Expert Advice

Getting Started

12/20/11

As I get older (and not in age but in years of planning), I realize the value of educating future planners. When I first began in this industry, the majority of people who planned meetings in our industry had fallen into the job. Now...

What’s In a Name? Three Easy Ways to Make Connections at Events

11/28/11

Parker Presley, the resident etiquette expert at Epicurean Catering politely asked Colorado Meetings + Events if he, too, could blog on his favorite topic, along with Stephanie Blackford. We said much obliged.What's In a Name?I recently witnessed a small...

Open Forum

Relationships, Connection and Trust: A Look Back at 2011 and What We Have Learned

12/12/11

If you’re reading this, you are most likely in the event industry and are blessed to have a job. You have worked hard to create lasting impressions for hundreds, if not thousands, of people each year, and your career is focused on making memories. You...

Good Karma Isn’t Free

10/10/11

I recently had the good fortune to spend an afternoon sitting on the deck of a local eatery drinking a cocktail and laughing with an old friend. It was one of those great days when late afternoon turns into early evening. Ah—life was good. Then the bill...

Event Trends/New Ideas

Rage Against the Machine

12/7/11

I found my cell phone swimming in a cup of water. I think it was suicide. After my initial "surprise," my heart sank just like my handy-dandy-not-fancy-but-functional phone because I knew I was going to spend the next three hours and the next three...

5 Tips for Successful Planning—With the Environment in Mind

11/8/11

Sure, sustainability’s a good thing. The trick is translating all those good intentions into a meeting or event that really works. Turns out, making just a few changes throughout the planning process can reap eco-friendly results. Try these...

Suppliers Speak

Embrace Technology, But Don't Forget Personal Service

11/21/11

Whether we like it or not, we’ve got to embrace technology to get ahead. But something far more important must never be overlooked. Even if you haven’t created a Facebook fan page, amassed thousands of followers on Twitter, or learned how to use Snagit...

Running Your Business

Designing Effective Event Invitations

11/16/11

First impressions matter. And for events, that first impression is the invitation. To turn invitees into honored guests follow these tips: 1. Determine whether you will be mailing or e-mailing the invitations. More formal events require the invites be...

Tips for Creating a Thoughtful Holiday Soiree

10/28/11

With the holidays just around the corner, it is time to let the festivities begin! However, this year, as in recent years past, with the economy still in flux and companies looking to control their extra expenditures, it is as important as ever to ensure...

Email Marketing for Event Planners

10/24/11

It can be easy to forget the ancient art of email marketing, what with all the Tweeting, blogging and Facebooking event planners do today. Email is still crucial to the event marketing game plan, however—no matter how suave those 140 character Tweets can...