Visit Alexandria recently spoke with two event experts who have seamlessly adapted to the virtual and hybrid meetings scene: Nicole Cozier, director of virtual events and national senior account executive at CSI DMC, and Jessica Shea, CEO and head event strategist at J Shea and Cheers in a Box. Keep reading for their tips on…
In this time of isolation and hardship, the events industry is eager to support one another and feel connected. Visit Alexandria recently teamed up with CVBReps, a group of sixty CVBs/DMOS with D.C.-based offices, to host a four-day food drive benefiting hospitality workers impacted by COVID-19. The food drive aimed to bring the hospitality industry…
10 Considerations to Make the Right Choice Choosing a small boutique city has traditionally offered groups an intimate, specialized experience for meeting and attendees, complete with personal service not often found in larger cities. Your group receives all the attention and, with smaller hotels, is often the only group in-house. Additionally, smaller cities tend to…
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…
Waterfront destinations are a popular choice for meeting planners looking to wow attendees with unique activities set in a tranquil atmosphere. Alexandria, Virginia, located minutes from Washington, D.C. on the Potomac River, offers patio dining, boat cruises and rooms with a view, making it easy to plan your entire event around Alexandria’s spectacular Potomac River…
“Bleisure,” if you haven’t heard the term yet, you will soon. The practice of combining business travel and leisure travel into one trip is on the rise. A recent study commissioned by Expedia Group shows that 60% of business trips turn into bleisure, a nearly 40% increase from 2016. So how do you, meeting planner…
What are VR & AR? Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are commonly known for gaming, says Sophia Moshasha, marketing director for Gates’ Brightline Interactive. But companies like hers have been paving the way for the technology to become a new and exciting way to add experiential elements to meetings and events. “VR and…
In part one of this two-part series we looked at the 2018 meeting industry trends guaranteed to help you design an impressive food and beverage (F&B) program for your next event. Now let’s get the dish from our experts on which fresh new trends will make your program as tasty as it is talk-worthy! Hail…
We’ve all heard it, the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomach. We can all agree that a great food and beverage (F&B) program will not only impress your meeting attendees, but also drive attendance to your events again and again. When planning an event, it’s always smart to learn about the latest…
We’ve all seen the studies on how pushing away from the desk and getting a little bit of exercise helps stimulate your brain, making you work better and more efficiently. The concept is just as important at a meeting or conference. You’re just not at your best if you never get a break. Yet let’s…
