Oct 21, 2019
I first met Connie Luc when one of my former interns referred her for an internship in the Sybase events department, back in 2005. I hired her for the summer, and she was one of the most organized people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. As it turns out, that internship helped her decide that she wanted to pursue a career in events.
Luc was only in the Bay Area for school (she attended U.C. Berkeley), and didn’t stay long before moving back down to Los Angeles, where she quickly found employment at City National Bank. She had interned there for three summers and they were eager to… more
Oct 04, 2019
For anyone following along with the saga of the first-ever Haute Dokimazo Secret Family Reunion, big news: you no longer need to have attended a Haute Dokimazo event in order to qualify to attend SFR!
The event, which will take place Nov. 2-7, is an immersive learning experience for business, marketing and event professionals. It’s limited to just 80 people, and more than half the slots are already taken.
On Nov. 2, registrants will meet at the TWA Hotel at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York, with a suitcase and passport in hand. The first activity on the agenda is the big “reveal” party… more
Oct 02, 2019
A conference with several thousand people sounds like an unlikely place to zen out. Yet the organizers of IMEX America and one major hotel company, understanding the immense benefits of meditation, helped conference goers do exactly that at this year’s event, held Sept. 10-12 in Las Vegas.
The IMEX Be Well Lounge
The event organizers behind IMEX America chose Las Vegas-based Lee Papa as the wellness expert to lead the mindfulness exercises inside its Be Well Lounge. Throughout four days (including Smart Monday), she led 25 guided meditations, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes each. It was a… more
Sep 26, 2019
The results are in — SPIN:Senior Planners Industry Network has announced the 2019 recipients of the SPIN:40 Over 40 awards. This initiative was created in 2017 to recognize and honor senior meeting planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators and pioneers.
This year, despite the 40 Over 40 moniker, the association has chosen to honor just 28 individuals.
“This is an evolving process and we changed some of our criteria, focusing more on giving back, innovation and accomplishments,” explained Tracey Smith, SPIN’s Executive Director. “While we had many candidates, the ones… more
Sep 20, 2019
Last year, Cori Dossett, president of Conferences Designed based in Dallas, spent two weeks in New Zealand. It was meant to be a holiday, but despite being 7,500 miles from home, it didn’t feel like one.
“I literally worked half the vacation — some days I did not leave my hotel room,” recalls Dossett. “It was unfortunate and sad in so many ways.”
This meeting planner’s experience is relatable on many levels. It’s hard to take time away from work in this industry, and even more so when you’re the boss. As a self-employed small business owner, Dossett says she has freedom to take as much… more
Sep 13, 2019
Ricky Kalmon isn’t your everyday motivational speaker. A mindset expert, celebrity hypnotist and motivational speaker by trade, Kalmon works to engage and inspire event groups through his customized entertainment and keynote program that blends hypnosis with high-energy mindset coaching. We sat down with Kalmon to find out how a positive mental attitude can not only help us become healthier, happier and less stressed, but also more successful in our personal and professional lives.
How did you get into hypnotism?
I grew up in the entertainment business and was a child magician. I went to a… more
Aug 26, 2019
Fall is always a busy season for event professionals. Summer vacations are over; kids are back in school; and as we get well into the second half of the year, it feels more like a new beginning. Inevitably, there are a number of industry events to help you keep your professional development going strong. If you have the education and travel funds available, and enough time to use them, here are some events to consider attending.
Haute Dokimazo – Sept. 9, Austin
A Haute Dokimazo signature event is like no conference you've experienced as an event industry professional. There are no keynotes… more
Aug 14, 2019
SPINCon, the annual conference produced by SPIN: Senior Planners Industry Network, will be held Nov. 3-5, 2019 at Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course. SPIN is the world’s largest association for senior-level event planners who have at least 10 years of full-time planning experience.
In honor of this year’s theme, which is “Are You Game,” gamification will be included in the event’s app, and speakers have been tasked with finding ways to make their sessions more attendee-focused and include elements of fun.
The conference also will encompass SPIN’s six core values… more
Aug 08, 2019
Known for her fierce leadership, creative approach to events and impressive collection of brightly colored Tieks flats, Angie Ahrens, CMP, is a well-known face in the corporate events industry. She’s currently vice president of operations for Leadercast, a role she began in November last year. Prior to that, she worked as senior director of meetings and events with Connect, managing more than 30 shows for meeting professionals. And in all her spare time, she finds a way to give back, currently serving on Events Industry Council’s Sustainability Committee as well as MPI’s Women’s Advisory… more
Jul 31, 2019
ILEA Live 2019 will bring together event professionals in Minneapolis, Aug. 8-10. The International Live Events Association’s annual educational conference is focused on business strategies, leadership, inspiration and trends.
The goal for the conference is to provide a forum where attendees can strengthen their creative output, sharpen their business strategies and find inspiration along what ILEA officials refer to as “the event horizon.” For corporate event professionals, that means taking the opportunity to learn how event planning and production works in other industries, and… 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