Feb 13, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
Crossing Over into the Technological Divide While it has been highly touted and written about that the next generation of meeting attendees (Gen Y) are running the show on meeting demands, Futurist Mike Walsh disagrees. He stated in his presentation before PCMA, it is the smartphone generation that is going to shape our meetings and events and I whole-heartedly agree. For example, my 76-year-old mother and my 13-year old nephew are equally active on Facebook and both have smartphones, while my ...

Feb 05, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
Cool Options Are Around the Corner   Trade shows are the perfect place to use specific technological gems – partly because the contained space is perfect for testing new apps and partly because every exhibitor is looking for something new and cool to bring precious attendees streaming to their booth. Today’s blog post will focus on the breakthrough applications on the horizon: Geofencing, 3D Printing, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality and Drones. Geofencing You are probably already ...

Feb 02, 2016 by Anonymous
Many businesses recognize that it saves money to retain good employees. The costs of hiring can include advertising, recruitment, travel, relocation, and training—not to mention hours upon hours of time spent sorting through resumes, scheduling interviews, deliberating, following through, and negotiating salaries and benefits. Indeed, studies show that many companies lose a significant amount of time and money in headhunting, hiring, and training new employees. Many companies realize—too la...

Jan 28, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
The Benefits & Drawbacks of Virtual As long as I have been in the meeting business, virtual trade shows have been talked about as something that is just around the corner. Think about it: The ability to reach thousands of attendees from the comfort of their home or office computer, with minimal expense to the exhibitor. What a fantastic concept! Yet for all its talk and bluster, virtual trade shows have not taken off. Here are the primary benefits and drawbacks of virtual trade shows that w...

Jan 26, 2016 by Anonymous
Trade show exhibitors and event planners are perpetually looking for fresh ways to promote their business, products, services and ideas. Businesses are always in need of unique ways to distinguish themselves from the competition and help draw a crowd off the showroom floor. Industry professionals know that the success of trade show exhibits often relies on technology—from the basics of sound, lighting, and lead retrieval, and moving up to leading-edge event technology that sets new standards. ...

Jan 26, 2016 by Anonymous
The Consumer Electronics Show is one of the most anticipated shows of the year for Techies around the world. While most attend to get a preview of what is new and exciting in the consumer world, there are many products that can change the way we do business at events and conferences in the future. Here is a look at some of the most exciting business-friendly products showcased at CES this year. Leave the easel, take the cannoli:  The Lenovo Yoga Tab 3 Pro Imagine a collaboration meeting ...

Jan 26, 2016 by Anonymous
Know your audience. This old-school marketing adage is at the heart every planning decision made at the 50 fastest growing events and conferences. From venue location to dinner menus, top meeting planners rely on a deep understanding of their attendee’s tastes when making big ticket decisions. But did you know that a deep understanding of your attendee’s behavior could translate into revenue dollars for your event? Here is how it works. Consumer behavior is a key driver behind trends. Tre...

Jan 21, 2016 by DeDe Mulligan
The Skinny on In-House vs. Outside Vendors   As a meeting planner, it may seem like a logical and easy choice to go with the in-house AV provider. After all, your convention center contact or hotel sales staff have confidence in their ability to pull off your event, why shouldn’t you? However, there may be some “gotchas” when it comes to dealing with the preferred in-house providers and, whether you are planning the first company conference or the hundredth, knowing the true facts a...

Jan 19, 2016 by Karen Daniels
With Today’s technology, everything is about “instant.” We access information instantly, communicate in a flash anywhere in the world, and we can find out in real time what our audience is thinking and what they care about. Tapping into that “instant” ability is part of creating and running a successful trade show, conference, or corporate event. If you are running or presenting at an event, you are always looking for ways to boost attendee engagement and audience participation. Audie...

Jan 14, 2016 by Anonymous
Corporate culture helps define a business, and employee habits and attitudes are at the heart of every work environment. For businesses, new technology can be used to bring fresh mindsets into a work community—helping to keep employees engaged, energized, and effective! Tech Initiatives to Keep your Work Community Modern and Dynamic! According to an interview with Molly Graham at Facebook, "a new philosophy is emerging in business and today's young workers are driving a change in corporate c...