slovacek

  7 Jul 2009 | 1:17 pm

  Twitter.  Some people get it, some people don’t.  I highly recommend that you “get it”.  Your personal / professional reputation may be resting on it. First case-in-point:  Omni Hotels recently scored some MAJOR good juju by paying attention on Twitter and solving an issue regarding sub-par wi-fi service in a ballroom in their Jacksonville property within [...]

• 
  Face2Face

• Here’s an airline fee I hadn’t heard of before

  Sue Pelletier

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:18 am

  I’ve heard of — and sometimes paid — all kinds of airline fees, but paying $14 for the pleasure of buying a ticket over the phone or online? That’s a new one on me. And not a welcome one for someone who would have to make a two-hour round trip to buy one at the airport if I didn’t want to pay it. Which I’m almost ornery enough to do. Here’s hoping this is one idea that won’t catch on!

• The conference is dead (long live the conference?)

  Sue Pelletier

  2 Nov 2009 | 9:46 am

  Interesting post over at Social Entrepreneurship called “The Conference Is Dead (…Does Anyone Care?),” by Nathaniel Whittemore. It’s not that I haven’t heard before (and probably said a few times) how people just aren’t willing to put up with the old plenary/breakouts/talking heads type of conferences — or at least they won’t be in a few years as they experience unconferences and other (to me) more engaging ways to interact with experts, peers, and information. But Nathaniel makes the argument well, and the comments really take the conversation…

• Two ways to market hotels in a down economy

  Sue Pelletier

  29 Oct 2009 | 7:48 am

  It’s interesting to see the different ways hoteliers and their CVB (sorry, I mean DMO — having a hard time making the switch still) partners are marketing their wares in tight times. On one end you have Northern Kentucky, which promotes the destination’s lack of glitz and glam with this tagline: “You won’t get the third degree when you choose Northern Kentucky.” On the other end is this Lauderdale Lux promotion of Greater Ft. Lauderdale’s high-end properties. Each is playing to its strengths, and both campaigns are pretty brilliant in their own ways.

• Mapping out an idea

  Sue Pelletier

  27 Oct 2009 | 7:29 am

  When in doubt, map it out? Hey, it worked for Matt Moore at actKM 2009, a knowledge management conference. After hitting the wall on a few other ideas on how to make his session more interactive, he says: Then the thought struck me. Get the participants to draw maps. So that’s what I did. Six tables, six maps. In each case I asked them to map out knowledge management as an imaginary nation and then identify who else this nation might interact with (through trade, war or something else). The results were really interesting, and made me wish that someone would do something like this for…

• Vampires and blood banks: Only in NOLA

  Sue Pelletier

  26 Oct 2009 | 6:32 am

  You have to love New Orleans — where else would you expect to find a confluence of blood transfusion and cellular therapy professionals and vampire enthusiasts, just in time for Halloween? According to a press release, that’s what’s happening right as the 2009 American Association of Blood Banks Annual Meeting TXPO arrives in town at the same time as the 2009 Vampire Film Festival. Though it doesn’t sound like the two groups will be hanging out together much, you have to like this quote: “‘This weekend New Orleans wants your blood!” said Vampire Film…

• 
  Webinar Wire

• Adobe Connect Introduces Some Cool New Features

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:49 pm

  Anyone who talks to me about web conferencing knows I am a big fan of Adobe Connect Pro. No, I am not on their payroll. I just find the interface incredibly elegant and unlike anything else out there. So it was with great anticipation that I attended a webinar yesterday announcing their new release, 7.5. As the webinar host noted, while a "dot" release, it still provides some pretty good bang for the buck.Now I must first offer the caveat that I haven't yet tested the new functionality but I think you'll agree with me that it is mouth watering.The first concept introduced was…

• 6 Weeks To A Great Webinar

  20 Oct 2009 | 1:40 pm

  Wayne Turmel of Greatwebmeetings.com has written a book called 6 Weeks To A Great Webinar (available on Amazon). It ships as a paperback, but I read the electronic version.Wayne concentrates purely on public marketing / lead generation webinars. His approach is highly pragmatic, laying out specific tasks that need to be accomplished on a timeline, starting from six weeks before your scheduled webinar. One of the most useful features in the book is his inclusion of checklists and templates that are ready for a webinar producer to copy, revise, and use. For instance, Wayne not only gives…

• How To Get Leads From Marketing Webinars

  8 Oct 2009 | 8:10 pm

  To make up for that last silly post about the Fark discussion, here's a link you can really use. Michael Cage has written up a concise and well-reasoned article on "The 12 Most Common Lead Generation Webinar Marketing Mistakes." Read it. Follow the advice. Get more leads from your marketing webinars.

• Farking WebEx

  6 Oct 2009 | 6:15 pm

  Love it or hate it, you've got a lot of company when it comes to WebEx. When you're the market share leader, everyone loves taking pot shots at you. Here is a link to a hilarious thread on the FARK social commentary site. Some of it is mildly distasteful for work, but no explicit swearing and no nasty graphics. It seems to have been inspired by a text ad that WebEx ran on the site, sparking a major running commentary chain by users of the software and its competitors.Nothing of educational value, but fun reading nonetheless.

• Survey Results - Live Webinars Aren't Worth The Time

  29 Sep 2009 | 2:40 pm

  I listened to the eg3.com webinar mentioned in the previous post. Host Jason McDonald presented findings from what he called a "virtual focus group" of 73 screened and qualified engineering respondents.For me, the most significant findings were those related to what type of presentation vehicle the respondents preferred. Jason said that live webinars scored low on preference compared to other options. Archived (recorded) webinars scored highly. But then the same question was asked as a hypothetical, "if time and money were of no importance."  This time, live webinars…

• 
  iGroupNews

• U.S. Travel Industry Expects To Add 90,000 Jobs In 2010

  igrouptoday

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

  The U.S. Travel Association today announced that projected modest 2010 increases in leisure, business and international inbound travel will enable the industry to add nearly 90,000 American jobs. Leisure travel is expected to rise 2.0 percent, business travel is projected to increase by 2.5 percent and international inbound travel will increase by nearly 3.0 percent. These job gains come on the heels of 400,000 combined travel industry job losses in 2008 and 2009. Posted in Business Travel Tagged: travel jobs, travel news

• Hotel Workers Walk Off The Job At Grand Hyatt San Francisco

  igrouptoday

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:31 am

  Hotel workers walked off the job this morning at the Grand Hyatt Union Square in San Francisco, announcing a 3-day strike against the property, according to Unite Here Local 2. The Grand Hyatt is owned and operated by Hyatt Hotels Corporation which consummates its initial public offering today raising more than $900 million for its principal owners, the Pritzker family. The work stoppage comes two weeks after members of Unite Here Local 2 voted by over 92% to authorize strikes at any of 31 upscale hotel properties in San Francisco. Workers at the Grand Hyatt will return to work on Sunday,…

• How To Hijack Someone Else’s Meeting

  igrouptoday

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:49 am

  Sales pros spend vast effort honing their meeting chops for sales pitches, but what about all those other meetings — especially the ones inside your own firm?  Wouldn’t it be great if you could twist those meetings into something useful — rather than just a waste of your valuable time?  Never fear, it’s pretty easy to hijack a meeting and make it go wherever you think is useful.  Here’s exactly how it’s done. Get the complete details form BNET Posted in business meeting, corporate meeting, meeting, plan a meeting Tagged: business meeting, meeting planner, meetings, sales…

• Continental Considering Merge With United

  igrouptoday

  5 Nov 2009 | 7:43 am

   Continental Airlines Inc. may look again at combining with UAL Corp.’s United Airlines in the event that Delta Air Lines Inc.’s takeover of Northwest Airlines Corp. succeeds. Continental will focus on its new membership in the United- led Star Alliance marketing group and is “very pleased” to remain independent. Houston-based Continental, the fourth-biggest U.S. carrier, would reconsider the strategy should Delta’s purchase of Northwest result in higher earnings. A combination of Continental with United, the third-biggest U.S. airline, may be “inevitable” to compete against…

• Airlines May Pack Jets Full Into Holidays

  igrouptoday

  3 Nov 2009 | 8:34 am

  If your most recent flight felt crowded, it was. Most domestic airlines reported that the load factor — the percentage of seats filled — topped 80 percent for the third quarter as carriers cut flights out of their schedules. So though fewer passengers are flying these days, planes are fuller because fewer seats are available, industry analysts say. And that trend of high load factors is expected to continue through the holidays. Airlines are set to report traffic numbers this week for October, when airlines slashed fares to try to fill planes. Planes are so full that it might be time to…

• 
  www.speakersite.com

• Looking for speaking engagements at interesting book conferences

  Lynda O'Connor

  In 2010 we hope to be speaking at different book conferences on the topic of book promotion. We like to help authors drive book sales by getting them into the media, and book conferences draw authors needing help. So far, we have been asked to travel to to Oxford, MS, Seeley Lake, MT, and Madison, WI for conferences. We are waiting for San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Portland, OR to get back to us. If anyone knows any good writing conferencs which need marketing experts, please let me know.

• "Active Response" Saved The Day - But No Suprise To Me!

  Marshall Barnes

  I speak on issues of security and personal safety, which is why I'm posting this... Yesterday's shooting by an Army officer at Fort Hood illustarted a number of things of which I have spoken on before, if not here, elsewhere. One of which I will deal with now - the others in another post. This topic deals with what is termed active response. As you will hear in this video the actions of Sgt. Kimberly Munley did not wait for back-up but "acted aggressively" to stop the shooter. She was wounded in the attempt but nailed the bad guy 4 times and put him down before he could kill or injure anyone…

• Ooo, Baby, Baby It's A Wild World...

  Marshall Barnes

  (I talk about issues of personal security, which is why I'm writing this...albeit I forgot to post it until now!) As someone who believes in the Everett/Wheeler hypothesis, or the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, I am in that strange state where I feel as if I'm in superposition after the fact. I've just learned of the death of 19 year old Taylor Mitchell, an up and coming folk singer that I had never heard of before I saw her picture on Mail.com along with the headline, Coyotes kill woman on hike in Canadian park. I was struck more by the fact that she looks like someone I…

• Storyjamming

  Jason Godesky

  A slidecast of the presentation I gave at the Three Rivers Bioneers Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, November 18, 2009. Storyjam View more documents from Jason Godesky.

• Writing, Language & Thought

  Jason Godesky

  A slidecast of the presentation I gave at the Mensa Annual Gathering in Pittsburgh, PA, July 4 ,2009. Writing, Language & Thought View more documents from Jason Godesky.

• 
  Cvent Meetings & Events

• Everything You Want...Nothing You Don't

  6 Nov 2009 | 1:58 pm

  Holding a small, simple event? Cvent has you covered. Or maybe it's a large, sophisticated one? You can count on us. No matter what you're faced with, Cvent should be your go-to software company.We are able to handle such a wide variety of events by allowing YOU to configure a process that incorporates all of your potential needs - without forcing you to add on all the "bells and whistles" if you just don't need or want them. For example, some clients need multiple sessions and workshop choices, while others only have a bi-annual luncheon that lasts two hours. Many planners flock to…

• 3 Twitter List Suggestions for Events

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:41 am

  The Twitterverse is all aflutter over Twitter Lists. Made available just last month, this new feature allows you to create a roster of all your favorite tweeps. How can meeting and event planners make the most out of Twitter Lists? Check out these three list suggestions that could be beneficial for your next event: • Create a list of your attendees. Ask attendees for their Twitter ideas during registration and you can create a very useful Twitter list for your event. This is a great way for attendees to connect before, during and after the tradeshow or conference. • Create a list of…

• Straight from the Mouth of a Cvent Dedicated Account Manager

  6 Nov 2009 | 11:17 am

  When was the last time you asked yourself, "Am I getting the most out of my Cvent system?" Here are some best practices to ensure that the answer to that question is a confident "YES!"Remember to set up one or two automatic reminders to go to invitees that have not yet responded to your invitation if you really want to increase attendance. This is an easy way to help increase the head count to your event and, with a paying event, increase revenue. Use catchy subject lines such as “2 days left for the Early Bird Special” or “Don't Miss Out! RSVP Date is…

• Orlando Venue Spotlight: The Peabody Gears Up for Topping Out Celebration

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Next week, The Peabody Orlando hotel will host a Topping Out Ceremony at its expansion site to celebrate the safe completion of the concrete structure on the 32-story hotel tower. Undergoing a total makeover, the Orlando hotel is expected to have its grand opening October 2010. Upon completion, The Peabody Orlando will over 1,641 guest rooms, 250,000 square feet of function/exhibit space, a parking garage for 2,100 cars (completed in July 2009), a Napa Valley Wine-themed restaurant, and the 22,000-square-foot Peabody Spa & Athletic Club. This impressive facility will feature 12 spa…

• Los Angeles Believes in Magic That Few Will Ever Witness...

  6 Nov 2009 | 10:30 am

  Be among the few to stand in front of the secret bookcase and say the magic words: "Open Sesame." And poof! The Magic Castle, an elusive LA attraction, will reveal itself as one of the most coveted venues in Los Angeles. It's not an illusion! World-class entertainment in Los Angeles unfolds right in front of your eyes as you enter this four-story Victorian castle smack-dab in the middle of Hollywood. It holds up to 360 people for meetings and special events. Combined with the most exciting group dining Los Angeles has to offer and the convenience of a hip hotel right on the…

• 
  TradePub: Meetings & Travel

• Avoiding the Compliance Trap for Travel and Expenses

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:20 am

  Organizations weighing T&E automation should look beyond the value of streamlining the process to solutions that include analytic and reporting features that enforce compliance controls and provide audit evidence while minimizing business risks associated with uncontrolled spending and fraud. These more robust solutions are part of the extended enterprise applications market experiencing greater investment as a result of governance, risk, and compliance requirements. Get the answers to the following questions posed by travel and expense management services provider Concur to Kathleen Wilhide,…

• Releasing Resources to Support Growth - The Long-Term Benefits of Finance Transformation

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:20 am

  CFO Research Services and Concur developed the hypotheses for this research jointly. This study discovers how companies have deployed the savings they've realized so far through their transaction-processing improvement efforts. Our survey of senior finance executives in North America reveals that the finance function has freed time and resources to pursue high-value activities like decision support and financial planning and analysis as a result of transaction-processing automation.We find that transaction-processing improvements are not only valuable because they help companies reduce cost,…

• T&E Expense Management: Leveraging Data to Drive Performance

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:20 am

  The latest Aberdeen Group research indicates that 80 percent of companies surveyed have seen T&E expenses jump by an average of 14 percent in the last year alone! Best-in-class organizations leverage key technologies and process to achieve:95 percent compliance to corporate T&E policiesOnline booking costs 40 percent lower than their competitors62 percent lower processing costs for expense reports than all othersDownload the Aberdeen Group's report, T&E Expense Management: Leveraging Data to Drive Performance, to learn about the benefits of connecting travel booking and expense reporting with…

• Travel and Procurement: The Convergence

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:20 am

  According to a recent Aberdeen Group survey, companies that don't use an integrated travel and entertainment (T&E) expense management service, like Concur Travel & Expense, are falling behind in almost every measure of financial management.Aberdeen refers to these companies as "laggards" and presents figures showing that they pay 37 percent more to process their expense reports, they take three times longer to reimburse employees, and they're essentially working in the dark when it comes to controlling travel expenditures. Plus, Aberdeen estimates that almost one of every five T&E expenses…

• Amplifying the Value of Travel & Expense Automation

  1 Nov 2009 | 12:20 am

  Despite the fact that billions of dollars per year are spent on business travel and entertainment (T&E) by employees on behalf of their organizations:Many companies are still not maximizing the value of that spend because they're relying on multiple processes and solutions to manage their T&E.T&E is an area of spend that for many companies is the second largest controllable cost after payroll.Why is Travel and Expense Management still viewed as separate function by most organizations?Request Free!

• 
  EVENTistas, LLC

• My One Year Wedding Anniversary!

  11 Oct 2009 | 7:28 am

  Being an Event Planner, I love planning weddings and events and seeing the love my clients have for one another. Well my husband has been very supportive of EVENTistas and has helped me with tons of projects for my clients so this post is dedicated to him!WOW how time flies! Today is our One Year Wedding Anniversary! We are going out to celebrate and I can't believe we have been together for 5 years! I thank God for allowing us to see our One Year Anniversary and pray that we celebrate many, many more! I truly love my DH more than words can express and I am so excited to be TTC a baby with…

• Throwback Thursday: Seneca Simmons and Elton Brand's "Rustic Elegance" Wedding

  8 Oct 2009 | 5:52 pm

  This Throwback Thursday features the wedding of Seneca and Elton. Elton is a player for the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers They are truly a beautiful couple and their wedding was simply breathtaking. The wedding took place at the Biltmore Estate located in North Carolina and naturally so, since they met at Duke University during their undergrad years. The beautiful and stunning Rustic Themed event was designed by Lisa Vorce of Oh, How Charming! The beautiful photography is courtesy of Elizabeth Messina.

• Tasty Tuesdays: Wedding Cheescakes

  6 Oct 2009 | 6:39 pm

  Want something different and unique as the sweet focal point at your Wedding Reception? Well then, try a Wedding Cheesecake. Wedding Cheescakes can made with whipped icing and custom designed to any shape, theme or idea you have in mind. Not only that, if you hav eever been to the Cheesecake Factory Restaurant you know that Cheescakes come in a huge variety of flavors and filling.Wedding Cheesecake from Heavenly Cheescakes:Singer Toni Braxton's infamous Tiffany Box Wedding Cheesecake:

• Kecia & Greg Fall in Love!

  5 Oct 2009 | 7:00 am

  I met Kecia through her bridesmaids over a year ago when they came to my booth at the Ebony Weddings Bridal Show in North Jersey. For the past year we worked with Kecia and Greg to bring alive their Fall in Love Wedding Theme. I would like to give a special thanks to my New Associate Onica who did a FAB job with me the Day of the Wedding. Professional Pictures COMING SOON....Ceremony Venue: Faith Fellowship Ministries Sayreville, New JerseyReception Venue: The Bethwood Totowa, New JerseyDate: Saturday September 19, 2009The Theme: Fall in LoveThe Color Scheme: Cranberry, Butterscotch &…

• Sandra & Andrew's Inspiration Board

  23 Sep 2009 | 12:21 pm

  Our clients Sandra and Andrew were referred to us by a previous client, so I immediately went to work creating an inspiration board for their wedding that we will be coordinating in November. Their color scheme is champagne and gold and they want their wedding to be an elegant and romantic celebration. Stay tuned, as we will be working a a logo for this couple as well as designing their wedding invitation...

• 
  Behind the Scenes Events

• The Corcoran Gallery of Art

  28 Oct 2009 | 5:36 am

  Ask any event planner in town to name a museum that offers amazing space flexibility and most all will point you towards The Corcoran Gallery of Art. We sure would. Located across from the South Lawn of the White House at 500 17th St. NW, the Corcoran's spectacular beaux-arts design, permanent collection and notable exhibits make it a favorite venue for many of Washington DC's corporate and social events.All events begin with guests passing in front of two stately lions watching over the main entrance. You'll utilize the ample building foyer area for both a security scan and coat check. Enter…

• Washingtonian's Great Places to Work

  27 Oct 2009 | 12:09 pm

  We had a blast producing a conference and celebratory luncheon last Friday for Washingtonian Magazine and the Greater Washington Board of Trade as they celebrated Washingtonian's 2009 Great Places to Work. And from the pictures we received of our guests hamming things up, the attendees had a great time as well! (this is Great Places to Work winner customink.com)Held at the Ronald Reagan Building, our morning conference focused on finding and keeping top talent. Our kick-off panel featured human resource professionals local to Greater Washington who spoke to those critical recruitment and…

• Woolly Mammoth Theater

  24 Oct 2009 | 5:19 pm

  After 25 years of performances, and a $7.5M funding campaign, the Woolly Mammoth Theater Company opened its doors in Washington DC's Penn Quarter in May of 2005.Designed by famed architect Mark McInturff, Woolly Mammoth is a striking, industrial style venue. "It's ordinary and extraordinary all at once", says The Washington Post of a space that has been honored with numerous architectural and design awards. For those looking for a change of pace from a traditional hotel ballroom settings, this just might be your venue.The entrance at 641 D St. NW is entirely unassuming. With a brick front and…

• Mixing work and play at CulinAerie

  18 Oct 2009 | 3:57 pm

  We love to blur the lines between work and play. These days, everyone seems to need an extra reason to laugh or permission to let off a bit of steam. We've long enjoyed offering guests a venue to network and build business relationships within a playful, relaxed atmosphere. Enter: CulinAerie, Sur La Table, Cookology and Open Kitchen ... just a sampling of the many cooking schools to recently open their doors in Greater Washington.Whether for team-building staff outings, creative holiday parties or internationally-themed birthday parties, cooking schools offer the venue, education, and menu to…

• Microsoft taps BTS Events as voice for Small Business

  8 Oct 2009 | 5:36 am

  On Tuesday, Behind the Scenes Events Principal Roxanne Rukowicz attended Microsoft's Open House at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. As a participant in their Real Life Stories Program, BTS Events was tapped to speak to the national media outlets on the benefits of Microsoft Office 2010 for small businesses.The experience? "Fantastic.", said Roxanne. "Such a fun and innovative way for Microsoft to engage the press prior to the holiday sales season and the launch of several big concepts next year."Photo by Sarah Tew/CNET

• 
  The Cytower

• Customers Rave About Our 2-for-1 Sets

  CDP Staff

  2 Nov 2009 | 6:37 am

  Customers are raving about the Stage Set Stimulus Package—where clients can earn dollar-for-dollar credit on their set rentals—and we want to share their stories with you! Brent Frost from Corporate Media Communications in Clemmons, NC had this to say: “I’ve worked with Concept Design Productions for many years and have always been happy with their service and stage designs. I love working with them because their rental options are endless and their staff are willing to do whatever it takes to take care of me – they do what they say they’re going to do, which is critical in my…

• Friday Roundup: Issue 33

  CDP Staff

  30 Oct 2009 | 7:27 am

  Every Friday we corral the latest industry news and happenings from around the web and dish it up with a side of baked beans and cornbread. Mmmm... cornbread. Here's the juice:Don't fall victim to committee gridlock! Here are a few pointers from Anne Thornley-Brown. (Event Manager Blog)Optimism is growing as travel demand rises this quarter. (Successful Meetings)Brian McGovern offers tips on how to turn dead leads into customer evangelists. (Brian McGovern)Learn how to save money on your event without cheapening the audience experience. (MeetingsNet)Cindy from AE on the Verge shares 8 great…

• Friday Roundup: Issue 32

  CDP Staff

  16 Oct 2009 | 6:35 am

  Every Friday we corral the latest industry news and happenings from around the web and dish it up with a side of baked beans and cornbread. Mmmm... cornbread. Here's the juice:Scammers take advantage of events companies desperate for new business. Learn how a smart planner avoided disaster... (Special Events)Elite Meetings launched a new electronic RFP product at The Motivation Show in Chicago that promises to simplify hotel-buyer communication. (MeetingsNet)Harvard study reveals that face-to-face meetings are still essential to doing business in the 21st century. (Successful Meetings)David…

• Web Marketing for Event Professionals

  CDP Staff

  14 Oct 2009 | 6:36 am

  Brian McGovern has a killer new web video series on marketing your events business online. Topics range from Google rankings, to attracting more traffic, to not looking like a doof with your site copy. Did I mention it's free? Boo-yah! Check out his introduction video below and see what it's all about:To watch the full series, click here and check out the vids!

• 5 MORE Industries That Are Doing Work

  CDP Staff

  12 Oct 2009 | 8:42 am

  Six months ago we gave you five industries that are still doing events, despite the economy. Now we're dishing on five more marketplaces that are healthy and waiting for your next bid!

• 
  Party Ideas Blog

• Nov 6, Apple Bobbing

  6 Nov 2009 | 7:52 am

  We like to do apple bobbing. It is great fun and also

• Nov 4, What is Thanksgiving?

  4 Nov 2009 | 6:59 am

  With the Thanksgiving holiday approaching...learn what it is all about.

• Nov 2, "Baby If You Love Me Give Me A Smile."

  1 Nov 2009 | 6:59 pm

  Have the group sit in a circle (or stand, it doesn't really matter) and have one person stand in the middle. Have the person in the middle go up to

• Nov 2, Toilet Paper Make Over

  1 Nov 2009 | 6:57 pm

  For a toilet paper makeover, you need toilet paper and to have your guests be in 2 teams. What you need to do is wrap your model in toilet paper and

• Oct 27, Sport It

  26 Oct 2009 | 8:36 pm

  To play Sport It Well you need a torch and players How to play Well the players go in and the person how is it has the torch. When everyone has

• 
  BravoParty.com

• The new Montreal's furniture rental game

  24 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  To great evils great means, Bravo adds to its already impressive range of products furniture for all your moods and events. Many of our regular customers passed the hint that they did not want to have to pay two different rental firms, a generalist and a specialist to fill their entire event. Imagine, you're already under pressure to create an event without issue, but lack of resources forces you to work with two different rental centers, which means, to sign two contracts, deal with two representatives, two sets of policies to remember, Both teams to coordinate during the delivery and…

• Pink Ribbon Chair

  14 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation is committed to funding breast cancer research, promoting breast health through education and awareness and supporting people touched by breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and like many others, Bravo wants to do it's small part. For the second year we offer our Pink Ribbon chair for rental at 3.60$. For any rental of 15 or more, Bravo will offer a 1.60$ in donation in your name and ours at the Fondation du Cancer du Sein du Québec. So whether you are organising a party for the girls or a poker party for the guys, because real man rent…

• Happy birthday Guy.

  26 Sep 2009 | 4:00 am

  In Montreal's hockey history, many players have come and gone, but rare are the ones that made their mark like The Flower, Le Démon Blond or Guy, Guy, Guy! For his birthday, more than 800 guests came to Mel's Studios in a big event presented by Videotron's Pay as you go. Lafleur's fans were treated with Molson Ex and Forum's style hot dogs, Temple of hockey and of the famous "steamé". The theme requested by the customer had to represent four famous 70s and 80s teams. The gold and black from the Boston Bruins, the navy and gold from the Buffalo Sabres, the eclectic purple and…

• Formula One is Back

  16 Sep 2009 | 3:00 pm

  It's pretty well-known, Montreal is a party city, whether it's the Tennis Rogers Cup breaking assistance record year after year, Nascar in its third year already and festivals like Just for Laugh, Jazz, World Film or Fantasia. But nothing, absolutely nothing even comes close to the Formula One Grand Prix. This past summer, for reasons that are not very clear, we had to go without our beloved event and while in the rest of the world, we talk about global economic crisis, the Montreal Event industry is talking about the absence of the Grand Prix. The good news is, it looks like we will be…

• Rental is the event's ugly duckling

  10 Sep 2009 | 3:00 am

  I realized a long time ago that rental as been dismissed as the special event industry's stepchild.In an average event of 1000 guests you can count on one hand who is aware of your participation. But the 1000 people will now the name of the venue, at least 900 will know who is the DJ and entertainment and a minimum of one out of two guests will know who made the food.Yet, 1000 people will have used your glasses, your chairs and tables, most of them will use your dance floor and they will all have enjoyed the meal out of your ovens. Usually, the rental company have to be first on site, making…

• 
  FACTOR168

• Stand Clear! Artist at Work!

  Andrea Murphy

  14 Oct 2009 | 8:58 pm

  A San Francisco digital agency called Opod has a microsite called Opodsketch. Artists are encouraged to upload their sketch for others to view… a digital art gallery that is so crazy-cool because you actually get to view each creation as it is being drawn… in super fast time. Cool. Very Silvery Cool with Sparkle Bits. This is a personal favorite from the current featured gallery. If that doesn’t stoke the creative embers into a roaring fire of creativity nothing will. Okay, got the creative fires roaring but from a live communication perspective how would this work. Good…

• Samsung Sheep are Viral

  Greg Harris

  2 Oct 2009 | 8:33 pm

  Okay. Sure. It’s a little dated now but it still resonates and that’s a sign of an effective marketing campaign. This 200 second ad, commissioned by Samsung to promote their LED product sees woolly creatures ‘manicured’ into position to create a living billboard. All good fun. At one point they form an image of the ‘Mona Lisa’ with the various coloured LEDs on their back. Cool. Apparently more than a million internet users have watched the viral video in the four days since it was released online. The creators of the video revealed that they recruited Welsh…

• Shepherding Cats – Difficult at the Best of Times

  Ross Gung

  11 Sep 2009 | 4:53 pm

  Okay – another quick little exercise for the mind to get those creative juices flowing. Can you encircle the little black cat in this flash game. Shepherding cats – almost as difficult as guiding large groups of international delegates at some of our events! Can be done but  I am yet to achieve this with the cat but Jacinta, a regular poster to the ‘Muse’ did it on her third attempt with an interesting strategy that took a broader approach to the problem! And no she didn’t just turn her monitor off. Click here for fun cattery-type exercises with what appears to…

• Cashed Up Hello Kitty

  Jacinta Cribb

  6 Sep 2009 | 9:00 pm

  Following on from the recent post about Cockney prompting ATM cash machines in East London – we bring direct to you from the Land of the Rising Sun – the ‘Hello Kitty’ ATM. In all of its Pink glory. Well certainly the Japanese know all about this and the legion of ‘Hello Kitty’ fans but I have just made the discovery that needs immediate sharing! Branding juggernaut ‘Hello Kitty’ as part of its ever expanding toy and apparel line now features… ( cue dramatic drum roll followed by snare) …yes you guessed it – an ATM and a cash…

• A Speckled Hen? Must be in West End.

  Darren Kerr

  3 Sep 2009 | 1:50 am

  Reading the South China Morning Post, I came across a curious report that told of automatic teller machines in East London offering customers the option of Cockney rhyming slag as part of their transaction. Cool. Love this idea of making what is a pretty boring and functional transaction with a bank -a memorable fun experience instead.There should be more of it. Sure, many cash machines around the world offer a number of language options but this is the first time I’ve come across a ’slang’ based version. Customers on selecting this option are requested to enter their…

• 
  Experiential Marketing 2.0

• 12 Twitter Tools Every Event Marketer Should Know About

  ianmcg

  3 Nov 2009 | 6:22 am

  Twitter has about 18 million active users, which is forecast to grow to 26 million active users in 2010. In a recent survey by Champion Exhibition Services, it was found that 54% of association event marketers use Twitter. Of these, 82% used Twitter to create a buzz before an event, and 68% use Twitter to support PR efforts. Only 36% use direct messaging, and even fewer (23%) use #hashtags. This survey points out that even for the simplest Twitter purposes in events, adoption is still quite low. Despite all the buzz, Twitter is still a relatively untapped resource on the social media…

• When Events Attack: Managing Communications in a Crisis

  ianmcg

  29 Oct 2009 | 4:00 am

  Imagine an outbreak of Norovirus on a cruise ship during an event, a branded archway collapsing on a crowd at a tradeshow, a bomb threat, or a fire at your hotel during a conference. Anywhere there is a gathering of people there is potential for something to go wrong. Having the right plan in place and acting appropriately can help ensure public safety, as well as ensure your brand survives when events attack. I recently had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion on “Managing PR in a Crisis” produced by the Boston chapter of the American Marketing Association. The panel…

• The Importance of Blogs in Experiential Marketing

  ianmcg

  26 Oct 2009 | 8:09 am

  Blogs. Technorati has indexed 133 milion of them since 2002. 77% of active internet users read blogs – that’s 356 million according to Comscore. Not to mention there are more than 90,000 blog articles posted each and every day. Blogs have been around since the early to mid 1990s. There are blogs on just about everything. If you spend a few minutes searching blog directories, you can find just about anything you might be interested in reading. There are blogs about marketing, blogs about events, and even blogs about blogging. Blogs have several benefits for experiential marketers.

• Entertainment Marketing: Its Not Just About The Music

  ianmcg

  6 Oct 2009 | 4:37 am

  As we wrap up Keith Urban’s Escape Together Tour for Kingsford and KC Masterpiece and launch into a new program for a financial services firm in 2010, I’m reminded of how complex and emotional the entertainment marketing business can be. For marketers it can be a double-edged sword. You want to partner with artists who your audiences like, while staying true to your brand. Not to mention, members of your team and executives alike may have different opinions on who the right artist is to represent your company. Unfortunately, these decisions are all-to-often wrought with personal…

• Portfolio Planning: 10 Tips for Creating The Right Mix

  ianmcg

  1 Oct 2009 | 7:32 am

  Autumn is here. For many companies, this means planning is in high season. We’re all working diligently on trying to figure out the right number, frequency, type and cadence of events to include in our portfolio to drive relationships, sales and ROI. This is no easy task. There are several factors that can influence the mix. Some of these include: industry, types of suspects and prospects pursued, audience behaviors, company products and solutions offered, state of current pipeline, the economy, budget, etc. What’s even more challenging is these factors are in a constant state of…