Event Planning

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metavent
Jan 30, 2018
It’s no secret that younger audiences have different approaches to learning. While Baby Boomers prefer personally focused learning and classroom environments, Gen Xers are fiercely independent, self-directed and would rather learn on their own time. Millennials prefer technology and social media and expect to have the infrastructure available to work anywhere and everywhere. Now, we also have Gen Z in the mix: the generation of instant gratification. Born into a world where everything is digitized, they expect their environment to deliver a “wow” experience – and if it doesn’t, they’ll just… more
Jan 11, 2018
As the ongoing quest for business efficiency continues, it becomes more important for larger organizations to chart their course to implementing a Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP). The Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) moniker was created by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA). An SMMP is a disciplined approach to managing enterprise-wide meeting and event related processes, activities, metrics, standards and supplier strategies to achieve business objectives, quantitative cost savings, risk mitigation and optimal service levels. SMMPs have been touted as… more
Jan 04, 2018
Corporate event planners are looking ahead to what the new year may hold—focusing on the dates saved on their calendars. How can they make these events pop? What trends will impact how they plan memorable experiences for their clients?  Corporate Event News spoke to expert planners to see what trends they predict will impact the industry in the coming year.  Karen Shackman of Shackman Associates New York predicts last minute events will demand more luxury. “This will require more choices: whether it is choices of venues, choices within the venue, choices at multiple venues, and timing… more
Dec 20, 2017
Rymax Marketing Services, Inc., the largest national manufacturer’s representative in the incentive industry, has added eleven new brands to its portfolio of in-demand rewards products. Need some high-end gifts for an upcoming event? Event professionals work with Rymax to source the perfect gifts for incentive programs, sales kickoffs, executive events, loyalty programs and more. The company can customize a selection of unique gifts for clients, from bulk orders to the creation of unique merchandise bundles. “People appreciate gifts that mirror retail trends and that suit their specific… more
Nov 21, 2017
Versatility. Flexibility. A blank canvas. Corporate event planners are creative and seek event spaces that can accommodate their visions. Planners around the country identified key areas where flexibility is an integral feature of the venues they select. “The more constraints a venue has the harder it is on planners to create the vision the client would like to have for their guests,” said Courtney Lutkus, owner of Simply Radiant Events.   Space Planners want space that offers the ability to customize the experience or brand the atmosphere to make it unique. “Usually I am seeking to… more
Nov 20, 2017
Music is known to bring people together. Studies, including this one, have shown that music increases feelings of inclusion, connectivity, positive affect and also increases endorphin release – adding to those overall positive feelings. Furthermore, the study finds that singing together fosters social closeness, even in large group contexts where participants are strangers to each other. Incorporating music into corporate events is a great way to bring your audience together. Most event organizers play music to get attendees pumped up for a keynote or keep them awake in the afternoon. But… more
Nov 17, 2017
Corporate event professionals are always looking for new ways to provide attendees with memorable event experiences. We all know how stressful meetings can be and how much people appreciate a break from the crowds. Two frequent problems at events are never having enough rooms for everyone who wants to book a meeting, and even if attendees have a free hour, rarely is there any place for them to comfortably relax and recharge. It’s common to see conference photos of packed areas, with people camped out with their laptops in hallways and on the floor inside the meeting rooms. While this… more
Nov 14, 2017
From building houses through Habitat for Humanity and helping homeless pets at a local animal shelter, to helping victims of natural disasters and building bikes for underprivileged children, volunteer projects are becoming increasingly popular at meetings and conferences as companies look for ways to give back to their host communities. “(CSR teambuilding events are) a great way for people to get to know each other on a more personal level, have a little bit of fun, learn about each other and their personalities, and in a different setting rather than in an office or meeting room,”… more
Nov 07, 2017
The larger the organization and revenue stream, the more likely it is that the procurement or purchasing group will be involved with event spending. Large corporations typically have policies in place designed to help them save money and minimize both financial and legal risk. Any event with a budget greater than a certain threshold will trigger additional levels of purchasing request review and approval. Event and procurement teams often have opposite styles and mindsets. Procurement is traditionally commodity-driven, while events and marketing are all about services, which are often more… more
Oct 24, 2017
Meeting security is at the top of everyone’s minds right now. After the recent incident in Las Vegas, planners need to make sure that they – and their venues – are as prepared as possible to handle any emergency that may take place. The Exhibitions and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI) was launched in 2016 by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA). EMSSI’s mission is to protect the $283 billion U.S. meetings industry and the millions… 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