Tag: meetings

Eating Communally
Community Meetings & Events February 18, 2016

The Power of Eating Communally

Community Meetings & Events February 18, 2016

Can Eating Communally Positively Impact Events? When we think about food at conferences, most of the talk is about logistics: How do I serve 500 people while the keynote speaker is talking? How many drink tickets can we afford to give away for free before charging? What meat will most of our attendees eat? Don’t get me wrong, this type of problem-solving is vital. If you can’t feed your attendees, you’ll have riots in the ballroom. But here’s the thing: We see meals as part of the structure, not the content of the meeting, in other words, what happens when…

Read more

Watermelon Tomato Gazpacho Ingredients
Meetings & Events August 21, 2015

Do you Know What Ingredients You Need to Create a Safe Food Event?

Meetings & Events August 21, 2015
An Analysis of the Ingredients Used for an Event Earlier this year, I attended a meetings industry conference where I was hired to give two presentations on how to manage dietary requests at meetings and events. The challenges with managing dietary needs can be confusing, frustrating and never ending. We already have a lot on our to do list, so adding a few more ingredients might seem annoying. However, I see those ingredients as opportunities to make attendees feel safe, valued and confident in their experience. I commend the organization for taking steps to meet the needs of their more than 2,000 attendees…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

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…

Read more

hands holding a globe sustainable great responsibility
Duty of Care Lifestyle Choices April 1, 2011

Remember, with Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

Duty of Care Lifestyle Choices April 1, 2011

The health of your event, your attendees and our nation is a great responsibility that meeting professionals must embrace   I never thought I would be quoting from Spider-Man (although my nephew would be proud), but the meaning behind Uncle Ben’s statement — “Remember, with Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” — to Peter is truly why I started my company and now this blog. When I found out eight years ago I had an allergy to yeast, you would have thought I’d be traumatized – I had to stop eating anything that contained yeast, sugar, vinegar, dairy, white flour and…

Read more