Nearly 1,400 supplier representatives played host to more than 2,300 meeting and incentive travel planners at IncentiveWorks 2017, which was held August 22-23, 2017 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
IncentiveWorks is the Canadian business events industry’s largest and leading conference and tradeshow. Powered by Meetings + Incentive Travel magazine and owned by Newcom Business Media, it provides planners with the opportunity to refresh their “idea and contact rolodex.”
“IncentiveWorks gives meeting and incentive travel planners and other business event professionals the opportunity to connect with suppliers and solidify business relationships,” says Melissa Arnott, show manager, IncentiveWorks. “This year, we were delighted to welcome several new exhibitors, and excited to add some great new feature areas to the show floor.”
The 2017 edition’s 350 exhibitors represented more than 700 companies in a range of categories, including hotels, destination marketing organizations (DMOs – Canadian and international), destination management companies (DMCs), audio visual, premium gifts, transportation providers, airlines, DMC representation companies, convention centres, unique venues, f&b, industry associations and more.
New exhibitors this year included The Gant, Aspen; the Hockey Hall of Fame; Purdy’s Chocolatier; Carnival Cruise Lines; Destination DC; Dubai Business Events, Nashville Convention & Visitor Bureau; Peller Estates Winery; RIU Plaza Hotels; The Westin Palace Madrid; Tsogo Sun Hotels South Africa; Discover the Palm Beaches; and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic/Czech Tourism. [View FROM THE FLOOR Video to hear what exhibitors were saying about IncentiveWorks 2017]
Special “inspiration” features on the show floor were:
- Pause for Paws, offered in partnership with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program and sponsored by Meetings + Conventions Calgary;
- Zen Room, sponsored by Discover Halifax and Halifax Convention Centre;
- Chocolate Truffle Making Workshop, conducted by Purdy’s Chocolatier;
- Floral Design Workshop sponsored by MB Designs Inc. and conducted by Marla Brown;
- New technology—interactive Laser Chocolate Design Bar and giant digital graffitti coloring wall—from MakeLab Studio;
- and Be Water unique and interactive water installations.
Another popular new addition were the two Learning Lounges on the tradeshow floor. Building on the CE-credit education offered in the conference portion of IncentiveWorks, the lounges featured 20-minute presentations on a range of topics, including how to select a speaker, effective networking, millennials and incentive travel, building personal brand and more.
The Learning Lounges reflected the quality content offered in the conference portion of IncentiveWorks. This year’s education slate included sessions on cybersecurity, risk strategy, event essentials, contract negotiation, meeting design, workplace diversity, digital events, sponsorship, event technology, effective communication, and contract negotiation.
IncentiveWorks’ education also included two keynote presentations. On Day One, entrepreneur and “Dragon’s Den” member Michele Romanow revealed how to embrace change, encourage disruption and incentivize innovation. On Day Two, Seth Mattison inspired attendees with his presentation, The War at Work: Navigating the Unwritten Rules of the Hierarchy in a Half-Changed World.
For the first time in the show’s 26-year history, all education (conference and show floor) was approved by the Events Industry Council for continuing education credits.
IncentiveWorks 2018 will be held August 14+15, 2018 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
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