In an era of remote working, we are finding ourselves more and more in front of screens. Whether it be a virtual happy hour with friends, class or even a training workshop, in the pandemic age, people are being forced to think smartly and creatively to avoid big gatherings. Microsoft Teams, the app that many…
Planning to shift your event online? Hear first-hand how Ann McLeod with the Society of American Military Engineers transitioned her massive event to a digital experience, as told to Nancy Rosenbaum, Meetings and Event Strategist for Visit Alexandria. Q: When was your original meeting planned, and did it remain the same? Ann: Yes, we originally…
Over the past few months, meeting and events have been cancelled and postponed at record levels. In this unstable environment, planners and suppliers are focusing on contracts and additional terms more than ever. Becoming more familiar with contracting terms, along with clear documentation from each contracting party, has become critical. In a landscape of uncertainty,…
Looking for tools to streamline event planning? Tara Thomas is here to help. Co-Founder and editor of The Meeting Pool, an organization of industry specialists at the intersection of event planning and technology, Thomas has software for every circumstance. During a recent webinar for Visit Alexandria, Thomas shared some of her favorite platforms for event…
Looking to introduce sustainability and social impact into your event? In a recent webinar for Visit Alexandria, Mary Cline, Wolfgang Puck’s regional director for catering and sales for the East Coast, shared her expert advice for incorporating plant-based menus and sustainable catering practices into your future event plans. 1. Introduction to the Plant-Based Movement in…
For meetings planners, speaker management is a time-consuming task whether you’re planning an event that boasts five speakers or 50. Wondering how to save time and reduce stress? During a recent Visit Alexandria webinar, industry expert Philip Saims, vice president of sales at Federal Conference, shared solutions for streamlining speaker management with the help of…
Want to revitalize your network and expand your organization’s impact? Retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal developed his “Team of Teams” model while helming the nation’s premier military counter-terrorism force, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), from 2003 to 2008. His Alexandria, Virginia-based consulting firm, the McChrystal Group, now offers customized workshops and team-building for businesses of…
Looking to map out a customized promotional plan for your event? During a recent Visit Alexandria webinar, Michael Doane, marketing manager for the event technology firm CadmiumCD, shared seven steps for drafting an event marketing battle plan. Grab your marketing team and answer these key questions to expand your event’s reach. 1. Set a Goal…
Within the marketing industry, event promoters face unique challenges. You sell an experience rather than a product, you ask for physical attendance, you battle to stand out from the crowd, and you fight against the clock as the event date approaches. At the same time, you wrangle the expectations of attendees, exhibitors and speakers. Sound…
Buzz is building around “experiential meetings.” In the spring 2019 edition of Meeting Planner International’s Meetings Outlook report, 78% of event planners said that demand for creating unique attendee experiences had risen, and 37% called it a “substantial increase.” Event attendees share the modern traveler’s desire to create memories and connections in authentic, unexpected ways.…
