Great Events

In this episode, we get to hear from both the planner and hotelier side on what it really takes to plan and execute a hybrid event. They show us how this is possible and share what they think are the essentials for putting on a hybrid event. Listen in to hear all their learnings and how their event went!

In today's episode we are joined by Tom Romine, Founder and CEO of Cultivate, to talk all about gifting experiences. Not only is gifting a topic we love to talk about, but it is also an important one. There is nothing worse than receiving a gift for a job well done, but being given something that you simply don't like. Cultivate has worked hard over the years to ensure that every gifting experienc...

In this episode we discuss the evolution of virtual and hybrid events with our guests Peter Gentile, VP of Sales at OVATION and Carolyn Waldron-Parr, Executive Video Producer at OVATION. Since virtual events took the forefront earlier this year, our guests have learned a lot through their personal experiences and joined us to share their learnings. We touch on topics about how technology has evolv...

Today’s episode is all about bringing a more people-centric approach to your event marketing. We’re joined by Zoe Fernandez and Jaclyn Sass, two leading members of the team at Merkle that put on Merkle’s annual executive summit, global client summit, and other incredible events. A big part of Zoe and Jaclyn’s mission is to change the perception of women in the industry while elevating the percepti...

In this episode we are joined by Sarah Peck, Executive Director of Startup Parent. Sarah shares her story with us and company's mission to help reinvent work and parenthood. Tune in to also hear some useful tips on how to deliver more engaging virtual meetings and avoid the fatigue we all feel after a long day of video calls. Resources Mentioned in the Episde: * Startup Parent webpage (www.startup...

For this episode, we talked to Martha Austin from Playa Hotels & Resorts about how they are handling re-opening safely. Martha shared with us how Playa Hotels & Resorts is using their health and safety programs to ensure everyone can comfortably and safely travel to their destinations again. Tune in to hear Martha share the many ways they are keeping guests safe.

In this episode, we sat down and talked to Steve Shultz about how the Lincoln Financial Group was able to quickly pivot their in-person events to successful virtual experiences. Steve shares how his team and himself had to think outside the box and take on new roles to be able to successfully navigate putting on virtual events. Tune in to hear more of Steve's story and his tips for having great vi...

Alexis and Emma from ConnectSeven Group in Canada talk to us about their involvement with British Columbia’s reopening plan in the events industry. They also come with some valuable insights into what we can do to still be sustainable at events while being sensitive to new requirements. Hear their thoughts related to some of the signs or metrics that we can look out for to track progress and ensur...

In this special episode, Brooke and Cody sit down with some of the winners of the Cvent Excellence Awards right after the virtual ceremony. Listen in to hear all their tips and tricks and how they became Cvent winners.

Today, Brooke and Cody sat down with Leila Heller, Meetings and Incentives Director, North America at VisitBritain/MeetEngland, and Caroline Phelan, Meetings and Incentive Senior Manager Europe, to talk to us about how the UK is preparing to safely welcome back visitors and events. They share their insights on the impact they think the current pandemic will have on the industry both in the short t...

For event professionals, IMEX is a familiar name. IMEX is an industry-leading exhibition for incentive travel, meetings, events and considered the heartbeat of the global business events community. Their two tradeshows have been running annually for almost two decades in Frankfurt and Las Vegas. In this episode, Carina Bauer, CEO of IMEX Group, talks to us about how their virtual event, Planet IME...

With Virtual events being so prominent, many event planners have questions about integrating different platforms and their respective benefits. Lori Wildman, Senior Marketing Manager at DMA - DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc. talks to us about her experience with moving her events to a virtual platform and how using different systems helps for one end goal. She also shares her views on how ben...

From traveling to eating meals at in-person events, the current pandemic has impacted everything. Lou Marrocco, President of Brandywine Events, talks to Brooke and Cody and offers us some guidance on reopening strategies as we begin to consider in-person events again. In this episode, he shares what steps event-planners and hoteliers can take to not let fear or anxiety impact reopening plans. He a...

With our current environment, several companies are taking preventative measures to limit exposure to employees, so what is the future of incentive meetings? Tahira Endean, Head of Events at SITE Global, talks to us about the state of incentive experiences for top performers. Hear her unique perspective on how companies can still keep incentive events alive during these times and how we can contin...

The world has changed the way it operates and that includes how event planners need to think while working on international conventions. In this episode, Shawn Cheng, Project Manager at MCI and president of PCMA’s Canada West Chapter, shares his thoughts on the few things that international conventions are facing. You will hear more about the main reasons people attend conferences and how they nee...

We know recovery is inevitable and live events will eventually resume and there are a lot of questions. Will you be able to build the same kind of relationship in the virtual environment? How can planners maximize attendance and engagement on the rebound? How social distancing will impact events? How should planners build value to justify the cost once we go back to live events? and so on. We all...

With Pride month in full swing, we invited Michael Newton, Team Lead of Europe Account Management with Cvent, back to the podcast to talk about diversity and inclusion and why it is so important for planners to be conscious of this while planning events. Michael not only has a wealth of knowledge but also as a subject matter expert, he shares his thoughts and ideas on how companies can get started...

We all know that recovery is on the horizon and corporate travel will eventually resume, but not without some changes. Best practices and safety measures will be part of our lives and it will help in evolving corporate travel. In this episode we talk about how as travelers we will be responsible to make travel not only safe, but a success in the new world. Timothy Jones, Director of Corporate Trav...

Ever wonder what industry leaders of other countries are doing in the current situation? In this episode we talk through what they are doing to show that London will be a safe destination to go back to and also hear about visiting London virtually and everything it has to offer. Tracy also shares a 3-phase approach to getting back to “normal” and how working with government leaders has better prep...

The transition from working in the office to working from home with all your family members happened so quickly in our lives. As we continue working from home some of us still find it difficult to maintain that much required work-life balance. We know it is hard to stay focused when we have all been home longer than we would like. In this episode we are joined by Stephen Carroll, Senior Director,...

These are unprecedented times and ON24 is trying to do their part to bring us into the new normal. Listen as Cheri Keith, Director of Strategy and Research at ON24, talks about some great insights from their annual benchmark report, such as the changes in ideal dates and times for webinars in recent weeks. She also talks about how webinars are still thriving with virtual events being the point of...

In a time when everyone is trying to do something for society, we had the privilege of talking to someone who took actions during these unprecedented times to start an initiative to help first responders called #CompoundingHandoff. Lizzie Harbin Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, Education, and Human Resources at PCCA not only pivoted to a virtual event but made it a success from 25...

In this third part of our Cvent Virtual Week series, we debunk the myth that virtual events are boring. That couldn't be more wrong! Our guests, Lauren Allison and Noel McWilliams, share their tips on how to make virtual events engaging for attendees. Whether virtual or in-person, events can still be engaging and accomplish the same goals for attendees. Tune in to hear everything they had to say!

We are halfway through Cvent Virtual Week and we are continuing to debunk myths around hosting virtual events! In the second part of our three-part series, our guests Taylor Bohn and Lauren Turner demystify the myth that is on many people's minds -- not having the right technology to put on a virtual event. Our guests talk through the technology you need to run a virtual event and how it's not as...

It's Cvent Virtual Week and we are going to be debunking myths around hosting virtual events! In the first part of our three-part series, we tackle the myth around having to start from square one when switching to a virtually hosted event. Our guest Paulina Curto shares her tips for taking events originally planned for an in-person experience, to a virtual platform without having to start complete...