event planners Archives - Corporate Meetings Network

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Local Flavours Create Exceptional Events
2026/09/01

Great events are not only remembered for the moments they create, but also for the culinary experiences shared around the table. Food has become an opportunity for planners to connect people, tell a destination’s story and offer attendees an authentic taste of the place they are visiting. Many venues incorporate locally sourced and seasonal ingredients into menus to showcase regional flavours and support local farmers and producers. Chefs are increasingly looking to nearby farms, fisheries and producers to shape…
Event Operations, Food & Beverage
Adapting Strategic Approaches to DEI
2026/04/30

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 Operations
2026 Trend Tips For New Event Planners
2026/04/29

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…
Event Operations, Uncategorized
Every Corporate Event Needs a Content Strategy
2026/04/01

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…
Event Operations
Rogers Centre Ottawa Partners With Escape Manor
2026/04/01

Rogers Centre Ottawa announced a new partnership with Escape Manor Ottawa, bringing interactive entertainment experiences directly into conferences, meetings, and corporate events. Through this collaboration, event organizers will have the opportunity to integrate custom-designed activities into their programming. These interactive experiences offer a fresh way to enhance traditional meeting formats by incorporating teambuilding, problem-solving, and collaborative challenges that engage attendees and elevate the overall event experience. Conferences and corporate events hosted at Rogers Centre Ottawa will benefit from flexible,…
Breaking News
How to Plan Event Entertainment
2026/03/31

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…
Event Operations
Using AI Still Needs A Human Touch
2026/03/03

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…
Event Operations, Social Media & Technology
Intentional Event Menu Planning
2026/02/18

Food costs have always fluctuated, but over the past few years, planners have felt those changes more acutely and more frequently. Ingredients shift in price, availability can change week to week, and labour costs continue to rise. The result? Menus have become one of the most sensitive parts of the event budget. That said, higher food prices don’t have to lead to scaled-back experiences. In fact, some of the most successful events I see today are the ones where…
Event Operations, Food & Beverage
Vancouver Will Host MPI theEVENT 2026
2026/01/22

Meeting Professionals International (MPI) announced that Vancouver, British Columbia, will host theEVENT 2026, bringing Canada’s leading meeting and event industry gathering to the West Coast for the first time. MPI’s theEVENT is designed to challenge, inspire, and connect the industry through immersive learning and meaningful collaboration. Each year, theEVENT brings together planners, suppliers, and innovators to explore the future of events through creativity, community, and education. Following the success of theEVENT 2025 in Fredericton, New Brunswick, this next chapter…
Breaking News
Design With Purpose: Start with Why
2025/10/30

For years, corporate events have been measured by attendance, aesthetics, and applause. Did guests show up? Did the room look beautiful? Did people have fun? These are still valid questions, but they’re no longer enough. Today’s audiences expect experiences that mean something and as event professionals, our job has evolved. We no longer just design what events look like, we must design how they make people feel, what they stand for, and how they create impact. Purpose-driven event design…
Event Operations