At a recent global sales meeting for one of our major clients, showcasing the host city was an important element in the meeting theme. In this case, Toronto was the host city, and team-building activities such as attending a Toronto Raptor’s basketball game and exploring Toronto’s unique underground walkway called PATH were just some of the offsite activities our corporate meeting planners coordinated. However, the challenge was determining the best way to carry the theme through in the messaging of…
Author: Andy.McNeill
Andy McNeill, CEO of AMI, is a veteran of the meetings and event industries, with more than 25 years of experience in the profession. He has assisted firms in a variety of industries including pharmaceutical, biotech, healthcare, consumer, sports marketing and investment banking. He firmly believes in the strategic meeting marketing model and provides consulting services to Fortune 100 clients on the practice. After graduation from Florida State with a degree in marketing, Andy began his career in the event marketing group at Florida State Athletics. Soon after, he launched his own event marketing company and after five years merged with a major sports marketing firm. Andy spent six years with NSG Corporation as the Senior Vice President leading the sales and marketing for the firm who produced events for over 200,000+ attendees annually across the globe. Andy and the NSG team worked with the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta to produce portions of the Opening Ceremonies. Following NSG, Andy secured the role as COO at Fanizzi Associates, one of the nation’s largest event pharmaceutical firms. There he managed the overall operations of the company who executed over 400 events annually for physicians and internal pharmaceutical clients. Revenues exceeded $40 million a year. In 2002, Andy left Fanizzi Associates, and launched AMI with the vision of owning and operating a premiere event marketing and meeting management firm. Since 2002, AMI has grown into a multi-million dollar organization producing hundreds of events annually. The firm has managed programs in more than 20 industries for clients such as Novartis, Mars, Cleveland Clinic, J & J, Baxter, Pfizer and Office Depot. Andy’s vision of keeping AMI on the forefront of meetings technology, theory and practice has made it an industry leader. He is a member of MPI, Site, and the American Marketing Association. He volunteers as a chair of the Human Rights Campaign. Andy's day-to-day responsibilities include client acquisition, consulting and overall company strategy.
Articles by Andy McNeill
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How to identify prospects and build your database for a targeted event marketing campaign
There is a good chance that most meeting and event planners begin their event marketing with some level of data. If they’re lucky, that database may also include some background information on past events attended and whether attendees returned year over year. What it may not include is information on what attendees value. The best ways to gather this level of understanding are to: Connect and stay in touch with your attendees. It is easy to become engrossed in the…
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Today’s attendee marketing challenges
Are you one of the 65 per cent who open their mail over the trash can? Do you mine your email for the typical cliché subject lines that indicate “spam” and delete without even opening them? One of the challenges we hear most from our clients is how to generate and grow an audience at their meeting or event, and rightfully so. Attendee marketing is more of a challenge today than ever before. We can no longer rely on traditional…
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127 themes and concepts for your next corporate meeting or event
Where do you start when trying to come up with concepts for your next corporate meeting or event? Our corporate meeting planners at American Meetings, Inc. have compiled a list of 127 event themes and concepts. Coming up with a concept behind your meeting or event helps to drive your planning in the right direction, keeps your messaging on track and ultimately can ensure that you accomplish your goals. For a sales meeting, corporate meetings, incentive trips and more, take…
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Twelve tips for incorporating attendee wellness into your next corporate meeting
Are you dreading your next onsite corporate meeting, surrounded by heavy banquet meals, dinners, appetizers, break stations loaded with everything from rich entrees to those decadent hotel brownies and blondies followed by long stretches of sitting? Our corporate meeting planners are happy to be experiencing an increase in requests for healthier options and activities at our clients’ corporate meetings and events. “In addition to the benefits for our clients and their attendees, our staff also feels more productive and rejuvenated…
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Eight tips for planning a large corporate gala
Galas have many different features that can add to the stress of planning the event such as sponsors, auctions and entertainment. In addition, dealing with vendors, meals, special accommodations, etc. can be a challenge as well. Here are some areas to think about that can make your event less stressful: You need to plan early! If you plan on renting a popular venue, make sure to secure it far in advance. Most places that are extremely unique can book up…
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Six strategies for building vital relationships at your meetings and events
We have all heard it a 1,000 times: relationships are everything. People do business with people they trust. When it comes to planning a relationship-building event, it is easy for meeting planners and their clients to quickly become bogged down by logistics and content. You know the drill: focusing too much on the content, determining room capacities, fine-tuning the agenda and breakout topics… the list goes on. Your attendees can quickly sense that the focus is on the details and…
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Five creative themes for your next corporate gala event
Creating a theme when organizing a Gala event generates excitement, engages your guests, and leaves a lasting impression. Todd Bludworth, COO of American Meetings, Inc., says, “Themes are the single best way to generate interest in your gala.” Here are five creative ideas that are sure to make your event a memorable one Speakeasy (Roaring ‘20’s) Create a “secret entrance” and include a “secret password” on your invitation. Hire a Cotton Club-style jazz band and flappers to entertain. Serve specialty…
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Raise a glass to wine resorts for incentive trips and small corporate meetings
It is that time of year when vineyards all across the globe are preparing to harvest their fruit and begin the time honored tradition of making wine. Ever since Lucille Ball stomped her way into our hearts on her famous show, wineries have been a part of world’s culture. Today, vineyards around the world are becoming the “in place” for meetings, sales incentive trips and employee recognition events. Much more than just a place to do a “wine tasting”, resorts have sprung out of the fruit-filled hills offering a plush and often an educational location for your next event. So whether you are a vino enthusiast or just looking for that unique local for your group, consider a wine resort. Here are some of our favourites.
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2013 global meetings outlook
As we move towards the fourth quarter of 2012, it’s time to start looking forward and searching for trends in the meetings industry. Each year at AMI, we analyze and summarize what hoteliers, travel and meeting industry professionals are saying and doing. That, in addition to monitoring the economic indicators from around the world, assists us in forecasting and budgeting for the upcoming year’s meetings and events. Doing this has become an increasingly important value for our clients with the financial uncertainty over the last few years.
