Nov 30, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Everyone who owns or runs an event services company is busy, busy, busy. Most planners run from one event to the next without much of a break. However, since December typically represents event planners' "down time" of the year, it seems appropriate to take a hard look at the reasons you have meetings and events in the first place and how the planning process can be improved in 2013.  Here are 5 things to pay attention to as you move forward with next year's events:...

Nov 28, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
If you are looking to take your meeting to the next level by allowing your attendees maximum portability and efficient, fast connections -- look no further than to the versatility of Apple iPads and the reliability of Wi-Fi network rentals that can support up to 1,000 devices. When an event offers iPad rentals and attendees use their own smartphones, event venues need more access points to handle all these devices. Adding a Wi-Fi network array ensures that the event has the best connectivit...

Nov 26, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Your organization is in the process of assessing the number, location and needs for your meetings in 2013 and beyond. Even though you own some audio visual equipment, it is becoming increasingly apparent that your aged equipment and bare-bones staff is not in a position to keep up with the technological demands most speakers and attendees desire.  So now you are faced with a dilemma -- should you keep forging on with the same-old equipment OR rely on the conference services staff to ...

Nov 21, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Have you ever considered what you might learn from a Thanksgiving gathering when planning your next meeting or conference? Here are 5 simple things we can all garner from this day of food, rest and relaxation! #1: You always know the day.  Thanksgiving falls on the 4th Thursday of November. Always. No exceptions.  How about your meetings or events? Do they always fall on the the same date, month, or time of year? Have you conveyed that information to your attendees or emplo...

Nov 19, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Your annual holiday gathering is just around the corner and this year, you want it to be extra special for the employees. After all they have worked very hard and it is a time to celebrate your company's success. Rather than holding a run-of-the-mill luncheon, you want to host a motivational and festive party to start the new year right.  Below are do's and don'ts about holiday parties that can help make the moment special:   Don't treat a holiday party as a mu...

Nov 16, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Is your meeting stuck in a time warp? Are you doing the same thing you did 5 or 10 years ago? Are you avoiding change because you don't want to go out of your comfort zone?  Many meeting planners know the event process so well they rarely want to change it. Embracing change doesn't mean losing ground with your company, client or attendees. It means you are willing to look hard at your event and do what is absolutely necessary to make your meeting robust and exciting.  ...

Nov 14, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Your company has decided to introduce a new product or service and has put in place a team of individuals from all over the country to coordinate the launch. Since this will be the first time everyone is working together, it is decided among the group that a series of meetings is in the best interest of all concerned in order to have a successful launch. But are all those meetings really necessary? Here are some tips and techniques for a product launch event to keep you focused on the p...

Nov 12, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Destination Hotels & Resorts recently surveyed 383 meeting planners about the trends they see in the meetings industry as they approach 2013. Below is an executive overview of what they found along with 4 trends that will shape the coming year.  THE SNAPSHOT SHOWS:     55% of the planners surveyed are looking at longer lead times than in the past  18% are booking meetings less than 60 days out  12% are booking their meetings at least a year in adv...

Nov 09, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Have you ever attended a conference and received a lengthy survey via email about a week later? Be honest: How many times do you fill it out? My guess, if you are anything like me, that conference is a distant memory and most likely you will delete the email.  Even if you capture questions onsite via a paper survey system, chances are you are asking some questions that are not that important in the scheme of the total conference (such as "How was the meeting room?" or "Ho...

Nov 07, 2012 by DeDe Mulligan
Whether you are conducting a sales meeting, training session, or producing a product launching event, individuals who are perpetually late can cause real problems for meeting planners. These late attendees can be disruptive to the meeting flow because they either want  you to start over, they talk with their neighbor, or they are busy getting some food and coffee while the session is in full roar. In the end, they are devaluing the time of the people who arrived promptly.  So, what...