Meetings & Events

M&C Cover Image - Top 25 Women
Meetings & Events Testimonials Thrive! in the News July 2, 2015

Tracy Stuckrath Named Among Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry

Meetings & Events Testimonials Thrive! in the News July 2, 2015

Yesterday I was honored and humbled to be named one of the Top 25 Women in the Meetings Industry by Meetings & Conventions magazine. Wow! In its special report released on July 1, 2015, the magazine stated “the meetings industry is powered by a number of extraordinary people — many of them women.”  The inaugural list of “high achievers, advocates and innovators…have helped shape and strengthen our business.” Several woman on the list, I am happy to say are my friends — Shawna Suckow, founder of the Senior Planners Industry Network (SPIN) and The Hive Network, Nancy Zavada, CMP, founder of MeetGreen and the Green Meetings Industry Council, Liz King,…

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Food Allergy Awareness laws are being enacted in U.S. states to help save the lives of restaurant patrons
Dietary Needs Duty of Care Laws & Regulations Meetings & Events March 5, 2015

Dietary Needs Unlock New Level of Duty of Care

Dietary Needs Duty of Care Laws & Regulations Meetings & Events March 5, 2015

When I was an in-house corporate meeting planner, one of the executive assistants used to call me “everybody’s mamma.”  Whether it was purchasing new jeans for the CEO because he forgot his, ordering a low-salt meal for the executive vice president with a heart condition, finding hotel rooms for 30 sales staff stranded in Dallas due to bad weather, or getting the vice president of marketing to the hospital when she was sick at an event, I responded to everyone’s needs and wants. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, all of these incidents (except the CEO’s jeans) fall under my responsibilities as an event planner in what is termed…

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Meetings & Events June 4, 2014

Some Food For Thought Before the Philippines MICE Conference

Meetings & Events June 4, 2014

I’m writing this on a 16-hour plane ride to Manila, where I will present my “Food For Thought” session at the 2014 Philippines M.I.C.E. Conference (MICECON). I’m very excited to be part of an esteemed group of international industry experts from the U.S., Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and Canada, who are going to share our trade “secrets” with members of the local Philippine meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions industry (M.I.C.E) and provide updates on global market trends and developments. The conference theme this year is “M.I.C.E. in 4D: Driving Passions, Developing Minds, Defying Limits, Designing the Future.” That means that M.I.C.E.CON…

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Meetings Industry Month
Duty of Care Meetings & Events April 17, 2014

April is National Meetings Industry Month

Duty of Care Meetings & Events April 17, 2014

There’s a lot to celebrate in April, according to this list of offbeat holidays—Humor, Guitars, Poetry, Honesty, Pecans, Scrabble, Tweed, my birthday, Passover—but I would be remiss if I didn’t add National Meetings Industry Month to the list. My friend Shawna Suckow, founder of SPIN and The Hive Network—taking cue from our meeting planning colleagues in Canada who have been celebrating the industry in April for the last 20 years— declared the first U.S. celebration in April 2013. Branches of SPIN held lighthearted “Cupcake Wars” across the country, bringing together planners to celebrate the hard work we do as meeting…

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Food-Color-Collage
Dietary Needs Health & Wellness Meetings & Events April 16, 2014

Colorful Food Choices to Make Your Convention Meals Pop

Dietary Needs Health & Wellness Meetings & Events April 16, 2014

When we’re planning events, we think carefully about the color and texture of the décor, presentations and tablescapes, but how much attention do we pay to the color of the food we serve? Did you ever think that colorful food choices could be used for decor or to make your meals pop? Karin Hosenfeld, RD, LD, a dietitian in private practice in Dallas says “studies have shown that people eat the same 20 foods or so over and over.” I think this theory translate to events as well. How many times have you seen the same continental breakfasts – pastries,…

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David Wilk Sport Clips 2014
Meetings & Events April 9, 2014

Why Hiring a Professional Emcee Can Enhance Your Event

Meetings & Events April 9, 2014

Remember a few years ago when Anne Hathaway and James Franco hosted the Academy Awards? They were brought into try and engage a younger audience. But by most critics’ accounts, it was disastrous, boring and “spectacularly bad”. Have you experienced a similar scenario at a corporate event or fundraiser? The host was boring, rambled on and on, seemed convinced that he missed his calling as a standup comedian (but sure as heck didn’t), or didn’t have the skill set to hold the attention of the audience. These scenarios can be so painful that unhappy guests get loud, start ignoring the…

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Community Dietary Needs Meetings & Events August 27, 2012

Welcome to Thrive! Meetings & Events

Community Dietary Needs Meetings & Events August 27, 2012

What does your event say about you?

It’s not just who’s attending your event, it’s how you plan it and what you’re serving.
Does it seem like organizing an event is harder than ever these days with shorter turnaround times, shrinking budgets and managing guests with allergies to dairy, shellfish, wheat, or even sugar? Gone are the days of booking months out, unlimited budgets and one-size-fits-all meals.

Now you have to think about doing more with less and feeding vegetarians, pescatarians and Rastafarians! Okay, maybe not Rastafarians. But the fact is, event planning—including food & beverage—is more complicated today than ever before.

Relax. Take a breath. Thrive! has been doing this for years and can show you the path to creating successful and memorable events that not only meet business objectives; we also have a special focus on providing cost-effective, healthy and delicious menus that account for every possible dietary need out there.

Keep reading to learn more about what we do and how we do it—everything you need to know about this specialized field is here.

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International Association of Culinary Professionals
Meetings & Events August 27, 2012

International Culinary Professionals Conference

Meetings & Events August 27, 2012

I’ve been in New York City all weekend for the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) annual conference, “The Fashion of Food.” More on that later. Today, after the IACP Book Fair today, I was on my way back the hotel when I spotted one of the authors trying to hail a cab. I was already in a cab, so I rolled down the window to ask if he wanted to share a ride. Granted, I did not officially know him, but I knew he was with IACP, so I figured I was safe. And, boy was I safe. The gentleman…

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Dietary Needs Meetings & Events Thrive! in the News March 9, 2012

August 15, 2012: Exhibitor FastTrak

Dietary Needs Meetings & Events Thrive! in the News March 9, 2012

If you missed Tracy Stuckrath’s presentation “I Can’t Eat That! How to How to Incorporate Special Dietary Needs into F&B Plans” at Exhibitor 2012 in Las Vegas, check out the Exhibitor FastTrak Chicago session August 14-16. Tracy will be following up her March 8 presentation exploring: Who is making these requests and why are they increasing Different dietary needs, from food allergies and intolerances to medical conditions and personal preference Legal reasons to be concerned about meeting these needs When do these “pesky” attendees positively impact your business Managing costs

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Dietary Needs Meetings & Events February 4, 2012

March 8, 2012: Exhibitor 2012

Dietary Needs Meetings & Events February 4, 2012

Food-related diseases are on the rise, with approximately 45% of your attendees likely to have one or more of them. The 2008 Americans with Disabilities Act Amendment Act protects some and prohibits discrimination on the basis of having to eat a certain way. On March 8, at Exhibitor 2012, Tracy Stuckrath, CSEP, CMM, CHC, an event professional with food allergies, will help you understand: Who is making these requests and why are they increasing Different dietary needs, from food allergies and intolerances to medical conditions and personal preference Legal reasons to be concerned about meeting these needs When do these…

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