Event Operations

10 Ways to Improve your Nonverbal Communication during a Virtual Meeting
2020/12/07

At the start of the pandemic, businesses rushed to move their in-person meetings and events online. The transition was so abrupt that many organizations did so without understanding, acknowledging or discussing the ins and outs of virtual meeting etiquette with their teams. In our digital-friendly age, it may be hard to imagine virtual meetings require such formalities, especially when they can feel as natural as speaking to someone in the same room. But it’s important to treat virtual meetings with…
Three Lessons from Catching COVID-19 for Event Producers
2020/12/02

I caught COVID-19 in early October. It was considered a mild case and I have since recovered. I never experienced shortness of breath or worried about my long-term health, for which I am very grateful. Here’s where it gets interesting. My symptoms started exactly six days prior to the start of a three-day in-person client event — one with a need for high-touch execution across multiple venues on back-to-back days. I want to note that our client’s main focus through the…
How Contracts and Negotiations have Changed with COVID-19
2020/11/18

The events industry was among the first sectors hit by the pandemic and will be one of the last to recover, forcing many event professionals to cancel or postpone scheduled events. In the process, it has raised questions (and concern) around contracts and ensuing obligations. Here, Heather Reid, founder and CEO of Planner Protect, an Ontario-based contract review agency that negotiates event contracts for organizations and those hosting events, fields Corporate Meetings Network’s questions on this all-too important topic during…
Lessons Learned from Moving a Massive In-Person Event Online
2020/11/17

Taking the well-oiled machine that is Cvent CONNECT and transforming it into an entirely new experience wasn’t easy. From the initial pivot to getting buy-in, strategically designing the event to new technology considerations, Cvent’s director of meetings and events, Rachel Andrews, and senior manager of meetings and events, Paulina Curto, share lessons learned from moving the world’s largest event technology and hospitality conference online. The Digital Pivot While pre-event risk conversations occurred back in 2019, the decision to go virtual…
Do You Need Virtual Event Insurance?
2020/11/04

With more events making the switch to virtual, event organizers are having to deal with a whole new set of risks. Many of the factors involved in running in-person events still apply but there are others that you may not have considered. One area that’s often overlooked is insurance. So, I spoke with experts at Event Insurance Services Ltd. Here’s what you should know before taking your next event online. Insurance Coverage Traditional events have always required comprehensive insurance policies.…
Predictions for the Events Industry in the Post-Pandemic Era
2020/10/21

The global spread of COVID-19 has transformed daily life and, like most business sectors, the events industry has evolved and adapted to cope with the new normal. In doing so, it has entered a new phase where changes are likely to endure into the post-pandemic period. Here, three industry experts — Carly Silberstein of Redstone Agency, Ruby Sohi of Royal Blue Events Management and Theresa Beenken of the National Speakers Bureau — provide their predictions on how the events industry…
The Real Cost of Hosting a Webinar
2020/10/20

One of the first (and most important) questions people ask when exploring webinar options is, how much will it cost? Understanding the expenses associated with a webinar is key to being able to project and manage your return on investment. Webinar Platform The most obvious cost associated with running a webinar is the platform. Some simple platforms are free up to a certain number of attendees, while more advanced technologies typically require that you pay a monthly or annual fee…
Products to Help Attendees Physically Distance at Events
2020/10/06

Have you accidentally come within two metres of another person during COVID times? The answer is no doubt yes. People are social beings who seek closeness with others. It’s human nature and therefore bound to happen. So how can we help attendees comply with social distancing rules at events? While it’s an event planner’s responsibility to ensure a venue allows for physical distancing, simply having that space does not guarantee it will occur. Here are four products that can assist…
Adapting your Sampling, Promotions Strategy in the New Normal
2020/09/15

COVID-19 has, without a doubt, taken the world by storm. It’s halted industries and stopped most social gatherings. Beyond this, it’s created a new normalcy. Some might say the pandemic has been the biggest driver of change in recent decades (or even a century). But what does this mean for the sampling and promotions industry? Take-Home Method The days where you simply walk over to a counter for a sample are gone. As consumers prioritize health and safety, smart sampling…
The Show Must Go On: Safe Practices for the Return of Live Events
2020/09/15

The return of in-person conferences and events is crucial to helping economies recover. They attract exhibitors and attendees from all over the world, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue, and support tens of thousands of jobs across a multitude of industries. As co-chair of the Exhibition Services and Contractors Association’s health and safety committee and a member of the industry event and health advisory group for the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association…