We’ve all been to meetings and corporate events where the room looks and feels like 100 other spaces you’ve been in. Rows of chairs. A stage. Maybe a networking reception with highboys and a bar tucked in the corner. Everyone nursing their cocktail, keeping to their cliques or awkwardly hovering not knowing who to talk to and wondering if it’s too soon to leave. Connection doesn’t happen by accident. It is designed; intentionally, strategically, and often invisibly. When the…
Event professionals have always been asked to create big moments. That part is not new. What has changed is the scale of inspiration clients are now bringing into the planning process. A client may arrive with a Pinterest board, an AI-generated image, a celebrity gala reference, a luxury hotel lobby, a fashion runway, and a budget that looks more like it was written on a notepad during a coffee meeting than built for a full-scale immersive environment. (I say…
In a world of fast fleeting content at our fingertips and digital distractions, audience attention is competitive and harder than ever to hold. With the rise of video shorts and constant scrolling on social media platforms, audiences are increasingly conditioned to make rapid decisions about what deserves their focus and attention. While events bring people together in person, we are still competing for attention due to behaviours shaped by platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Attendees may be physically…
In the wake of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) moved into the spotlight across organizations throughout 2020. For a time, it became a visible and vocal priority but in 2026, that intensity seems to have softened. There are fewer standalone initiatives and less explicit messaging coming out of organizations with some cancelling initiatives altogether. But for event professionals this presents an opportunity to continue the moment by evolving.…
Event planners are constantly adapting, finding new ways to incorporate trends and stay current, while keeping attendees engaged and committed. As we step into spring, we have been looking at culinary, design, marketing, and style trends shaping events in 2026. In particular, we focused on how do emerging trends apply to someone who is new to the events industry and what to do with this information? FIVE TRENDS FOR 2026: 1.Attention and Accessibility to Innovation As technology continues to…
Getting a sponsor to sign on the dotted line is one thing. Getting them to come back is something else entirely. In my experience working with organizations across Canada and the United States, the ones that struggle most are not the ones that can’t find sponsors. They are the ones that don’t know what to do with them once they have them. If you want sponsors that renew and increase their investment over time, you need to think differently…
Corporate events are powerful experiences for the people in the room. But for many organizations, the opportunity ends when the event itself is over. Today’s meeting planners are under increasing pressure to demonstrate return on investment. One of the most effective ways to extend the value of an event is to treat it not only as an experience, but also as a source of content that can support marketing long after the final guest leaves. Every event naturally produces…
Entertainment can make or break an event. Whether it’s a corporate celebration, private party, festival, or fundraiser, the right entertainment transforms a gathering into a memorable experience. I would also say that entertainment leaves the longest lasting impression of any element of your event. Three years from now will your guests remember the colour of the linens, or the size of the video wall? They will remember if the entertainment was great…or not great. Yet behind every great performance…
Lighting is often described as a technical layer of event production, but in reality, it is one of the most powerful psychological tools available to planners and producers. Before a presenter speaks a single word, lighting has already influenced how the audience feels about the room, the brand, and the message they are about to receive. Human beings respond emotionally to light. It affects mood, attention, trust, and even memory retention. In corporate environments, where clarity and perception are…
by Angela Zaltsman There is no escaping AI and evolving technology. Artificial intelligence is not something on the horizon—it is already embedded in our everyday lives. From AI-generated answers appearing at the top of online searches to personalized social media feeds shaped by algorithms, we interact with AI constantly often without realizing it. Given this reality, when it comes to meetings and events, the question is no longer if AI should be used, but how it should be integrated thoughtfully…
