Nov 19, 2018
Julia Spangler’s website urges people to make sustainability a part of their events’ success stories. Spangler is a sustainable events consultant and speaker specializing in waste diversion and zero waste events. Her services include green events, green weddings and helping venues become more sustainable.
She also recently launched an online course, “How to Plan Zero Waste Events,” that teaches event organizers how to keep waste out of the landfill, improve guest satisfaction and achieve zero-waste results.
I met Spangler at the ILEA Live conference, where she was presenting a breakout… more
Nov 09, 2018
If you attend a fair amount of industry conferences, you’ve likely run into Jim Spellos, an incredibly popular and engaging technology speaker whose educational sessions on topics ranging from mobile apps and digital security to VR and other hot technologies have a reputation for packing a room. But besides his love for tech and rock music (he’s an accomplished musician and songwriter, too!), Spellos harbors a lesser-known passion: saving the planet while helping those in need.
As a board member and director of technology for Rock and Wrap It Up!, an anti-poverty think tank dedicated to… more
Oct 24, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
Stefanie Maragna, or Stef, as she prefers, has been involved in sales, marketing and events for more than 20 years, but has a special place in her heart for the events portion of her roles. Her diverse background has allowed her to better understand the needs and motivations of all the stakeholders who are involved with events, from marketing to sales to partners and executives.
Maragna was recently named as one of SmartMeetings… more
Sep 24, 2018
In July, Corporate Event News conducted a reader survey which asked corporate event professionals to select and rank the top challenges they face on the job.
Event professionals are still being asked to do more, with less. The number one challenge reported by the majority of readers was “low budget, high expectations.”
Most event managers work far more than 40 hours a week. Early mornings, evenings, weekends — all par for the course. Between deadlines, meetings and travel it can seem impossible to take time off. Therefore, it’s not surprising that trying to find enough time to get… more
Sep 19, 2018
The MPI Academy provides certificate programs for meeting and event professionals that are designed to enhance critical job skills on a wide variety of topics. The organization's educational portfolio has been growing at a rapid pace. In addition to certification courses in meeting and event management, courses are now available on the business value of meetings, emergency preparedness, sustainability, experiential events and more.
Now, the academy is bringing its high-level certificate programs to Las Vegas for IMEX America this October. Three courses will be offered in conjunction with the… more
Sep 07, 2018
IMEX America, America’s worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, will be held Oct. 16 – 18 at the Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Now in its eighth year, IMEX America 2018 will bring together more than 12,000 event professionals from around the world.
The event is free for event professionals to attend. If you regularly plan or manage large events domestically or globally, there are also options to apply to attend as a hosted buyer. All expenses are paid, and in return, planners commit to a minimum number of scheduled meetings with the suppliers of their choice.… more
Sep 06, 2018
The International Live Event Association (ILEA)’s annual ILEA Live conference, held Aug. 16-18 in Denver, Colo., brought together 505 creative event professionals from around the globe for two and a half days of educational content and networking.
“The event continues to be a rich setting for live event professionals to exchange ideas about managing their event business, build relationships and learn from education sessions addressing relevant industry trends and the business of creativity,” said Sara Grauf, CSEP, ILEA International president.
During a special evening gala event held on Aug… more
Aug 28, 2018
The International Live Events Association (ILEA)’s annual conference, ILEA Live, was held Aug. 16-18 in Denver, Colo. The event, and the association itself, brings together creative event professionals from across all industries.
The common theme across all these event disciplines is the need to provide transcendent, immersive experiences. People today are looking for more than just an old-school event with a single screen and classroom-style lecture presentation. They want their event to stand out from the crowd and are looking for ways to turn that idea into reality.
The featured keynote… more
Aug 06, 2018
SPIN:Senior Professionals Industry Network has announced the 2018 recipients of the industry’s first recognition for veteran meeting planners - SPIN:40 Over 40. This initiative was created in 2017 to recognize and honor planners who are industry role models, influencers, innovators and pioneers.
“It was tough selecting only 40 people from the nominations,” said Tracey Smith, CMP, CMM, SPIN’s Executive Director. “The variety of work experience, volunteer efforts and industry advocacy this year’s group represents is truly outstanding.”
“It’s an honor to be one of the recipients of SPIN’s 2018… more
Jul 31, 2018
The Corporate Event News Event Expert Profile series features interviews with some of the many talented corporate event professionals who make this industry thrive.
This month, I spoke with Wendy Laugesen, the director of global events for MarkLogic, a privately-owned enterprise database company with over 500 employees and 14 offices worldwide. Laugesen initially dreamed of becoming the general manager of a hotel, but after several years in the hospitality industry and earning a bachelor’s degree in hospitality administration, decided that event management was a better fit.
Danalynne… more
Partner Voices
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At the core of MGM Resorts' company values is its platform, "Focused on What Matters," dedicated to meeting customer needs while advancing socially responsible practices. This commitment is evident more