EXPERTS & OPINIONS

Jan 11, 2018
Tech helps the brand experience world go around, from audio-visual solutions to the latest innovations in digital marketing. Tech is precise, mathematical and useful. It can be eye-catching and fun, too. But ultimately, tech is just part of the show organizer machine that powers event marketing and sponsorship. Stop the engines for one second. What if I told you event tech, at its best, can make shows more personal and create deeper connections between you or your sponsors and audiences? It seems counterintuitive but it’s true. Good tech makes events more human. Ready to put some octane… more
Jan 02, 2018
It’s hard to believe that 2018 is already here. Corporate Event News was launched just over three months ago, on Sept 20, and the time has flown by. Thank you for your readership, for subscribing to our weekly newsletter, and for contributing your ideas, suggestions, and content. When I signed on for the editorial role at CEN, I thought I’d enjoy combining my years of experience with corporate events with my passion for writing. As it turns out, I don’t just like it – I love it.  While I’m not a news junkie like our founder, Rachel Wimberly, I find it fascinating to see what is changing in… more
Dec 20, 2017
A potential new client called me the other day asking for help planning a large meeting in conjunction with a much larger citywide event. When we received the initial inquiry, we were guardedly optimistic that this was a solid piece of new business. We prepared for the call, outlining who would handle what aspects of the conversation, establishing a flow for follow up questions and doing some preliminary research on the citywide, the client and possible venues. Within literally sixty seconds after our small talk ended, we knew that we had a familiar and frustrating problem on our hands. Here… more
Dec 11, 2017
Corporate events have the potential to be interactive meetings where industry leaders share new ideas and products with their colleagues, fostering discussions and increasing engagement. From conferences to team building events and quarterly board meetings, a number of simple factors can make a big impact on guests’ engagement and satisfaction. When planning your next corporate event consider repurposing some ideas from the most exciting social events you’ve been to. Rethinking the design or adding interactive elements will create new excitement and offer them a more memorable experience.… more
Dec 05, 2017
Every summer on beautiful Cape Cod our Convention Data Services (CDS) team organizes an advisory group event for our clients. Our annual event gathers people of different backgrounds from all over the country to network, share ideas and build relationships. With 11 years of experience planning and executing this meeting we’ve gained first-hand knowledge of what makes a corporate event successful. Here are a few tips and ideas for creating a memorable event:   Define your objective: Kick off the planning of your event by determining your objectives. What are your goals for the event? Is… more
Nov 27, 2017
Your title may be meeting planner, event coordinator, event marketing manager or vice president of conferences or some combination of the above. No matter what it is, my goal is that in five years’ time that title will be out of style and the word, ‘strategic’ will be the first word that describes the position you hold. It’s not just a title change that I want to see, it’s an entire industry shift to a strategic mindset. Here’s why: currently, most planners execute logistics. A myriad of details handled effortlessly, last minute and onsite changes are managed with aplomb, budgets are tracked… more
Nov 20, 2017
I recently spoke with a number of procurement representatives and event professionals from large corporations about how the two groups interact. For the sake of keeping to a reasonable length, the article didn’t cover everything I wanted to share. The following tips are based on those conversations, plus my own personal experience.   1. Formally Define Your Processes Do you have a Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) in place with clearly defined policies and processes? Do you have an event request or intake form that other groups can use to request assistance with events? Is… more
Nov 14, 2017
Event attendees don't just want a mobile event app. They expect it. Mobile event apps create a better user experience – making schedule-building, networking, wayfinding, and attendee engagement and interaction more efficient and trackable than ever before. But what happens once the event is over? Without a plan in place, that time, energy and resources put into developing your corporate event app can quickly be forgotten. Or worse, the app gets the dreaded “delete.” There is a way to keep your event app relevant and out of the trash bin. Event Planners should shift thinking of their mobile… more
Nov 08, 2017
Corporate events are supposed to bring some joy and refreshment to your workforce - but anyone can agree that a boring and uncomfortable corporate affair is the last thing most people want to go to. Event planning has faced considerable developments and significant changes in recent years. New event trends bring about fresh opportunities and challenges. These recent trends in corporate events will help yours outshine every work party that came before, and will make your staff eager for the next one. We're not talking about door prizes where the same old people from HR win some cheap kitchen… more
Oct 30, 2017
While there may be no such thing as a stupid question, there is a correlation between the smarter the question, the more in depth and valuable the answer will potentially be. That’s why when someone asks you to plan a meeting, regardless of how large or for whom, your first question needs to be, ‘What’s the goal of the meeting?’ You may be told, “because it’s held every year” or “we need to have an annual sales meeting. That’s just what we do” or something equally vague yet definitive and entirely unhelpful. If the person asking for the meeting can’t articulate its purpose, how can you… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.    Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more