Event Planning

• Most Topular Stories

• H2PYE: The Storm Before the Calm

  event-planning « WordPress.com Tag Feed

  soaeventconcepts

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:33 am

  How to Plan Your Event: The Storm Before the Calm…because right before the event is when the c

• Thoughts About The UnConference

  P&V Enterprises

  Pat Ahaesy

  18 Jun 2013 | 8:56 am

  Thoughts About The UnConference What is an Un-Conference? An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term “unconference” has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference, such as high fees, sponsored presentations, and top-down organization. For example, in 2006, CNNMoney applied [...]

• Measurements that Planners Must Know

  About.com Event Planning

  9 Jun 2013 | 5:43 am

  Event venues always highlight square footage on their websites and marketing materials. They hope to impress prospects with the visualization of endless floor space and configuration options. And while it is good to know that a facility can host 500 people at round tables, is this really all a planner needs to know? The average event has a host of additional room components that could detract from the maximum capacity, which is why meeting planners need to think more in terms of layout when shopping venues. Keep these 7 event measurement basics in mind when evaluating open floor space.

• Picatics Jayesh Parmar: Announces Pay what you want for Event Ticketing- Show 260

  Meetings Podcast

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  18 Jun 2013 | 3:49 pm

  Todays show Mike talks with Jayesh Parmar about event ticketing service Picatic has come up with a way to eliminate its service and convenience charges.  Its new service FairPay, launched last Tuesday, works in a somewhat different way. They do not charge service fees, which usually end up costing ticket buyers, event organizers set the price – which can be as low as zero. Once the event is over, organizers choose what they want to pay Pica-tic for its services. There are no gimmicks or obligations, the company says; not paying a cent is a real option. Related articles Event Ticketing…

• Creating An Emotional Arc Within Your Conference Experience

  My Meeting Professional

  Jeff Hurt

  19 Jun 2013 | 12:37 am

  Attendees experience a variety of emotions during a typical conference experience. Their short two- or three-day experience rivals that of any fictional drama. Hopes and dreams fill their minds. Anxiety, anticipation, excitement and fear jerk their emotions like a tilt-a-whirl. Egos and status posture for the lead emotional position. Emotions go from frustrations to fulfillment to frustrations in a matter of minutes. Read more

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  Event Manager Blog

• 5 Tips For a Successful Awards Ceremony

  Julius Solaris

  13 Jun 2013 | 2:16 am

  This is a guest post by Jo Moor. She has 15 years experience in the events industry and currently works at Vision Events (UK) who are an event production company producing top end corporate and bespoke events for prominent and influential clients throughout the UK and Europe. Submit your guest post here.   Rewarding people within industries or more specifically, internally in your organisation is incredibly important. While times are still tight, rewarding staff and team members can be the easiest way to boost morale and therefore help achieve those all important annual goals and…

• Dear Event Planner, I Hate You. Sincerely, Your Speaker.

  Julius Solaris

  7 Jun 2013 | 6:37 pm

  There are a lot of things event professionals do that annoy speakers big time. Here is how to avoid them and keep a healthy relationship with your speakers. I feel in a privileged position. In my career I’ve been an event planner and a speaker. I know both worlds. I know you guys (eventprofs) very well, you make me proud every day by coming back and reading more. Lately I’ve been on the other side of the fence. In the last year I’ve been travelling the world speaking at several events. In fact I am writing this very article 6,000 miles away from home, after speaking at a…

• Corporate Event Entertainment: A Short Guide

  Julius Solaris

  6 Jun 2013 | 12:17 pm

  This is a guest post by Amy Capron. She is currenty media manager for Scarlett Entertainment, the destination entertainment specialists. Amy is passionate about events and you can keep up to date on the latest event and entertainment trends by following her on twitter. Submit your guest post here. Corporate events are a very important part of any company’s annual calendar, as they help promote the business internally and externally, as well as reinforcing brand values and corporate messages. They can also forge links with existing and potential clients and improve staff morale. A lot can…

• The A-Star Event Guide: A Must Have for Serious Event Organizers

  Julius Solaris

  4 Jun 2013 | 6:06 am

  This is a sponsored post by Monika Memari, Digital Content Manager at ACTIVE Network. More information about sponsored posts. A lot has changed since the 90’s; the economic climate, technology, and society, to name a few. As a result of these changes, event planning has undergone a radical transformation. In order to account for these changes, we have compiled a guide intended to help serious event organisers take their event from the 90’s to the 2000’s with a few simple but effective techniques.   From 90’s to the 2000’s Event Planning for the 21st Century – when did it…

• The Best Posts in May 2013 on @EventMB

  Julius Solaris

  3 Jun 2013 | 3:55 am

  May was a turning point for Event Manager Blog. We gave you a free ebook to download, inspiration for entertaining your guests and an overview of the real game changers in technology. I know May is a busy month for you, dear event pro. Therefore I am particularly sure you’ll enjoy this roundup of… The Best Posts in May 2013 1. The Event App Bible: A Free Ebook for Event Professionals We launched our first ebook. We did not even ask you to enter your email to download it. More than 4,000 event profs read it. Did you? 2. 10 Hip Entertainment Ideas for Your Event Super guest post…

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  Fresh Event Tips

• Reasons to consider booking a Full Service Conference Center

  Rose

  30 May 2013 | 4:03 pm

  Submitted by Q Center in St. Charles, IL  When searching for the perfect venue for your upcoming meeting, it’s important to consider how the atmosphere of the venue supports or undermines the purpose of your event.  Many meetings are held at hotels and vacation destinations, which means attendees find themselves distracted and unfocused during their meeting (the pool bar is always attractive).  One option to ensure your audience is fully engaged and focused in a professional atmosphere is to consider a full service conference center that offers dedicated service and…

• Overcoming Challenges in creating an event blueprint

  Rose

  24 May 2013 | 7:28 am

  Submitted by the team at Mission Guru. Thank you Remos. The foundation to any well-run event is the event blueprint. Event Managers are in the business of risk management and a well structured event blueprint helps us reduce as much risk as we can. The event blueprint should clearly highlight the objectives and needs of your company or client so that throughout the planning process you keep in mind your deliverables. Preparing your event without having a clear understanding of your client’s objective is like navigating a ship without a compass; event managers should always be 100%…

• What can you take online?

  Rose

  23 Apr 2013 | 7:43 pm

  As we've blogged before, our sister site is shaking up the way online registrations take place.  By offering a flat rate/form we're welcoming new organizations to move their registrations online with a la Reg, saving valuable time and funds.    We love to hear how clients are using a la Reg.  Below are some real use cases we learned about this week: * an Atlanta LL to accept online payments for the family picnic * a Nor. Cal Humane Society to accept donations online for the first time * a New Mexico Incubator for non-profits to accept conference registrations online * a…

• Maximizing Your Corporate Event ROI

  Rose

  20 Apr 2013 | 11:32 am

  Planning a corporate event can cost a lot of money, be very time-consuming and take up a lot of resources. So it’s important to plan a corporate event thoroughly and think about all aspects of an event to mitigate disasters and also to get as much return on investment out of it as possible. Here’s a checklist of strategic considerations to help plan the perfect corporate event.  (Submitted by reader Sonya of Dreambooth, UK) Objectives It is critical to consider why an event is being held in the first place. It is really important to start the planning off with strong and…

• One Day Sale on Tiny Prints

  Rose

  4 Apr 2013 | 12:20 pm

  For those who love stationery, Tiny Prints is hosting a one day sale, 40% off all thank you notes - more than 1700 designs.  You can add a photo, a monogram or just order the cards just as the designer created them.   Sale is today through 8:59am PST Friday. You can find designs for professional correspondence, cards for graduates to say thanks, Easter notes, and a specific line for children as well.  TinyPints Site: LINK Promo Code: Deal0404    

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  Why I Love This Job

• Does a $500,000 Speaker Pay Off?

  Katrina Smith

  7 Jun 2013 | 9:00 am

  Today's post is by Nicole Newton, Keynote's Marketing Assistant. She had the pleasure of seeing Bill Clinton speak while she was living in New York. Her ticket to the event was free. There's been a lot of noise about Bill Clinton receiving $500,000 to give a 45 minute speech to the Jewish National Fund in Israel. To put that in perspective, while most of us make 17 CENTS per minute, Bill Clinton raked in (and then donated) an astonishing 11,000 DOLLARS per minute to give this speech. With this in mind, is there ever a tangible benefit for paying someone several thousand dollars a…

• Congratulating Keynote's Authors

  Katrina Smith

  6 Jun 2013 | 10:15 am

  A majority of the speakers we represent at Keynote Speakers are also authors – in fact, 75% of our exclusive speakers have written at least one book. We wanted to take some time to congratulate two of our speakers who’ve had big news regarding their books in the past several months. Bestselling author Maria Murnane recently released the fourth and final book in the Waverly Bryson series and it has consistently topped Amazon Kindle charts since its release in early April. Following the success of the Waverly series, Maria has signed a contract for a two book deal with her publisher! Her…

• Speakers Should Follow Guidelines for Sponsored Social Media Posts

  Katrina Smith

  29 May 2013 | 11:10 am

  Today's guest post is by speaker and social media law expert Brian Wassom. I was one of the speaker bureau professionals mentioned below who attended Brian's session at the annual IASB conference. Keynote Speakers has seen a rise in clients requesting our speakers post about their events. Have you? Let us know your thoughts on this issue in the comments below. I’ve done quite a bit of public speaking over the past few years, including on the rules governing commercial use of social media.  Recently, I was invited to present to a conference of speakers bureau professionals on…

• The Hidden Value of Your Stories

  Katrina Smith

  21 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  Continuing our theme on the power of storytelling, today's guest blog post is by author, speaker and comedian Judy Carter. Based on her new book The Message of You, Judy speaks about the power and humor behind the stories that make up our lives – and how anyone can use those stories to make a difference in other people’s lives – including their own. Share a story that made a difference in your life, or a story you shared that made a difference in another person's life, in the comments below! Do you have a secret stash of dinner party stories, or stories you tell friends in a…

• A Storytelling Moment With Kelly Swanson

  Katrina Smith

  26 Mar 2013 | 9:15 am

  Today's guest blog post is by Kelly Swanson. Kelly is an award-winning storyteller, comedian, motivational speaker, author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale? and creator of Prides Hollow and the wacky cast of southern characters who help you see beyond your obstacles, coach you through stress and change, and help you get from where you are stuck to where you want to be – laughing every step of the way. Kelly left the world of professional storytelling to become a motivational speaker and comedian, where she was surprised to learn that her background as a professional storyteller would turn…

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  Meetings Podcast

• Picatics Jayesh Parmar: Announces Pay what you want for Event Ticketing- Show 260

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  18 Jun 2013 | 3:49 pm

  Todays show Mike talks with Jayesh Parmar about event ticketing service Picatic has come up with a way to eliminate its service and convenience charges.  Its new service FairPay, launched last Tuesday, works in a somewhat different way. They do not charge service fees, which usually end up costing ticket buyers, event organizers set the price – which can be as low as zero. Once the event is over, organizers choose what they want to pay Pica-tic for its services. There are no gimmicks or obligations, the company says; not paying a cent is a real option. Related articles Event Ticketing…

• Ideafest Speaker Hillary Harris Warner Bros. Studios Special Events-Show 259

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:30 pm

      On todays show Mike McAllen interviews Hillary Harris Executive Director of Warner Bros. Studios Special Events—a full-service event production department specializing in entertainment industry, corporate, charity and weddings creating and producing more than 275 events a year, both on the Warner Bros. Studios lot in Burbank and at outside venues. Mike and Hillary talk about the state of the event design today and how it has changed.  Responsibilities of an event designer and some new trends/ideas that work and don’t work. Hillary will be speaking at BizBash Ideafest…

• Roger Rickard CMP Conclave Meetings Industry Advocacy – Show 258

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  12 Jun 2013 | 11:17 am

  Jon Trask sits down at the CMP Conclave in Spokane to chat with Roger Rickard, the Founder of Voices in Advocacy .  We talk with him about some of the “how’s” and “why’s” that members of the meetings and events industry should (and can) become advocates.  We touch on the recent IRS meeting controversy and why sometimes saying nothing is better than saying something quickly and in the heat of the moment.  Roger talks about some of the industry organizations and their efforts to advocate on our behalf. He also reminds us of the good news from the recent…

• Systems for Planners: Mac vs. PC -Show 257

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  4 Jun 2013 | 9:16 am

  Systems for Planners:  Mac vs PC     Jon Trask is a MAC and Elizabeth Glau is PC and they discuss the systems that they use to get event and meetings work done.

• CMP Conclave 2013 – Show 256

  meetingspodcast@gmail.com (Mike McAllen)

  27 May 2013 | 1:00 pm

  The 2013 CMP Conclave is rapidly approaching. Jon Trask and Elizabeth Glau will both be attending and presenting sessions. They took a few minutes to talk about their sessions and why the Conclave is an event worth considering if you are a CMP – or why the event might be a reason to get your CMP (Certified Meeting Professional designation). There’s still time to register so they’d love to see you in Spokane from June 8-10th.

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  BizBash News

• June 19, 2013: Online Dating Turns to Event Industry, San Francisco Giants Open Social Media Café, Nielsen Trade Show Unit Sold

  19 Jun 2013 | 5:23 am

• 7 Booze-Focused Teambuilding Activities

  19 Jun 2013 | 5:00 am

• Attention, Kate Middleton: 10 Ideas for Baby Showers With the Royal Treatment

  19 Jun 2013 | 4:45 am

• Cannes Film Festival Goes Green With Help From SodaStream

  19 Jun 2013 | 4:30 am

• 25 Steal-Worthy Meeting Style Ideas From Engage!13 Wedding Summit

  19 Jun 2013 | 4:15 am

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  Michelle Rago Destinations- Blog

• Bird’s of a Feather Flock Together…Engage!13 Pop Quiz

  Michelle

  7 Jun 2013 | 7:43 am

  The phrase, Bird’s of a Feather Flock Together is defined as, people of similar character, background, or taste tending to congregate or associate with one another. But in truth, I haven’t actually found that to be necessarily true of the bridal industry…until my participation in the luxury wedding summit called Engage! Founded by Rebecca Grinnals and Kathryn Margeson Arce, Engage! takes place twice a year and assembles the industry’s tastemakers and most committed students and leaders. It is my seventh, and I feel I finally have my grove on. This year’s…

• Mon Anniversaire.

  Michelle

  16 May 2013 | 7:43 am

  A delightful day…. I recently celebrated my 49th birthday-which is an utter shock to the system. It was a perfect New York spring day and I hosted it at my most favorite sneaky spot, The Norwood Club. My patient partners at Norwood, Camille, Allen, Rachelle completely delighted me with their heart and creativity. Thank you Team Norwood-I am devoted to you all.  Miss Brittney was my tireless partner in crime on all birthday details. I am sure I wore her thin…but she didn’t crack. And on party day… she twirled around effortlessly making sure everything ran smoothly.

• Cooking up the Perfect Vacation!

  Michelle

  30 Apr 2013 | 1:58 pm

    Tropea, Italy. Water Seeks it’s own Level. What is continuing education for someone like me who is committed to her craft and always seeking enriching experiences to bring to the table? Do I… audit a college course… LAWD HAVE MERCY…no-I couldn’t work that out back in the day! Do I return to cooking school for a refresher… or do I put myself right into the thick of it? By way of my dear friend Jennifer Learmonth, Executive Chef at The Rock House in Harbour Island www.rockhousebahamas.com, with whom I have shared many a fine meal, I discovered In…

• Love

  Michelle

  16 Apr 2013 | 8:05 am

  I didn’t get a chance to blog on Sunday because I was driving back from a site inspection in both Newport and Nantucket. Both gorgeous destinations and I anxiously await the client’s final decision. I like to write about destinations, entertaining and travel as obviously those things are my passion. But in light of yesterday’s tragic incident in Boston I have decided to write about love. I can’t think of anything else that would make me feel better. Love, although impossible to make sense of, and when safe in it’s clutches, is as mundane as breathing. But when…

• That Niggling Feeling…

  Michelle

  7 Apr 2013 | 1:08 pm

  http://www.thelittlenell.com Two other times in my life I distinctly remember having the same niggling feeling upon arriving at a resort as I did upon arrival at The Little Nell in Aspen on Wednesday. This feeling I get is essentially a sense that things don’t quite seem in sync or simply don’t add up. After four breathtaking days at The Little Nell, what I have now come to believe is that this niggling feeling is a precursor to what is simply …unimaginable. What I now know is that … some experiences can’t be put into words. But let me try… In 2001, I was…

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  About.com Event Planning

• Guest Satisfaction is the Goal of Event Planning

  9 Jun 2013 | 5:45 am

  Beyond the glitz and glamor of special events there is the more important metric of guest satisfaction that will ultimately determine how the occasion will be remembered. And even though all planners set out to impress their attendees, the pressure of coordinating so many details can lead to simple oversights that steal attention away from the positives. The aura of a good guest experience does not happen naturally. The best event planners work hard at it and take time to prevent guest problems before they arise.

• Measurements that Planners Must Know

  9 Jun 2013 | 5:43 am

  Event venues always highlight square footage on their websites and marketing materials. They hope to impress prospects with the visualization of endless floor space and configuration options. And while it is good to know that a facility can host 500 people at round tables, is this really all a planner needs to know? The average event has a host of additional room components that could detract from the maximum capacity, which is why meeting planners need to think more in terms of layout when shopping venues. Keep these 7 event measurement basics in mind when evaluating open floor space.

• Parking Can Be a Lingering Problem

  9 Jun 2013 | 5:40 am

  When you think of a guest's first impression of an event you probably picture things like room décor, background music, or even lighting accents. These things are the obvious highlights of your event space, but the first thing a guest will associate with your event is parking accessibility. A bad experience in the parking lot can push even the most polite guest over the edge. This is why parking, even though it may seem disconnected from the actual event, should be a primary concern for event planners. Follow this guide to coordinating event parking to make sure you guests step out on…

• Planning Ahead for Long Lines

  9 Jun 2013 | 5:38 am

  Waiting in line is part of everyday life, and most attendees understand that a big event will require patience as organizers process the needs for hundreds of people. But that is not to say long lines are completely forgivable. There is the expectation that a public event will be well-organized and formatted to accommodate large crowds. For event planners that means having a strategy to manage the formation of lines, both in terms of how they are outlined and processed. Read through these line management tips to keep your event flowing smoothly.

• Making Retirement Parties Memorable

  28 May 2013 | 7:44 am

  Office party planners know that retirement parties can be a hit-or-miss event. A lot of the potential for fun has to do with how popular the retiree was within the organization. Even then, if you don't set the right mood, the party can turn into a solemn farewell service. This is why you want to plan engaging activities well in advance. Entertainment is essential, so be sure to look through this list of ideas for the office retirement party.

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  Unique Venues

• New York State Offers Uber Varieties

  todd

  17 Jun 2013 | 7:32 am

  By Mark Polaski New York State is often differentiated from “New York” which heralds the great City of New York, and accounts for nearly 40% of the states population. However the state offers a broad spectrum of surroundings, from rural farmlands to vineyards, to the most chic of urban environments. Western New York State hosts Camp Findley in Clymer. Situated along Route 426 this site has over 140 acres, a beautiful waterfront, and a quarter mile of shoreline on Findley Lake. It provides facilities for groups to conduct their own retreats, meetings, worship services, and program…

• Event Planning 101: The Top Tools and Tips to Get It Right Every Time

  todd

  29 May 2013 | 10:47 am

  Successful event planning is a juggling act. Good event planners are well-organized and calm under pressure, and we sport a smile-ready visage even in the midst of trying circumstances. Sometimes we make up the rules as we go along —I like to call it being “resourceful”—and with that part of the job comes an extra boost of self-confidence. It also helps to have a few terms outlined in the event planning playbook to make things run just a bit smoother. Let’s make this easy for the event planners and managers of the world. Here are some techniques, tools and tips to help you…

• Gettysburg Get’s It!

  todd

  29 May 2013 | 6:03 am

  By Mark Polaski Gettysburg College has plenty of availability during early and mid-June for groups looking for sleeping accommodations, dining and private catering services, enhanced meeting facilities, and beautiful outdoor locations. From the Central Energy Plant to the residence halls, the Gettysburg College community is reducing our ecological footprint as we stride toward a greener future and the campus reflects this. Gettysburg College is ideal for high school class trips, corporate meetings, retreats, private battlefield tours with relevant historians, family reunions and class…

• Kean University is Bold and Beautiful

  todd

  28 May 2013 | 9:06 am

  By Mark Polaski Kean University is a prime location for your summer conference needs.  Located in the mega-metropolis of New York City, it inspires productivity, creativity and learning in an atmosphere uniquely designed to bring out the best in people. From board meetings and executive lunches to training seminars, our vibrant campus with more than 120 technology-enhanced conference and meeting spaces promises to impress high-level executives, employees, partners and clients. Kean University is proud to offer the Donald R. Conklin Conference Center.  Located on the top floor of the newly…

• Missouri – Show Me Venue Varieties!

  todd

  28 May 2013 | 8:41 am

  By Mark Polaski Missouri, The Show-Me State was part of the Louisiana Purchase and was first known as the Missouri Territory.  The state is the intersection of three great rivers: the Missouri, the Mississippi, and the Ohio. Missouri is also known as the “Gateway to the West” as it was a major departure point for explorers. St. Louis is located on the eastern border of Missouri.  Here you will find the Charles F. Knight Executive Education and Conference Center. The Knight Center offers special amenities such as a pub, business center, fitness center, open courtyard, and fine dining.

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  Velvet Chainsaw | Midcourse Corrections

• Why Your Conference Needs A Listening Space

  Jeff Hurt

  14 Jun 2013 | 9:28 am

  I decided it was a cold coffee type of a morning. A Starbucks Carmel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino would do nicely. Play That Funky Music White Boy! On the drive to the coffee shop, a new funky song came on the radio. It immediately transported me to my high school days. It had that Soul Train kind of funk that makes you want to get up and move to the grove and do the bump! I found myself “car dancing” where you only shake your hips and throw your hands in the air as you drive. On the drive back home, I kept thinking about that song. Then I remembered I had not written my blog post for the…

• Top Ten Most Significant Challenges With Conference Education

  Jeff Hurt

  13 Jun 2013 | 9:28 am

  Along with pending education trends that will influence conference education, there are significant challenges that will also have a tremendous impact. Conference organizers will face these challenges in the coming five years as traditional education methods continue to encounter disruptive innovation. Top Ten Challenges Here are the top ten most significant challenges in terms of their impact on logistics, planning, speakers, conference education, learning and delivery of information. 1. Lack of industry speaker coaching and learning opportunities. Few conference hosts offer speaker coaching…

• Is Your Conference Guilty Of Content Bulimia?

  Jeff Hurt

  11 Jun 2013 | 3:00 am

  Is your conference guilty of creating content bulimia for its stakeholders? You attendees binge and purge information at great speeds as your presenters race to cover content. They enter a room and receive a shovel load of content pushed at them at warp speeds. They think they are consuming as much as possible. As soon as they leave the room, they quickly purge it because the brain sets to default and dumps the information because no learning occurred. Research has documented thousands of times in hundreds of contexts that your stakeholders learn little of the information presented via…

• We Need Your Help: Industry And Professional Speaker Research

  Dave Lutz

  10 Jun 2013 | 6:54 am

  Two years ago, many of you contributed to a special research project that we conducted with Tagoras, a leading market research and consulting company for learning. This research identified trends for hiring professional speakers and provided insight for selecting and delivering concurrent sessions with industry speakers at major conferences. If you’re like us, you believe that designing exceptional education experiences is a key differentiator. Processes for intentionally selecting and coaching content leaders must evolve to earn key stakeholder loyalty. But has it? We’re curious too!

• Your Conference Education Needs A New Narrative

  Jeff Hurt

  5 Jun 2013 | 7:57 am

  The future of conference education is not necessarily about the next shining technology advancement, even though technology does play a fundamental role. Nor is it about the next new trend in delivery of information or the next innovative session format. The true conference education revolution is about a much simpler idea—nothing more, or less, than a new definition of learning itself. A New Narrative Around Learning Today, millions of connected individuals are crafting a new narrative around learning. It’s a story that challenges the fundamental premise of education, school and…

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  Meetings Net

• Financial and Insurance Planners Gather in Utah

  17 Jun 2013 | 5:52 pm

  Nearly 200 attendees learned about white space (time in your day when you just think), happiness (invest in experiences, not shoes), iPad apps (a PDF annotator is a must), and much more at the FICP Education Forum June 12–14. read more

• AIBTM Debuts in Chicago, Planner Attendance Up

  17 Jun 2013 | 2:47 pm

  Education, dialogue, pre-scheduled appointments highlight the third AIBTM. read more

• Fort Smith

  16 Jun 2013 | 8:38 pm

  Fort Smith - Fortify your faith in Fort Smithread more

• Cobb County Convention

  16 Jun 2013 | 8:33 pm

  If you love deals and discounts as much as we do, then what are you waiting for? Click on these postcards to see great ways to save when you book your next meetingread more

• Sheraton - Nassau

  16 Jun 2013 | 8:19 pm

  Sheraton - Nassau - Get to know the perks of being a plannerread more

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  Special Events Magazine

• Big DMCs Reveal Top Trends in Special Events

  19 Jun 2013 | 5:11 am

  By Lisa Hurley Big DMCs share top trends--better business, tight turnarounds, and the power of tech--in the industry. Special Events is at work on the ninth edition of our “25 Top DMCs” list, an overview of the biggest DMCs in business. An essential part of the story: The forecasts we hear for major trends shaping this critical segment of the event industry. Here is the latest on rebounding business, the power of tech, and the threat of "disintermediation." read more

• SEARCH Funds Available to Event Professionals in Need

  18 Jun 2013 | 5:48 pm

  By Kelly Dolan Event pros might not realize how easy it is to access funding Those familiar with the SEARCH Foundation know that this nonprofit organization--which supports special event professionals confronted with a catastrophic occurrence--is the only charitable foundation dedicated to the special events industry and its people. read more

• Perfect Fit: Ideas Creates a Fairy-tale Celebration for the 'Cinderella' Ballet

  18 Jun 2013 | 3:15 pm

  A fantastical forest comes to life for a gala evening. read more

• Special Events Business News for June 19, 2013

  18 Jun 2013 | 12:37 pm

  By Special Events Staff The latest business news in special events for the week of June 19, 2013 Veronica Seamanhas joined Memphis-based LEO Events as director of sales and events. She will be based in the company’s Chattanooga, Tenn., office ... read more

• Custom Cheese Sculptures, Decorative Stemware Wraps, Free Time Line Software

  18 Jun 2013 | 11:35 am

  By Special Events Staff The Cheese Lady Creates Custom Cheese Sculptures Sarah Kaufmann—aka The Cheese Lady—has a 17-year career in creating artistic carvings out of cheese. She creates her works—which has included the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest cheese carving—live on location, where they are displayed and, most often, eaten. While she sculpts cheese, she also educates and informs audiences about the art and traditions of cheese-making. She also creates commissioned cheese sculptures for weddings and other special events. read more

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  event-planning « WordPress.com Tag Feed

• Toasting at the Tower Room

  cheerseventplanning

  13 Jun 2013 | 12:18 pm

  Event planning is never a dull day, especially wedding planning. One sees new designs, personalized details, and entertainment with each wedding that comes along. We had the pleasure of helping Scout and Victor plan their nuptials at The Tower Room this spring! A fun-loving, medical couple, the room was filled with hints of hospitals, and lots of doctors! Being from the middle east, Victor also brought fantastic traditions to their big day, including many fabulously-fun dances, a belly-dancer, Arak, and even a live stream of the wedding to Lebanon. There was a lot of love in the air, many…

• H2PYE: The Storm Before the Calm

  soaeventconcepts

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:33 am

  How to Plan Your Event: The Storm Before the Calm…because right before the event is when the c

• Blush and Aqua Garden Wedding

  kathy

  13 Jun 2013 | 9:37 am

  Garden weddings are truly my favorite, especially when mother nature cooperates. This amazing garden

• Finding The Right Wedding Dress

  nuptialbuzz

  13 Jun 2013 | 9:24 am

  During the wedding planning process, there is a lot of pressure, it requires  a lot concentration. B

• Bridget Delahunt

  topfemaleexecutives

  13 Jun 2013 | 8:38 am

  Title: Director of Private Events at the MountainGate Country Club Company: American Golf Corporatio

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  Nashville Wedding Planner | A Delightful Day Event Planning Blog

• Nashville Honeymoon Event with 2Travel Anywhere, Elaine Turner, and StudioWed Nashville

  Mary Alice

  10 Jun 2013 | 10:35 am

• A Delightful Day joins Southern Weddings

  Mary Alice

  10 May 2013 | 3:14 pm

  Hey y'all!! I have to apologize for the limited amount of blogging that's been happening lately! BUT we have awesome rebranding and look overhauls that are coming very, VERY, soon, and let's face it, I'm not enjoying blogging on this blog anymore. SO, lots of gorgeous pretty will be coming very soon, including some incredible wedding recaps to blog. Patience is a virtue, right?! But, I had to share great news that we have just been approved to join the Southern Weddings family as a #blueribbonvendor in the Southern Weddings Blue Ribbon Vendor directory! See our directory here…

• Nashville Wedding Planning Event for Brides

  Mary Alice

  11 Mar 2013 | 9:37 am

  Ladies, we all know that wedding planning can be a stressful process, especially if you don't have the help of a professional wedding planner or have the time to dedicate to planning your wedding. Let's face it, planning a wedding is a FULL.TIME.JOB! Are you looking for inspiration for your wedding design? Are you looking for answers to your planning questions? Are you still looking for many different vendors for your wedding day team to bring your event to life?  Join us for the 2nd annual StudioWed Nashville: Wedding Experience  Hosted at Ruby Nashville  Sunday,…

• Nashville Wedding Professionals Event

  Mary Alice

  11 Feb 2013 | 8:54 am

  As a professional business, there are many things to think about to protect both you, your business, and your client. Whether you’re a seasoned business professional or a new business, the Law School for Wedding Professionals workshop will provide you legal advice, direction and guidance for you to refresh your business or a blueprint to get your business started the right way. Law School for Wedding Professionals, lead by attorney Katy Carrier, is a full day of education designed to help you understand and implement policies, practices and protections for your business.  Location:…

• Nashville Wedding Planning Workshop

  Mary Alice

  6 Feb 2013 | 12:23 pm

  Are you interested in the wedding planning industry and starting your own business? Have you recently started your wedding planning business and are looking for ways to better your business or to get answers to unknown questions? The Wisdom Workshop for Wedding Planners is back! This annual event led by Mary Alice Sublett of A Delightful Day and Kristin Kaplan of Simply Stunning Events which was created after receiving so many inquiries and questions about the wedding planning industry and how to develop a thriving…

• 

  HotelChatter -

• New York: Catch the World's Fastest Hot Dog Eater At Eventi Hotel

  ASchechter

  19 Jun 2013 | 7:24 am

  Food has been one of the main attractions over at Eventi Hotel since 2010, when they opened a fancy-pants food court called FoodParc next to the lobby. So it's kind of fitting that the hotel will be hosting a July 4th hot dog eating contest, next month featuring none other than Takeru Kobayashi, the world's greatest hot dog eater. This is great news for Kobayashi fans who usually have to trek all the way out to Coney Island to watch their hero scarf down wieners (his personal record is 69 hot dogs in 10 minutes). The event will be hosted at the outdoor plaza in the back of the hotel, where…

• London: An Ace Hotel Will Open in Shoreditch, London

  juliana

  19 Jun 2013 | 7:04 am

  Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ace Hotels opening in one of our favorite cities, London!We stumbled upon this news yesterday as we were hunting down more info on their Los Angeles property, opening in the fall. The Ace's Facebook page posted picture of construction but not much else. Yet a link in the comments sent us to a jobs opening site for "London Shoreditch." Was this for an actual Ace Hotel or for some sort of Ace-related pop-up experience, we wondered? We got our answer almost immediately when we went to the Ace home page and saw a link for London. The hotel is going up at 100 Shoreditch High…

• Athens: Gazing at The Acropolis in Athens from the Hotel Melia Rooftop

  wakeandwander

  18 Jun 2013 | 3:09 pm

  Everything you've heard about the city of Athens being packed tighter than a New York City subway car is absolutely true. On a recent trip to the capital of Greece, we fell in love with the pace and pulse of the city (not to mention the gyros), but boy, talk about a maze. Navigating those Greek-named streets was by no means a walk in the park, and while the city is surrounded by mountains and dotted with hills, it can be tough to get a grip on where you are due to the limited sight lines and endless infrastructure. But, like New York, the rooftops of hotels and restaurants give you a whole…

• Say, Who's Been Ripping The Sheets In Our Hotel Bed?

  juliana

  18 Jun 2013 | 2:04 pm

  Over the weekend, a friend sent us this snapshot from a Sheraton Hotel near San Diego, saying " Apparently, this sheet is in Sheraton's "still usable" category." Sheet! That ain't good. And it kinda takes the excitement out of sleeping on that Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, right?Sadly, we've seen tears like this rather frequently on hotel sheets. We *think* it's due to the giant machines that press the sheets after they are laundered. Inevitably a corner gets stuck in the machine and is accidentally ripped. It definitely doesn't look like a guest made such a clean tear, unless they we're just…

• New Hotel Deals for Adventurists, Vacationists and Altruists Alike

  juliana

  18 Jun 2013 | 1:03 pm

  Deals: you want 'em, and surprisingly, everyone has 'em. Take a look at some of the latest hotel deals going around the internet today from booking sites, social media sites, flash sale sites and more. Don't forget to scroll down to see the HotelChatter-approved deal either. Who knows? You might just find what you're looking for. (But don't forget to tell us about your stay!) DEALS, DEALS, DEALS* · COCONUT WAIKIKI HOTEL: Do the opposite of the mountain thing and instead book a room at the Coconut Waikiki Hotel in Hawaii. The JDV hotel is offering a bunch of discounts that increase if you…

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  Marriott on the Move

• So Many Places To Go

  Marriott on the Move

  17 Jun 2013 | 2:15 pm

  Inside Our Hotel Development Committee Last week, we had our quarterly hotel development committee meeting. Our senior development officers come from around the world to discuss the various projects they’re working on. It is really exciting for me, as it gives me a chance to look back at where we...

• A "Bill to Bill" Meeting with President Clinton

  Marriott on the Move

  10 Jun 2013 | 1:24 pm

  Listen to blog One of the benefits of being an old guy and living in Washington, D.C., is that I have had the privilege of meeting almost every U.S. President since Eisenhower. Each is a remarkable leader in their own way, right for their times, endorsed through election by the...

• It’s Joe’s Abilities That Count

  Marriott on the Move

  3 Jun 2013 | 7:51 am

  Joe with the 5-year certificate he earned last year Let me tell you about Joe DiPietro. This amazing young man has worked at the Residence Inn Philadelphia Valley Forge in Pennsylvania for six years as a member of the maintenance team. He is the kind of associate every business owner...

• The Only Constant is Change

  Marriott on the Move

  28 May 2013 | 11:54 am

  Every successful company is constantly changing, or they’re not successful for very long. Marriott has a timeline of milestones. Our innovations range from placing ice buckets in rooms to reinventing Times Square by building a megawatt hotel. I didn’t dwell on past accomplishments as I worked with our team to...

• The Natural Gas Revolution Begins in Newark

  Marriott on the Move

  20 May 2013 | 2:06 pm

  Ready for my first ride in the Courtyard's green van Marriott has a companywide program called “Spirit to Preserve.” It’s a global effort to protect the planet. It’s up to each hotel to make it happen. I was visiting the Courtyard Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel around Earth Day and...

• 

  The Webinar Blog

• Is Your Video Presentation Worth The Time?

  Ken Molay

  17 Jun 2013 | 1:41 pm

  I think I set a new record for personal impatience today. It took me less than thirty seconds to snort angrily and say "I don't have time for this." And I was referring to something only a minute and a half long! The scenario was a free resource helpfully posted by an entrepreneur in a LinkedIn professional interests group. That person had absolutely no malice in their offering, so I am going to be extremely circumspect in specifics about the video. My goal is not to embarrass the presenter nor do I want to cast aspersions on the value of the content itself. The resource was titled…

• ON24 Lets You Benchmark Your Webinar Performance

  Ken Molay

  10 Jun 2013 | 11:11 am

  ON24 put out a press release today announcing a new feature they call the Webinar Benchmark Index. I heard this mentioned last week in a sneak peak ON24 webcast on upcoming features, and it immediately jumped out at me as a unique and innovative capability that should capture industry and customer attention. The concept is simple. Webinar hosts are able to look at a limited set of statistics as reported for their webinar and get instant comparisons to industry averages on those same measurements. This is made possible by ON24's ongoing dedication to collecting, organizing, and sharing…

• How To Begin And End A Presentation

  Ken Molay

  28 May 2013 | 10:38 am

  98 percent of all business presentations (in a statistic I just made up) sabotage their own effectiveness by starting and ending poorly. You may have all kinds of great content in your presentation and your audience may be able to glean the information they need. But people are emotionally influenced most heavily by the first and last things they see. Get those pieces right and you are well on your way to having a more effective and productive presentation. The problem is that we have been brainwashed by a poorly stated three-part "rule" we learned when we were taught business writing,…

• Asia/Pacific Session On Better Web Meetings

  Ken Molay

  26 May 2013 | 8:45 pm

  Here is another special for my readers in Asia and the South Pacific. On Thursday, May 30, Arkadin has invited me to give a presentation on best practices for getting the best out of your web meetings. I will talk about communications, content, delivery, and interaction with participants. We will look at small web conferences versus large webinars and webcasts. We will be using Adobe Connect as our webinar platform, so this is a chance to see that technology in action if you have not used it before. But don't worry… I do not work for Arkadin or Adobe and have no desire to sell you anything.

• omNovia Adds Speaker Notes And Other Updates

  Ken Molay

  21 May 2013 | 5:51 pm

  Last month I wrote a post saying that too few webinar/webcast products allowed presenters to see their PowerPoint speaker notes inside the conferencing console. The folks at omNovia must have been waiting for an engineering challenge, because it's just one month later and they have added the functionality to their product! Presenters now have the option to see text that was entered in the PowerPoint notes area in the original slide deck. It appears below the slide display area. The speaker can change the amount of space dedicated to the slide vs. the notes. The speaker can also change the…

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  ConventionPlanit.com Meeting & Events Blog

• AIBTM Takes Over Chicago

  maureen-pickell

  14 Jun 2013 | 9:43 am

  AIBTM blew into Chicago on June 11 with the opening Welcome Party held at the Navy Pier. The evening featured ‘The Best of Chicago” with current offerings from the local culinary scene and the hottest entertainment including high flying acrobats and the singing group Green Thirteen. The evening of networking was topped off by fireworks – a hallmark of the energy generated on the show floor June 12 through 13. The theme of AIBTM 2013 “Defining the future of Meetings…Together” highlighted an interactive agenda positioning new ways for planners and industry professionals to generate…

• Springtime Grand Booth Prize

  Ashley Chalmers

  11 Jun 2013 | 7:15 am

  At last month’s Springtime Expo, ConventionPlanit.com also co-sponsored a Grand Prize with longtime ConventionPlanit.com member Visit Anchorage. The prize, a Big Alaskan Adventure, was promoted at both booths. The prize package included roundtrip airline tickets for two from Alaska Airlines, a two night stay in downtown Anchorage at the Hilton Anchorage, a ride on the Alaska Railroad, a Wildlife Glacier Cruise, a two night stay at the Grande Denali Lodge, a two day car rental, passes to the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and…

• Unique Booths at Springtime Expo 2013

  Ashley Chalmers

  5 Jun 2013 | 10:24 am

  Several weeks ago, both of your bloggers were together for the annual ASAE Springtime Expo in Washington, DC. Maureen and I had a great time attending education sessions, meeting planners at the ConventionPlanit.com booth (and giving away a Grand Prize…more on that later), and chatting with our member properties. So many of the booth displays were eye catching and unique. The exhibiting hotels and cvb’s really pulled out all the stops! Join us on a tour around the expo hall. First up, the ConventionPlanit.com Team! L to R: Katherine Markham, CHME; David Markham; Maureen Pickell,…

• Springtime Alaskan Adventure

  Ashley Chalmers

  6 May 2013 | 8:15 am

  At the Springtime Expo, ConventionPlanit.com and Visit Anchorage teamed up for an amazing Grand Prize – a big, wild Alaskan adventure! The package included round-trip airline tickets for two from Alaska Airlines, a two night stay in downtown Anchorage at the Hilton Anchorage, a ride on the Alaska Railroad, a Wildlife Glacier Cruise, a two night stay at the Grande Denali Lodge, a two day car rental, passes to the Anchorage Museum, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, and more! The trip was promoted at both the ConventionPlanit.com and Visit…

• Visit Anchorage Event

  maureen-pickell

  6 May 2013 | 7:25 am

  ConventionPlanit.com supplier partner member Visit Anchorage came to the Denver area last week for a luncheon event attended by local meeting planners. Hosted by Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse, participants enjoyed a delicious meal topped only by the excellent service. Along with finding out why their next meeting should be in Anchorage, the audience was treated to a history lesson by “Professor” Jim Henderson, Vice President, Convention Sales. The city of Anchorage got its start as a tent city in 1915 when the site was selected as the base for the construction of the Alaska Railroad.

• 

  Comments on: Blog

• By: By: Growing Business in St. Louis! | BusyEvent Mobile

  By: Growing Business in St. Louis! | BusyEvent Mobile

  17 Jun 2013 | 7:48 pm

  [...] Source: Comments on: Blog [...]

• By: Growing Business in St. Louis! | BusyEvent Mobile

  Growing Business in St. Louis! | BusyEvent Mobile

  17 Jun 2013 | 2:54 pm

  [...] Blog [...]

• By: What Can Facebook Teach the Events Industry About Lead Management? | BusyEvent Mobile

  What Can Facebook Teach the Events Industry About Lead Management? | BusyEvent Mobile

  28 May 2013 | 6:17 pm

  [...] Blog [...]

• By: By: By: By: By: Your Priorities Are Killing Your Business | BusyEvent Mobile

  By: By: By: By: Your Priorities Are Killing Your Business | BusyEvent Mobile

  28 May 2013 | 2:54 pm

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• By: By: By: By: Your Priorities Are Killing Your Business | BusyEvent Mobile

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  28 May 2013 | 12:38 pm

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• 

  Free Meetings & Travel Magazines and Downloads from alltop.tradepub.com

• 2013 Annual Webinar Benchmarks Report

  5 Jun 2013 | 11:20 am

  Webinars have become a top-tier tool for marketing, training and corporate communications. As the global leader in webcasting solutions, ON24 supports over 25,000 webinars a year, giving a unique view of what makes a successful event. Download this annual benchmark report and get insight into the webinar results of hundreds of companies from all industries.With this 2013 edition, you'll receive detailed insights and performance metrics, including:Best practices on driving webinar registrationBenchmark data on registration, attendance and participationLists of the most popular social and…

• BizBash

  13 Mar 2013 | 3:20 pm

  BizBash helps professionals like you stay on the cutting edge creatively and professionally. They bring you the most innovative people, latest styles, and hottest trends in event marketing strategies, design, technology, and execution ideas. Subscribe today and take your career to the next level.Request Free!

• 2012 Video Conferencing Comparison Chart

  1 Feb 2013 | 12:20 am

  Business video conferencing is playing an increasing role in today's business. Quickly see differences between the leading brands in video conference systems. This free Video Conferencing Comparison Chart compares the leading video conferencing vendors like Panasonic, LifeSize, Polycom and more head to head.This guide compares these brands by features like:PricingLocation limitationsSecurity and Equipment needsRequest Free!

• Video Conferencing: In the Cloud or On Your Premises?

  1 Feb 2013 | 12:20 am

  Video conferencing systems are becoming increasingly affordable for companies of any size and can bring enormous benefits. But, there are a lot of things to take into account when shopping for a solution. This complimentary white paper evaluates options such as a cloud or on premise solution, costs and quality as well as connectivity and scalability.Request Free!

• Key Video Conferencing Features and Why They Matter

  1 Feb 2013 | 12:20 am

  This white paper, "Key Video Conferencing Features and Why They Matter" details everything about video conferencing that is making it a cornerstone of corporate communication, including:Recording and ArchivingCloud-Based vs. Hardware-Based SystemsSecurity, Top Vendors, and More!Why hop on a plane cross-country when you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the close-to-home benefits of video conferencing?Request Free!

• 

  Party Ideas Blog

• May 25, Budget Party

  25 May 2013 | 7:57 am

  Budget party tips to help you save money while throwing a great event.

• May 18, Share Your Ideas

  18 May 2013 | 6:57 pm

  Share your ideas with us at Easy Party Ideas and Games.com!

• May 18, Adult Party Game Ideas

  18 May 2013 | 6:09 pm

  Adult party game ideas - our collection includes lots of games that are easy and fun!

• May 15, Elderly Adult Games

  15 May 2013 | 11:29 am

  Elderly Adult Games and Senior Citizen Activities for your party.

• May 15, Stroke of Fun

  15 May 2013 | 10:48 am

  Looking for a great party ice breaker? Try Stroke of Fun.

• 

  McCurry's Corner

• 5 Ideas For Renegotiating A Hotel Contract

  Michael M McCurry CMP

  10 Jun 2013 | 5:30 am

  Many organizations, particularly associations, hosting annual conventions and meetings negotiated today’s hotel contracts several years ago, during a strong economy.  At the time a “seller’s market” forced some event professionals to sign contracts with high prices and tough terms. The great recession changed all that.  As we all know the impact on the meetings and events industry was dramatic. While the US economy has improved in recent years, it has not regained it’s full strength.  Organizations are still closely scrutinizing their travel expenses, and…

• Five Valuable Roles of a Tech Moderator for Hybrid Events

  Michael M McCurry CMP

  7 Jun 2013 | 8:18 am

  This past week the Greater Midwest Chapter of PCMA (GMCPCMA) held a hybrid meeting for it’s members.  I was honored to accept an invitation, by chapter leadership to assist, as a technical advisor, and “tech moderator,” for the event. Hybrid Event Defined Midori Connoly (Producer) & Sonic Foundry Team A hybrid event is a meeting containing both “F2F” and “virtual” audiences networking together, using some form of online technology.  For more information please refer to a past article I published, explaining the basics of hybrid events. GMCPCMA’s…

• Why F2F Customer Conferences Are Indispensable!

  Michael M McCurry CMP

  21 Feb 2013 | 10:05 am

  Recently I was chatting with one of my corporate clients about planning for their future conferences.  This individual had met earlier that day, with company leadership, to develop a long term strategy around the timing of their largest customer conference. This company (I will call them “ABC Corporation) has been struggling with the relevancy of their messaging.  They hesitate to schedule a conference, because they are not sure they will have something important to say to their client base. So their solution has been to delay holding their conferences.  At first they transitioned…

• Two Critical Ways to Achieve Health and Wellness Success!

  Michael M McCurry CMP

  9 Jan 2013 | 9:13 am

  Are you one of those people (like many) that make a list of resolutions at the beginning of each new year?  Like many well-intentioned individuals you make a commitment to follow through and accomplish those lofty goals.  Then, somewhere along the way you lose focus, and the plan goes south.  Sound familiar? One challenging area for many people is personal fitness.  I have certainly struggled, over the years, to find some balance in this arena. A Wake-Up Call Recently a new health issue emerged, forcing me into a serious period of self evaluation.  It’s not easy for me to admit…

• Ode to a Blog Sabbatical: Sharpening the Saw!

  Michael M McCurry CMP

  15 Dec 2012 | 4:58 am

  Season’s greetings to you.  I hope this blog post finds you healthy, happy and ready for holiday cheer!  If you have been a frequent visitor to McCurry’s Corner in the past, then you already know I have not written a new blog post in quite some time.  (15 months or so) What led to this extended absence from blogging?  Quite simply I needed a break.  Similar to a computer, I needed a reboot, some time to reflect and re-energize myself. Sharpening the Saw — Self Renewal Steven Covey, in his award winning book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” cites Habit #7 as…

• 

  Elite Meetings Blog

• Boost Exposure by Adding SpeedRFP to your Email Signature

  Travis Hodge

  18 Jun 2013 | 5:11 pm

  Is your email signature looking a little drab? If your property is SpeedRFP enabled, we’ve got just the thing: add the Request for Proposal button to your email signature. Not only will it spruce up your communications, it’ll bring more attention to your SpeedRFP form. How’s that a good thing? Adding the button and linking it to SpeedRFP on your website will A.) create a clear ‘purchasing path’ for your clients, B.) make your form more accessible to planners, C.) drive more business to your property, and D.) pump up your sign-off’s pizzazz            …

• Getting the Word: SpeedRFP’s New and Improved Email Notification

  Travis Hodge

  14 Jun 2013 | 3:47 pm

  Your lead coordinator’s life is about to get a little easier. SpeedRFP has released a new, more user-friendly email notification for RFPs that have been submitted to your property. These new notifications incorporate more information so it’s easier for lead coordinators to assign RFPs to the correct sales managers. This will simplify and expedite the RFP process for hoteliers, make everyone’s life a little easier, and pave the way for even more group business. I mean really, who doesn’t like easy? Here’s a preview: To learn more about SpeedRFP news and new features, click here.

• Top Int’l. Travel Spots and Airline Stats Released

  Martha Brooks

  11 Jun 2013 | 3:28 pm

  In late May 2013, the MasterCard Index of Global Destination Cities was released along with the International Air Transport Association’s latest figures. Business meeting planners may want to take note that collectively the reports indicate that international travel destinations are in high demand. Growth in the international airline industry was particularly noteworthy among Middle Eastern airlines. Their business rose slightly more than 10% over last year’s figures. The increase was partially attributed to trade related issues. Airlines based in Africa and Latin America saw increases…

• San Francisco Experiencing High Demand

  Martha Brooks

  6 Jun 2013 | 11:45 am

  Meeting planners may want to take note. After the NFL’s most recent announcement, finding enough ideal meeting space in San Francisco may just take a bit more time. The City by the Bay was thrust into the national spotlight on May 21, 2013 when it was revealed that it would host Super Bowl L. Prior to the announcement, the city’s tourism agencies were already noticing a year-to-year uptick in visitor traffic and spending. Thus, one can only assume that San Francisco’s popularity will continue on an upward trajectory straight through 2016. With that said, those looking to hold an event…

• Use of Upscale Hotels for Business Meetings is Expected to Increase

  Martha Brooks

  30 May 2013 | 12:32 pm

  According to a recent article in Travel Weekly, the luxury travel market is expanding and expected to heat up in the not so distant future. So what does that mean for corporate meeting and convention planners? Read on for more: In their leisure time, travelers are demanding destinations that offer more than the standard fare. They want places that are eco-friendly, technologically relevant and provide unique, cultural experiences. That trend is also gaining ground in the corporate travel market segment. Companies want to be seen as green and socially responsible. Thus, upscale hotels that…

• 

  The Event Diva Blog

• 6 Event Trends Inspired by Pop Culture

  The Event Diva

  17 Jun 2013 | 11:35 am

  Because event planners often find inspiration in the things they see every day, pop culture can strongly influence event themes and decor. Here are 6 pop culture-influenced event themes and decor schemes that are taking over the event world. 1. Birds and Insects Birds and Insects have been popular decor items for years, but we are starting to see a surge of vintage bird cages in centerpieces. Everywhere you look, retro owl  and tribal sparrow jewelry and home decor items can be found. Nature elements, particularly anything with wings, seems to be heavily influencing the pop fashion…

• 7 Hot Catering Trends You Can’t Live Without

  The Event Diva

  8 Mar 2013 | 6:33 am

  Here are 7 food fads that are going to be huge in 2013. Many of them will be familiar, some of them will be new, and you will want to incorporate one or more into your next event! 1. Family Style Serving guests Family Style is a great option for family-centric events like wedding receptions. Even the small, communal action of passing large plates down the table can engender a spirit of familial harmony. 2. Small Bites  This one is making a repeat from last year, and I absolutely love it! Give guests a sampling menu of creatively served one or two bite dishes instead of a heavy meal. It…

• Clash of the Tone Titans – Modern Event Color Schemes for 2013

  The Event Diva

  26 Feb 2013 | 8:21 am

  For most event planners and do-it-yourself brides, few things are more important than the colors you choose for your event. The color palette is a planner’s foundation for telling an event’s story. It lends texture, light, and meaning; a vehicle for conveying the overall intention of the event. We have all been taught about which colors traditionally marry well and which colors traditionally clash, but I say tradition could use a good, hard shake! It’s really all about tone and color families. Yes, blue and purple can coexist in event harmony. All you need is to pair…

• Fab DIY Event Decor On a Dime!

  The Event Diva

  18 Feb 2013 | 11:29 am

  You don’t have to dig too deep into your pockets to add something wonderful to your event. You just have to have a little imagination and be resourceful. Here are some really amazing event decor pieces I found in the DIY section of Pinterest. I loved the bright neon colors of the slinky chandelier, but I was also impressed with the simple and oddly lovely marshmallow garland.  

• 3D Video Mapping

  The Event Diva

  4 Feb 2013 | 6:48 am

  One of the hottest trends in the event world is 3D Video Mapping. Video Mapping is a new projection technology used to turn irregularly shaped objects like building exteriors, ceilings, or even trees into a display surface for projection. Using special software, an irregular space is mapped out in a virtual environment. The software can interact with a projector to fit any desired image onto the surface of that object. Projection artists can add extra dimensions, optical illusions, and movement onto the projection surface. The video is usually combined with audio to create an…

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  Inside The Costume Box

• Superheroes Needed: 3Km Marvel Kids Run Melbourne

  Ned Kelly

  12 Jun 2013 | 6:48 pm

  Heroes Assemble! Join your favourite Super Hero team at the 3km Marvel Kids Run in Melbourne. This event is designed for kids aged between four and fourteen*. It's about fun, physical activity and challenging yourself in a team environment. Held at 10am on SATURDAY, 20 JULY (the day before the main event), the Marvel Kids Run is a 3km off-road and un-timed run around the banks of the Yarra. While the kids run, parents can visit The Running Fit Health & Fitness Expo to check out all the latest running gear (with exclusive discounts), to seek advice from trainers,…

• The CostumeBox EOFYS Event is Here + Leg Avenue Now In Stock

  Ned Kelly

  7 Jun 2013 | 12:10 am

  CostumeBox EOFY Sale: It's that time of year again, stock-take time, which means the End of Year Financial Sales are starting to heat up. CostumeBox is giving you 20% off the entire site* when you use the Discount Code: EOFY20 in your cart and spend $80 or more. This includes women's, men's and kid's costumes, party supplies, accessories and more. As always, CostumeBox offers Free Express Shipping with StarTrack Express on all Australian orders over $10. New Zealand orders meeting regular weight and size restrictions are shipped next business day with DHL for a flat rate of $25. *See…

• Blues vs Maroons: Whose Side Are You On?

  Ned Kelly

  2 Jun 2013 | 5:20 pm

• Blues or Maroons - Both Sides Win With This Deal - Save up to 30% Off Wigs

  Ned Kelly

  28 May 2013 | 12:14 am

  The footy match that pits New South Wales against Queensland - State of Origin - is just around the corner! Are you ready to show your team spirit? Whether you're lucky enough to have tickets to the game, heading to the pub, or watching on TV with mates, we've got the gear to make sure everyone knows who's side you're on! Our quality blue and maroon wigs are Australian made, and the more you buy, the cheaper the price: Buy 10 or more Blue or Maroon Afro Wigs and get 20% Off! Buy 20 or more Blue or Maroon Afro Wigs and get 30% Off! Check out the full range of blue and maroon…

• CostumeBox Is Proud To Announce Express New Zealand Shipping

  Ned Kelly

  16 May 2013 | 12:22 am

  CostumeBox.com.au is excited to announce our new DHL Fast Service to New Zealand! With a 2-3 business day turn-around, the biggest range of fancy dress costumes in the Southern Hemisphere, and our 100% Happiness Guarantee, we're sure you're going to love shopping with CostumeBox as much as Australia does! Stop by and check out our massive selection of women's, men's, and kid's costumes and accessories. We have all the latest outfits, from Great Gatsby flappers to The Dark Knight Rises Batman, with new arrivals coming in every week to keep things fresh! Spread the word, and get planning for…

• 

  Inside The Costume Box

• Superheroes Needed: 3Km Marvel Kids Run Melbourne

  Ned Kelly

  12 Jun 2013 | 6:48 pm

  Heroes Assemble! Join your favourite Super Hero team at the 3km Marvel Kids Run in Melbourne. This event is designed for kids aged between four and fourteen*. It's about fun, physical activity and challenging yourself in a team environment. Held at 10am on SATURDAY, 20 JULY (the day before the main event), the Marvel Kids Run is a 3km off-road and un-timed run around the banks of the Yarra. While the kids run, parents can visit The Running Fit Health & Fitness Expo to check out all the latest running gear (with exclusive discounts), to seek advice from trainers,…

• The CostumeBox EOFYS Event is Here + Leg Avenue Now In Stock

  Ned Kelly

  7 Jun 2013 | 12:10 am

  CostumeBox EOFY Sale: It's that time of year again, stock-take time, which means the End of Year Financial Sales are starting to heat up. CostumeBox is giving you 20% off the entire site* when you use the Discount Code: EOFY20 in your cart and spend $80 or more. This includes women's, men's and kid's costumes, party supplies, accessories and more. As always, CostumeBox offers Free Express Shipping with StarTrack Express on all Australian orders over $10. New Zealand orders meeting regular weight and size restrictions are shipped next business day with DHL for a flat rate of $25. *See…

• Blues vs Maroons: Whose Side Are You On?

  Ned Kelly

  2 Jun 2013 | 5:20 pm

• Blues or Maroons - Both Sides Win With This Deal - Save up to 30% Off Wigs

  Ned Kelly

  28 May 2013 | 12:14 am

  The footy match that pits New South Wales against Queensland - State of Origin - is just around the corner! Are you ready to show your team spirit? Whether you're lucky enough to have tickets to the game, heading to the pub, or watching on TV with mates, we've got the gear to make sure everyone knows who's side you're on! Our quality blue and maroon wigs are Australian made, and the more you buy, the cheaper the price: Buy 10 or more Blue or Maroon Afro Wigs and get 20% Off! Buy 20 or more Blue or Maroon Afro Wigs and get 30% Off! Check out the full range of blue and maroon…

• CostumeBox Is Proud To Announce Express New Zealand Shipping

  Ned Kelly

  16 May 2013 | 12:22 am

  CostumeBox.com.au is excited to announce our new DHL Fast Service to New Zealand! With a 2-3 business day turn-around, the biggest range of fancy dress costumes in the Southern Hemisphere, and our 100% Happiness Guarantee, we're sure you're going to love shopping with CostumeBox as much as Australia does! Stop by and check out our massive selection of women's, men's, and kid's costumes and accessories. We have all the latest outfits, from Great Gatsby flappers to The Dark Knight Rises Batman, with new arrivals coming in every week to keep things fresh! Spread the word, and get planning for…

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  ZipSetGo.com

• 10 Craziest Hotel Perks in the World

  Guest Blogger

  28 May 2013 | 1:42 pm

  Byline by David Miller Hotels are constantly competing against each other to attract more guests, and in their race to outdo each other some hotels have gone to extreme lengths in the perks that they provide to their guests. Here are 10 of the craziest perks from around the world that hotels have thought up to attract more guests. 1. Sleep Concierge read more

• Tweets from Last Night - Building Relationships

  Travelers Night In

  17 May 2013 | 7:28 am

  This week #TNI branched out with a travel theme we have never done before...Building Relationships! HYATT house sponsored the event and one lucky traveler won a stay at any HYATT house, and three others won Patricia Rossi's ettiquette book. If you missed out on the fun, read on for the best stories about meeting new people and networking while on the road. Q1: Handshakes, hugs, name tricks… how do you make a good first impression on the road? read more

• Top 5 Wildlife Encounters

  Guest Blogger

  30 Apr 2013 | 12:08 pm

  Byline by Natalie Morawietz read more

• Tweets from Last Night - Movies and Travel!

  Travelers Night In

  26 Apr 2013 | 11:18 am

  Last night Travelers' Night In #TNI was all about Movies and Travel. Lucky for us, Palace Resorts sponsored the chat and gave away an amazing prize - a GoPro Hero3 sports camera to film a great adventure! Read on for travelers' favorite travel movies, documentary recommendations, and even where they'd like to film their own adventure in Mexico. read more

• Benidorm -- Leave the Stereotypes at Home

  Guest Blogger

  23 Apr 2013 | 1:11 pm

  Byline by Katie Belle Benidorm probably only has one rival when it comes to the competition for the most mocked Spanish beach resort – Torremolinos. It has always been joked about among my friends as the place not to bring a T-shirt back from: to show you’ve been there, along with millions of other Brits. read more

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  Eventful Disclosure

• It’s Concert Season!

  sightandsoundproductions

  6 Jun 2013 | 12:55 pm

  Holy Concerts! The warm weather months bring some exciting events to the First Coast. This summer Sight & Sound Productions is producing four music festivals, yes four! The first is the Community First Seawalk Music Festival that takes place June 15th and is slated to be an all-local event. From the musical guests to the food venders the local flare will be very prevalent in Jax Beach. June 29th will be a big day for Sight & Sound as two of the festivals we are producing fall on the same day. The Roscolusa Songwriters Festival being held at the Nocatee Town Center is a free event…

• 2013 Springing the Blues Festival

  sightandsoundproductions

  11 Apr 2013 | 9:41 am

  What better way to kick off summer than to enjoy blues artists sharing their musical talents at an outdoor concert? The 2013 Springing the Blues Festival held annually at the Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach, FL is a three-day blues extravaganza that has grown to be a staple event for North East Florida. 22 bands including DieDra & the RuffPro Band, Zac Harmon and The Lee Boys made up the 45 hours of blues tunes that rocked the weekend. Thank you to everyone who joined us over the weekend and we can’t wait to see everyone next year! Sight & Sound Productions provided the…

• Sight & Sound Productions Is Growing!

  sightandsoundproductions

  9 Apr 2013 | 10:23 am

  Sight & Sound Productions Acquires Assets of QSCAV Sight & Sound Productions announced it has acquired the assets from the New Jersey based company QSCAV Audio & Visual Event Rentals. Sight & Sound’s acquisition facilitates the company’s goal to continually evolve their product offering in order to provide clients with event planning & production excellence. “We are a growing company, doing more events in more cities across the country than ever before and this acquisition allows us to continue this positive growth” said Jon Davis, CEO & Owner of Sight &…

• Tom Coughlin Jay Fund held their 9th annual Wine Tasting Gala

  sightandsoundproductions

  19 Mar 2013 | 10:54 am

  On the evening of Friday March 15th the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund held their 9th annual Wine Tasting Gala at the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Jacksonville. The night attracted over 950 attendees and many great staple restaurants of our city including Azurea, TacoLu, The Capital Grill, Sweet Pete’s and many, many more. An exciting energy filled the two stories of the venue as people explored the offerings from all of the amazing vendors who shared their wine, mouth-watering food, and their show stopping dessert displays. The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund’s mission is to help families tackle…

• 5th Annual NFHLA ROSE Awards

  sightandsoundproductions

  27 Feb 2013 | 1:28 pm

  Last night 500+ nominees and guests attended the 5th Annual NFHLA ROSE Awards to honor the men and women in the hospitality industry for their excellence in customer service. Mayor Alvin Brown presented a compelling message on how vital the people of the hospitality industry are to the success of Jacksonville and thanked all of the nominees and guests for their commitment to providing outstanding customer service. Mike Buresh, Chief Meteorologist on Action News was also in attendance and presented the nights winners with their ROSE awards. Sight & Sound Productions and Mugwump Productions…

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  Viktorix

• How Social Sharing Drives Sales [INFOGRAPHIC]

  Viktor Nagornyy

  29 May 2013 | 12:21 am

  If you have a hard time figuring out how social media can benefit your event and business, you will love this new infographic from AddShoppers. They analyzed over $5,000,000 in ecommerce transactions to understand how they were influenced by social sharing. Now, we have a better understanding how social sharing drives sales and what social networks really do affect sales. Frankly, the results are somewhat interesting. Before you jump in and view the infographic, here are a few key takeaways that you should consider in your marketing and sales initiatives for your events and business. Product…

• The Ultimate Wedding Cost Checklist [INFOGRAPHIC]

  Viktor Nagornyy

  14 May 2013 | 2:45 pm

  In our last year's infographic about the true cost of a wedding, we've looked at the possible expenses associated with weddings. It serves as a good starting point for anyone planning a wedding on a budget. But, if you want to assess your wedding cost to see how everything played out. Aussie Blog has created rather detailed checklist in a form of an infographic to help you look at your budget, vendor estimate and the actual cost. It serves as an excellent tool to review and assess a wedding - a postmortem. Yet, it can also serve as a tool to help you plan your budget as you plan a wedding,…

• How Important Are Face to Face Meetings [INFOGRAPHIC]

  Viktor Nagornyy

  22 Mar 2013 | 3:39 am

  Online and virtual meetings are becoming more popular in the event industry. They help deliver content without wasting money on location, travel and lodging. You can participate in the luxury of your own home. But, face to face meetings are still very important to many businesses. Nothing can replace the immediate rapport you can establish with someone in person. Over 83% of businesses believe that personal relationships are key to doing business successfully. Bizzabo recently compiled data and created an interesting infographic on how important face to face meetings are to businesses. The…

• 21 Most Hilarious Tweets from the Grammys

  Viktor Nagornyy

  11 Feb 2013 | 12:46 pm

  Photo by Viktor Nagornyy With social media at events, you get the beauty of audience engagement - like it or not. You get to deal with the good, the bad and the funny. As I had to endure the Grammys yesterday, I did what any other social media savvy individual would do. I went on Twitter. It turns out, it wasn't all too bad. The Twitter commentary kept me entertained throughout the Grammys, something the show wasn't that good at. But, I might be biased, I'm not a pop culture fan. I did enjoy Bob Marley tribute, that was great. Here's a list of 21 most hilarious tweets I saw on Twitter…

• Events in Crisis: You Need a Plan

  Maggie Crowley

  26 Nov 2012 | 11:56 pm

  NEW YORK (Nov. 7, 2012) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 11, from Gulfport, Miss., operate a skid steer to remove debris from a residential road during Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in Staten Island, N.Y., ahead of a forecasted storm. NMCB-11 is operating under the U.S. Northern Command Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission, working closely with civil authorities and the Federal Emergency Management Agency following the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Martin Cuaron/Released) We can’t…

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  ACTIVE Network Business Solutions blog

• Five tips to save money for your next event

  Cece Salomon-Lee

  18 Jun 2013 | 2:11 pm

  Via Flickr A few weeks ago, I attended the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International event in Anaheim, CA. I attended a session by Carroll Reuben, CMP, CMM, on “Save Across the Board,” discussing how one can save money when calculating meeting costs. Here are 5 simple and straightforward tips to save money for your next meeting: Consider the cost of coffee for your meeting – depending on where your meeting is located, the cost of a gallon of coffee can range from $100 to $50! Determine your budget first and your registration fee last – most people work backwards,…

• PCMA EduCon: The Event Software Insights Every Event Planner Should Know

  Rebecca Yetzer

  11 Jun 2013 | 9:00 am

  The PCMA 2013 Education Conference will lead attendees to new concepts for reinventing their events through event technology, marketing and branding, perspective, and leadership. Head to the Colorado Convention Center in Denver this June to learn how to transform your own events! As a technology partner of PCMA, we will be meeting with attendees for a consultation to discuss our suite of event software solutions. Join us for a consultation To learn more and see ACTIVE Network Business Solutions’ event management software in action, sign up for a one-on-one meeting (located in the PCMA…

• Corporate Meeting Must-Have: Hosted Buyer Programs

  Izania Downie

  7 Jun 2013 | 2:00 pm

  Just a few weeks ago I found myself waiting in the Frankfurt First Class Club Lounge (courtesy of the ever gentlemanly Graham Frazer).  Whilst savouring a lovely glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and anxiously waiting news of my much delayed flight back to London, I reflected on yet another successful IMEX.  I’m not exactly sure what it is but the Bloom family seems to have the Midas touch when it comes to shows. The floors were busy and the networking events were crowded. Not only did I see a lot of familiar faces of decision makers in the hosted buyer groups but plenty of fresh new faces as…

• PCMA Advances its Industry-leading Education Programs with Event Management Software

  Rebecca Yetzer

  5 Jun 2013 | 6:00 am

  Meetings and events have hit an increasing stride with growing resources to demonstrate their value. In fact, 80% of event planners expected to increase or least maintain the number of meetings held in 2012*. To keep up with the rising pace, you ultimately need the right support and tools to stay at the forefront of the industry. In 2012, the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) sought the event management software solutions offered by ACTIVE Network to take their education programs to the next level. Its goals were to enhance engagement with its members, make event logistics…

• 10 Questions to Ask Before Buying Event Management Software: Question #10

  Don Munro

  3 Jun 2013 | 7:10 am

  We work with a variety of customers from small to mid-sized businesses to global organizations with thousands and hundreds of thousands of employees. But each customer – no matter how large or small – has very similar questions when it comes to buying event technology. We brainstormed the top 10 questions that we believe smart companies should ask before buying event management software. In this blog, I’ll spotlight the importance of each of the questions – and their answers – in a series of 10 posts. Thanks for following these blog posts. In last week’s post, we tackled the issue…

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  icon-presentations.com

• Hybrid Events: Keeping Your Remote Attendees Happy

  Jenise Fryatt

  6 Jun 2013 | 1:05 pm

  Sound n' SightThe divide between what remote attendees want and what meeting planners usually give them is significant.  So significant, in fact, that when Samuel J. Smith shared the results of the study he conducted on hybrid events at MPI's World Education Congress last July, he titled it "Meeting Planners are from Mars, Attendees are from Venus." Smith's research, sponsored by MPI and Sonic Foundry, set out to document how different organizations are combining virtual and face-to-face elements at events and which practices offer the best chances for success. The research team also…

• How Generations X & Y Are Changing Meetings & Events

  Jenise Fryatt

  31 May 2013 | 11:56 am

  Sound n' SightMore transparency, more engagement and more education: these are some of the features Generations X and Y are looking for in exhibitions and events, according to new research by Amsterdam RAI. Working with research companies TrendsActive and Ruigrok/NetPanel, Amsterdam RAI undertook the research in an effort to explore the needs of  attendees who belong to Generations X (age 35-50) and Y (age 20-35). Yvonne Nassar, head of marketing and innovation at Amsterdam RAI, recently answered a few questions about the report.  Why is it so important for event professionals to…

• Four Quick Tips for Saving $$ on Event Audio Visual

  Jenise Fryatt

  17 May 2013 | 10:55 am

  Sound n' SightLast week my friends Lindsay Rosenthal and Liz King over at Event Alley, asked me to share a few tips for saving money on AV with their event planning listeners.  I thought of a couple and after also consulting with the true AV whiz in the family, my hubby Mike Fryatt, I shared the following. Understand Objectives of In-House vs. Outside Audio Visual Companies Going with the in-house audio visual service provider at your venue may be easy, but it won't always save you money, let alone provide you with the best bang for your buck. In-house AV companies have to pay a…

• The New Breed of Meeting Professional: Q&A with Miguel Neves

  Jenise Fryatt

  9 May 2013 | 1:18 pm

  Sound n' SightMiguel Neves could be said to embody a breed of meeting professional perfectly suited to the 2013 industry landscape. At a time when seismic change rocks businesses everywhere, let alone the meetings & events that propel them, Miguel's combination of personal initiative, persistence, passion and curiosity has certainly served him well.  An event producer since 2005, Miguel has risen to prominent positions within both Meeting Professionals International (MPI) where he holds a double role as vice president of  finance and director of online marketing for MPI's United…

• Why Now is a Great Time to be an Event Planner

  Jenise Fryatt

  26 Apr 2013 | 12:09 pm

  Sound n' SightIf you are an event or meeting planner, your time has come. The age of the Internet has made connecting people together more important than ever and that's exactly what YOU do.  Now I know that things are moving fast these days and we are all very busy, but have you stopped to ponder the tenor of the times in which we live and how it relates to event professionals? Networking Marketing has had a make-over. No longer is it about repetition, name recognition and loud, widely spread broadcasting. The focus is clearly on building one on one relationships. And meetings and…

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  Corporate Event Planning & Incentive Travel | Cvent

• Event Planning for Changing Seasons: What we can learn from the Dutch

  Anne Thornley-Brown

  18 Jun 2013 | 7:45 am

  My recent Cvent Blog feature about Selecting the Right Season For Outdoor Team Building and Corporate Events sparked a very interesting exchange on Google+. Mr. Holland, the official brand ambassador for Holland, posted this comment: Meet Mr. Holland: "With our weather here you can't even rely on the seasons... :-("  His comment got me thinking. This doesn't just apply in Holland. In the spring and autumn, weather sometimes changes dramatically in Canada too. In spring and autumn it can be cool in the morning and really hot by the afternoon or vice versa. …

• What's New: Low and High Tech Tools for Interactive Meetings

  Anne Thornley-Brown

  17 Jun 2013 | 7:45 am

  Designing interactive meetings that are engaging and appeal to all senses can be a challenge as many tools are geared to one way, linear presentations.   Cvent Blog has previously discussed how Prezi and with the right adjustments PowerPoint can create eye-popping and engaging presentations. Here are some other tools that are emerging to make it easier to design and present interactive content. Not all of them are high tech, either. Silicon iPhone Speaker by Creator Meeting Support One challenge that presenters sometimes face is making telephone conversations or audio content audible…

• 6 Places to Keep Your Cool as Temperatures Soar

  Anne Thornley-Brown

  14 Jun 2013 | 7:45 am

  As temperatures soar around the globe, it's time to find creative ways to keep groups cool and comfortable. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity. Al Ain (United Arab Emirates) In Abu Dhabi, between May and mid-October, temperatures can soar 100 - 120° F. Fortunately, there are a few ways to keep cool. For example, corporate groups can head over to Ferrari World and enjoy hours of fun at this Ferrari theme park. One of the "coolest" new ways to stay cool is at Wadi Adventure in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet. It's the first artificial waterpark in the Middle…

• Corporate Event Challenges & Solutions: Choosing Comfortable Chairs

  Anne Thornley-Brown

  13 Jun 2013 | 7:45 am

  As event planners, it's important to attend events from time to time and experience them from the vantage point of participants. I have had an opportunity to attend a number of events recently and it's been an important reminder of some fundamentals. Take the matter of seating. During the course of the day, if seating is stiff or uncomfortable, many participants will suffer from back shoulder or neck pain. Yet, this is an aspect of site inspection and meeting room set-up that doesn't get a lot of attention. If you are not doing it already, it is important to immediately add…

• Corporate Events: Bob Marley Themed Reggae Venues

  Anne Thornley-Brown

  12 Jun 2013 | 7:45 am

  For a real treat, event venues that cater to the tastes of members of your party can be an effective way of incorporating music into meetings and events. Just select a genre or an artist and use your imagination to find  a great venue. If you have a lot of reggae fans in your group, here are some venues that are guaranteed to add a reggae feel to corporate events in Jamaica. Bob Marley Museum, Kingston Located on Hope Road in Kingston, Jamaica, Bob Marley Museum was residence of Jamaican reggae legend Bob Marley. Until it was purchased by Bob Marley in 1975, it was known as Island House…

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  PlannerWire

• A Sneak Peek at the Meeting Pool Content

  Keith Johnston

  4 Jun 2013 | 11:47 am

  Getting ready for next week’s AIBTM and the Future Events Experience, I have been running around the city of Chicago with a video camera and microphone capturing some of our industry leaders,... Read the rest at PlannerWire

• Hanging by the Meeting Pool

  Keith Johnston

  8 May 2013 | 11:15 am

  What have I been up too? Where have you been? Any new articles coming? These are just a few of the questions that I have been getting lately. Truth be told, I have been hanging out at the pool….. Not... Read the rest at PlannerWire

• A Slick Evernote Trick for Meeting and Event Planners

  Bob Toovey

  19 Mar 2013 | 8:05 am

  The more I explore Evernote the more I love it. There are so many business uses for it and not just for organising projects or staff. I really like the idea that it can be used as an organised... Read the rest at PlannerWire

• Why you Need an Online Community for your Offline Event

  Eran Ben Shushan

  18 Mar 2013 | 9:28 am

  Not so many years ago, the community we belonged to was determined by our physical location. Thanks to the emergence of the web, social media and mobile devices, distance has less impact on our... Read the rest at PlannerWire

• Images are Essential to Your Event

  Keith Johnston

  18 Mar 2013 | 8:25 am

  About once per year, my seven year old son accompanies me to a client event. He does this with the client’s enthusiastic permission as the event is pretty kid friendly (it deals with animal... Read the rest at PlannerWire

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  Event Philosopher

• Getting re-inspired

  24 May 2013 | 10:42 am

  I disappeared off the map last year as planning for my company's 6,000-person user conference kicked into high gear. Then I disappeared "for good" for 3 months as I had a new little baby girl in February! So now I'm back at work and back exploring event trends and technologies and trying to reignite my inspiration. It may take me a little more exploring to find that right inspirational moment, but I have no doubt it will hit me soon and I'll be back on track with my regular posts.

• Strategic Meetings Management Programs: Our Journey

  11 Jun 2012 | 2:34 pm

  It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”   - Seneca Today I had the great pleasure of speaking at the PCMA Education Conference on the topic of Strategic Meetings Management with Kevin Iwamoto, VP of Enterprise Strategy for Active Networks. Kevin is a person I would call "the father of strategic meetings management," and it was an honor to share the stage with him.  Myself? Well I have about a solid month of strategic meetings management experience (plus 5 years of on-again, off-again research on the…

• Lifelong learning

  1 Jun 2012 | 8:59 am

  Don't just learn the tricks of the trade. Learn the trade.    - James Bennis  In the never-ending season of budget cutbacks and layoffs, it's harder and harder to justify attending educational industry conferences - especially for corporate meeting planners. But if you have truly selected event marketing as a career path, and not just a job, you must find ways to stay relevant and keep learning your trade. Personally, I get to pick one event industry conference per year that my company will cover, and I must do any others on my own dime. However, I find the content, networking,…

• The importance of events in pre-commerce

  10 May 2012 | 5:01 pm

  When you put yourself in the customers shoes and begin your dialog from there, an immediate connection develops that stems beyond basic commerce and encourages loyalty.    - Steve Maraboli I had the pleasure of attending the Word of Mouth Crash Course yesterday in Austin, Texas, and enjoyed every single session I went to… Truly rare at a conference! While some of the conference logistics could be improved, the content was well curated to provide really sharp speakers with really interesting case studies and points of view.  The content primarily centered on word of mouth…

• Why offsites are imperative

  2 Apr 2012 | 1:37 pm

  Fun is good.    - Dr. Seuss It takes a certain type of person to love event marketing. You have to thrive on tight deadlines, chaos, ambiguity, and late nights. You have to have a family who can support your travel, your need to be connected at weird times and in weird places. You have to want to be a workaholic. And it takes a certain type of company to invest in these kinds of people. I’m not talking about salaries or massages or even vacation time. I’m talking about offsites. And again, I don’t mean scavenger hunts or movies with the team. I mean real, meaningful time…

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  EventIQ Blog

• Wolfpack fans having a ball

  Ken

  18 Jun 2013 | 9:59 am

  Baseball is a grand game and that was proven recently when North Carolina State University’s men’s baseball team achieved something historic. After a  game that lasted 17 innings and more than seven hours, the NC State Wolfpack team got a clutch hit that propelled them into the College World Series of Omaha for the first time in 45 years! Wow- I hadn’t even been conceptualized by my parents yet when the team was last in the tournament, back in 1968. One of the reasons we love this story so much, besides the fact this is the stuff of movies and books, is that we’re…

• Never having to say “trust me”

  Ken

  13 Jun 2013 | 3:27 pm

  After finishing his keynote address at the Banff Compass Fundraising conference, Terry O’Reilly was given a big white Stetson. Presenting a visitor this particular cowboy hat is tradition in the Calgary region as it represents Western Canadian heritage and hospitality. O’Reilly, from Toronto, examined the hat appreciatively before placing it on his head. Hearing the story behind the hat probably helped him appreciate the gesture even more, especially considering the sole purpose for him speaking at the conference was to share his philosophy on storytelling. A story will go a long…

• Student Voices Heard

  Ken

  11 Jun 2013 | 3:27 pm

  How often do we actually listen to what students have to say? As caretakers of the school system we often rush to judge what our youth need for curriculum and activities. And when those youth who are the direct users of the system start to complain we shush them because, after all, they’re too young to understand. Yet when given a platform to speak their mind, they don’t hold back: “I think the best kind of education is one that teaches you to speak and think for yourself,” says 17-year-old Julie Delmedico. “That’s much more valuable than passing your exams.” Delmedico…

• Bellerose Composite High School for Sale

  Mitch Lieu

  7 Jun 2013 | 7:46 am

  “Have you ever wanted your own school? Your very own gym, work-out rooms, computer labs, construction shop, and mechanic station? Your very own set of staff ready to obey every single instruction you give? Your own set of more than 20 printers from every corner? Your very own football team and cheerleading team??” “Look no further! Your chance has come! Bellerose Composite High School is up for grabs!” “Shining with brilliance in both student minds and football helmets, Bellerose Composite High School is not to disappoint! Bursting with endless features such as the…

• Teen Suicide and Bulling Video

  Mitch Lieu

  31 May 2013 | 9:36 am

  In Winnipeg, an explicit video presenting the awareness of teen suicide was shown to a Grade 7 class which has made a father furious. He states his son was so distressed from the video that he had a health emergency during class and had fainted. The father also comments that both himself and his wife had a grueling time sitting through the entire video and was surprised how the school could show this to the students without any kind of consent form for parents to sign. The teacher accountable for showing the video to her students has already made an apology to the father of the child. Kim…

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  ABCey Events » Blog

• Startup Monday: Instacanvas

  Sam Driks

  17 Jun 2013 | 9:31 am

  Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past that we would like to share with the friends and followers of ABCey Events.  Instagram’s filters and effects can make anyone with a camera look like a talented photographer. And, with the help of Instacanvas, that Instagram of your breakfast could be hanging on the wall of someone’s living room! Instacanvas is an online service that allows people to buy and sell real-life prints of…

• 5 Creative Ways to use Social Media at your Next Event

  Sam Driks

  14 Jun 2013 | 10:26 am

  People have been using social media to spread the word about their events for a while now, and ABCey thinks it’s time for a make-over! Follow our fun and effective tips that use technology to make your next event the very best it can be!  1. Facebook Invitations with a Twist | Creating a Facebook event is so blah. Spice it up with a picture of you and the event details and tag your friends! These pictures combine the personal and creative feel of a handmade invitation with the accessibility of social media.  2. Share What You Want | Using apps like the Scan & Add app from Gift…

• ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up 6.13.13-6.16.13

  Sam Driks

  13 Jun 2013 | 10:54 am

  If you and dad need some time away from the Father’s Day BBQs, take him to one of the events on ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up! From liquor-themed carnivals to street festivals and every tech event in between, ABCey’s here to amp up your family time this weekend! 1. San Francisco Craft Spirits Carnival | Saturday, June 15th | 1 p.m.-5 p.m. | Fort Mason Festival Pavilion | This is one carnival you definitely don’t want to miss! Try some of the local Bourbon, Whiskey, Tequila and other spirits available for unlimited sample along with your admission. And yes, those are…

• Tech Gifts for the Low-Tech Dad

  Sam Driks

  12 Jun 2013 | 10:32 am

  June 16th is fast-approaching! For this Father’s Day, usher dad into the modern age with some gift ideas that are perfect for the one man you know who still doesn’t own a smartphone. ABCey pulled together a list with items of varying price to help drag dad out of his cave and into the technological world! 1. Sony Action Video Camera | $179.99 | Every dad knows how crazy life can get and that no gadget is safe from kids dropping it in the pool or knocking it down the hill on a family hike. Luckily, the Sony Action Video Camera is as tough as they are. It’s weather-proof,…

• Tech Tuesday: Ubokia

  Sam Driks

  11 Jun 2013 | 10:20 am

  Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box! With this week’s Tech Tuesday pick, the world around you transforms into a giant store. ABCey presents Ubokia, an app available for iPhone, which puts consumers in control of what they want and how they get it. Think of it as a giant, searchable garage sale without all the hassle! Ubokia is based on direct commercial interaction between Wanters and Sellers. If you’re a Wanter, you…

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  Science Meetings

• Office Apps on the Move

  strategicresults

  5 Jun 2013 | 9:40 am

  Even if you bought an iPad with work in mind, there is a good chance you mostly ended up using it to watch movies, play games, or dawdle on the Internet. This article in the Wall Street Journal might kick start your work ethic, though: it’s Walter Mossberg’s review of some of the market’s best office software for tablets. Microsoft Office still isn’t optimized for tablet use, but get your hands on these substitutes and you may find yourself getting a lot more work done on your iPad. Here’s a quick summary of Mossberg’s impressions: iWork The office suite…

• Good Advice from One+

  strategicresults

  23 Apr 2013 | 9:44 am

  One+ Magazine is a pretty reliable, monthly source of smart tips for meeting planning and other management scenarios. Here are a couple highlights from the latest issue, available online here. On Managing Communities Yvonne Nassa, head of marketing & innovation at Amsterdam RAI, writes about the role of meeting planners as community managers. What used to be about “facilitating two-dimensional physical meetings” has evolved into “providing a stage for meaningful dialogues,” both physically and virtually, before, during, and after the meeting. Thanks to advances like the Internet…

• Want Airlines to Listen? Fill Out a Survey

  strategicresults

  19 Apr 2013 | 11:49 am

  Have you ever taken a customer satisfaction survey with an airline, only to feel like they aren’t really listening? Well, according to Scott McCartney of the Wall Street Journal, it turns out they are—and the flying experience can only get better because of it. Says McCartney, “Airline surveys are influencing everything from menu choices to airport and airplane repairs, not to mention employee training and executive bonuses.” The fact is that airlines would much rather hear out your grievances on a survey than see you file complaints with the Department of Transportation, or worse:…

• The Downside of Virtual Meetings

  strategicresults

  14 Mar 2013 | 2:35 pm

  We have posted before about the advantages of virtual meetings. But in the interest of accuracy, we’d be remiss to ignore any disadvantages, as well. According to Sue Hatch of MeetingsNet, there’s a pretty glaring one: virtual meetings can stifle creativity, compared to face-to-face interaction. At an exhibition in Germany, a research group called Meetology set up pairs of participants to work on creative tasks. The pairs were made to work in one of three settings: face-to-face, on the phone, or via videoconference. The researchers than judged the results based on “quantity, quality,…

• Watch Out for Hotel Fees

  strategicresults

  3 Mar 2013 | 9:15 pm

  You know those annoying extra fees which most airlines try tack onto your (already costly) flight experience? Well, watch out: it turns out that hotels are following their lead, according to Christopher Elliott of the Washington Post. The good news is it hasn’t gotten nearly as ubiquitous as airline fees—yet. Common fees to watch for include charges for “exercise equipment, wireless Internet access, printing your boarding pass and using the pool.” The hotel might never inform you about these costs, and worse still, you might be forced to pay them even if you never used the facilities…

• 

  Plan Your Meetings

• Small groups: Carmel wants you

  Plan Your Meetings

  18 Jun 2013 | 9:27 am

  Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., is targeting groups in the 10- to 250-person range through a new coalition that includes the city of Carmel, the chamber of commerce and the Carmel Innkeepers Association. Together, they’ve created an entity called the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District. Its goal is to promote the town’s attractions, events, lodging properties and meeting venues. District [...]

• The view from the ballroom chair, Part 5: The hallway

  Amanda Taylor Brooks

  14 Jun 2013 | 8:05 am

  Be courageous. Embrace change. People want a different experience. Now give it to them.

• June 2013: New meeting and hospitality industry hires, promotions

  Plan Your Meetings

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:06 am

  Harbans Singh, managing director of UBICOMP System in the Asia-Pacific region, is the 2013 inductee to the HFTP International Technology Hall of Fame. Jaclyn Weinstein became director of business development, North America, for Australia’s Melbourne Convention Bureau. Business Events Sydney (Australia) named Martin Boyle its client relationship manager for UK/Europe. The 306-room/suite Rosewood in London named Julian Haddon sales [...]

• June 2013: New hotels, renovations, expansions and destination news

  Plan Your Meetings

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:05 am

  International Barbados The 130-room/suite Radisson Aquatica Resort on Carlisle Bay opened after an $8 million property-wide renovation. It has meeting space that holds groups up to 400. China A 180-room GuestHouse International Hotel opened in Haikou. England DoubleTree by Hilton reopened in Bristol City after renovations to its public areas and all 201 guest rooms. The hotel has nine meeting rooms. A [...]

• Weekly deals and highlights: June 12, 2013

  Plan Your Meetings

  12 Jun 2013 | 1:01 pm

  In this issue: @BeaverRun, AMA Executive Conference Centers, @CrownePlaza

• 

  Plan Your Meetings

• Small groups: Carmel wants you

  Plan Your Meetings

  18 Jun 2013 | 9:27 am

  Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif., is targeting groups in the 10- to 250-person range through a new coalition that includes the city of Carmel, the chamber of commerce and the Carmel Innkeepers Association. Together, they’ve created an entity called the Carmel Hospitality Improvement District. Its goal is to promote the town’s attractions, events, lodging properties and meeting venues. District [...]

• The view from the ballroom chair, Part 5: The hallway

  Amanda Taylor Brooks

  14 Jun 2013 | 8:05 am

  Be courageous. Embrace change. People want a different experience. Now give it to them.

• June 2013: New meeting and hospitality industry hires, promotions

  Plan Your Meetings

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:06 am

  Harbans Singh, managing director of UBICOMP System in the Asia-Pacific region, is the 2013 inductee to the HFTP International Technology Hall of Fame. Jaclyn Weinstein became director of business development, North America, for Australia’s Melbourne Convention Bureau. Business Events Sydney (Australia) named Martin Boyle its client relationship manager for UK/Europe. The 306-room/suite Rosewood in London named Julian Haddon sales [...]

• June 2013: New hotels, renovations, expansions and destination news

  Plan Your Meetings

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:05 am

  International Barbados The 130-room/suite Radisson Aquatica Resort on Carlisle Bay opened after an $8 million property-wide renovation. It has meeting space that holds groups up to 400. China A 180-room GuestHouse International Hotel opened in Haikou. England DoubleTree by Hilton reopened in Bristol City after renovations to its public areas and all 201 guest rooms. The hotel has nine meeting rooms. A [...]

• Weekly deals and highlights: June 12, 2013

  Plan Your Meetings

  12 Jun 2013 | 1:01 pm

  In this issue: @BeaverRun, AMA Executive Conference Centers, @CrownePlaza

• 

  Thoughtfully Simple

• Summertime Plans + Poolside Grilling

  Your Hostess

  6 Jun 2013 | 10:34 am

  With my Summer Thyme beverage in hand, I’m daydreaming about all the upcoming summer fun there is to be had (you know, in between w-o-r-k that is). With our two girls almost out of school, a great Memorial weekend under our belt, and the sunny CA sunshine — we’re about ready to kick into that summertime gear! First up on our agenda is a week long getaway to Palm Springs.  Is it time to go yet? We’ll also see plenty of lazy beach days. When we have no plans on the weekend it’s pretty common that we just call decide to head to the beach (why not right?). This…

• Cheers to Summer Thyme

  Your Hostess

  5 Jun 2013 | 3:41 pm

  It’s HOT and feels like summer and when the temp rises nothing else makes sense then pouring a cool and refreshing drink. The other day after work I mixed this baby up for a little cool down. My garden was my inspiration, I LOVE creating drinks from what I am growing (that means I’ll always have the ingredients on hand)! This is virgin, but you could also add a splash of vodka or gin to make things fun. I’m calling it the Summer Thyme. Summer Thyme For each drink you will need: -2 Strawberries -Sprig of Thyme -Lemon wedge -Club soda To make: Muddle the strawberries in the…

• This is how we kick off summer

  Your Hostess

  29 May 2013 | 9:14 pm

  This past weekend the family and I escaped for a nice long Memorial Day weekend at one of our favorite places. Filled with sun, water and family — we couldn’t have asked for a better backdrop for an easy, simple, and fun mini-getaway. Between water sports, beach time, grilling, and a little R&R — we had a fun filled trip. Here are a few pics of our weekend. See all of the pics from our weekend on Instagram tagged #99summerdays. The sun was warm (which meant I was in my happy place). It really felt like a kick-off to summer. Cruisin’ along side the river was in the…

• Decorating Cupcakes with Chocolate Flowers

  Your Hostess

  29 May 2013 | 8:33 am

  I used candy melts in so many ways: creating chocolate covered pretzels, dipping strawberries, making chocolate candy molds…it is so useful! Last week I shared over on the  SCJohnson.com blog, how to create cute cupcake toppers for spring. Here’s a peek: Creating this spring flowers took less than 15 minutes total! Not only are they simple, but you can really get creative with the chocolate and make different sizes and styles of cupcake decorations. Be sure to check out my full post for the step-by-step photos and create your own spring cupcakes! I am a Guest Blogger for SC…

• DIY Party Favors

  Your Hostess

  22 May 2013 | 12:20 pm

  I love a good party favor. What a better way to end a party than to send your happy guests home with a little something to remind them of your event? Party favors do not have to be extravagant. In fact, I think the best ones are of the homemade and DIY variety. Simple is nice. Don’t you think? This week I’m sharing simple DIY party favors over on the SCJohnson.com blog. These favors are so easy that even your little ones can  help you make them. Here’s a peek: Baggies filled with treats = endless party favor possibilities! Head over to my full post here for all the…

• 

  Austin Social Planner

• RECAP: Searsucker Grand Opening, Benefiting Citizen Generation

  Kevin Smothers

  13 Jun 2013 | 1:00 pm

  Talk about walking into town with a bang! Searsucker did it with just the right amount of swagger last night by hosting a capacity crowd at this soon-to-be hotspot. Not your typical restaurant/lounge opening, this one also showed that the owners were ready to embrace our fair city by donating bar proceeds to Citizen Generation. The early evening taste test and beverage sampling drew out Austin’s visible and beautiful set, who mingled in the eclectic setting. Tables full of charcuterie and cheeses were expertly displayed near the kitchen in an artful fashion, while servers passed trays…

• RECAP: Seton Breast Care Center Dinner at Kenichi

  Kevin Smothers

  31 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  The soldiers in the Seton Pink Army (a project of The Seton Fund), along with the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation, did something truly innovative on the fundraising circuit this week. Rather than holding a benefit dinner in a ballroom or private home, they took over Kenichi to host a feast with the aim to raise funds for the planned Seton Breast Cancer Center. Honorary hosts Eddie Safady, along with Carla and Jack McDonald, greeted a roomful of donors, supporters, survivors and friends at this sold out seated dinner, graciously donated by the restaurant. What a joy it was to see the…

• Long Center Trailer Food Tuesday

  Laura Villagran Johnson

  29 May 2013 | 12:40 pm

  We all have those events that we’ve been meaning tackle from our “every good Austinite must do” list. I still have a few big ones on my list, so this summer I am determined to cross them off.  With girlfriends in tow, we started with the monthly free favorite at the Long Center, Trailer Food Tuesdays. Long Center Trailer Food Tuesday [see the SlideDeck] Concept is deliciously simple – pair an eclectic mix of local trailers and live music with a to-die-for outdoor view. The trailers rotate from month-to-month and, though we wished we could eat it all, we made stops to Whole Foods Food…

• RECAP: Cocktails On The Colorado Gala Awards

  Laura Villagran Johnson

  21 May 2013 | 3:21 pm

  On the banks of the Colorado River,  Doug and Marty Murell opened their home to honor the organization and individuals that spend their time protecting the waters that flow near their home and many in the region. The Colorado River Alliance, formerly the Colorado River Foundation, announced their new name and reaffirmed their focus on the area at their 12th Annual Cocktails on the Colorado Gala. Each year at the event, the organization recognizes individuals devoted to the preservation of the region and river.  Many received recognition including Ray Wilkerson, who was presented with…

• FIVE FOR FRIDAY Experiences the 2013 Downtown Living Tour

  Kevin Smothers

  17 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  It’s the end of the week, which means it must be time for another installment of our Five for Friday feature, where we give you five fun facts about an upcoming event. Today, we feature the Downtown Living Tour, organized by the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA), which takes place this Sunday, May 19, from 10:30am to 5pm at a variety of locations across the central city. So put your urban thinking caps on kids, and see if you are as knowledgeable about downtown living as you think you are! For instance, did you know: 1.  While you may think that downtown living is all…

• 

  PlanAnEvent.org

• Wedding Planning Fail, Bride and Groom Entrance Goes Horribly Wrong (Comedy Video)

  Andrew Maxwell

  14 Jun 2013 | 9:33 am

  When it comes to wedding planning, quite often the goal of the wedding planner is to make the bride and groom’s special day unique. And considering that there are a lot of weddings being planned, that can be quite a challenge. Case in point. In the video below, it’s obvious that the bride and groom are perhaps active, outdoors people. So the planner’s intent here was to create an entrance that would fit with the personality of the couple. Sounds good enough on paper, right? If the goal was to make the wedding , and in particular the entrance, a memorable event, well then…

• What Important Food Event Planning Decision Enhances Success?

  Randy Markus

  13 Jun 2013 | 11:42 am

  Photo courtesy of www.purplerainvineyard.com When it comes to event planning it seems we always explore what an event planner is responsible for as well as the skills and expertise needed to achieve success. And most times will gloss over the importance of some of the event planning daily decisions and outcomes. Many say when it comes to event planning the success is the outcome of hard work and a comprehensive, detailed blueprint. Outlining and executing a plan of this size can take an unbelievable amount of effort and know-how. And just the creating, planning and all that is involved can…

• Airline On Time Records, Who Has the Best Flight Arrival Time?

  Andrew Maxwell

  12 Jun 2013 | 11:52 am

  photo by www.dreamstime.com A flight arrival time matters. Ask event planners what component of a program they dread most and, more times than not, they’ll tell you it’s the transportation portion that drives them crazy. You see if the event planner is organizing a convention then they are also concerned, or rather tasked, with getting all of the delegates from many destinations to the one where the meeting is being held. Many Travelers Judge Commercial Airlines on Their Flight Arrival Time You’ve probably been in a situation where you knew your flight would not be operating…

• Party Planning Minus the Stress!

  Randy Markus

  11 Jun 2013 | 10:45 am

  No matter the occasion, it always sounds like a great idea…let’s have a party. But with the reality of life, daily commitments and with work constantly getting in the way, it can make even the thought of party planning intimidating. Because of what I do for a living, I am often asked for some party planning tips and how to go about successfully planning a party. And really there are so many things that can be done to ensure a happy and stress free party for all including the host. I can frequently be found uttering; party planning is meant to be as fun as the party, party planning is…

• Are Event Planners Accepting Lower Customer Service Standards?

  Andrew Maxwell

  7 Jun 2013 | 5:22 am

  photo by www.memecenter.com With technology, event planners have become quite efficient at planning and executing events. But, are we starting to overlook customer service standards? This is a discussion that I plan to continue having with event planners over the several weeks/months. Customer Service Standards Are Playing Second Fiddle to Technology When I started out in the hospitality industry, I was fortunate enough to have worked with a maître d’ that put good customer service above everything else. It was the days where “the customer is always right” was front and…

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  My Meeting Professional

• Creating An Emotional Arc Within Your Conference Experience

  Jeff Hurt

  19 Jun 2013 | 12:37 am

  Attendees experience a variety of emotions during a typical conference experience. Their short two- or three-day experience rivals that of any fictional drama. Hopes and dreams fill their minds. Anxiety, anticipation, excitement and fear jerk their emotions like a tilt-a-whirl. Egos and status posture for the lead emotional position. Emotions go from frustrations to fulfillment to frustrations in a matter of minutes. Read more

• Hospitality businesses warned about dangers of rising costs of raw materials

  Big Hospitality

  19 Jun 2013 | 12:33 am

  Almost a third of UK hotels and catering firms are looking to cut costs due to the rising prices of raw materials, according to new research. Read more

• Why Adults Want To Learn

  Jeff Hurt

  18 Jun 2013 | 12:45 am

  As an adult, what drives you to learn? Enjoyment? Fun? Growth? Developing new skills? Seeking a new career? Job promotion? Professional certification requirements? New experiences? Supervisor mandates? All of the above? None of the above? The Motivations To Learn ASAE’s research, The Decision To Learn, states that the top two reasons people join nonprofit associations are: Education and Professional Development Receiving Cutting Edge Information Read more

• Former Hotel du Vin GM creates boutique hotel company Bonne Nuit

  Big Hospitality

  18 Jun 2013 | 12:42 am

  Nick Lawson, a former general manager at Hotel du Vin Harrogate, has created a new boutique hotel company called Bonne Nuit, a brand he is aiming to roll out across the UK after establishing it at The Balmoral hotel in Harrogate. Read more  

• Why Your Conference Needs A Listening Space

  Jeff Hurt

  17 Jun 2013 | 1:27 am

  Our world is noisy! Our conferences are even noisier. One is the noise of chatter, shuttles, people walking in hallways, smartphones beeping, espresso machines, banquet staff clattering dishes, speakers presenting and more. Those noises can irritate us, especially when they disrupt conference proceedings. Most of us have learned how to tune those noises out to be able to focus on what is important to us. The tougher noise comes from within us. The fears of the unknown and failure, and how those fears drive us to anger or paralysis. The hubris and arrogance of “knowing better” and that the…

• 

  P&V Enterprises

• Thoughts About The UnConference

  Pat Ahaesy

  18 Jun 2013 | 8:56 am

  Thoughts About The UnConference What is an Un-Conference? An unconference is a participant-driven meeting. The term “unconference” has been applied, or self-applied, to a wide range of gatherings that try to avoid one or more aspects of a conventional conference, such as high fees, sponsored presentations, and top-down organization. For example, in 2006, CNNMoney applied [...]

• The Meeting Planner Identity Crisis

  Pat Ahaesy

  12 Jun 2013 | 6:50 am

  The Meeting Planner Identity Crisis or “We Ain’t Got No Respect” This is a topic that has been brewing inside me for sometime. Certain incidents bring this feeling of dismay and frustration. The most recent story about the IRS prompted me to blog about this. Frankly, the general public, government and many other entities don’t [...]

• When and How To Outsource Meeting and Events Help – 10 Tips

  Pat Ahaesy

  22 May 2013 | 10:46 am

  When and How To Outsource Meeting and Events Help – 10 Tips Recently I read a post from someone who is a one person meetings and events department for a corporation. She listed everything that she does and after many years of doing this she is very tired.seems that each time she was asked to [...]

• Using Event Technology Effectively

  Pat Ahaesy

  16 May 2013 | 11:42 am

  Clearly technology has changed and continues to change our lives, both personally and at our jobs. Meeting and Event Planners confront this all the time.  We hear about every kind of technology or whiz bang gadget. I personally love to use technology. But, before I recommend a technology for a client event I ask is [...]

• Event Planner Concerns About Deceptive Pricing

  Pat Ahaesy

  8 May 2013 | 8:19 am

  Recently, I read an excellent article by Alan Kleinfeld, titled “Smart Budget: Drip Pricing Primer”, an extremely important concept for all in the meeting planning and event planning business. What does Kleinfeld mean by “Drip Pricing”?  He says that according to Juanita Gaynor, president of Elegant Affairs by Juanita, drip pricing is a technique in [...]

• 

  Event Checklist Blog

• Event Checklist Link Round Up – My Week on Event Planning

  Arwin Adriano

  16 Jun 2013 | 9:05 am

  I was thinking of something to share here on Event Checklist though I wasn’t able to come up with something more interesting so I spend my hour reading other blogs until I was able to stumble on a link round up blog post from where bloggers share blogs that they find very interesting. From there I was inspired to start my very own version of it and decided to start it today. I think this is the best time for me to introduce this round up here on EventChecklist.net and hopefully continue sharing valuable event planning post throughout the web. Event Planning Round Up Here I will share to you…

• Everything You Need to Know When Organising an Event

  Guest Blogger

  13 Jun 2013 | 8:05 am

  Whether you are planning a charity event, a Christmas party or a big birthday bash, it is important that you understand how to organise an event efficiently. A person has to be very skilled to be able to organise an event without facing any problems – this is because there is just so much to consider. To give you a little help when planning your own special event – here are some of the things you will need to think about: The Agenda The first thing you will need to ask yourself when organising an event is – ‘What is the event for?’ Is it a surprise birthday party? Are you planning a…

• Using Guest Workshops to Encourage Company Professional Development

  Arwin Adriano

  10 Jun 2013 | 6:52 am

  Everyone is motivated to do something that interests them, and ideally, you'd like your employees all to be motivated to do better business. Sadly, the results of a four year survey conducted by the Glen Llopis Group do not make pretty reading for companies wanting to seize new opportunities for growth and innovation. It seems that the majority of employees are very comfortable when they're being told what do to. When assigned a task, given a special project, or asked to execute a plan, they'll certainly get the job done, but that's unfortunately as far as it goes. Those surveyed lacked the…

• How to Organize a Secret Event

  Arwin Adriano

  7 Jun 2013 | 7:55 am

  Secret events, such as concerts, performances or even lectures are a great way to capture the attention of the public. When referring to secret events, it will usually be just one fact of the event that remains undisclosed to the public, until the very last minute. It could be the location or the performer, for example. People love surprises, as long as they know that they are going to experience something worth their time and money. If you are an event planner or looking for ideas on how to plan your own secret event, here you will find some of the most useful tips and tricks to make it a…

• Choosing Furniture to Create The Right Atmosphere at Your Event

  Guest Blogger

  5 Jun 2013 | 7:28 am

  When you are planning a large event such as a wedding, birthday party or an anniversary celebration you want to make it perfect. Most people spend lots of time planning the big day and the time and effort put in is well worth it when you see the finished result. Getting the right caterers, flowers and entertainment can be vital in making sure that your party is a success. However, as most events organisers would agree, the most important feature of any gathering is the venue. Whether you will be having a formal occasion or a something more contemporary and modern your venue will help you to…

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  Creative Personalized Keepsakes

• Thank You for Taking Our Survey!

  ksmusselman

  3 Jun 2013 | 10:17 am

  We want to be the best! And with the help of our visitors – we will be! Your input helps us improve our site! Continue reading Thank You for Taking Our Survey!The post Thank You for Taking Our Survey! appeared first on Creative Personalized Keepsakes.

• Double-Sided Printing on Bookmarks

  ksmusselman

  2 Jun 2013 | 2:28 pm

  This is the transcript to the video above on some different options for double-sided printing on bookmarks, which we do for free! Hi folks, Karen here with Creative Personalized Keepsakes. And in response to customer feedback, I thought I would present some of our bookmarks that I’ve done two-sided so that you can see Continue reading Double-Sided Printing on BookmarksThe post Double-Sided Printing on Bookmarks appeared first on Creative Personalized Keepsakes.

• Second Weddings and Vow Renewals

  ksmusselman

  1 Jun 2013 | 1:36 pm

  Second weddings can mean a second marriage after a divorce or the death of a spouse, or they can mean vow renewals for a couple who’s been married for really any length of time. And today with so many military couples having quick, run-to-a-district-justice-and-say-I-Do civil ceremonies before one or both are deployed, second weddings can Continue reading Second Weddings and Vow RenewalsThe post Second Weddings and Vow Renewals appeared first on Creative Personalized Keepsakes.

• Checkout

  ksmusselman

  30 May 2013 | 12:42 pm

  [shoppingcart] The post Checkout appeared first on Creative Personalized Keepsakes.

• Transaction Results

  ksmusselman

  30 May 2013 | 12:42 pm

  [transactionresults] The post Transaction Results appeared first on Creative Personalized Keepsakes.

• 

  Key Events Explore

• Key News Corner

  admin

  30 May 2013 | 11:22 pm

  Spring Office Bulletin - New team members on board, rolling out green initiatives, and taking a ride through the 60’s.

• Event Showcase

  admin

  7 May 2013 | 9:51 pm

  We teamed up with VisitDenmark to celebrate Scandinavian Airlines new non-stop SFO-Copenhagen route!

• It List – Spring in Napa Valley

  admin

  7 May 2013 | 9:14 pm

  Go beyond the vineyard! Key Event's top five hot spots in wine country this Spring.

• Favorite Uses of Event Tech, Art & Design

  Marisa Ceballos

  7 Feb 2013 | 10:16 am

  Blending technology, art and design to create the perfect event environment.

• Golf Goes Green

  Kelly Stoneberg

  17 Jan 2013 | 11:58 am

  Click here to read: Golf Goes Green by Alex Palmer.

• 

  Announce It! Party Planning Tips and Ideas

• Elephant Themed Baby Shower Ideas

  Administrator

  15 Jun 2013 | 3:25 pm

  Elephant Themed Baby Shower Ideas What a fun baby shower theme! You can get really creative when planning an elephant themed shower. Always start your planning by choosing a shower date. Next you will need to decide on a venue. Whether you are having a shower at a relatives home, or you have chosen a neutral location at a hall or another facility. Be sure to make a list of the guests. Once you have decided on the guest list you will want to choose elephant themed baby shower invitations. The invitations above are designed in pink for a newborn girl. Or if the expecting mother is having a boy,…

• Baby Shower Invitations

  Administrator

  10 Jun 2013 | 12:50 pm

  Baby Shower Invitations For The Chic and Trendy Mom We have added a new line of chic baby shower invitations exclusive to Announce It! These new baby invitations are perfect for the trendy new mom who is not having a cutesy shower, but wants her shower to reflect her personal style. Are you planning a baby shower or do you know someone who is? Be sure to check out the first step in planning a shower, the invitations.   A baby shower is so much fun to plan and attend. Some are cute and fun, while others are planned with style and grace. If your style is contemporary, chic and trendy then…

• Giveaway: Nascar® 3 Pc Baby Crib Bedding Set from Stork Baby Gift Baskets

  Administrator

  7 Jun 2013 | 8:37 am

  Enter for a chance to Win a Nascar® 3 Pc Baby Crib Bedding Set Giveaway   Are you or someone you know wanting to decorate their nursery in a Nascar theme? What is even better is our friends at Stork Baby Gift Baskets are currently offering this outstaning giveaway and a chance to win this fabulous 3 piece Nascar baby crib bedding set. What an adorable way to decorate your nursery, perfect for any family who are race fans.  The items in this giveaway include  3 piece: a quilt, sheet and crib skirt. The quilt measures 42″ x 32″, the sheet is a standard 52″ x 28″ with…

• Planning Western Themed Baby Showers

  Administrator

  28 May 2013 | 12:21 pm

  Western themed baby showers can be a great way for people who love the outdoors or who live in the West to have a party that really works for them. Planning this type of baby shower takes work, though, and you’ll want to get started early so you have plenty of time to find what you need. One of the first things to consider is how you’re going to decorate. Fortunately, you can get all kinds of things for Western baby showers that can really bring the party to life. It is a Boy or a Girl? If you know the sex of the baby, that will help a lot. While cowgirl baby…

• Free $25.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway from Announce It!

  Administrator

  18 Apr 2013 | 8:49 am

  Free $25.00 Gift Certificate Giveaway from Announce It! $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway Everyone loves freebies and with the current economic status, we have decided to offer three new promotions. Enter for a chance to win a $25 Gift Certificate to CustomCandyBarWrapper.com. Announce It! is proud to partner with three fabulous bloggers for a product review and giveaway promotion. This fabulous offer is open to US residents. Must be 18 years old and a resident of the US in order to enter. This offer ends on April 19, 2013 at 12 AM CST. Sign up details are available from our friends at…

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  Estate Weddings and Events

• Winter Wedding Shoes: Your Ultimate Guide to Soles, Suedes, Straps, and Shades

  Bree Brouwer

  18 Jun 2013 | 9:45 am

  Like many other women, I’m addicted to shoes. I’m fascinated by the history of shoes, like how ancient Egyptians mostly wore sandals, and even the fictional tales around them, like Cinderella’s glass slipper or Dorothy’s ruby red shoes. I know not all women fawn over footwear, and not all women even care to go buy a new pair (some may even loathe that task, though I’ve yet to meet one of these ladies). However, those who do love shoes put lots of time and effort into finding just the right ones to go with their wardrobe. This is definitely true of many winter…

• Top 10 Totally Unique Wedding Venue Ideas

  Abigail Geer

  17 Jun 2013 | 9:06 am

  Everybody loves a traditional church wedding, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box for your big day. From treehouses to castles the choices for your wedding backdrop are endless. Get inspired by these creative and totally unique wedding venue ideas…     Yurt –   If you’ve never heard of a yurt before then you’re going to want to go ahead and Google them right now. Trust me, you’re going to fall in love. Yurts are a beautiful and exciting solution for an alternative wedding venue, providing the perfect space for you and your guests to…

• Outdoor Wedding Mistakes to Avoid, Destination Wedding Invitations, and more!

  Nancy Ly

  15 Jun 2013 | 9:35 am

  Photo of our featured estate of the week, Cape Cod House   Hello Estate Weddings and Events fans! They say that spring is the season of love, but boy have we been feeling all the love these summer days with the multitude of weddings we’ve had the pleasure of hosting. Two of the most recent weddings took place here in San Diego: Kristen and Chris at the Emma Estate and Nakiya and Will at the Bali Gardens Estate– be sure to view the amazing photographs and read the story about these amazing weddings. If you are in need of tips for your own wedding, our Client Relations Manager…

• Outdoor Wedding Tips & Mistakes to Avoid

  Claire Lewis

  14 Jun 2013 | 1:28 pm

  If you’ve googled all the common problems that might occur with a backyard wedding, you may have forgotten a few things. As an event manager for Estate Weddings and Events, I’ve seen my fair share of some common and not so common occurrences that can be avoided when hosting an outdoor event.   Here are my top 5 often forgotten and overlooked outdoor wedding mistakes…     1. Linens     I highly encourage that couples consider a non-white/ivory/cream colored linen for their dining tables.  White linens can be unforgiving at best. Bugs happen, and…

• Romance and Charm at the Emma Estate

  Elizabeth R.

  13 Jun 2013 | 1:57 pm

  Kristen and Chris’ charming garden wedding reminded us of all the reasons we love The Emma Estate! Its lush gardens and simple beauty make the perfect backdrop for an elegant and romantic wedding. Elegance and romance were certainly the words to describe Kristen and Chris’ stunning wedding under the warmth of the Rancho Santa Fe sun. Dreamlike walkways and gardens set the mood perfectly! It can be easy to loose sight of the reasons for marriage in the hustle and bustle of planning; however, Kristen and Chris’ intimate ceremony and reception never lost focus of love and…

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  Fairplex Insider

• Event Industry News: Digital De-tox, dronemania, iPhone cleans up

  Heather

  17 Jun 2013 | 12:01 pm

  There’s a lot to report on the event industry this week, from social media and technology changes to new concepts and emerging trends. Keep reading to get a quick snapshot of a weekend of digital detox, changes on Facebook, drones in QSR and more. Campgrounded.org Digital De-tox: Have you ever wondered what life would look like if you didn’t have your smartphone, laptop and other digital everythings in your life? Enter Camp Grounded, a weekend-long event with zero technology. This past weekend 200 campers “roughed it” at a 1970s-era Boy Scout Camp just a few hours away…

• L.A. Weekender: Man of Steel, poly-kroma, Happy Father’s Day

  Heather

  14 Jun 2013 | 9:49 am

  Here we are again at Friday! Summer weekends are especially glorious because the weather is fantastic–perfect for cliff jumping, surfing the waves or, you know, just taking a nap in the backyard Keep reading to figure out what your weekend plans should be: Image taken from Legendary Films 1. Man of Steel: Take it easy tonight (we have a fun-filled itinerary for Saturday) and opt for dinner and seeing Christopher Nolan’s latest creation, Man of Steel, opening in theaters this weekend. 2. poly-kroma: Support Cal Poly Pomona and check out poly-kroma, the art show put on by their…

• Event Industry News: Sharing hotel rooms with strangers

  Heather

  10 Jun 2013 | 8:52 am

  Image courtesy of winnond at FreeDigitalPhotos.net Sharing hotel rooms with strangers: Easynest, a new website, allows travelers to book hotel rooms and split the cost… with a total stranger. Creepy in theory, efficient in reality. Someone looking for a comfortable stay in a hotel room can partner with someone else and split the cost of one night in half (since most hotels charge for 2 people per room anyway.) The hotels do not take part in the website or partner agreement process. You and your room partner take care of costs just like a normal hotel stay. One of several questionable…

• L.A. Weekender: Free doughnuts, the ultimate LA block party and food festivals galore

  Heather

  6 Jun 2013 | 2:52 pm

  Is it just us or did this week seem to stretch for an exceptionally long time? Maybe it’s because last week we only had 4 days at the office thanks to Memorial Day or maybe it’s the June gloom that’s thrown us off but either way we are embracing the promise of sunshine and summer air. That being said…here’s what to do in Los Angeles this weekend: Image courtesy of Apolonia at FreeDigitalPhotos.net 1. National Doughnut Day: You might consider making Friday your diet “cheat day” because there are free doughnuts for everyone. Krispy Kreme and…

• Brace Yourselves. Summer is Coming.

  Heather

  6 Jun 2013 | 8:40 am

  memegenerator.net All Game of Thrones memes aside, our warmest season is upon us. School books are shut, windows are open and summer is well on its way. (Some would argue its already here, but according to science, the official start of summer is June 21. So.) It doesn’t quite feel like summer to us until the rides, circus performers and other Fair paraphernalia come rolling in but we have plenty to occupy us in the meantime! We try our best not to do too much promotion here on the blog but we are genuinely excited for everything we have coming and would hate for you to miss out on your…