EXPERTS & OPINIONS

Sep 29, 2017
Today (September 29) is National Coffee Day. I started drinking coffee when I was in college. It was summertime, and I had a temp job doing data entry. The office where I was working was overly air-conditioned, and no matter how many layers I put on my hands would always be cold. There was a small office kitchen which was stocked with boxes upon boxes of Swiss Miss cocoa packets. “Hot chocolate!” I thought. “Delicious!”  And I proceeded to prepare cocoa to warm my hands and my insides. At first, this was great. Then one day I looked at one of the Swiss Miss boxes. It was nearly empty, so… more
Sep 27, 2017
Nothing ruins an outdoor event faster than severe weather. However, intentional planning for weather conditions is key for a successful outdoor event or meeting. Weather can be tricky and hard to predict, but with a little insight and a few tips, any event planner can be prepared for what’s in the forecast. Most people rely on free weather apps for up-to-date weather alerts. However, they lack real-time, location-specific information, are unreliable and can’t accurately predict where and when lightning will strike. Delayed lightening detection is nearly as bad as not having it at all. It can… more
Sep 21, 2017
Organising a business conference can seem like a daunting task as you start out; there are usually lots of ever changing factors to take into consideration so it can sometimes feel as if you are chasing your tail.  However, if correctly planned for and if process is taken one step at a time, it can be easier than you first think and before you know it you’re a professional conference organiser running a successful event!  Here are some of my tips for running a smooth event: Venue It may be obvious, but the venue is one of the most important factors of organising the business conference. … more
Sep 20, 2017
I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Hillary Neumann, meeting and events coordinator at Celanese, to discuss some of the challenges unique to corporate planning. She helped identify three challenges that every corporate meeting planner faces, and provided insights into how her team overcomes these challenges.   1. Buy-in from the executive team Neumann surprised me when she said budgets aren’t a big challenge for her team. “We’re transparent and hold onto historical data,” she said. “We know where we are financially. The real challenge is getting everyone on the same page at the… more
Sep 16, 2017
When I was approached about the editorial role for Corporate Event News, I was thrilled. I’ve read TSNN (top online news source for trade shows) since its inception, and have a tremendous amount of respect for Rachel Wimberly, TSNN’s President and Editor-in-Chief. Knowing that this new publication is backed by TSNN gives it credibility, and I know the audience is there. As a corporate event professional, I always felt that there should be more industry news and content geared specifically towards me. The opportunity to help find, generate, and share that content brings together three of the… more
Nov 09, 2022
Today, every experience with customers matters. One survey found that 76% of customers would quit doing business with a brand after a single bad experience. This holds true even when you don’t control the messaging, as is the case with influencer-created content. So, every experience must be crafted carefully in order to build and maintain customer loyalty. Let’s face it: Audiences have endless choices at their fingertips. This allows them to be picky. They often make purchasing decisions based on which brand seems the most relevant and memorable. For instance, let’s say Brand A creates an… more
Nov 29, 2021
Live events are again in flux. Depending on where you are in the world, your in-person trade show or conference could be anywhere from full steam ahead to on the verge of cancellation. Use this checklist to make sure you’ve done all you can to ensure a safe working environment for your in-person participants and staff. Without them, the show can’t go on. Venue Accreditation: Choose venues—convention centers and hotels—that have received certification from the Global BioRisk Advisory Council (GBAC). Ventilation: Even though your venue of choice features windows and doors that open to the… more
Dec 08, 2020
You’ve undoubtedly been hearing a lot lately – and not just in this space – about the COVID-19 pandemic giving rise to something often described as the Zoom Era. Virtual events, you see, have been a necessary function of maintaining public health, social distancing and general decorum. Whether it’s a work meeting, symposium, classroom or concert, we’ve all been dutifully doing our part to suck it up, hunker down and log on. For now. But there’s an implication weaved into that outlook – an assumption that we’ll soon go back to the way things were. We’re here to tell you: Don’t hold your… more
Sep 15, 2017
Most of us have heard a variation of this question at some point in our lives: if everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you do the same? The point of this rhetorical question was meant to drive home the concept of exploring your own path rather than following in the footsteps of others. It was great advice but as marketers, many of us find ourselves following the industry pack and landing on the hard ground of unoriginality. Best practices exist for a reason. They lay the foundation and give marketers a solid starting point. But we live in an increasingly competitive age where consumers… more
Sep 15, 2017
During a recent Thinking Thursday event, we gathered industry experts to discuss ideas for solving the elusive audience attraction mystery, which often feels like harnessing a unicorn. The concept sounds sparkly and amazing, but the process of corralling attendees – not just any attendees, but the RIGHT ones – and keep them coming back can feel unrealistic. While it’s tempting to dust off tried-and-true marketing tactics during planning, especially with limited time, staff and budgets, you’ll reap better results with fresh approaches that go digital. Between our experts’ astute advice and… more
Partner Voices
  MGM Resorts is renowned for its exceptional service and diverse venue options across Las Vegas, Detroit, Springfield, National Harbor, Biloxi, and Atlantic City, providing flexible spaces for meetings of any size. Beyond these offerings, MGM Resorts distinguishes itself through a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability, making it an ideal choice for your next meeting.  At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more