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From screen to scene, elevate your next event Finding the perfect meeting space is a process. To get a better sense of what is possible when you host your event at the movies, Smart Meetings took a look at Galaxy Theatres Grandscape in The Colony, Texas, and chatted with Frank Rimkus, CEO of Galaxy Theatres , to find out.
Finding a conference venue is a lengthy and detailed process. Which venue will be available? From securing sponsors to organizing the AV and production needs, the planning process seems endless. The main component of a conference is the venue, it’s where the main show takes place! How do you find the right speakers?
But with news of the Omicron variant changing day-to-day, conference organizers and sponsors are using the skills they’ve acquired in Covid times: flexibility and leveraging virtual options to replace some face-to-face experiences. Hybrid meeting programs offer a silver lining. See also : Meeting Safety Trends in 2022.
Smart Woman Summit kicks off the next year for Smart Women in Meetings with empowerment and thoughtful conversations When leaders come together to tackle the biggest challenges in the hospitality meetings industry. One take-away for supervisors was the importance of “meeting employees where they’re at.” something magic happens.
While there are many destinations where you can host your next business meeting or event, Irvine, California, should be at the top of your list. With nearly 190,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, beautiful weather and endless things to do , Irvine is a hub of innovation and productivity.
Where Meetings End Too Soon This is where meeting spaces of every size boasting the latest technology share the stage with vibrant communities and breathtaking natural beauty. The Palm Beaches have the amenities and offerings to elevate experiences, create engaging moments and bring successful meetings to a whole new level.
Events Industry Council (EIC) , National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP), International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and The Center for Association Leadership (ASAE) joined the founding partners and kicked off the event at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in 2022. “Be like U2,” he said.
Meeting professionals understand that travel brings people together. As DEI has come more into focus in this industry, planners are trying to incorporate it not just in the workplace, but into the way they plan off-site meetings. That sounds like a win-win—and the sponsors hope their study results will prove it.
Catherine Chaulet “Meeting planners can actually appreciate the organizational strengths of the Olympic Games, seeing how everything is organized in a way that ensures security measures are in place,” says Catherine Chaulet, president and CEO of Global DMO Partners , based in Washington, D.C., appeared first on Smart Meetings.
For suppliers looking to expand their business and stand out in a competitive landscape, one of the most lucrative opportunities involves connecting with meeting and event planners. Understand Your Target Audience: Who Are Meeting & Event Planners? Ask yourself: What makes my venue, service, or product indispensable to planners?
Even as in-person meetings continue to reemerge with a vengeance, virtual meetings have taken a primary position in the event professional toolbox. Yes, hybrid meetings are more complicated and costly, but virtual is here to stay without a doubt,” he said. Now all variations of meeting delivery are on the table.
The impact and importance of meetings for medical and pharmaceutical industry attendees is not only increasing, but the complexity of the events and what is expected of planners is more demanding as well, according to a new report from American Express Meetings & Events and a survey conducted by Smart Meetings.
Editor’s Note: Meeting professionals are still pivoting on the regular and can learn a lot from the experiences of their peers. She said, “This isn’t ideal, but, I have a captive audience of customers and suppliers that want to meet. One way in and out, which provided max safety and visibility for sponsors.
Record and sponsor your breakout sessions. You can put content on a private or public YouTube channel with sponsor content at the beginning or end of the recording. This is a win-win-win; attendees and the public can view the content anytime, sponsors gain additional exposure, and you receive additional revenue.
Editor’s Note: As we celebrate the 2023 Meeting Professionals of the Year , we thought it fitting to go back to a 2020 Meeting Professionals of the Year winner, John Cruz, senior corporate meeting planner with BlueCross of North Carolina , for some perspective. Then, provide the extras that show you care. You have earned it!
To bring this strategy to life,embedding the associations member meeting within a creative and dynamic event format requires thoughtful planning. The member meeting needed to be seamlessly and appealingly integrated into the conference. At IMEX Koepelkerk venue was recommended.
In a world of lockdowns and social distancing, virtual platforms took over the function of event venues (and then some). T he virtual venue is one of the most important decisions you can make for your long-term event strategy. The Venue Map allows your guests to easily guide themselves. And so naturally, the market followed.
After two years of testing streaming platforms, meeting professionals are asking for more comprehensive solutions and a number of event technology companies have risen to the challenge. How it impacts you: Automated back-end processes allow you to better manage speakers, sponsors, staff and meetings.
How about sponsors? In this post, we’ve compiled 51 must-ask event survey questions that you can paste directly into your post-event surveys to gain crucial insights into the attendee, sponsor, and employee experience. Measure ROI for sponsors and exhibitors. What do your attendees think about your event?
Whether they’re exhibitors, sponsors, vendors, the B2B partners that are interested in these live events, how to better match them with the live event organizers and with the event properties” “The other piece of what we do is, we have a marketplace”, he continues. “We call it a sponsorship marketplace.
That being said, Zoom is often a good enough tool for broadcasts , announcements , and regular meetings with little interactions. A virtual venue. Zoom is just a video call, while the event platform is a virtual venue. You can flaunt a brand as part of the decor, which can especially delight your sponsors and exhibitors.
And what will you do to keep your sponsors happy? Consider Your Sponsors and Exhibitors . You could also allow attendees to click on a link to schedule a 1:1 meeting with the exhibitor if they are interested. . Virtual Sponsors. You have visualized how to keep your exhibitors and sponsors happy. Exhibitors .
Conference management is so much more than just booking a venue and sending out invitationsits a comprehensive process that covers every stage of planning, organizing, and executing a successful conference or large-scale event. Understanding the Dynamics of Conference Management What is Conference Management?
For example, planners can aim to improve networking opportunities , sponsor and exhibitor engagement , session attendance , or brand recognition. You can also use gamified challenges to highlight your sponsors or show your audience what matters to you. Similarly, if you want people to network, set up missions around meeting new people.
Hybrid events offer the opportunity to expand an event’s reach, engagement, and return on investment for speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors. It involves multiple venues networked together to offer scale and intimacy while keeping attendee numbers within safety guidelines. But how, you may ask? Enter the hub and spoke method.
In Smart Meetings ’ webinar, “ Hybrid How-To: A Step-by-Step Guide to Hosting a Successful Hybrid Event ,” Alyssa Peltier, senior event marketing manager for Cvent , shared strategies to get us there with fewer hiccups. Second, venue. Then there are your sponsors and exhibitors. Going hybrid is an experiential process.
As the end of the year draws near, everyone is trying to one-up each other when it comes to corporate event and meeting themes. Which theme will make both sponsors and event goers happy? Or, maybe rent out some campgrounds and have an instant venue for your next event. How to Make Your Meeting Theme Memorable.
Smart Meetings chatted with Sophia Hyder Hock , chief inclusion officer for Destinations International, on the importance of inclusion and accessibility in the meetings industry. Smart Meetings Why are these discussions and resources about inclusion and accessibility in the meeting and events industry meaningful?
For groups looking to branch out and meet face-to-face, Loudoun offers a fresh take on meetings. D iscover a mix of unique venues – and unique advantages for planners and attendees – in this scenic and inspiring setting, just 25 miles west of Washington, DC. Beyond Venues: Advantages of Meeting in Loudoun.
Make sure you consider these high-ticket items at a minimum: Venue Speakers Food and beverage Furniture and equipment Staffing (event coordinators, clean up, security, etc.) Source Event Sponsors One of the biggest hurdles for event planners is cost. To find event sponsors, you must start your search ASAP. What’s your budget?
It seems that the asynchronous communication trend has also started making waves in the meeting and events industry , namely as asynchronous hybrid events. A lot of things can go wrong during a synchronous hybrid event as it is hard to stay in sync online and in the physical venue. They’re the meeting place of your community.
Sponsored by Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau. The 225,000 square foot venue features 36 luxury suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of concession and refreshment stands, merchandise kiosks, the San Manuel VIP Club and other fan amenities. Start with a good breakfast. Go al fresco.
On top of the ask, that exact meeting participant may miss telling their children bedtime stories, attending their soccer games, or being present for milestone events like their child’s first steps or words. If that is the case for your attendees, here is a checklist of things to look for from a venue and the benefits of traveling this way.
Rounding out the top three challenges: working with a tighter budget and locking down sponsors. Livestreaming is also more popular at events, with 40 percent incorporating the hybrid meeting format. The post Budget Increases Are on the Rise in 2019 appeared first on Smart Meetings. Demand for Green and Safe.
Rather than just clicking around in an interface and selecting that attendee, you’re now able to walk up to them and meet them for the first time, like you would at an in-person event.” Other platforms have really expanded on what it means to be a virtual exhibitor or a virtual sponsor.”
This platform is the place through which you, your attendees, your speakers, the sponsors, and the entertainment will connect. Much like an in-person event needs a venue where everyone comes together, a virtual event is inevitably in need of a platform where attendees can gather.
What meeting planners may be pleased to discover is Asheville’s potential for hosting eventful gatherings. Executives and meetings professionals in search of locations to hold meetings, executive retreats, conferences, and incentive trips will be inspired by Asheville’s spirit, scenic beauty, and fresh mountain air.”.
Foster Lasting Relationships Events are really all about relationships, so your event plan should prioritize fostering lasting connections with attendees, sponsors and partners. Showing up once a year to ask for money isn’t the best way to ensure you have valuable sponsors each year. Check the blog for more insights on the industry.
The venue was perfect and the speakers top-notch. Speakers want to present remotely, and attendees and sponsors are starting to drop off. What if travel policies change, and speakers, attendees and sponsors start to cancel? Do they want to meet virtually or in person? You planned a spectacular event. Know your audience.
Sustainable meetings are now a requirement, rather than a luxury, but smart event professionals are integrating other green elements into their agendas to surprise and delight. The post Green Meetings Redefined appeared first on Smart Meetings. The post Green Meetings Redefined appeared first on Smart Meetings.
But before you get too entrenched in booking speakers or drawing up venue contracts, it’s best to think about how you’ll get results from an in-person event. Data is the best way to improve your future events, so when in doubt, rely on event platforms for in-person meetings, conferences, and events to see what you can improve for next time.
Strengthen Relationships Through Face-to-Face Meetings. Studies also suggest in-person meetings generate more ideas compared to remote conferences. 95% also believe face-to-face meetings are essential for long-term business relationships. You have to rent a venue, pay staff, order catering, and handle loads of PR material.
Plan with Confidence Elevating Excellence: Why Meeting Planners Are Choosing the Pennsylvania Convention Center With over one million square feet of saleable space and the largest ballroom in the northeast, the Pennsylvanian Convention Center offers meeting planners an unbeatable blend of scale, service, and sustainability.
Exhibitors and sponsors can also enjoy the benefits of attendance tracking at events. Attendance tracking helps exhibitors and sponsors understand their audience better. According to Skift Meetings’ research , 52% of event profs define event ROI by staying within their budgets. GIVE VALUE TO EXHIBITORS.
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