Shifts in the Meeting Industry ~ Are You Prepared!

In the ever evolving meeting world, you always have to stay abreast of the latest and greatest in order to give your clients the best options for memorable and cost effective events. During the recession, meeting planners had to cope with limited resources and demanding stakeholder expectations.

I will explore the shifts in the industry and how we as event and project managers can still to create memorable events for our clients and their stakeholders!

So with that said the question of the day is: What are the shifts in the meeting industry?

Planners and project managers are facing tighter budgets, having to navigate the social media world and become more savvy and efficient in social media, and overall a tougher job for the planner as a whole in getting stakeholder buy in. Here are three items that will be critical to the industry as a whole.

Budgets

Even though there has been some substantial growth in some sectors, budgets will continue to stay tight in 2013, due to these restrictions planners will have to become more knowledgeable and efficient in Strategic Meetings Management Program (SMMP) development and implementation, having procurement department engagement in the meeting planning process (this can be a good overall; as we educate these departments the relationships can be less volatile and more proactive and productive.), shorter lead times, continued emphasis on cutting costs, possibly more local/regional meetings, unique venues.

Social Media Development

Social Media is here to stay, so it’s best to get onboard and provide your client which the best, not just promote their events/meetings, but also to engage participants before, during, and after an event.

Hotel & Airfare

Hotel and air rates are rising and they do not look like the y are slowing up, and we can expect both to find new and creative things to charge a fee for. Planners will have to work harder than ever to provide compelling reasons to pay increasing costs to attend. Hopefully leading to cutting edge and unique meetings and events that will compel the stakeholder to invest in the event and continue to attend for years to come.


This is the time to show; what we are made of! We have the skill, drive and the resources to do what we do best; PLAN! Remember no one ever plans to fail, but the fail to plan. You want to network and gain knowledge in the areas you may be struggling in then, AIBTM Chicago being held June 11-13 is for you to connect with many of the DMC’s and international suppliers to take you meetings and events to the next level. Visit their Website at www.aibtm.com for more details.


For additional tips and trends on creating impactful and profitable events, please connect with Ellegant Affairs by Juanita online on twitter @EllegantAffairs, LinkedIn, Facebook, and of course on I-Meet.

Blog post sponsored in part by:

*AIBTM Chicago - June 11-13, 2013*

Join i-Meet at AIBTM as a Hosted Buyer in Chicago (June 11-13). Start your application today: http://www.i-meet.info/aibtm

10 Tips for an Easy New Year's Eve Party

Here are a few quick tips to make your New Year's Eve party planning easier this year.

1. Set your budget. This will help you when determining how many people to invite and what your party options are.
2. Save time & money on your invitations. Email or phone invites are your cheapest options, and with so many options for email invites you can go all out. If you prefer to mail your invitations; save a stamp by including your New Year's Party invite in with your holiday cards.
3. Choose a theme. You can choose anything from Western to Aliens! You can also go with a more subtle theme such as a color. Metallic colors are always fun, but we also love an all white New Year's Eve party.
4. Are Children Allowed? If your party will include children, make sure you have food appropriate for them as well as activities planned to keep them entertained. A quiet area where they can go to rest is always a smart idea for those who cannot make it until midnight. You can even arrange to let them have their own separate sleepover party and hire a babysitter to mind them for the night.
5. Unique Menu Ideas. Since a New Year's party will start later, guests will not expect a full meal. A variety of hors d'oeuvres is the best way to go. A dessert buffet and drinks is another great option.
6.  Always have extra. Be prepared for the unexpected guests or extra-hungry, super-thirsty crowd. Add a couple of bags of quality chips, extra crackers and cheese, and even an extra roll of cookie dough. Make sure these items are something you will eat if you don't break them out for the party. Ice you may have to take a loss on, but it is better than having to little.
7. Keep you liquor cost under control. Guests will usually have 2 drinks in the first hour, and one drink each hour after that. Many places will allow you to return unopened alcohol, so you can overbuy and return the excess if you worry about running out.
8. Rent. Local rental companies are a great source for glassware, linens, flatware and more. I find this to be a great alternative to purchasing (and then storing) all of the extra items for entertaining.
9. Create a great soundtrack. Depending on your theme or personal tastes, you may have different ideas for music. Time is always a great theme for a New Year's playlist. Here are a few fun songs to get you started:
             1999 - Prince
             Celebration – Kool & the Gang
             Rock That Body – The Black Eyed Peas
             In Da Club – 50 Cent
             All Night Long – Lionel Ritchie
10. Don't forget to have fun! Try to prepare food ahead of time and set up a self serve drink bar to cut down on the work you need to do throughout the party. That way you can have to time see your guests and be a good host or hostess! If you are planning on having more that 50 people, enlist a few close friends to lend a hand throughout the night or hire a party planner so all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the party.

Making The Groom Feel Special!

We all know how easy it can be to get carried away when planning a wedding.  It is one of the most important days of your life, after all.  But sometimes all the running around, planning, and shopping can leave your main man feeling left out.  Here are some great tips on how to include your groom and make him feel special. After all, it’s their special day, too!

• Have a sports-themed shower for the groom and a few of his best friends and male family members, packed with beer, chips, pizza, sandwiches and Buffalo wings. The gifts should be exclusively for the groom.
• Make the groom’s cake a must at the wedding, and incorporate the groom’s favorite hobby into the design.
• Let him pick some of his favorite songs for the DJ or band to play at your wedding.
• Have snacks and drinks for him and the Groomsmen before the ceremony.
• Send a gift to his hotel room the night before your wedding.
• Let the groom walk down the aisle or enter the venue to a song of his choice.
• Incorporate the groom’s favorite color into the reception. For example the groom likes purple; you could incorporate it into the table linens or use it as the font color on menu cards.
• Send the groom and his groomsmen to get pampered (haircuts, massages or even the Spa – Men like the Spa too!)
• Get the groom’s opinion on male-geared favors for the reception.
• For the Cocktail hour surprise him with some special appetizers that he would love – Buffalo wings, mini corn dogs, etc . . . or even a fun childhood favorite dessert – like a cotton candy machine at the reception
• Stock his ride to the ceremony with his favorite tunes.

Planning A Themed Wedding



Masquerade Themed Wedding

When making plans for a wedding many couples may choose to go with a theme of some sort. A wedding theme is a great way to share something special about yourselves with your guests. In a way you are letting your guests know a little more about what you like and your personal style. Your theme can be anything that is special to you, whether it is a fairytale theme or a chocolate theme. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination. The theme that you choose for your wedding can be incorporated into every aspect of the ceremony from the colors, to the decorations, to your wedding attire.

The first step in planning your theme wedding is to decide on the theme. A helpful tip in this process is to sit down and make a list of different things that are important to you. In that list you can include activities that you like to participate in, as well as colors and holidays that you like.

Once you have your list, you want to create your wedding budget, as this will play a big role in what type of theme you are able to go with. With your wedding theme list and budget in hand, you can now begin the process of narrowing down your list. The date of your ceremony also plays a role in which theme you decide on. Do any of the themes on your list require items that are seasonal? If so, you may end up paying more for certain items that are out of season.

Some popular themes for weddings include; fairytale weddings, tropical weddings, and holiday themed weddings. Below are some tips on how to plan weddings with the above themes.

Fairytale Theme Weddings

Fairytale weddings are beautiful, and can be planned for almost any location. Think about the classical fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White for a little inspiration. Pretty much anything glamorous will work with this theme. Bubbles and confetti are fun to add to the reception. If your budget allows, you may even want to check on renting a carriage to take you and your groom to the reception after the ceremony.

Tropical Theme Weddings

Tropical weddings are extremely fun to plan. There are so many options as far as color and floral arrangements. Almost any bright, vibrant color will work. Tropical weddings do work best for the summer time months, and if at all possible outside ceremonies are the best choice. Butterflies and leis can be fun additions to the reception as well.

Holiday Theme Weddings

Holiday weddings are great, and can easily be done on a budget if you start planning well in advance. Christmas and Valentines weddings are very popular among this group. If you start planning a year in advance you can usually find all of your decorations, and even things that can be used as favors at the after holiday sales. Although holidays are usually a busy time of year, they do work well for weddings.

Whatever theme you may be considering, remember to keep an open mind and an open eye. You never know when you may run across something that will work wonderfully in your wedding.