Event Operations

Understanding the Value of AV Services
2022/08/15

The audio visual (AV) industry has always struggled to capture and monetize intellectual property, ideation and pre-production work that goes into any event. Typically, an audio visual company is paid for the rental of equipment that is used in an event, and services such as pre-production time, creativity, experience or innovation have been treated as a condition of the cost of the unit cost of that equipment. This presents two distinct but very different problems. First, it unfairly commoditizes…
The Great Comeback of Live Events
2022/07/29

In the darkest days of COVID, event organizers had no choice but to take their gatherings online. A host of new virtual event platforms arose, and there were questions as to whether anyone would ever go back to in-person events. However this year we saw a resurgence in live events that exceeded all expectations. It seems event organizers, and attendees too, can’t wait to get back to meeting in-person. Late in 2021 we saw trailblazers like Salesforce host their…
Power of Transformational Relationships
2022/07/28

In business, do you take the time to intentionally build partnerships that are truly transformational, as versus transactional? Both transformational and transactional relationships play a role in commerce and that is ok. But, I want to know: when building out big strategies for clients, or if you are an in-house event producer and carry the weight of important projects on your shoulders without a large internal team (as is often the case), do you consider transformational event relationships a part…
How to Navigate Pandemic Uncertainty
2022/07/15

The past two years have brought immense change to the world. All industries and people have had to adapt to the changing economic, political, and social climate as a result of COVID-19. Many of these changes have drawn attention to the value of technology and the opportunities that it presents for people to connect going forward. It may seem like we’re on the other side of the pandemic, but we’re not yet in the clear. At the same time,…
Best Practices to Reduce Event Food Waste
2022/07/14

Second Harvest works with thousands of food businesses from across the supply chain, and across the country, utilizing logistics and technology to reduce the amount of edible food going to waste. Our inclusive model ensures this healthy surplus food is redirected to thousands of charities and non-profits across the country, providing millions of Canadians experiencing food insecurity access to the nourishment they need. Through our work with the hospitality industry and specifically events teams, we have learned some best…
Designing Impactful Event Spaces
2022/06/20

Event experience is everything at conferences and conventions. Impactful venue space design can create the right atmosphere and bring an event to life. Even prior to COVID-19’s impact on the meetings industry, the event experience was very important to conference attendees. With so much material available online, the in-person event experience is an opportunity to meet and network with new and existing colleagues and is one of the main reasons people attend events. According to Brian Tennyson, principal at…
Stories: the Secret to Social Media Success
2022/06/16

by Victoria Alves Bob Burg, author of Endless Referrals, famously said, “All things being equal, people will do business with, and refer business to, those people they know, like, and trust.” Although these words were first said in 1994, with the dawn of social media and the ever-increasing amount of people spending their time and posting their lives online, these words ring true more now than ever. So how do we get people to know, like, and trust us? We…
Experiential Entertainment For Team Building
2022/06/06

With all the available options and directions for an event there is nothing more effective at bonding people, team building and creating a lasting impact than moments attendees can feel. There is abundant research to support the value of fun and entertainment. According to communications guru Dale Carnegie, “People rarely succeed unless they are having fun in what they are doing.” By creating an environment where people enjoy the time they spend at an event, you set a welcoming…
Chef Q&A: Duff Lampard, MTCC
2022/06/03

When it comes to creating menus not typical of the North American convention scene, look no further than chef Duff Lampard. The executive chef of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) in Toronto has more than 20 years of experience in some of the most renowned hotels across Canada. He has also worked in London, England where he brought to life exciting menus for renowned clients such as Chanel Paris, The National Gallery and Sir Richard Branson. He took…
How to Navigate Net Zero Events
2022/05/23

Corporate lingo for “mind the planet” is constantly changing. Start feeling comfortable talking about “sustainability” and “CSR”, and suddenly it’s all about “carbon neutral” and “net zero.” As challenging as it can be to keep up, it is important for event professionals to stay on top of what these terms mean if they are to deliver value and avoid liabilities in the corporate event space. So what do you need to know to speak confidently about net zero? To begin,…