Event Planning

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metavent
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
Oct 02, 2017
Sourcing viable destinations and suppliers for your corporate meetings can be a challenge. It’s time-consuming and difficult to know whether you’re selecting the right venues and getting the best deals. That’s where convention and visitors’ bureaus (CVBs) and destination management organizations (DMOs) come in. A recent research study conducted by Destination Analysts, in conjunction with Destinations International (formally DMAI) and Miles Partnership, surveyed 569 planners, nearly half of whom are in the corporate sector. A mere 34.4 percent of corporate planners surveyed indicated that… more
"Stilted Chills" fabric structures
Sep 21, 2017
A lot of experiential event design these days goes hand-in-hand with event technology. But what about the non-technical visual elements of your event? Tension fabric structures can be used to add interest and excitement to event design. Fabric structures are lightweight (which means easy to pack and low cost to transport), add visual appeal, and can transform an environment into a memorable experience from the instant your attendees arrive.   Sculptural stretch-fabric structures can be used in variety of ways at events. Most commonly seen as dramatic backdrops and décor on keynote stages,… more
Partner Voices
Just when it seems like Las Vegas can’t get any bigger, brighter or more exciting for groups, MGM Resorts raises the bar again. The company continues to invest and innovate across its portfolio of Las Vegas resorts, with new attractions and upgraded experiences for attendees of all interests.  Remodeled Guest Rooms MGM Grand is the largest single hotel in the world with over 5,000 guest rooms and an 850,000-square-foot conference center. It is home to the newly remodeled MGM Grand Studio Tower—700 reimagined guest rooms with a fun mid-century vibe. Nearby, the iconic New York-New York Las more