event planning

Level Up with Leanne: Are you ready for ChatGPT?

Show of hands: Did anyone else feel gob-smacked earlier this year when ChatGPT entered our professional worlds? I wanted to dive in head first to see what the fuss was about, and over the past year I’ve learned a ton about how it can help in our meetings and events industry. I hear inspiring stories from planners that are using ChatGPT as their trusty sidekick who can help with all the … Read More about Level Up with Leanne: Are you ready for ChatGPT?

M+IT Welcomes New Events Intern

The  Meetings + Incentive Travel (M+IT) Group is pleased to introduce the industry to our new events intern, Jessica Silipo. Jessica is an honours student in the Tourism and Hospitality Management-Event Planning program at Humber College. With graduation just four months away, she will be working and learning alongside Stephanie Hiltz,  event coordinator and Robin Paisley, general manager of M+IT … Read More about M+IT Welcomes New Events Intern

Content is King…and so is Real Value!

During the last few years, the whole concept around event planning has changed (okay – almost everything else has changed during the past few years, but for the purposes of this blog, let’s focus on our industry). When I started as a corporate planner, an executive would decide that our company needed to have a meeting to educate or motivate employees, and everyone would be told where and when to … Read More about Content is King…and so is Real Value!

Event Technology Checklist

BEFORE THE EVENT Registration Websites. Make them simple and fast. Collect only the information you need. Send confirmations for e-mail and SMS (short message service, i.e. text messaging) to ensure your data is accurate. Asking for a Twitter handle? Follow right away. E-mail. Make sure you follow best practices. Use the channel to get the audience ready for what's happening next. Mailchimp.com … Read More about Event Technology Checklist

Success Through Real Collaboration

Recently, I oversaw a client event that had a theme of 'success through internal collaboration.' The event made me consider how lucky most planners are, since we often bring together a number of stakeholders and suppliers to design the best possible event. What I’m referring to is the success that happens when people with different skills and knowledge come together to create something bigger … Read More about Success Through Real Collaboration

Strategies for Choosing the Right Venue

When you’re planning an event, the importance of the venue cannot be overstated. Attractive venues make it that much easier toentice a endees, especially those who use annual meetings as a springboard to a personal vacation. Well-equipped and well-staff ed venues reduce the strain and cost for the event planner. Indeed, great venues may even make it easier for you to snag that great speaker or … Read More about Strategies for Choosing the Right Venue

Kill Your Darlings

Our best work hinges on our willingness to destroy and rebuild. To that end, “kill your darlings” is an editing technique used by creative writers. To destroy your own creative work is painful, because you become attached to what you have crafted. Why kill your darlings? Destroying your best parts allows something much better, authentic and more imaginative to emerge. Along those lines, could … Read More about Kill Your Darlings

Steve's 5 Favourite Business Books

How do I define a favourite book? When I go back to it three times or more to reference its key messages. And no...The Cat In The Hat did not make the list. 1. Good to Great, by Jim Collins I’m a big believer in stealing successful ideas. This book examines 11 companies that made the good-to-great transition. The lessons contained are applicable to any organization. First Sentence: “Good is the … Read More about Steve's 5 Favourite Business Books

Value in the M&E Marketplace

I believe that one of the advantages of having experience as a corporate, independent, and third party event planner is that I can look at the issues facing the M&E industry from different perspectives. Experience has also taught me that the various sectors of our industry can look at the same concern but see the challenges very differently. Perhaps no issue illustrates this as much as our … Read More about Value in the M&E Marketplace

What Makes a Good Marketing Campaign?

The most common challenge marketers face is measuring the impact of their campaign efforts. We’re all de-sensitized to the gimmicks, tricks, branding, sex-and-beer tactics; your campaign needs to do one thing – make people buy your product or service. Here are some ideas on how to accomplish just that… First, know the audience you are addressing and speak their language. The best example out … Read More about What Makes a Good Marketing Campaign?

Master Planning/Timeline Checklist

Timelines, time management and planning every last detail are crucial to organizing a meeting or event. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you nail every detail. May 7, 2010 Eighteen Months Out • Determine event goals and objectives. • Identify possible dates. • Prepare a preliminary agenda and guest list. • Establish planning and promotional action plans. • Establish protocol for … Read More about Master Planning/Timeline Checklist

Hemuneration: When Men Make More Money Than Women

He-myu-ne-ray-shun [noun.] The shocking fact is that male meeting planners out-earn female meeting planners by a whopping 37-per-cent average. Having worked in this industry for over 15 years, been involved in the planning and execution of over 300 meetings and events, and currently managing an events team comprised entirely of women, I can personally confirm that the national remuneration … Read More about Hemuneration: When Men Make More Money Than Women

Holiday Event Planning Checklist

Planning an event during the busy holiday period is particularly challenging. Herewith, some tips. July/August 2009 Determine budget, theme and create a guest list. Consider your entire company group/division, not just the sales team. Also, will suppliers/customers be invited? Choose a venue well in advance. Prepare and send invitations 8 – 10 weeks in advance. There are only so many weekends … Read More about Holiday Event Planning Checklist

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