Saturday, April 5, 2014

Let Madrid Host Your Next Meeting!



Madrid will host in September the World Congress of Psychiatry, the ESMO Congress of medical oncologist and in October they will host the HUPO congress on biology & disease.

Located in the middle of Spain, beautiful Madrid is the capital and largest city in the country. The city's geographic location denotes its central role in Spanish politics, economy and culture, as it serves as the residence of the Spanish monarch, the richest region in Spain, and the home to many of the country's – and Europe's – top museums and attractions. With over seven million residents in the metropolitan area, it is also the 3rd largest city by population in the European Union, after London and Berlin.

Madrid is a world-class meeting destination. It comes as no surprise that the city hosts more than 4,000 conventions and meetings each year and attracts over 700,000 business visitors annually. After all, it boasts nearly 80,000 hotel rooms, more than five convention centers and expo facilities, and a never-ending list of cultural attractions. Plus, Madrid is home to the offices of 90 percent of the major companies operating in Spain, making it the obvious choice for showcasing products and services.

Visitors discover that Madrid is full of green spaces and parkland. Take a walk through the romantic and whimsical El Capricho Park, the former artistic retreat for 18th century cultural icons. Enjoy the fragrant blooms of Royal Botanical Garden, home to more than 30,000 plants and flowers and 1,500 trees. Or spend a day exploring the city's largest park, Casa de Campo. However if your attendees are more into the Arts the Art Walk Madrid will work wonders for them. During this stretch of just over one kilometer you will find the Prado; one of the world's finest art galleries, the Thyssen-Bornemisza and the Reina Sofia, as well as a number of other institutions that will peak their interests.

Of course at the end of the day, there's no better way to make memories in Madrid than by soaking in its dining and nightlife scene. Snack on tapas, the traditional small plates of Spain, at taverns and bars such as Taberna de Antonio Sánchez or Baco y Beto. Or, enjoy classic favorites such as cocido, a hearty stew, and callos, or tripe, at restaurants such as La Gran Tasca and Restaurante Botín, the oldest restaurant in the world. After dinner, hit the streets of Grand Vía, which comes to life at night with bars, clubs and entertainment venues.


So when you need world class destination for your event, meeting or congress, Madrid is the place. For more information on Madrid and other available activities, please visit: http://www.spain.info


President  & CEO

Saturday, March 29, 2014

Smartphones for $200…Alex!!

Wondering how you can begin the process of incorporating mobile event app for your next event? Active Networks Mobile Playbook guide is a great resource to get you started on the right path.

I’m guilty, I can’t live without my cellphone!! I have driving all the way back home for a forgotten cell phone. You can have everything else just leave my cellphone and all will be well with the universe. As a planner my primary focus is to help my clients to create and valuable and lasting experience and my mobile is critical in helping with that.

It made me aware of how much we have come to rely on mobile technology. It’s convenient and you can have everything that you need in the palm of your hand.  Just a few days ago; I went to a venue’s open house and I did not have a clue on how to get there, I just pulled up my calendar on my phone, pulled up the address and plugged it into navigation and I was on my way. The open house was a success and it fit the needs of my client well; so from my cell phone I was able to send all the information to my client while traveling to another meeting and approving invoices.

With so many people relying on mobile technology and the increased offerings that are available, it is not a surprise that an increasing number of meeting planners are developing mobile applications for their events. 
If you are still wondering about how mobile event apps can benefit your event, here are 10 key benefits of mobile apps from Active Network to help you to started:
  1. Engagement. Increases engagement for attendees with the event and each other.
  2. Experience. Enriches the overall experience for attendees.
  3. Reports. Increases session evaluations and event survey return rates.
  4. Communication. Improves communication and interaction with attendees.
  5. Results. Attendees see tangible outputs from attending – content, contacts, etc.
  6. Cost Savings. Reduced cost from eliminating or minimizing event guide printing.
  7. Green. Environmentally friendly content delivery.
  8. Real Time Updates. Allows for real-time updates to schedules, exhibitor listings, etc.
  9. Immediate Action. Real-time reporting for onsite corrections/post-event decisions.
  10. Continued Engagement. Persistent engagement with attendees year-round.

To get more information on how mobile apps can work for your event; go to ACTIVE Network Business Solutions’ website, today and download the entire Mobile Playbook for free.

President  & CEO
           



Wednesday, February 12, 2014

eRFP to the Rescue ~ Hotel & Venue Sourcing made Easy

RFP's Should be SIMPLE!


eRFP, what is that??? If you have been in the meeting and event planning industry for longer than 10 years, you remember how we used to source and track RFP’s when we were looking to set up an event. Are you still using Email and Excel spreadsheets to send and managing your event RFP’s? Well if you are it’s time to move into the new way to search and source your venues.

eRFP to the Rescue!!! ACTIVE Network and i-Meet conducted a survey of event planners to get a feel on the frustrations that your fellow planners have when trying to set up an event; and the results have been complied and published in an article titled “What RFP’s Mean to SMBs: Turning Headaches into Solutions for Planners”.

As a planner like to handle all the aspects of setting up and managing an event for my client, but the having to work through various tools, is complicated, time consuming and draining. So your question is “Does such a tool exist?” Why yes it does; Active Regonline’s has completely overhauled and redesigned their software adding a robust and expansive Hotel & Venue search feature to it; now you can search, review and source a venue in one location without having to leave the event portal. Active RegOnline has created a datasheet on Hotel & Venue Sourcing; it’s a quick cheat sheet on how you can use the feature.

The Hotel & Venue Sourcing tools offers the following:

  • A single location to source and track your eRFP’s
  • An easy to use eRFP Wizard
  • Access to ACTIVE Network’s Global network that includes expansive hotel & venue locations in more than 200 countries.
  • Free specialist support for planners who want and/or need assistance during the planning process

Want to see what all the talk is about; visit ACTIVE RegOnline and try it out for yourself for free! This web-based application has no set up costs, no software to install, and no contracts to sign. With RegOnline your event will be up and running in no-time!

RegOnline offers best-in-class Online Event Registration Software and Event Management Software. Turn your next conference, meeting or trade show into a huge success. Event management software includes online registration forms, event websites, badges, event marketing, credit card processing and so much more.



Juanita E. Gaynor (http://i-meet.com/jegaynor)

President & CEO

Ellegant Affairs by Juanita (http://www.ellegantaffairs.com)



i-Meet.com is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events. With over 111,000 members in 175 countries, i-Meet brings professional networking, online marketing, and social tools to create awareness and a voice for the industry.

I’ve Been There is a travel history and sharing application for planners and enthusiasts.

Active Network, The New ACTIVE RegOnlineTM is Here!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Innovation In Motion ~ The new and enhanced features of ACTIVE RegOnline




In July of 2013 at the Meeting Professionals International’s World Education Congress (WEC) in Las Vegas ACTIVE Network introduce the new and revised version of ACTIVE RegOnline. Even though I saw the press release and heard about it I did not immediately look into, due to past experiences with the product.


A few weeks ago I was given access to the newly revised RegOnline Event Management Software and I have fallen completely in love with the new interface. If you like me I know what you are thinking, “I have used this before and was an epic fail for me”. Well, I had the same mindset so when I was asked to look it over, I had my reservations, but you will definitely want to look at this tool from a fresh perspective.

ACTIVE RegOnline has completely overhauled and redesigned their product, and I absolutely love it! The dashboard screen has been simplified. The functions are streamlined and centralized in a single location and if you have used the software previously, you will notice dramatic changes, also they have added a hotel and venue search feature. The changes make the application user friendly, effective and efficient. Below are the features that I am most excited about:

  • Dashboard: with one click you can get the details your event. It gives you the number of registrants, event statistics, revenue, and a variety of ways to promote your event in one location. 
  • Social Function: allows attendees to promote the event to their connections through Facebook, Twitter and/or LinkedIn. 
  • Hotel and Venue Search: (NEW FEATURE). Documents can be uploaded before sending RFP to hotels. Searches can be refined by meeting requirements, “must have” amenities, star rating or vendor type. Other tools are so complicated and with the functionality in embedded within the software I would use to register attendees and promote the event is priceless. It not only saves me time and money but it says my clients as well. 
  • The Analyzing Tool: (The accountant in me LOVES this feature) With a few mouse clicks it give you all the information you will need for you to effectively manage and track your event; attendees report, financial reports, rooming list, lodging and travel selections. 
  • eRFP: A wizard that makes it easy to create and submit RFPs 
  • Customer Support: Free specialist support for planners who want and/or need assistance during the planning process 

I am enjoying this process and I look forward to sharing my journey with the new ACTIVE RegOnline. Over the next few months I will give you reviews and insights on the product so that you too can experience the new way to plan & promote your next event.


Juanita E. Gaynor (http://i-meet.com/jegaynor)
President & CEO
Ellegant Affairs by Juanita (http://www.ellegantaffairs.com)


i-Meet.com is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events. With over 111,000 members in 175 countries, i-Meet brings professional networking, online marketing, and social tools to create awareness and a voice for the industry.

I’ve Been There is a travel history and sharing application for planners and enthusiasts.

Active Network, The New ACTIVE RegOnlineTM is Here!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Small Business. Big Game



There are 167 million Big Game viewers. 
And they'll all be watching Ellegant Affairs by Juanita's commercial on the 2014 Big Game. 
How are we going to get an ad on the Big Game, you ask? Easy, with your help, we are going to win it from Intuit.

 Intuit is giving a small business a TV commercial on the Big Game. I want that ad to belong to Ellegant Affairs by Juanita. You can help make it happen. 

Just click here to vote for Ellegant Affairs  http://intuit.me/1a0f8oN.


 Thanks. (keep your fingers crossed for me) 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Cider Cellar Rules! A new Dimension on Team Building!



Team-building exercises can be a powerful way to unite a group, develop strengths, and address weaknesses – but only if the exercises are planned and carried out strategically. In other words, there has to be a real purpose behind your decision to do the exercise – for example, improving the team's problem-solving or creativity skills – rather than because you felt like giving your people a nice day out of the office.

Are you looking for a way to start or end a meeting for you top level executives that bring a sense of unity and comradery then the Petritegi Cider Cellar is the place for you.

Petritegi is located in the village of Astigarraga, in the heart of Basque cider country.

Our cider farm is the result of a cider making tradition at the Petritegi farmhouse, which dates back to before 1558.

Today, the Petritegi cider farm offers you an ideal location to enjoy Sagardoa (natural cider): They are located in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by apple orchards, only three (3) miles from San Sebastián; they have a number of comfortable, attractive dining rooms in which they offer a cuisine that suits the characteristics of Sagardoa (traditional menu which includes delights such as : Red sausage braised in cider, codfish omelette, codfish with peppers, T-bone steak, local cheese, quince jelly and walnuts, Almond pastries from Tolosa); their large cider hall has more than 40 barrels and is open all year round. They have more than 70 years of experience of serving their customers. The family style setting and the lively atmosphere make way for sharing and great conversation.

If you would like to surprise your clients with a unique dining experience, Petritegi offers you the cider "tour" all year round. To learn more about the Petritegi or to schedule a tour; visit their website at http://www.petritegi.com/en.







Juanita E. Gaynor (http://i-meet.com/jegaynor)
President & CEO
Ellegant Affairs by Juanita (http://www.ellegantaffairs.com)

i-Meet.com is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events.  With over 108,000 members in 175 countries, i-Meet brings professional networking, online marketing, and social tools to create awareness and a voice for the industry.

I’ve Been There is a travel history and sharing application for planners and enthusiasts.


Tourist Office of Spain – Chicago - One of 33 worldwide offices of TURESPAÑA, Spain’s government tourism promotion authority based in Madrid, TOS in Chicago is the branch office in the USA responsible for marketing the business, incentive and meeting tourism product. TOS Chicago acts as a liaison between suppliers and DMC’s in Spain and the buyer/planner in the USA. 

Monday, August 19, 2013

Pagos de Leza Winery - The Marriage of Tradition and Modern Technology


Pagos de Leza, more than just a winery ... tradition, represented by the fourth generation of a wine family; wine tourism, with its pairing trends: cuisine, wine, tourism and history; innovation with the development of our Micro-Elaborations, quality winemaking resulting in a high range of wines under our Signature Name; and respect and recovery of the environment, through the planting of native trees.

Pagos de Leza is a winery that was born under the watchful eye of the Sierra de Cantabria, a silent mountain range with its peaks and forest slopes; it has served as the backdrop for several novels by Pío Baroja.

From this amphitheater of mountains you can contemplate our land in detail, as it acts as a natural viewpoint. And we have in it a great ally, because it shelters our vineyards from the cold north winds which favor the maturation of our grapes. Pagos de Leza has a stepped architecture reminiscent of the Sierra silhouette and of the Carasoles, types of sloping vineyard which face south-southwest.

The surrounding areas of our winery are a treasure for the visitor: Dolmens, Chapels, a prehistoric settlement and medieval villages await.

Thus creating a space to enjoy, learn and participate in many activities related to the world of wine, culture and tourism. To learn more about the winery, possible tours or holding your nest evet there visit there website at: http://www.pagosdeleza.com  or visit the Rioja Alavesa Wine Route at: http://www.rutadelvinoderiojaalavesa.com/en/






Juanita E. Gaynor (http://i-meet.com/jegaynor)
President & CEO
Ellegant Affairs by Juanita (http://www.ellegantaffairs.com)

i-Meet.com is the worldwide business community for people who plan meetings and events.  With over 108,000 members in 175 countries, i-Meet brings professional networking, online marketing, and social tools to create awareness and a voice for the industry.

I’ve Been There is a travel history and sharing application for planners and enthusiasts.

Tourist Office of Spain – Chicago - One of 33 worldwide offices of TURESPAÑA, Spain’s government tourism promotion authority based in Madrid, TOS in Chicago is the branch office in the USA responsible for marketing the business, incentive and meeting tourism product. TOS Chicago acts as a liaison between suppliers and DMC’s in Spain and the buyer/planner in the USA. 

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