By John Santini Like most people shipping to a trade show or conference, once your shipment leaves your premises you likely give little thought to its journey to your booth space in Canada. We’re just happy to see it there when we arrive! It is important, however, to understand what happens between points A and B to ensure your material makes it there, on time and during the move-in hours. Move-in day and labelling You would be surprised how many…
Event Operations
-
-
Prevent becoming a commercial casualty by avoiding current events debates
On February 14, 2018, a mass shooting occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Seventeen people were killed and 17 more wounded. It seemed yet another tragic shooting of numerous innocent victims that provokes intense political and media interest for a few days and then is eclipsed by other events. In this case, the Parkland shooting has gained a momentum that has grown in news coverage, causing a number a special interest groups to wade into the…
-
The insider’s guide to internal meeting spaces
There are times when corporate planners are tasked with planning events in an internal meeting space. Usually, this means planning meetings in office buildings while managing client expectations – and what they expect is the same standard as if the meeting was held in a purpose-built venue. Perceived convenience and cost savings become the deciding factors for internal meetings, however there can be hidden costs and inconveniences that should be considered. Moving meetings into the office are rarely as simple…
-
Wish list of items for a perfect event space
By Jessica Symons and Sarah Stockton Before determining what the perfect event space is, you first need to understand your client’s needs, their demographic, and their expectations: Do they prefer downtown locations versus the suburbs? Do they need to be close to transit or the airport? Do they need to have off-site social locations close by? Where is the majority of their membership coming from? How many people are expected to attend this event? Are they mostly women, mostly men,…
-
Centerplate chosen as exclusive food and beverage partner for St. John’s Convention Centre
The Board of Directors of St. John’s Sports and Entertainment Ltd. have announced the selection of event hospitality leader Centerplate as the exclusive catering partner for the St. John’s Convention Centre (SJCC), following a comprehensive bid process. Located in the heart of beautiful downtown St. John’s, SJCC offers state-of-the-art facilities for meetings, conferences and events. The 10-year contract will encompass all food and beverage services for events at SJCC, beginning June 1, 2018. “Centerplate has an excellent reputation for working…
-
Digital vs. paper: Which will win the battle of meetings communication?
By Phil Rappoport Could the fun and age-old “selection game” of Rock-Paper-Scissors become “App-Paper-Scissors?” Which one would top the other in a one-on-one duel by meeting professionals and their delegates? Can the app and a pair of scissors turn paper into shreds, or will paper still have a place? Judging by the surge of mobile app usage in the meetings and events industry over the past five years, one would think that apps are clearly in the driver’s seat and…
-
Will market disruption make room blocks the next casualty?
By Anita Carlyle, CMP, CMM At a recent PCMA East Canada workshop in Ottawa, meeting professionals and business event suppliers came together to discuss room blocks. Consensus among the hotel sales representatives was that it is business as usual – if clients want the use of meeting space, they will be held to specific room blocks. These blocks will continue to be contracted with attrition clauses that mandate room and food & beverage revenue. Group business is the hotel’s base…
-
What do you know about sponsorship?
Reinventing sponsorships using creativity and customization When it comes to sponsorship, the competition is real – and tough. In order to survive it, we need to rethink what potential sponsors are looking for. Thirty years ago, it was a logo on a poster and a program, and a thank you after the event. But that’s no longer the case. Today corporations don’t care about logo exposure on your materials and websites. It has become such a given – logo placement,…
-
Marriott’s commission reduction: Don’t say you weren’t warned!
By Shimon Avish Six months ago, in a prescient article by the GBTA Meetings Committee, the specter of a reduction or elimination of hotel commissions was explored. And as of last month, that possibility is now a reality, thanks to the folks at Marriott reducing commissions from 10 to seven per cent in North America. Do we believe this is the final reduction in commissions, or only the first step? Let the chaos begin! The only question that matters now…
-
The challenges faced by event food and beverage teams
From addressing food allergies to dealing with shrinking budgets and tighter-than-ever timelines, venue food and beverage teams face a host of challenges with every event they help organize. Corporate Meetings and Events magazine recently spoke with senior leaders at several successful event venues to learn about how these hard-working teams address such challenges to create exceptional experiences for planners and guest alike. Participants: Jason Bangerter, Executive Chef; Virgilio Vea, Director of Food and Beverage; and Kate Mackay, Director of Sales…
