All it takes is one bad experience with a poor hotel/venue to know that a solid site visit is essential for any successful meeting or event. A site visit is so much more than a cursory walk through of the facility. Here are 5 must do’s for your next site visit.
Make your next live meeting a hybrid by taking it online. Here are some easy tech tools any planner can use to transform their next meeting.
When planning your next meeting or event organize Outlook to be your ally in the process. Using Outlook as a tool to become more efficient and effective is key to the success of your meeting. Here are 5 tips you can use today to make your life easier.
Happy Planning!
The American Meetings Network is the brainchild of Andy McNeill and Todd Bludworth. As the founders and owners of AMI they envisioned an online platform where event professionals and suppliers could connect. 2 years ago the American Meetings Network was born.
At AMI we are passionate about meetings and events. We understand the powerful impact of people coming together for a common purpose. As an organization we’ve worked to understand the environmental, social and economic impact of our work with clients. We are especially aware of the impact on the environment that our attendee travel produces.
In celebration of Earth Day 2016 on Friday April 22, AMI has been working on ways to reduce the impact of our meetings and events on the environment. Together with our clients and supplier partners, whenever possible, here are a few ways we work to reduce the impact of our meetings and events on the environment.
1- Use certified green hotel partners.
2- Use airline partners that recycle their waste.
3- Incorporate webcast meetings to reduce the # of travelers.
4- Work strategically to secure venues that are within walking distance of each other
5- Plan shared rides for attendee’s when necessary to move back and forth.
6- Use an event registration app rather than printing out lists for registration staff or programs for attendees.
7- Use post-consumer recycled paper for invitations when physical invites are needed.
8- For menu selections use local and seasonal fruits, vegetables, wine, beer, cheese, flowers and plants.
9- Create signature cocktails that take advantage of local and seasonal ingredients.
10- Choose cans for soda’s and beer because aluminum is easily recyclable.
11- Donate leftover food to a local soup kitchen so nothing goes to waste.
12- Offer compost and recycling bins that are easily visible and clearly marked throughout the event venue.
13- Offer pens, pencils and notepads made from recycled paper.
14- Provide attendees with pitchers of tap water versus bottled water to cut back on recycling.
15- Incorporate electronic signs rather than having them printed.
Planning meetings and events is our passion. We’re also passionate about protecting our environment. Therefore, increasing the awareness of the impact our meetings and events have on the environment is one of our corporate sustainability goals. American Meetings is committed to reducing this environmental impact. Working in partnership with our clients we will continue to move towards this goal.
Happy Sustainable Planning!
For more information, or help with a meeting or event, contact bd@americanmeetings.com or call American Meetings, Inc. @ 866-337-7799
Trade shows and exhibits are a great way to match meeting attendees with the suppliers they need to do business. It also helps to defray the costs of a meeting or event for the host. Participation in trade shows and events gives a company the opportunity to market its products and services using arguably the most effective method available, face-to-face communication. Event marketing is a vital piece of a company’s larger corporate marketing plan but as an event planner it’s critical to keep both your exhibitors, attendees and meeting host happy when planning a trade show. An effectively designed trade show exhibit can do just that.
Planning meal breaks and social events inside your exhibit area is a sure way to maximize your meeting space while enhancing your sponsor’s exposure. Here are 3 events that you can plan inside your trade show or exhibition space.
1. Standing breaks: Using table tops in the exhibit hall is a great way of keeping your attendees engaged with the sponsors.
2. Breakfast & lunches: Many times attendees are arriving at different times to eat. A casual buffet inside the hall allows folks to eat at their leisure and continue their interaction with the exhibitors.
3. Receptions: Companies are willing to sponsor receptions if they have access to their target audience. If you can provide them with a prime exhibit location and host the reception in front of their booth it can benefit everyone.
These events require much less space than events with full table settings while facilitating better networking opportunities. This technique will also drive continued traffic to your exhibitors and keep your sponsors satisfied.
In addition, as a planner you will save space, time and money by keeping your attendees within the same area and thus minimizing the need for room turns, additional staffing and conference facilities. John Cotter, Vice President of Meeting Operations of American Meetings, Inc. (AMI), adds “If these tips are followed with each event that is hosted in an exhibition space, it will surely make the event run smoother and allow more traffic to pass through each exhibitor.” Using these tips for trade show strategy will increase the effectiveness of your event, reduce costs and make all your stakeholders happy.
Happy Planning!
For more information, or help with a meeting or event, contact bd@americanmeetings.com or call American Meetings, Inc. @ 866-337-7799
