Mar 23, 2016 by SmartSource
Late last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ruling on a controversial practice of some hotels and in-house convention center Internet service providers. Jamming the signal of a mobile hot spot or personal wireless device is apparently a no no in the eyes of the government. While the ruling is considered a win for exhibitors and hotel guests, it also paves the way for event planners to have more choices and negotiating power when it comes to venue-wide wireless access. ...

Mar 23, 2016 by B. Maitland
There has been a time-tested recipe for business growth.  By making cash-intensive investments, businesses have sought a defensible market position by leveraging anything proprietary they can develop or buy. It has worked this way: Identify a market need Innovate or acquire Invest in the technology and capacity to produce the product Serve the market profitably, as only you or few others can It was an approach that worked for a few decades, until the recession that began in...

Mar 22, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
Interaction + Fun = Participation   Every conference I have ever attended strived to be the best, better than last years and better than the competition. Even though the conferences had great motivational speakers, the message was many times lost – even just a few days after the event. Why? Because they were not speaking to me about my work challenges, I could not apply anything concrete from their advice. What can you do to make sure this doesn’t happen at your next conference? For s...

Mar 17, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
From The Top 4 Meeting Innovators   Every year BizBash Magazine identifies the 15 most innovative meetings of the year. I always enjoy reading this article for two reasons: 1) To learn how far event organizers will push the envelope; and 2) To understand how technology improves the meeting experience. Today’s blog post will focus on the top four events and the creative ways they engage attendees.   C2 Montreal   This 3-day Canadian conference has established itself as a labo...

Mar 14, 2016 by Anonymous
A product launch is a critical time for any business. These sensitive events are the big reveal after months or—more likely—YEARS of research and development. Not only is a product launch the debut of an item, offering, or service, but these events are deeply intertwined with a company’s image and branding. The company speaks about the product, but the product also speaks volumes about the company, while—ideally—vast numbers of your target audience are watching, listening, and learning...

Mar 09, 2016 by Anonymous
For business events such as meetings, conferences, trade shows, and expositions, data can be an invaluable tool for increasing engagement. By knowing your attendees better, it becomes exponentially easier to provide them with an event experience that truly serves their goals and exceeds their expectations. According to Forbes, only 15% of Fortune 500 companies are currently using big data analytics.¹ While big data may seem intimidating and inaccessible for many smaller companies, big data spen...

Mar 08, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
Make it Simple and Relevant   I don’t care if you use paper, an online system, mobile app or Audience Response System (ARS) rental -- if your questions are not effective or the survey is too long, you will not receive the type of feedback needed to improve your meeting. Period. However, there is much to be said for getting rid of paper. For starters, attendees don’t like it, want it and won’t respond on it (2% if you are lucky). Second, it isn’t green. Third, it takes resources to...

Mar 01, 2016 by Anonymous
Many business meetings, presentations, speakers, sessions, and corporate events rely on projection screens to provide primary or secondary images. Whether these images are the main focus of a presentation or if they’re simply helping to set the stage by adding a visual element to a speaker’s message, projection screens have long been a popular favorite for event planners and corporate meeting organizers. Screens and projectors are the long-running technology favorite for PowerPoint presentat...

Feb 26, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
Structure, Sustainability and a Touch of Health   Think about the last several meetings, conferences or events you attended. Can you remember a meeting that you loved? One that you felt connected and part of something larger than the event itself? If so, then you attended “the perfect meeting”. According to Successful Meetings, this type of event is composed of three key elements: Good Meeting Structure Green Practices and Healthy Choices Today, we will explore all three and let ...

Feb 17, 2016 by Anonymous
Wearable technology has been flashing in and out of the news for a decade or more—leaving most of us feeling . . . intrigued. Ideas that once only existed in science fiction movies and comic books are now on the shelves—available to anyone willing to buy them. However, many of us are still asking whether the technology is honestly practical or if it’s just a “flash in the pan”—grabbing attention for introducing thought-provoking design, influencing manufacturers’ stock prices, and ...