It’s showtime! People see the finished product: the room, the atmosphere, the entertainment, and how smoothly everything seems to flow. It’s been tedious and grueling. As the business owner, I see everything that went into getting us to that moment. The budget revisions. The vendor discussions. The emails. The committee and client meetings. The hours spent working through details most guests will never notice. And the kicker: while all of that is going on, there is still a business…
By Sarah McVanel The future of events isn’t about choosing between trends or timelessness—it’s about looking up, anchoring to foundational values, and building agendas that align everything from AI to hybrid work, under what truly matters. Suppose you have a strong foundation of understanding what your members and audiences need, anchored in values, capabilities, and addressing root issues. In that case, you have a solid foundation to look up and see the trends, future, and innovate on what’s next. One…
When I was asked to write this article, my first reaction wasn’t excitement. It was anxiety. I started sweating. My instinct was to redirect the request to someone else who specializes in this topic — someone who could speak to carbon offsets and waste audits with real authority. Sustainability is, without question, the subject I know the least about. But shying away from what we don’t know isn’t going to help any of us grow. So I decided to…
Nowadays it’s all about AI. All the time, every day, every conversation. And while there is no doubt that AI will help make us more efficient and more resourceful, we need to remember that all AI is not equal, and although you might read about how great an AI tool is working for some people, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution. Consider what you are trying to accomplish AI cannot do our jobs for us yet (thank god)… but it…
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…
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…
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…
EMA Marketing announced the addition of UNIQUE DMC UK, a leading UK‑based destination management company, to its portfolio of global partners. This new partnership expands EMA’s reach into one of Europe’s most dynamic and iconic regions, offering Canadian and international meeting, incentive, conference, and event planners’ access to ground services throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and the UK at large. UNIQUE DMC UK brings destination expertise, from London’s world‑class venues to cultural experiences across the British Isles, delivering unforgettable, tailored…
For Tim Oldfield, event management is about making a difference: creating memorable moments, inspiring connections and helping people achieve their goals. “I find real satisfaction in seeing an event come together and knowing it made a lasting impact. Building strong relationships with clients, guests and my team is central to my approach,” says Oldfield, who joined Niagara Falls Convention Centre (NFCC) as president and general manager this past April. Oldfield says he was drawn to the NFCC by its…
The Idea Hunter has announced that Fadi Dawood has officially stepped into the role of president. He was formerly the chief strategy officer. With 10 years at Unilever leading global CPG brands, followed by five years in the tech world at Flipp, Dawood brings a rare blend of business, growth, and operational expertise into the events industry. Dawood said, “Excited to step into this next chapter at The Idea Hunter and continue building on the incredible momentum we’ve created.”…
