New Trends in Business Events

For my business clients, here's a great article on new trends in business events.  The movement is towards creativity and theatricality.  Something I've always felt was a powerful approach.  Here's the ARTICLE.

Interesting Trend in Corporate Events

For my corporate clients and friends, here's an interesting article on "Why Fortune 500 companies are hosting holiday parties in summer".

Article on Successful Corporate Events

Here's an article I just found on what it takes to make a successful corporate event.  It's entitled:
"That last 10% makes a corporate event succeed or fail", and it has some straight-forward advice about attention to details that really apply to planning any type of event.

Year End Corporate Events

For my clients that may be planning events for the end of the year, here's an article I just found with some tips on making your events more successful: ARTICLE.  And while you're at it, make sure to remember the entertainment!  Call me at 309-647-3692.

Meeting and Event Trends

Here's an interesting article I just found on the IMEX American meeting and event planners' conference in Las Vegas, and notably, a report on current and future trends in the meeting and event industry. You can read it HERE.

Corporate Event Planning Tips

Here's something useful for my corporate clients.  It's an article I just found with 10 Tips for Successful Corporate Event.  Some helpful, straight forward ideas on event planning.

Planning Corporate Events

For my corporate clients, I just came across this helpful article on "How to Plan a Successful Corporate Event".  Interestingly, one of the points the article makes is that trends in corporate events have shifted to being more fun:  that companies have learned that "the most effective way to deliver a message or share information is experientially".  Which of course is something I've advocated for many years.

Family-Friendly Meetings

Here's something that will be of interest to my corporate and meeting planning clients.  It's an article I just found that notes a rise in popularity of "family-friendly" corporate meetings.  According to the article, many companies are seeing the benefits of holding meetings that include activities and events for employees' families.  They can be a strong factor in employee job satisfaction,company loyalty, and productivity.  Here's the article:  The Rise of the Family-Friendly Meeting.

Company Event Planning Guide

Here's something I just came across for anyone who may be planning a company event.  It's free digital booklet entitled: Plan, Promote and Party: A Beginner’s Guide to Planning Internal Company Events, offered by 4Imprint Promotional Products. You can download your copy HERE.

Tips on Corporate Events

Just came across this short article in a British newspaper on tips for planning a successful client hospitality event.  It's fairly simple, but has a couple good ideas.  It's titled: TIPS FOR ORGANISING A TOP CORPORATE EVENT.  Of course, I'd also add to their tips, the idea of finding outstanding entertainment to ensure your clients have an excellent time!

Tips for Corporate Event Planners

Here's an article for my corporate clients, with a somewhat different slant on event planning.  It's about what corporate planners can learn from wedding planners.  Interesting perspective that may spur a few good ideas.  Here's the ARTICLE.

Corporate Event Planning Tools

Here's an article I just found with a list of online resources for corporate meeting and event planning.  It includes innovative, web based technology for planning, video conferencing, and much more, (including an app for planning events on cruise ships!!)  Some of these are ones I've mentioned before, but this is one of the most comprehensives lists I've seen.  Also, be sure to check out the comments below the article, as they've listed at least one more useful resource there as well.  Here's the ARTICLE.

Lessons from TED

Here's an article that combines my interests in the TED conferences and the meeting and event industry. The article explores how to apply the lessons from TED to planning corporate meetings and other events. A great way to inspire creativity and innovation. Here's the ARTICLE.

Corporate Holiday Parties on the Rise

Here's an article I just found that indicates that corporate holiday parties are on the increase since last year. A good sign that perhaps the economic situation is finally making a turn for the better. Many experts I've followed have mentioned that you can tell how well a company is doing by whether they have a holiday party (and how big of a party they have) for their employees. Here's the link: Corporate Holiday Parties.

And, by the way, if you're like some, who plan their parties for after the holidays, to avoid competition for scheduling and services, you can still get me for great entertainment for your event.

Illinois Special Events Convention

For event planners: this is late notice, but I just learned about the 13th annual, Illinois Special Events Network State Convention, which is taking place this week, November 3 & 4, in Tinley Park. Here's a brochure on the event.

The Future of Event Planning and Social Media

Just came across a really interesting and valuable article on how to use various social media to help plan, organize, and promote events. Great tips for anyone planning an event, and indispensable for professional event planners.

Event Planning Industry Beginning to Recover

Here's a new article from BizBash on a study that seems to indicate that the event planning industry is beginning to recover from the downturn of the economic recession. You can read about it HERE.

Cisco Collaboration for Events

Here's a new technological resource for corporate event planners. Cisco just introduced "Collaboration for Events". In a press release they describe it as providing "event planners and executives with customizable options for using collaboration and business video technologies like Web conferencing, telepresence, digital signage and enterprise social software to dramatically expand an event's reach beyond the physical limitation of an event venue."

It's slated as being able to expand the scope of live events, better track ROI, assist in the planning process, attract top speakers, and help keep costs down for trade shows, conferences, and other business events.

To learn more about the new service, you can visit their blog.

The AIG Effect

One of the challenges for those of us in the event entertainment industry is what has recently come to be referred to as the "AIG effect". Corporations have cut back on many of their meetings, conferences, and other events, not only because of tightened budgets during the economic crunch, but also because of the public perception that these types of corporate events are excessive or frivolous.

Unfortunately, this trend has had a negative effect on business for those in the event, travel, and hospitality industries. Conferences and other events are still very valuable, but it's become politically incorrect to be seen as spending money on wining and dining corporate executives.

In a new article in Conference & Incentive Travel magazine, Ben McKee of American Express is quoted as saying, "Events should pass a ‘red face test’ to see if the company would be embarrassed by external coverage of the event."

While there are some indications that the impact of this trend is beginning to reverse itself somewhat, it's still a factor in our industry, and one that those of us serving the corporate event market can and should address.

As an entertainer and speaker, I strive to offer real value not only with my programs themselves, but also in assisting clients to communicate what that value is in concrete terms. In my view it's necessary to "go the extra mile" in this way so that clients can have a clear conscience about choosing to hire top notch speakers, entertainers, and other vendors for their events.

Morale, team building, and keeping employees on the right track are key to the bottom line of any company, and of course, that's what I offer for corporate events.

If you've been effected by the "AIG effect" in your business, I'd love to hear about your experiences, and would be happy to share my thoughts about how to address these challenges in ways that can be of benefit to all of us.

Meetings and Events Blog

Hey, here's a new blog I just found on "The Strategic Business Value of Meetings and Events". It's by Corporate Event Interactive, a Chicago based event planning company, and it has a lot of good information on the value of corporate meetings and other events.

Check it out: The Strategic Business Value of Meetings and Events