A conference with several thousand people sounds like an unlikely place to zen out. Yet the organizers of IMEX America and one major hotel company, understanding the immense benefits of meditation, helped conference goers do exactly that at this year’s event, held Sept. 10-12 in Las Vegas.

Lemon chia breakfast bread. Spirulina goji berry energy bites. Adzuki bean brownies.

It’s safe to say Murray Hall, executive chef of Bank of Montreal Conference Center, got creative with these healthy treats dubbed “foods of the future” at MPI World Education Congress in Toronto earlier this summer. The spread was part of the inaugural Meeting Room of the Future showcase put on by IACC at WEC, intended to give a glimpse (and a taste) of what’s to come for meetings and events.

It’s no secret that trade shows and conferences produce a sizable amount of waste that becomes destined for the dumpster after just a few days in the spotlight. Having witnessed this problematic pattern for years, event management and production firm Decibel Event Management has partnered with Reborn Clothing Co. to help tackle event waste by upcycling signage, graphics and other single-use textiles into one-of-a-kind, durable products.

GSO. DMO. DMC. CVB. Our industry is full of acronyms — and it can be challenging to figure out where to go when you’re looking to book the right hotel or venue for your event.

We’ve written previously about the value of CVBs and DMOs. Now it’s time to talk about meetings and incentive representation organizations, sometimes referred to as global sales organizations (GSOs) or hospitality partner representation companies.

In recent years, mobile event applications have evolved from a novel concept into a commodity. Today, attendees expect most events to have a mobile app. The question for event planners then becomes, what app features will give attendees the best experience at their events. 

Alon Alroy, co-founder and chief marketing officer of Bizzabo, says it is becoming more challenging to drive adoption of mobile event apps because people have app fatigue. He believes corporate event planners need a great value proposition.    

Hotel ballrooms, expo halls and restaurants all serve important purposes for corporate events, but sometimes it’s necessary to break out of the event venue mold to create an impactful experience. The venue can play a key role in helping planners achieve the goals of the meeting — whether it’s a corporate retreat, team building event, client reception, seminar, user conference, or something else entirely.

Here are some ideas for unique venues that can spark even more creative ideas and make corporate meetings more successful.

Creating a sustainable food and beverage plan for your events isn’t just about reducing your carbon footprint. Ultimately, it’s about taking on the responsibility for making safe and healthy food choices for a number of people, says Tracy Stuckrath, president and chief connecting officer of Thrive Meetings & Event.

“If you think back to when we were children, what did we do all day, every day? We played.”

You know that incorporating corporate social responsibility activities during your events can be a win-win all around – for your attendees, charities in destinations that host your events, the destinations themselves, and of course, your organization. Yet you might be feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to begin. 

We've all been there — only a few hours into a looong event day, and your feet are already aching. When your feet hurt, it can truly be difficult to think about anything else. Yet aside from kicking off your professional shoes in favor of your old Nikes, what can you do to ensure your feet will be comfortable and presentable for the entire day?