News & Articles - meeting planners

  • Final IMEX Buzz Day Aims to Help Create Trend Watchers

    2021/09/07

    Business event professionals can learn how to become trend watchers and create products, services and campaigns tailored to future needs at the next IMEX Buzz Day. Taking place Sept. 15, the free virtual experience features panel sessions about what lies ahead in the world of business, events and technology. “Predicting and responding to the future business landscape can sometimes be difficult but it’s always essential,” says IMEX Group CEO, Carina Bauer. “Our exciting range of experts have a laser focus…

    Breaking News

  • How to Create a Budget for your Event

    2021/08/09

    Creating an event budget can be challenging. After all, there is a lot to consider. In addition to necessary costs like the venue and event staff, you want to allow for unexpected expenses, hidden fees that will undoubtedly crop up and an emergency fund. Here are eight tips to help you prepare for the unknowns and set your event up for success. 1. Identify Goals and Primary KPIs Budgeting for your event usually occurs after the main objectives have been…

    Event Budgeting, Event Operations, Meeting Checklists

  • New Virtual Tool Helps with Event Planning in Ottawa

    2021/04/20

    Ottawa Tourism has launched an interactive tool, Virtually Ottawa, with the goal of inspiring conference planners from around the world to consider Canada’s capital for future events. “Ottawa Tourism’s business events team is proud to launch this tool, which allows them to show-off Ottawa’s assets in a safe and secure, accessible way to meeting planners both near and far,” says Ottawa Tourism president and CEO, Michael Crockatt. “Given that many meetings are booked years in advance, this allows our staff…

    Breaking News

  • marketing partnership

    Hybrid City Alliance Grows to Include Another Canadian Destination

    2021/04/05

    A second Canadian city has joined the Hybrid City Alliance, a global coalition of destinations working to organize safe in-person and virtual events. Edmonton is one of eight new members. Others include Antwerp, Belgium; Cannes, France; Durban, South Africa; Seoul, South Korea; Sydney, Australia; and Lausanne-Montreux and Zurich, Switzerland. They join co-founders The Hague; Geneva; the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague; and Ottawa, expanding the alliance’s reach to now include destinations across five continents. “(We are) proud to be…

    Breaking News

  • Destination Management Company Expands as Vaccinations Rise

    2021/03/22

    Hosts Global has debuted a new collection of global destination management companies (DMCs), adding 70 to its portfolio. “Groups are excited to gather again and we’re ready with new places, new members and new possibilities,” says Marty MacKay, Hosts Global’s president of alliance events and operations. With the increase in vaccinations and travel destinations continuing to reopen, meeting and event planners are penciling in group events again. The announcement marks the first of Hosts’ new developments to meet this resurgence. From the start of the pandemic, the company…

    Breaking News

  • tech

    Hyatt to Use Mobile Health App for Meetings, Events

    2021/03/22

    Hyatt Hotels Corp. plans to incorporate a digital health passport into its events programs. “Since the onset of the pandemic, we have believed accessibility to testing and resources would play a critical role in the travel industry’s recovery,” says Hyatt senior vice-president of global operations, Frank Lavey. The hospitality company announced it would use the VeriFLY + Stay app on March 9. The mobile app provides real-time verification of COVID-19 credentials and travel guidelines. It is currently employed by American…

    Breaking News

  • Is Now the Time to Switch Event Formats?

    2021/02/22

    It will soon be one year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Although the world’s biggest vaccine rollout is now underway, organizations are struggling to decide whether to move forward with a virtual event or postpone. Last year, many pushed in-person events back to 2021, and are now realizing this year may be no more conducive to hosting an in-person event. If the purpose of your event is to build business relationships, it may not be in…

    Event Operations

  • B.C. Convention Centre Re-envisions Space for Safe Return of Events

    2021/02/22

    In anticipation of the return of in-person events, the Vancouver Convention Centre has put together a ‘safe events’ plan. Called ReDesign, the convention centre worked with industry partners to create a live demonstration space that highlights how event aspects could evolve amid the changing industry landscape. “We took a proactive step to explore what events will look like and how they can function so our clients are able to host meaningful experiences with the assurance that decisions are informed by…

    Breaking News

  • Savvy Swag Bag Items that will Thrill Online Event Attendees

    2021/02/08

    Who doesn’t love free stuff? Other than printed collateral and overly branded products, most people welcome giveaways. And the cooler and more usable the gift, the greater lasting impression it will have on event attendees. Here are five items to consider including in the ever-popular swag bag, which has become an increasingly critical way to connect with registrants as events have moved online. Headphones or Earbuds Headphones or earbuds are handy for listening to seminars, they can be used long…

    Virtual Events

  • Hilton Introduces Hybrid Solutions for Meetings and Events

    2021/01/25

    Hilton has introduced a set of hybrid solutions to address the dramatic shift away from in-person meetings and events during the pandemic. The new offerings, which will continue to evolve alongside customer needs, direct event planners to Hilton’s hybrid-ready hotels while also providing them with additional resources, including an expanded ‘playbook’ with in-depth information on planning and executing small hybrid events and flexible customer offers for a more seamless contract experience. “Hilton has remained a leader in the meetings and…

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