Posts Categorized: Meetings

lbradford

Virtual Totebags Are Here

Virtual tote bags are here! Our newest addition to the virtual trade show platform allows attendees to collect and store exhibitor resources. What are exhibitor resources? For events using our virtual trade show platform, exhibitor and sponsor profiles include a “Resources” section where they can share all of the materials they would like to offer to their booth visitors. Visitors can view those resources directly from the company profile or add them to their personal tote bag to view later. This digital content replaces the materials that exhibitors would have displayed in a physical booth location. However, in a virtual... Read more »

lbradford

How to Conduct Virtual Roundtables with Zoom Breakout Rooms

VirtualEventsZoomEventRebels

Do many of your sessions include roundtables? Often, roundtable sessions follow this format: One or more speakers lead the session At various points, speakers break the attendees into small groups to discuss a problem or question After a short time (five to ten minutes), the speakers bring the small group discussions to a close and reassemble the entire group This collaboration makes roundtable sessions a popular and powerful way of providing instruction and helping your attendees think through difficult challenges. In a face-to-face environment, you would see roundtable attendees seated at tables of 8, 10, or 12. These tables become... Read more »

kchopson

Event Management Software 2020 Trends

Event Management Software 2020 Trends

It’s a new decade, and the event management software industry is booming. An increase in the number of large events and attendees — coupled with the rise of online, app-based technologies — has contributed to higher standards in the event planning market. This has resulted in an increase in the number of event software platforms, particularly those that can be used on mobile devices. Among the event industry trends 2020 is showing on the horizon, event management software market growth is perhaps the most marked. In this guide, we dive into event management software growth while touching on several other... Read more »

kchopson

Outdoor Event Risks

Need to make your event virtual? See how our Virtual Conference software with Direct Zoom Integration can make your pivot easier! As summer approaches, we are all getting ready to spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. If you live on the East Coast (as EventRebels does!) or cooler regions of the country, you know that we need to take in all the fresh air we can! So we look forward to the time of parks, hiking trails, ball games and outdoor weddings and events. For the planner, staging an outdoor event is a thrilling experience, but can... Read more »

kchopson

Checking out Marriott’s New Delta Hotel in Baltimore

Delta Hotels by Marriott

In 2014, Marriott International opened a new brand of hotels in the United States, named the Delta Hotels and Resorts. These upscale hotels have many of the qualities that earn the designation “boutique.” Delta Hotels tend to be in trendy, urban settings while maintaining the character of the local culture. They are highly service-oriented and can be expected to have the “quirkiness” that is expected of a boutique venue. While Delta’s first U.S. Hotel, the Delta Orlando Lake Buena Vista opened in 2015, it was not the first Delta Hotel. The brand’s birthplace was in Canada, and proved to be... Read more »

akleinfeld

Attendee = Visitor = Target

Guest Post by Alan Kleinfeld of Arrive Management There are lots of reasons people go to face-to-face conferences. They want to network, learn something new or visit with particular people. Sometimes, they like to go for the travel. The world is a better place when folks travel and see something outside of their own backyards. But there’s also indicators that can make your attendees a target. Here are a few tips to help your registrants have a better travel experience.Don’t wear name badges outside of the meeting Keep copies of IDs, credit cards and other important information in your carry-on... Read more »

kchopson

Thoughts on MPI’s WEC 2017

The 2017 World Education Congress (WEC) , the annual conference of Meeting Professionals International (MPI) , was held recently at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. WEC’s primary value is education and is a quick way to earn credits for certifications such as the CMP. The conference includes over 70 education sessions and focuses on the best and leading edge practices of the meetings industry. The thousands of attendees include both corporate, non-profit, and association planners as well as suppliers of all kinds from destinations and venues to technology. The theme of this year’s WEC was “Stop Designing Meetings and... Read more »

kchopson

How to Use Registration Data to Boost Conference Attendance

Reports

Did you know that your registration database of past meetings can be a goldmine of information that can increase your marketing efficiency and boost attendance at your next conference? If you have been using great online registration software to record your attendee data, you may have the keys to catapulting your registration numbers to the next level. Here are some ways you can use your registration data to reach your goals.Week over Week reports. It is common practice to see how your show is trending compared to previous years. Week over Week reports comparing factors like total registrations and revenue... Read more »

kchopson

Using Destination International’s empowerMINT Tool to search Meeting Destinations

empowerMINT

Looking for a good destination for your meeting but need some basic facts like convention center capacity, nearby hotels and airport, and so forth? Fortunately, there is a great and free tool available called empowerMINT that helps you quickly get answers to your questions. Note that the empowerMINT website is for destinations and not venues. Destinations International (DI) represents the various destinations across the United States and is the organization behind empowerMINT. The Destination Marketing terminology evolved from the old concept of a CVB (aka “Convention and Visitors Bureau”.) DI used to be the International Association of Convention Bureaus (IACB),... Read more »

kchopson

2017’s Hot Food & Beverage Trends for Events

Bloody Mary

2017 is coming up fast and you are considering everything that can make your show as awesome as possible. Do not forget that the best way to add spice to your events is to have an unforgettable food and beverage menu. Fortunately, it is an exciting time in the F&B world, so there are many opportunities available to add that extra pizazz. Here are some of the top F&B trends in 2017 that can make your event “a can’t miss.” Keep it Local and Sustainable Supporting local markets just continues to grow in importance. The best part of local is... Read more »

kchopson

Great Resources for Event Professionals

One of the toughest tasks of an event professional is keeping up with the multitude of changes and trends that impact your job. Fortunately, there are a number of great resources that can keep you posted on the latest news and trends in the world of events, conferences and trade shows. The sites mentioned cover news ranging from new hotels to hot event technology. Most of these feature easy to access postings that you can read on your phone in the few moments when you have a break or are waiting for a plane. Event Manager Blog. This blog is... Read more »

kchopson

Use Your Next Conference to Start Your Fitness Resolution!

Good exercise habits can be very difficult to achieve these days. In our sedentary ways, it can be easy to forget fitness altogether. Study after study has shown that spending too much time sitting can do as much harm to the body as many other bad habits. For example, Dr. Kim of X bytes argues that sitting is the new smoking and speaks of a “byte” sized approach to fitness. The good news is that “wearable” tech devices like the Fitbit and now the Apple Watch (aka “iWatch”) can be very useful in keeping fitness top-of-mind and breaking the overly... Read more »

kchopson

How to Increase Audience Engagement with Mobile Session Question & Answer

Online Event Q&A

Have you ever heard of “Death by PowerPoint?” This generally refers to a presentation that makes poor use of slides. But what it really means is that the speaker bored the audience. However, even if the slides are well made, a lack of crowd interaction can result in disinterested attendees. Most meeting planners are well aware of this phenomenon and go to great lengths to alleviate its effects. Traditional techniques often involve cumbersome methods such as someone walking around with a microphone receiving questions from the crowd. Other variations including a line of people behind a mic or someone collecting... Read more »

Rebel Roundup: Airbnb, Negotiating, Choose Chicago, Millenial Marketing

This week’s rebel round-up includes Airbnb, Negotiating, Choose Chicago, and Marketing to Millienials!  Enjoy! Professionals Across Generations and Nations Agree: Face-to-Face Meetings Preferred – Business Wire (@businesswire) 5 Test Cases for Airbnb During Meetings and Conventions – Skift (@skift) 5 Negotiation Mistakes Every Event Planner Should Avoid – Event Manager Blog (@eventmb) With state budget stalled, Choose Chicago cuts staff – Chicago Tribune (@RobertChannick) It’s The End Of Networking As You Know It – PCMA (@pcmahq) 5 Tips for Marketing to Millennials – BizBash (@bizbash) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for more articles like this posted every week!

Rebel Roundup: Millenial Disruption, Meetings Means Biz, Sponsorships

This week’s rebel round-up includes Millenial disruption, Meetings Means Business, Sponsorships, and more!  Enjoy! A warm welcome for conference attendees – Associations Now (@associationsnow) How Millennials Are Disrupting the Meetings Industry –Skift (@skift) The Sense of Security—Risk Management and Meeting Design – MeetingsNet (@meetingsnet) How the Meetings Industry Is Getting Ready for the Future of Conventions – Skift (@skift) The next generation of meeting sponsorships – Successful Meetings (@successfulmtgs) Wearable technology in the events realm – Special Events (@special_events) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for more articles like this posted every week!

Rebel Roundup: DMAI CEO, Seller’s Market, Discovery Hotels, Dreamforce

This week’s rebel round-up includes DMAI CEO, Seller’s Market, Discovery Hotels, and Dreamforce!  Enjoy! CEO Michael Gehrisch Departs as DMAI Eyes Future Changes – Trade Show Executive (@tradeshowexec) How To Avoid Baggage Fees Through Advertising – Travel Pulse (@travelpulse) What the Seller’s Market Means in 2016 – MeetingsNet (@meetingsnet) Discovery Is the Latest Media Brand to Join the Rush to Have Its Own Hotel Collection – Skift (@skift) A Custom Conference Experience for 170,000 Attendees? Yes, It Is Possible – BizBash (@bizbash) Why The Traditional Definition Of A Convention Center No Longer Exists – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for... Read more »

Dreamforce: The Dreamboat Experience

Event Rebels Dreamforce

“The Love Boat promises something for everyone.” The Dreamboat may not have been the Love Boat, but Dreamforce definitely tried to have something for everyone! For the first time in Dreamforce’s 13 year existence, the 170,000 person conference chartered a Celebrity Cruises ship to provide lodging to 1,100 conference attendees. This is not the first time a conference has chartered a ship as a “floating hotel”, but it is probably the most mainstream example of lodging alternatives, even being featured on Forbes.com. In a time where conference attendees are searching for alternatives to the traditional room block, such as airbnb, Dreamforce’s... Read more »

Rebel Roundup: Shuttles, IAEE Awards, Smart Meetings Destinations

This week’s rebel round-up includes Shuttles, IAEE Awards, Smart Meetings Destinations, PCMA Convening Leaders 2016!  Enjoy! How To Break Up With Shuttles And Enhance the Attendee Experience – PCMA(@pcmahq) IAEE Unveils 2015 Individual Award Winners – TSNN (@tsnn_com_US) 3 Signs Your Event Planner is a Problem – Event Manager Blog (@EventMB) Intellectual Capital Is the New Draw for Smart Meetings Destinations – Skift (@skift) 5 Skills Today’s Event Pros Need to Know to Keep Their Jobs – BizBash (@bizbash) Cultivating Creative Moments at Convening Leaders 2016 – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for more articles like this... Read more »

IMEX America 2015 “What’s New?”

Introduction IMEX is deeply rooted in the Meetings Industry and every edition of IMEX America or IMEX in Frankfurt presents us with a challenge and an opportunity for innovation. For each show we seek to refresh and renew partnerships also with the goal of providing an ideal setting for business opportunities between our exhibitors and planners who join us as hosted buyers and visitors. This is not an easy challenge but it is one that we embrace with the help of our strong industry partnerships. IMEX America provides attendees with the opportunity to meet with a range of global suppliers... Read more »

Rebel Roundup: Periscope, Summer 2015 Hotel News, APEX, and PCMA

This week’s rebel round-up includes Periscope, Summer 2015 Hotel News, APEX Committee Leadership Expansion, and the PCMA 2016 Board Officers and Directors!  Enjoy! 3 Staggering Statistics That Show Why You Need To Get Ready For Periscope – PCMA(@pcmahq) Gallery: Hotel News for Meeting Pros, Summer 2015 Edition – Meetings Net (@MeetingsNet) How Freeman Drives Innovation by Maximizing Collaboration and Data at its Own Event – FreemanXP (@FreemanXP) CIC Expands APEX Committee Leadership – Meetings Focus (@meetingsfocus) Checklist: 9 Ways to Keep Sponsors Happy, Before and After the Event – BizBash (@bizbash) PCMA Announces Proposed Slate of 2016 Board Officers and Directors – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for... Read more »

Rebel Roundup: Synchronicities, Outside Lands, Meeting Breaks, F&B Tips

This week’s rebel round-up includes Synchronicities, Outside Lands, Meeting Breaks, and F&B Tips!  Enjoy! Visit Baltimore’s partnership with Anaheim, San Antonio exceeds expectations – Baltimore Business Journal (@baltbizonline) Company That Blocked Wi-Fi Hotspots At Conventions Must Pay $750,000 Fine To FCC – Fast Company (@FastCompany) From Ho-Hum to Hell Yeah! Event Inspiration from Outside Lands – FreemanXP (@FreemanXP) Creative Strategies Help Shave Thousands of Dollars from Meeting Bids – Conference Direct via Meeting Mentor Online (@conferencedirect) 9 Innovative Ideas for Meeting Breaks – BizBash (@bizbash) 6 F&B Tips From Some Of The Most Celebrated Chefs In The Country – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us... Read more »

kchopson

Recruiting the Volunteers your Organization Needs

Volunteers are the lifeblood of many organizations. Volunteers can provide great value by helping with everything from small tasks to high level strategic leadership. However, finding good volunteers can prove to be a great challenge. To develop a solid volunteer recruitment strategy, it is useful to consider these three issues: What is in it for a volunteer? Why should they be involved in your organization? What kind of skills are needed? Make it easy for your organization’s members to volunteer Your Value Proposition Everybody is very busy these days. You need to lay out some good, concrete, benefits to volunteering.... Read more »

The Decision to Attend Study: Phase 1

Decision to Attend Study

The Decision to Attend Study, created in partnership by The Experience Institute, IAEE, and PCMA, has begun it’s Phase 2. Yesterday, Mickey Schaefer of The Experience Institute shared some of the key findings in Phase 1. We’ve taken the liberty of compiling those findings for you. Take a look at the major takeaways. Propensity to Attend The Propensity to Attend is High Across All Generations. 92% are likely to attend, with younger generations trending strong. Younger Generations Are Replacing Older Generation Attendees. As the older generations attend fewer events, the younger Gen X and Gen Y generations are filling the void. The... Read more »

Rebel Roundup: ASAE in Detroit, Millenial Needs, Industry Disruptions

This week’s rebel round-up includes ASAE in Detroit, Millenial Needs, Industry Disruptions, and International Audiences!  Enjoy! Detroit gets (mostly) rave reviews from influential ASAE – Detroit Free Press (@freep) Why the Meetings Industry Doesn’t Understand Millennial or Modern Needs – Greg Oates via Skift (@GregOates) Not just food: These restaurants hit all five senses – CNN Travel (@CNNtravel) Three Disruptions Affecting Meetings And Contracts – Associations Now (@associationsnow) How This Event Avoided Insulting an International Audience – BizBash (@bizbash) How This Trade Show Transformed The Attendee Experience – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for more articles like this posted every week!

Rebel Roundup: Best In Show 2015, ADA, Live-Streaming, and Airbnb

This week’s rebel round-up includes PCMA’s 2015 Best in Show, ADA, Live-Streaming, and Airbnb!  Enjoy! 2015 Best In Show  – PCMA Convene (@pcmaconvene) D.C. by wheelchair: Putting ADA to the test – USA Today Travel (@USATodayTravel) Airfares Will Drop to Record Lows This Fall –Christopher Elliott via Fortune (@elliottdotorg) The best and worst airline and hotel rewards programs – Christopher Elliott via Fortune (@elliottdotorg) 4 Live-Streaming Systems With New and Useful Features – BizBash (@bizbash) Why This Major Convention City Is Jumping Into Bed With Airbnb – PCMA (@pcmahq) See you next week with more interesting articles for the event and meeting industry! Follow us on twitter for more articles like this posted every week!