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Liz Latham , co-founder of Club Ichi and a brilliant event marketer, recently shared an intriguing idea she plans to test to increase attendance at her free events. Having registrants not show up has become a big problem for the meeting industry, especially for free events. Not long ago, registrants would reliably attend events they signed up for, barring unforeseen circumstancesa far cry from today’s reality.
Cat Davidson is the Director of Customer Experience at EventMobi, bringing over a decade of hands-on expertise in event technology and planner success. Having worked directly with thousands of event professionals since 2014, Cat has an intimate understanding of the day-to-day challenges event planners face when implementing new technologies to achieve their event goals.
Are for-profits stepping into territory traditionally held by associations? Lately, I’ve seen signs that they might be. Recently, I’ve received inquiries from suppliers of products and services wanting to hold events for the communities they serve. In fact, Im currently designing an event for a for-profit client that directly competes with association conferences in their profession.
Just got engaged and ready to dive head-first into your wedding planning adventure? Or perhaps you’re just looking for inspiration to make your special day unforgettable? Wedding open houses are the perfect opportunity to explore venues, meet industry professionals, and envision how your big day could come to life. We’ve got your round-up of all the wedding open houses happening between January and March.
Speaker: Kevin Burke, Founder & Managing Director at Digital One and AI & Automation Consultant
AI and automation are currently transforming the way sales and marketing teams operate. Generative AI crafts personalized outreach at scale, while conversational AI bots are engaging prospects in real time. Robotic process automation streamlines manual workflows by triggering tasks the moment a prospect takes a key action, and advanced AI analytics surface hidden patterns in the pipeline, improve forecasting, and help teams make data-driven decisions with confidence.
From repurposed booth elements, to total departures from the prior year, to noteworthy collabs, and provocative materials, the exhibit and experiential landscape at CES in Las Vegas this week is serving up mainstay vibes and a few surprises. AI is the hot topic again this year, with brands showcasing what place it holds is in their ecosystems and that of their customers, as CES invites attendees to Connect.
Rock, Paper, Scissors , a poignant 20-minute drama directed by Franz Bohm, has been nominated for Best British Short Film at the 2025 EE British Academy Film Awards. The nomination represents a significant achievement for the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF), as this marks the first time in its 20-year history that one of its official selections has received recognition at the prestigious BAFTA awards.
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Rock, Paper, Scissors , a poignant 20-minute drama directed by Franz Bohm, has been nominated for Best British Short Film at the 2025 EE British Academy Film Awards. The nomination represents a significant achievement for the British Urban Film Festival (BUFF), as this marks the first time in its 20-year history that one of its official selections has received recognition at the prestigious BAFTA awards.
The live events industry has faced monumental challenges over the past few years, but one critical issue has persisted for decades: the absence of a dedicated designation for our industry within the federal NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) code. This lack of representation has long hindered our ability to quantify our impact, advocate effectively, and access federal support.
Cat Davidson is the Director of Customer Experience at EventMobi, bringing over a decade of hands-on expertise in event technology and planner success. Having worked directly with thousands of event professionals since 2014, Cat has an intimate understanding of the day-to-day challenges event planners face when implementing new technologies to achieve their event goals.
Skift Take: At PCMAs Convening Leaders conference, NYU Stern professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway shared his insights on the trends shaping the 2025 business landscape. Many of his predictions could impact the business events industry, these five may have the biggest impact.
It’s no secret that Casa Loma is one of the city’s most iconic special event venues, so I was thrilled to attend their highly anticipated wedding open house. Nestled in Toronto’s west end, this spectacular castle is a true architectural masterpiece, offering a storybook setting for weddings and events. As a wedding planner , stepping into Casa Loma always feels like entering a magical realm and this open house was no exception.
Speaker: Aja Bradley Kemp, Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Conversate Collective
In a world where every brand is vying for attention, how do you make your events stand out? ✨ From creative swag strategies to immersive brand experiences, the key lies in fostering real connections that inspire action and leave a lasting impression. Whether you're planning a large-scale conference or an exclusive executive gathering, this session will explore how to elevate event engagement, strengthen brand perception, and maximize ROI.
They call NRF Retails Big Show for a reason. For one, the sheer amount of market innovation and engineering presented at the New York City-based trade show is vast. And, from an experiential marketing point of view, the expo floor is a feast for the senses. During our spin around the Javits Center this year, we spotted several trends , but we also took note of some clever ideas that gave exhibitors an edge.
Lime Venue Portfolio is set to spice up the conversation on sustainable food with an interactive Quiz Show session, Whats New in Food, at Micebook Expo 2025. Hosted by Jo Austin, Sales Director and Conference & Events Sustainability Lead for Compass Group UK&I, alongside Glenda Carlyle, Senior Sales Manager at SEC, this session promises a fresh, engaging take on the most pressing questions about sustainable food trends.
Creating unforgettable events starts with understanding how to connect with attendees from every generation. Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials and Gen Z each bring their own unique perspectives, preferences and expectations to the table. Understanding and respecting these differences is key to creating events that genuinely resonate. So, lets explore practical strategies to successfully engage diverse groups.
Innovate Marketing Group: Los Angeles, CA When the Lunar New Year approaches, the vibrant and diverse cities across the U.S. gears up for a celebration like no other. The city embraces the opportunity to honor the traditions of its Asian communities during this auspicious time. Planning Lunar New Year events requires meticulous organization and a deep appreciation for the diverse customs that make this celebration so special.
In order to create a successful event, you must: Optimize Event Website and Registration Process Utilize Social Media Platforms Effectively Implement Targeted Email Campaigns Harness the Power of Video Content Benefit from a Mobile App Download now and learn how to simplify this process with Eventpedia.
Skift Take: Meeting planners are often challenged to provide exceptional experiences on limited budgets. A city with ample leisure appeal, such as Portland, Oregon, can give people a compelling reason to attend. Add in sector-specific field trips and strong EDI credentials, and this Silicon Forest is a meeting destination on the rise.
When Xuanxuan and Leo promised forever to each other, their love story found the perfect setting at Edgewater Manor. Perched on the shores of Lake Ontario, the venue brought charm and closeness to their romantic summer wedding. With its breathtaking views and cozy stone architecture, it set the stage for a day that was intimate, stylish, and filled with heartfelt moments.
What better time than Dry January, when many consumers try their hand at abstaining from alcoholic drinks, to talk about a trend that started gaining momentum a few years ago but will become an absolute must-have at events in the year ahead. Offering mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) to event-goers isnt a new concept, but a growing interest in enjoying drinks without drinking has given rise to a booming artisanal mocktail industry that is expected to grow to $30 billion in 2025, according to G
The Scottish Event Campus (SEC) has announced the appointment of Dominic McKay as its new Chief Executive. Dominic joins the SEC in May from European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) in Switzerland where he is currently Executive Chairman. The appointment comes as the SEC enters its 40 th year and accelerates an ambitious growth plan that will see its venues continue to attract the biggest artists and events, and deliver significant financial return for Scotland and Glasgow.
The greats learn from the greats. Set yourself and your team up for success with tried and tested strategies and insights from event marketing geniuses at Vanta, Partnership Leaders, Quantum Metric, Rocketlane, and Explori.
How to Help MICE Colleagues With the full extent of damage from the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires still being evaluated, many in the meetings and events industry are stepping up to find meaningful ways to support those impacted. The effects have rippled across the community, touching everyone from hotels, restaurants and event venuesand their hardworking staffto families and individuals who have lost their homes and nearly everything they own.
In the competitive world of events, a robust sales process is more than just a series of steps – it’s the lifeblood of your business. It’s how you identify, qualify, and convert potential clients into paying customers that boost your bottom line. But even the most carefully crafted, well-intentioned sales processes can have unexpected leaks, leading to dropped leads and missed opportunities.
Skift Take: Devastating wildfires in parts of Los Angeles forced the closure of tourist attractions and meeting venues. Multiple events have been postponed, and one convention center has been converted into an evacuation center.
Love, laughter, and joy perfectly describe Samantha and Christophers stunning winter wedding at the luxurious Chateau Le Parc. This breathtaking venue set the stage for their dream celebration, combining timeless sophistication with romantic charm. With the creative touch of Anna Lacivita Designs , every detail reflected the couples love story, while the stunning gallery captured by Mango Studios immortalized their magical day in the most beautiful way.
In this best practices guide, you’ll learn how to tap into the cost-efficiencies of advocacy and word-of-mouth marketing with video. Examples include speakers providing a preview of their upcoming sessions, exhibitors creating “please stop by” invitations and attendees creating “looking forward to seeing you” introduction videos. Learn about best practices and programs created by leading companies and associations including ASIS, AUVSI, SuperZoo, National Restaurant Association, World of Concret
Every winter, more than 20 international art fairs come to life in Miami across 1,200-plus galleries, where the work of thousands of global artists is on display. In recent years, brand activations and events have also become essential to the upscale events ecosystem, and during Miami Art Week 2024 (Dec. 2-8), some new faces and fresh experiential tactics popped up.
Event Production Network (EPN), an exclusive networking club open solely to event production companies, has launched. The private network encourages event production companies to meet in person and to talk openly and respectfully to assist in creating better industry standards. The first EPN meeting was held at Event Buyers Live in November and was attended by nine event production companies We Group, Proud Events, The Zoo, Slammin Events, Heartwood Events, Eye of the Storm Events, Go For, We O
The future of immersive travel Artificial intelligence is slowly but steadily changing how we work, live and travel. Smart Meetings spoke with Herman C Deboard II, CEO and founder of Huvr Inc. , an interactive video streaming and marketing platform. Deboards company allows planners to create virtual event spaces as well as customized experiences. We chatted with Deboard to better understand how the continuing evolution of AI will play into the development of the hospitality and travel industry.
Think of nurturing your event leads as cultivating a thriving garden. You wouldn’t just plant a seed and walk away, would you? You’d water it, provide sunlight, and carefully nurture it until it flourishes. Similarly, lead nurturing involves building relationships with potential clients and guiding them through their decision-making process with care and attention so that ultimately, they transform into loyal customers.
Download 200+ new RFP questions for hybrid and virtual event technology success. After 10,000 downloads, the SpotMe Virtual + Hybrid Event Platform RFP Template is the ultimate procurement tool for event technology. This template is ideal for companies looking for a vendor to fulfill their specific virtual + hybrid event platform needs and requirements!
Skift Take: Predicting the future of the meetings industry is tough, but we do it every year. As we look back at 2024, here's our honest look at what we got right, what we got wrong, and what's still percolating.
When Jenny and David set out to plan their dream wedding, they wanted a celebration that was both elegant and just a little otherworldly. On a beautiful summer day at Torontos York Mills Gallery , they pulled it off in style. With exposed brick, high ceilings, and oversized windows, the gallerys chic, industrial space created a stunning canvas for their celestial-inspired dcor and romantic, intimate vibe.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW THIS WEEK This weeks hot takes on hot topics in experiential marketing cover ice festivals, true crime spas and Big Rings. THE CAST OF SEVERANCE WORKS OVERTIME WITH A GRAND CENTRAL POP-UP Unless you were living under a rock, you likely saw that Apple TV+ stole headlines last week with a surprise Severance pop-up that teased the series second season and sent fans into a frenzy.
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