Event Operations

Top Five Audiovisual Event Trends
2025/09/04

The audio visual production landscape is evolving at breakneck speed, driven by technological innovation and changing client expectations. Event planners and corporate decision-makers need to understand these transformative trends to create impactful experiences that resonate with modern audiences. From hybrid event formats to immersive technology integration, the industry is witnessing unprecedented changes that are reshaping how we approach audiovisual production and event design. 1. The Rise of Hybrid & Phygital Events Hybrid events combining in-person and digital experiences have…
Transform Events Into Catalysts for Change
2025/08/22

In today’s events landscape, sustainability is no longer a nice-to-have — it’s the baseline. As delegates seek to make a positive impact within values-driven organizations, business leaders and meeting planners must design gatherings that deliver more than memories. Destination Canada and cities across the country are leading this charge, committed to ensuring meetings hosted in Canada — and around the world — leave a positive handprint, not a negative footprint. From coast to coast to coast, Canadian destinations are…
Designing Events With More Heart
2025/08/21

In a world where time is precious and attention spans are short, audiences are craving something deeper than a packed agenda or perfectly executed production. They want to feel something. They want to connect. And increasingly, they want to be part of something that means something. For event professionals, this signals a shift: away from transactional programming and toward experiences rooted in purpose, emotion, and connection. Whether you’re designing a leadership summit, a community celebration, or a client appreciation event, here’s…
Beyond Purpose: Leading Events with Excellence
2025/08/08

In the dynamic world of events, no two days ever look the same. Each gathering has its own story to tell and its own set of challenges to overcome. That is precisely what drew us to this career in the first place: the chance to blend strategy, creativity, and human connection into experiences that truly matter. As event leaders, we have dedicated our careers to delivering large-scale, high-impact events that bring people together, spark inspiration, and strengthen businesses and…
Five Unique Toronto Summer Outings
2025/08/06

Forget the cliché office picnic — these ideas bring connection, creativity, and a whole lot of fun. When the warm weather hits, it’s the perfect time to take your team out of the boardroom and into the sunshine. Whether you’re planning a thank-you celebration, a team-building retreat, or just a chance for your staff to relax and recharge, the key is to create something unique and memorable. Here are five standout summer corporate outing ideas in Toronto that combine…
Protocol: An Event Planner’s Secret Weapon
2025/07/23

By Kate Kelly and David Dunlop Behind every successful event lies careful planning — but when that event involves honouring an Indigenous leader within a corporate setting, the stakes and sensitivities are even higher. Neither of our planning team comes from an Indigenous background, so we asked ourselves: Where do we start? How do we engage meaningfully and respectfully? The answer: we started by connecting with people in the planning community who could introduce us to trusted contacts within Indigenous…
How an AV Partner Can Boost Your Brand
2025/07/22

It’s time to stop just renting AV gear and start thinking about how your audio-visual partner can actually boost your brand. In the fast-paced world of events, conferences, and brand activations, who you pick for AV can seriously make or break your message. More Than Just Equipment Too often, we get caught up talking about equipment lists and line-item costs. This turns the relationship with your AV provider into a simple transaction, where they’re focused on billing hours instead…
Chef Profile: Karen O’Connor, Daniel et Daniel
2025/07/09

Chef Karen O’Connor has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry, known for creating unique and memorable dishes for clients. Her work emphasizes creativity, attention to detail, and a passion for delivering exceptional culinary experiences. Her career spans working in both catering and restaurants including well known establishments such as Bistro 990, The Rosewater Supper Club, Griffens and The Other Café. She joined Daniel et Daniel Catering in 1998. As executive chef, O’Connor leads Daniel et…
Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Business
2025/07/08

It is important to always remember that marketing is not direct sales and that marketing is turning the delivery of information into sales. Marketing is continuing to change, especially with the advancement of artificial intelligence in today’s business, event planning and audio visual worlds. Every business I have started, I have named the company around what people are searching for online. When I started Ottawa Special Events, it was because that is what people “Googled”. I also purchased OttawaAudioVisual.com…
Always Learning From Every Event
2025/06/26

After more than 30 years in the event industry, I’m still amazed by how much there is to learn — especially for those just starting out. We recently wrapped a large-scale outdoor event that required two full days of setup and two days of execution. As always, there were curveballs, but more importantly, there were moments of growth. One of my favourite sayings is, “You don’t know what you don’t know until you know it.” With that in mind,…

Venue & Supplier Profiles