Today, more than ever, cultivating a meaningful and intentional culture of inclusion and belonging for live events is essential to building community and making deep impacts. The most creative, strongest and resilient communities are those that are comprised of diverse kinds of people, from across all demographics. Whether you are designing an event to attract large crowds of people or to serve a particular small group, a common objective can be found: to create a sense of belonging and…
Ken Jattan has joined GSS Security as consultant, special events and crisis management. His extensive knowledge of venues as event spaces is an invaluable addition to the security planning process. With more than 30 years in the exposition and events industry, Jattan’s experience spans across the fields of event management, customs and logistics, and registration and hospitality across Canada and the US. Jattan is an active member of the Canadian Association of Exposition Management and has volunteered his time on…
Canadian business travellers overwhelmingly want to return to travel, according to a new report commissioned by Sap Concur. A total of 3,850 business travellers in 25 global markets, including 250 in Canada, were surveyed. Here are the top five Canadian findings. 1. Canadian travellers are ready to get back in the air. Nearly nine in 10 Canadian business travellers are ready to resume travel in the next 12 months. This is driven by travellers’ belief that they will suffer if their…
A recently published study by EventMB found an overwhelming majority of event organizers (81 per cent) believe they have to design and execute separate, dedicated experiences for in-person and remote audiences when hosting a hybrid event. Fortunately, with the right production technology and expertise, you don’t have to plan two separate events when going hybrid. Here’s how. Focus on Content Hybrid formats allow you to produce one event with two outputs. Take Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. The five-day event…
With provinces in various stages of re-opening, in-person events have resumed in some parts of the country. Now is the time to turn everyday people into purchasers and reward loyal customers. One of the most effective ways to accomplish this is by implementing a brand ambassador marketing strategy. But how do you find brand ambassadors and promotional staff? To start, connect with a staffing agency. At their very core, a staffing agency is a company that provides its clients with…
Liza Frulla is the new board chair of Destination Canada. The CEO and director of Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec (ITHQ) was appointed to the position following an open, transparent and merit-based selection process. “Ms. Frulla has an excellent track record in the hospitality industry and in the tourism sector as a whole,” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, on the day of the announcement. “Her wealth of experience will truly be an asset…
GES has a new vice-president of client relations in Mike Haarvei. Haarvei joins the global live events company from Sparks, where he provided leadership and management for healthcare program accounts as vice-president of strategic accounts. “Mike has demonstrated a commitment to understanding the healthcare provider mindset along with a passion for serving client needs and using this knowledge to help clients build engaging and successful programs,” says Terry Campanaro, senior vice-president of GES. “He brings a deep understanding of the…
Destination Canada has announced the addition of two members to its team. Gracen Chungath has been named senior vice-president of destination development. Beginning Aug. 30, she will lead the crown corporation’s pan-Canadian strategy for destination development, focusing on investment, strategic partnerships, stewardship and capacity building. Chungath brings exceptional experience in sustainable partnerships, business planning and operations to the role. As director of operations, planning and program management for the City of Vancouver since 2016, Chungath has led three divisions and…
Jeff Stelmach has joined live events company GES as global president of brand experiences. With leadership experience in growing successful agencies in the event marketing space, GES says Stelmach’s appointment will significantly bolster its growing experiential practice. “(Jeff) has a proven track record in starting and building successful top-tier agencies with strong company cultures,” says Steve Moster, president and CEO of GES-owned Viad Corp. “His unique set of skills in building industry-leading teams and working alongside some of the world’s…
The Liberal government delivered its long-awaited budget last month, unveiling $101.4 billion in new spending. Supports were specifically promised to aid the recovery of Canada’s hard-hit tourism industry, which includes meetings and business events. It outlines $1 billion over three years for tourism, starting in 2021/2022; a $500-million Tourism Relief Fund to support investments by local tourism businesses in adapting to the pandemic; a $595-million Recovery Hiring Program to make it easier for businesses to hire back laid-off workers or…
