Blogs

Mar 27, 2024
Last June, nearly 100 business events industry leaders and advocates went to Capitol Hill to ask their members of Congress to do three important things: Encourage the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to finish its proposed anti-scammer rule Advance legislation to help our industry train the next generation workforce Introduce legislation to help bring down visa wait times. So, what has happened since then? In February, the FTC finalized its Government and Business Impersonation Rule, which takes effect on April 1 and will go after scammers who impersonate businesses in our industry.  In… more
Mar 20, 2024
Are you running events with a small team? Many event marketers and event managers I've talked with are in a similar situation. They rely on coworkers in other departments with limited event knowledge to help on event day. Sound familiar? If you're nodding right now, here are five recommendations on how to execute on-site with a small staff. 1. Leverage Technology Automate tasks — from attendee registration to feedback collection — with an event management platform. A link to my platform recommendations is available here. Skip manual check-in or pre-print/name badge stuffing. Go with on-… more
Mar 13, 2024
As events continue to be a hub of excitement and collaboration for many, it’s important to be aware of the impact they present. Understanding the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions produced and how much waste is being expelled during an event is just one of the steps in creating a more sustainable path going forward.  Sustainability is more than environmental action, it has four pillars. Environment is one focus area and the other three focus on Human, Social and Economic improvement. While attendees can try their best to be cognizant of these and refrain from wasting what they don’t… more
Mar 06, 2024
Event cancellation insurance is a specialized insurance that provides financial coverage for organizations if they must cancel, postpone, abandon or relocate an event. It is essential for organizations hosting trade shows, conferences, concerts, festivals, celebrations or sporting events to maintain event cancellation insurance to improve their chances of recovering their losses if they cannot hold an event. Obtaining full insurance coverage is often impossible under the “inability” definitions in these policies, which mean either a “physical inability” (the facility is no longer operational… more
Feb 28, 2024
For years, the business events industry has been calling on policymakers to take action against the scammers who prey on our industry. On Feb. 15, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) answered those calls with its new Government and Business Impersonation Rule, which will target scammers who impersonate businesses and government entities. The FTC takes action This new rule directly targets the hotel reservation scams and attendee list sale scams that have targeted conference and trade show exhibitors and attendees for ages. How? The Government and Business Impersonation Rule will allow the… more
Feb 21, 2024
The year 2024 comes with some good news: Almost half of association, corporate and third-party meeting professionals surveyed by Encore in December 2023 expect their 2024 budgets to increase, while 44% expect to remain flat and just 12% expect a decrease.   Corporate and third-party planners report they are less likely than association planners to cut their AV spending over other budget items, but overall, the group ranks props, entertainment and offsite events as investments that are most difficult to justify for their stakeholders, according to the Winter 2023 Encore Planner Pulse Survey… more
Feb 14, 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is transforming every industry, allowing enterprises to enhance performance, improve productivity and gain insights from data. A recent study by analyst firm IDC found that 71% of survey respondents are using AI tools in their organizations, and 22% are planning to do so within the next 12 months. As more and more companies adopt AI technology, IDC expects worldwide spending on AI solutions to grow to more than $500 billion in 2027. The digital events technology sector is being transformed by AI. Event tech platforms are increasingly harnessing the… more
Feb 07, 2024
It's impossible to imagine even a mid-sized event without the support of an event management platform or app. However, the tools designed to enhance customer experience can sometimes lead to headaches for event organizers and overall dissatisfaction by exhibitors and attendees. Let’s explore the nine most common event tech problems and how to solve them. 1. Poor Networking Opportunities People attend business events primarily for the chance to network with industry peers, decision-makers and fellow professionals, so make sure your event app has a powerful networking tool. Features such as… more
Jan 31, 2024
In January, the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) released its 2024 public policy agenda. The headline: ECA is ‘all in’ on supporting government policies to help you attract and train the business events industry’s future workforce.   Why? Our industry has a skilled workforce shortage. But it’s not just us. Our country has a skilled workforce shortage, and working together, we can make a difference. How is ECA helping? In Washington, DC we are advocating for two bipartisan bills in Congress with the potential to be game changers for the industry. Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act… more
Jan 24, 2024
Sustainability is a hot topic in events. In the age of climate change and heightened environmental awareness, it’s important to ensure that events are as sustainable as possible. Fortunately, one energy-efficient lighting technology can help do just that: LED.  LED screens and energy-efficient lighting offer numerous benefits for event organizers and exhibitors looking to reduce their environmental footprint while also making an economic impact – i.e., saving you money on your event budget.  Brighter, dynamic and more engaging screen displays on LED can take the event to the next level,… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more