Corporate meeting planners are no stranger to pressure: coordinating innumerable details, managing massive budgets and dealing with the preferences, opinions and emotions of multiple stakeholders isn’t a job for the faint of heart. But after attending the recent IMEX America 2018 conference, it’s clear there’s a new challenge underway as the very notion of what it means to be a corporate meeting planner evolves to meet the demands of a changing world.

A few years ago I joined the admission team of a prestigious East Coast law school. Their processes were tight and their event menu was well-thought-out. My role was to execute and manage these events to their expected standards, but I knew these events could serve more than their target audiences by bringing in partners who wanted to extend their relationship with our students, faculty and administration.

There is a lot of work that goes into planning and executing an event. Because you and your team are so focused on getting every detail right, it can be easy to think that your job is done once the curtain comes down. Nothing could be further from the truth. The moment itself is only the beginning. You need to focus on sustaining the momentum well beyond when the last attendee leaves the venue. Unless you take the right steps with your sponsors, team and attendees, any progress your organization might have made will stall.

Event planners are on the forefront of embracing new technology to add excitement and engagement to meetings and special events, but going with the very latest technology can be a budget breaker. Now, with the advent of LED video walls, it’s possible to make a huge impact at an affordable price point. Whether you are looking to have a dynamic backdrop for a keynote presentation or an interactive entryway to your event, LED video technology can make a lasting impression on your guests.

Technology development has been on a roll, churning out groundbreaking advancements every year. Be it virtual reality, artificial intelligence, facial recognition, or machine learning – every tantalizing technology has, in some way or the other, made its presence felt in the events industry. Event planners and attendees have capitalized on, and thoroughly enjoyed, the multitude of benefits these new technologies bring. Taking participant engagement to greater heights, event technologies have the potential to revolutionize how corporate and social events are being planned and executed.

Touch is one of the first ways we learn as a kid. Toddlers are practically obsessed with being able to touch and feel everything so they can learn more. This is because the ability to physically touch and hold something can help increase our interest and help us understand things better.

Touchable tech appeals exactly to this human nature to touch and experience things on our own. With simple solutions that engage more than just our brain but also our five senses, touchable tech is exactly what it sounds like: technology that you can touch.

Are you planning a corporate incentive trip, retreat, or meeting and need to add a "wow" factor? If you answered yes, below are some unique ways to leverage relationships with your stakeholders, members or sponsors to add more value and to create an unforgettable event!

The season is upon us. Yes, fall is approaching, but I’m talking IMEX season. Your mailbox is likely full of invitations to an array of IMEX events. From simple breakfast meetings to VIP dinners there are more networking events available than hours in the day. Even if you attend every event to which you’re invited you’re likely missing some quality opportunities to meet and experience people while at the show.

With so much color, noise and evolution in the event tech landscape, it is sometimes a challenge to answer the question of “how can I get my stake holders to buy the ticket and take the ride.” Yes, it is true that “If you build it, some people will come,” however early adopters and innovators do not represent the bell curve that is often required for event technology to be truly impactful. As such, here are six simple steps to consider when you are looking to encourage technology adoption at your event.  

This post was co-written by Jessica Everett and Jorge Aguilar, a partner at Prophet Consulting. 

Staying up-to-date with the latest technology is vital, and as a result, developer conferences abound.  Microsoft Ignite, Apple WWDC, Facebook F8, and Google I/O have become a standard way for developers to learn about emerging trends, hone their skills, expand their knowledge, network with other professionals, and learn about the newest products coming down the pipeline.