High-tech user conferences like Dreamforce and Microsoft Ignite have been designing innovative hub spaces to engage and nurture their top customers for years. While some of the elements in these areas can be costly to implement, they don’t have to break the budget. Creating a town-square-like experience can help grow your community through valuable connections. Our team got together for a strategy session and put on our design-thinking hats. We brainstormed what a hub should deliver from an … [Read more...]
I Think We Cracked the Code on Digital Networking!
If you missed our recent webinar on Cracking the Code on Digital Networking, you can watch it on-demand. It is well worth your time to learn from two masters: Amanda Kaiser (pictured, top right) and Arianna Rehak (pictured, bottom), co-founders of the 2021 Virtual Networking Incubator. We had a lot of ground to cover and didn’t get to all of the questions. I had an opportunity to follow up with Amanda to get them answered. Be sure to check out all the great resources and ideas, with links you … [Read more...]
[WEBINAR]: Cracking the Code on Event Networking
Register now for our next VCC webinar, May, 19th, 2021, 12:00-1:00 PM EDT. Space is limited. What is every meeting owner’s quest for the holy grail? Delivering meaningful networking and connecting experiences in a digital or hybrid experience. In February, our two guests founded the 2021 Virtual Networking Incubator. They were determined to bring together some of the best minds from around the country to crack the code on how to deliver on the promise of making meaningful connections. Now, … [Read more...]
My Turbulent Love Affair With Digital-Event Networking
I have been a loyal and passionate disciple of networking for all of my adult life. I have spent decades learning, speaking and writing about it. Yet when our world was turned upside down last March, and all meaningful connection with everyone was forced into a digital world, I suddenly felt like I lost my footing and became very unstable. I learned a lot over the first nine months of the pandemic as I collaborated with clients to design and deliver high-value networking experiences in the … [Read more...]
Renegotiating Live Event Agreements When All Parties Are Innocent Victims
This is the third in a series of blogs posts, written collaboratively by our team, which uncover lessons learned in advising dozens of our clients on their events in the time of COVID-19. Although each situation has its own unique issues, we hope you find nuggets to help you with your disruption response and planning. The U.S. hotel industry is projected to report a 51-percent decline in revenue per available room (RevPAR) in 2020, according to a special forecast revision from STR and … [Read more...]
Key Takeaways from PCMA’s Convening Leaders 2020
The Professional Convention Management Association’s Convening Leaders in San Francisco In early January served as an engaging and energizing way to kick off a new year and a new decade. I’ve been a regular attendee and active volunteer in PCMA for over 25 years and continue to be impressed at their willingness to take risks and incubate innovative ideas. Here are a few items that are top-of-mind as I’ve reflected on the recent PCMA CL. Innovate + Elevate Arena The sponsor and partner … [Read more...]
Do You Really Have Them at Hello? Rethinking Your First-Timer Strategy
One of my biggest pet peeves is the way some conferences approach first-time attendees. Being intentional and having a plan for how you welcome someone who is experiencing your conference for the first time is not only the right thing to do, it’s also a smart attendee acquisition strategy. It’s a pivotal time to onboard and help them make connections that will last throughout the conference, and, hopefully, throughout the years as they become repeat attendees. No One Should Eat Alone Take a … [Read more...]
Three Core Conference Planning Tenets To Master And Skillfully Apply
Does your conference committee practice organized abandonment and avoid no-bottom-line-mindsets? What is their capacity to see opportunities in the mist of change? How are they at focusing on the purpose, goals and target market of the conference when making decisions? These three principles are vital to maintaining a healthy, strong conference. Often conference planning members lack experience with the tenets of organized abandonment, focus on strategic alignment and organizing for … [Read more...]
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