The largest gathering in the history of SITE (Society for Incentive Travel Excellence) Global Conference brought together more than 600 incentive experts in British Columbia at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver this week to celebrate making the impossible possible.

Inspired by B.C.’s own reality star, Ben Nemtin, the association challenged attendees to focus on what matters for themselves and others—and to adopt a limitless mindset. The co-producer and star of the television show The Buried Life and co-writer of What Do You Want to Do Before You Die shared his experience of touring North America with three friends to check items off an epic bucket list while helping others. The experience, he says, brought him a profound sense of purpose.

During his years of talking to people about their own wish lists, he found that travel is almost always near the top. Why? Because it helps people grow, he says. “You are making dreams come true,” he told the assembled incentive experts.

To help turn dreams into action, he had these tips:

  1. Write it down. Articulating the priority has power to help us focus.
  2. Share it. Telling others not only helps you commit and be accountable, it can also lead to shared resources to move us closer to the goal.
  3. Persist with creativity and positivity. Don’t take no for an answer. “No” really only means “not now”.
  4. Give back. That is the fastest path to meaning.

A Mandate to Lead

In its quest to make “SITE everywhere” a reality, the group now numbers 2,662 globally and is adding three new chapters—Slovenia, Sri Lanka and Japan. Under the leadership of new SITE President Jennifer Glynn, whose day job is managing partner at Ontario, Canada-based Meeting Encore, SITE is building a new online platform that will serve as a tool for members around the world.

Recognizing Incentive Gems

SITE Crystal Awards, sponsored by IMEX Group, honored incentive programs that made the unthinkable reality despite major logistical challenges. Winners were chosen for having designed “unique, memorable group travel experiences that deliver measurable results for their clients.”

Odyssey International DMC was brought to stage to mark the largest incentive to Ireland for a U.S. based insurance company. MFactor Meetings, was honored for a partner reward program on a Crystal Ravel river cruise to Vienna and Budapest. Spectra in Scotland was recognized for a 700-person trip to Scotland that featured a visit to Edinburgh Castle and Royal Yacht Britannia. Arabian Adventures MIE received a rousing shout-out for a trip that rewarded top performers with a journey to Dubai.

Streamlinevents won Most Impactful Effort Toward Corporate Social Responsibility as Part of an Incentive Program for a trip that included building an additional space for Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii. Creative Group was recognized for developing a strategy to design a highly relevant and impactful theme that would deliver maximum engagement.

Travelieer won for excellence in Latin America for Immunotec Life’s trip to Bogota for 1,050 winners and in Asia/Pacific for a 15-night trip for 270 to Bangkok and Hanoi that required a mind-bending number of flight arrangements.

“These winning programs not only showcase excellence in design and execution, but also demonstrate how incentive travel can advance client values and brands and achieve important business objectives, such as increased sales, higher employee engagement and greater loyalty,” said presenter Carina Bauer, IMEX Group CEO, who had just accepted the gavel as SITE Foundation president from John Iannini, vice president of business travel and meetings and events with The Sol Group, who held the role for two years.

SITE also recognized individuals and members who have helped their groups reach important goals over the last year. Winners included Anthony Kelly, head of marketing at Penguins and head of new business marketing with DRPG, a communications agency in Great Britain.

The Kevin Forde Spirit Award went to Max Boontawee Jantasuwan, CIS, Events Travel Asia Co., in Bangkok, Thailand. The David Riddell Memorial Scholarship was given to Amanda Robinson, sales and marketing manager with Custom Ireland; and Mary Browne, CIS, corporate and incentive officer with Meet in Ireland.

Other honorees:

Chapter of the Year—SITE Northeast

Excellence in Education—SITE Florida & Caribbean (which also received an ovation for sustainability)

Excellence in Special Event—SITE Midwest

Excellence in Membership—SITE SoCal

Excellence in Young Leaders—SITEIreland

Rising Star Chapter—SITE Thailand

In a meetings world that is changing faster than the table set-ups from business lunch to gala dinner, event professionals have to be able to spot trends and leverage them quickly to meet the needs of evolving audiences. That is why serial entrepreneur, author and futurist Michael Tschong kicked off the first Smart Meetings Experience of 2020 at Hyatt Regency Renaissance at SFO.

The author of Ubertrends: How Trends and Innovation are Changing Our Future shared three trends that could upend the worlds of planners and suppliers gathered in the ballroom.

Time Compression is Real

We are all busier than ever. The demand for immediate gratification that the Polaroid camera started in the 1940s is more intense than ever. That means you have to make communication with attendees and management as simple as possible. Use fewer words and make the call to action easy to understand. You have seen it with RFPs. We all want responses right away, but that requires being extremely clear about what you really need.

Start Incrementally

Are there more efficient ways to do what has always taken tremendous effort? Improvements in efficiencies are the most popular type of innovation and could be where much of the robotic and digital advances go in the hospitality sector.

More: 2020 Offers New Thinking on Technology For These 6 Meeting Types

Think Orthogonally

Yep, just like the classic Apple ads, you have to think different to stand out. Instead of implementing the same agenda for the annual meeting, consider creating an innovation team of 5-12 people and set ambitious goals. Then think about what innovations from outside the industry—augmented reality, for example, or entertrainment (training that doesn’t put people to sleep)—could put your gathering ahead of the coming trend.

Ubertrends are changing how people act in the world. To survive and thrive, meetings professionals must be prepared to respond to the waves of change rippling through society.

Work Collaboratively

One classic trend that won’t change in the foreseeable future is the importance of meeting face to face to build relationships. That is why the day was spent sharing ideas for new venues and team building. An off-site to the brand-new Grand Hyatt at SFO gave everyone a glimpse of the latest in runway-adjacent luxury.

New to the experience was peer-to-peer sharing that took deep dives into everything from technology and contract negotiations to international travel challenges.

The gathering was just the first of a year-long series of brilliant business gatherings Smart Meetings will host in 2020. The innovation continues at The LINE is Los Angeles on Feb. 27.

When Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) decides to make a public declaration about the nature, purpose and direction of incentive travel for the coming year, it is not an edict from the executive team. Instead, the association crowdsources both the defining and the prioritizing of where to focus research—and then iterates with each gathering to refine the statement.

That is why at the recently concluded Site Global Conference 2020 in Vancouver, a series of workshops sticky-noted input for a Vancouver Manifesto that built on conclusions from the previous year’s Bangkok Manifesto.

See also: SITE Global Conference Celebrates Limitless Incentives

SITE Chief Marketing Officer Padraic Gillian explained that the goal was to “move from idea to action.” The 10 statements identified in 2019 were reduced to three. A record 640 attendees (and 2,000 who popped in on livestream) gathered at JW Marriott Parq Vancouver to vote during the closing session on how to best use resources for impact.

Responsible, Vivid and Targeted

Under the umbrella topic of Social Responsibility/Sustainability, the consensus was to explore ways to contribute to reduction in food waste by drafting standard language regarding sustainable practices that members can use in RFPs and contracts. The focus also included a call to join in initiatives being developed by other organizations, such as ICCA, AIPC and UFI, to build on existing momentum.

In the area of Culture, Relationships, Teamwork and Corporate Culture, the vote was to produce a toolbox of strong, emotional key messages that can be used by members to tell management and policymakers the story of the power of incentive trips. “Storytelling is a bigger priority than data, and it is vital that we speak with one voice,” the draft document read.

In the area of Economic Growth and Innovation, the consensus was to develop two advocacy approaches with specialized campaigns—one that promotes the economic value generated where the companies operate and another for where the programs are hosted. That will allow the messaging to resonate with the distinct audiences; that is, business-events groups for the former, and tourism audiences (hospitality, airlines, tourism boards) for the latter.

Look for more advances in Dublin when SITE Global continues the discussion there Feb. 3-7, 2021.

Six trailblazers in the industry will be honored at the Women in Tourism and Hospitality (W.I.T.H.) annual conference and luncheon in San Diego March 19-20.

The gathering, the 2020 W.I.T.H. Conference, will be held at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San-Diego Mission Valley. W.I.T.H. is paving the way for inclusion and representation of women in the tourism and hospitality industries, and will honor the following women.

Shraddha Carlin

Based in downtown San Diego, Carlin has been chief concierge at the elegant Westgate Hotel for almost 16 years. She promotes philanthropic work, mentors aspiring young professionals, shares industry news, and supports local hotels and resorts as president of San Diego Concierge Association.

Sara Arjmand

Arjmand is also San Diego-based and manages all marketing and public relations for San Diego Dining Group. She has also been a member of Gaslamp Association for more than 13 years and serves on its board as a member of the special events committee. She is director of operations at Greystone Prime Steakhouse & Seafood and Butchers Cut Steakhouse in the Gaslamp Quarter.

Makeda “Dread” Cheatom

More than 45 years of dedication to wellness, art, music and culture has kept Cheatom busy. She established WorldBeat Cultural Center, a nonprofit multicultural center in San Diego’s Balboa Park, where she is now executive director and opened the original, world-renowned Prophet Vegetarian restaurant. She is also the founder of WorldBeat’s Children’s Ethnobotany Peace Garden, which she established to create a space where children and families can learn about food and science outdoors.

Kimberly Becker

Becker has spent more than 30 years working in the aviation industry. She is currently president and CEO of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and serves as a U.S. policy council member and large hub committee member for Airports Council International-North America. Through these roles, she participates in discussions on policy that affect U.S. airports, is responsible for management and budgets, and has experience working in everything from operations to environmental positions.

Jody Blackinton

As regional vice president of operations for Hersha Hospitality Management, Blackinton leads all hotel operations efforts in its West Coast region, including branded Marriott and Hyatt, as well as independent hotels. Blackinton also has served as chairperson of San Diego Hotel Motel Association and as a board member and executive officer for San Diego Tourism Authority.

Annette Gregg

Gregg, CMM, MBA leads the events and education teams at Experience for Meeting Professionals International as senior vice president. She has worked for corporations, association and nonprofits in executive level positions in the hospitality industry and has taught at several universities. Currently, she is a program adviser for San Diego State University’s Meeting and Event Certificate Program.

Meet the Honorees

All these women will participate in a moderated, candid panel discussion in which they share their stories, tips, tricks and motivation. W.I.T.H. claims that “the 2020 W.I.T.H. Conference is the next step towards the ultimate vision of a world where women collaborate with organizations to strengthen diversity, inclusion and financial capacity.” Check out W.I.T.H.’s website here for more information about attending the 2020 conference.

Destinations International’s annual Washington, D.C., show pumped up the education and business-event-strategist quotient with help from friends at PCMA to attract record attendance of more than 1,000 planners and suppliers to Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Wednesday.

For the first time, the keynote and meals were delivered on the tradeshow floor and more meeting professional education sessions were added to the agenda. Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, called the new format “a powerful partnership.”

See also: Destinations International and PCMA Team Up to Bring Planners and CVBs Together

PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat positioned the experience as bigger than the attendees in the room. “This industry has an impact beyond hospitality,” he said.

But First, Awards

The one-day conference kicked off with a Spirit of Hospitality awards presentation and a private screening at National Air and Space Museum to benefit Destinations International Foundation. The award went to United Airlines, for its commitment to enhance sustainability, inclusiveness and customer-centric service.

More: United Saves 40,000 Customers from Missed Flights

The recognition was followed by an IMAX premiere of Into America’s Wild, a new film by MacGillivray Freeman Films that was sponsored by Brand USA. The 3-D experience documented John Herrington, the first Native American astronaut, and Alaskan pilot Ariel Tweto (both of whom were in attendance) on a cross-country journey that touched on many of the destinations in the room.

Deeper Understanding

Several sessions at the conference focused on nurturing empathy—for audiences, teams and yourself. Megan Finnell, director at Medical Group Management Association and Megan Martin, manager of channel partner events at RingCentral, kicked off the day with “A Method to the Event Madness: Empathetic Design,” a hands-on exercise that helped meeting professionals put themselves in the shoes of their attendees and stakeholders to design agendas.

“User-centered design asks how each group is feeling at any given moment,” Finnell explained. “That is how you give everyone what they want.”

A panel discussion led by moderating consultant Brad Weaber resulted in a trio of meeting professionals telling everyone exactly how they felt about how quickly the business is moving today, how convention and visitor bureaus are—and are not—helping, and the importance of social issues in decision-making.

Windy Christner, senior director of meetings and expositions at American Pharmacists Association, shared the initial fear she expressed to fellow panelist Tom Norwalk, president and CEO of Visit Seattle, about taking a group to his city after seeing aggressive homeless people on the street. Instead of avoiding the problem—or the city—she incorporated a fundraiser into her program to help sick children living in cars, raising $15,000 and quite a bit of awareness. In turn, Norwalk underscored the urgency of being part of the solution and expressing their concerns to elected leaders.

Keynote speaker Sara Ross tied a call for deeper mutual understanding with a talk she titled “Igniting the Leadership Vitality Factor: Next-Level Leadership for an On-Demand World.”

Ross helps people become more aware about how they present themselves in everyday and stressful situations where reaction times are short—something all meeting professionals face. Everyone, she said, has both reflecting (big picture, strategizing) and reacting (survival, fight/flight, stress, emotions) systems—but only one can be dominant at a time. Our reflecting system can’t be active at all times, yet calling on it during challenging moments by taking a minute to slow down will result in better long-term decisions, she advised.

“Good leaders are accountable, supportive and empowering,” Ross said.

Then she made a bold prediction: “The future belongs to people who can manage attention and energy.” With those marching orders, attendees rose and went out into the hall to do their own partnering.

Looking to make your event memorable? The iconic, two-week Mardi Gras celebration that leads up to Fat Tuesday has some lessons for meeting professionals. After all, Krewes have been rolling through town and exciting crowds since 1857. I joined the traditional Lundi Gras parade as part of super-Krewe of Orpheus (the first Krewe to include riders of all genders, races and sexual orientations) with the Marriott CRN team and learned the NOLA way of approaching a gathering.

Create Pageantry

From the elaborate floats designed at Mardi Gras World with massive paper-mache flowers and expressive props to the sparkling costumes and masks, doubloons and beads everywhere, accessories put everyone in the celebrating mood. Our float was fronted by a Rougarou, a werewolf-like creature that lives amidst the magnolias as it was part of a procession themed around “beastly creatures.”

The parade (one of 80, including a kickoff on Feb. 1 with Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus) founder is Harry Connick Jr. and he brought his famous friends to participate in the ride and sing on stage at the ball. Actor and designated monarch Bryan Cranston Monarch embraced the spirit of the event, “New Orleans is all about celebrating life and the human experience, enveloping music and culinary adventures,” he proclaimed. He was joined in the court by actors Charlie Day and Mary Elizabeth Ellis.

Adopt this trick for your annual event by declaring a theme and designing rituals for the opening reception that attendees can look forward to. A shared color scheme or ribbons and buttons can get strangers talking. For Mardi Gras, purple represents justice, green represents faith and gold represents power.

Oh, and bring your own DJ. Each float is accompanied by a soundtrack to keep riders pumped up during the four-hour journey. Create your own playlist to manage the peaks and valleys of a meeting and keep everyone alert.

Get Everyone Involved

Mardi Gras is not a passive activity. Everyone gets into the action with costumes, collecting of throws and lots of king cake consumption. Visitors and residents alike participate in parades and balls. Royal courts make monarchs for a day out of citizens. What behavioral scientists call The Endowment Affect turns rational people into desperate searchers for strings of plastic that suddenly take on prized value because they caught it in mid-air after issuing shouts of, “Throw me something mister/miss!”

When a rider locks eyes with someone on the street, throws a string of blinking beads and gets a thumbs up, a real connection made, if only for an instant.

Asking attendees to lead break out discussions, participate in rousing musical exercises and create their own delicacies at food activation stations helps them feel invested in the outcome. It makes them feel seen.

Scott Jernstrom, complex director of sales and marketing for New Orleans Marriott and Sheraton New Orleans, explains, both Mardi Gras and events are about people. “This is a relationship business and everyone needs to be focused on the customer experience.” As The French Quarter Connection, both properties front the parade route and offer VIP viewing opportunities.

Pace Your Agenda

Riders know that even though Mardi Gras is about celebrating excess before the sacrifice of Lent, the secret to getting to the end of the day with enough beads and focus to enjoy the ball at the end of the parade is to pace yourself. Floats are loaded with bags of beads, plush animals and a crowd favorite—light-up toys. Although the mounds of plastic necklaces cost thousands of dollars and fill almost every inch of floor, riders quickly learn to wait until they have the attention of the intended recipient to avoid hitting anyone in the face. And since the float parades through the formal dinner in New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center at the end, saving some of the good stuff for last makes for a very warm welcome.

A smart event agenda similarly gives attendees little breaks with nourishment to keep them satiated, but not so much that they want to take a nap.

The same goes for the content. Mix up the technical, entertaining and inspirational sessions for a well-rounded event that leaves everyone feeling they got what they needed with time for celebrating.

Swag Thoughtfully

At the end of the parade, the festivities are about more than collecting the best throws. The Krewes are actually philanthropic organizations that raise thousands of dollars for charities and the event generates more than a $1 billion in spending in the tourist-focused city.

Event gifting can be fun and practical, letting people know you care and feel their pain. Sheraton New Orleans left thoughtful boxes of king cake, pain reliever and eye drops as room drops. One person in my group suggested offering follow-up massage appointments to work out the kinks in throwing arms and standing legs.

Customizing your swag bag to the place and the experience means a lot to attendees. A beach retreat? How about sunglasses, flip flops and aloe lotion? Winter incentive? Hand warmers, lip balm and hot cocoa could fit the bill.

For this bucket-list adventure, attendees took home their costumes and memories of an epic adventure.

The Smart Meetings team packed their bags and headed to The Line Los Angeles in the heart of Koreatown last week for high-energy new and renewed networking. A keynote by the trend-whispering, brand consulting Kate Patay followed by fun-filled one-on-one meetings made for a guaranteed brilliant experience for all.

First Impressions Matter

Patay shared secrets for making powerful first impressions, a crucial skill for professionals in any setting. She reported that within one-tenth of a second of meeting you in person, visiting your website or reading your email, people have already reached a conclusion about you and whether they want to do business with you.

Therefore, adopting authoritative speech and email habits is essential to gaining trust and growing your career. While simple, some of these things can be difficult to unlearn, such as nixing the verbal fillers of “ums” and “likes” from your speech and “just” out of your emails. That is how you make a strong first impression.

Don’t miss out on our next Smart Meetings Experiences in Dallas-Fort Worth at The Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas on Mar. 26. Register here.

At AWE’s Elevate! conference on March 5 in Las Vegas, some of the top women in the meetings industry will take the stage to talk about their journey and share their lessons learned with attendees as part of a live mentoring exercise. The focus on empowerment at the follow-up to last-year’s successful event in Washington, D.C., will begin with a much-anticipated keynote from Judi Holler, author of Fear is My Homeboy: How to Slay Doubt, Boss Up and Succeed on Your Own Terms. That powerful voice for believing in yourself will be followed by an Ask Me Anything panel of industry leaders designed to give attendees the tools they need to reach the highest heights.

Smart Meetings queried these experts for some context about how they set goals and chart their path and what they hope attendees will take away from the experience.

Related: Women in Tourism & Hospitality Conference Announces 2020 Honorees

Judi Holler: Own It

First, I own my morning! This means that before I jump into email or look at social media, I’m advancing my goals. I’m allowing myself to wake up, enjoy my coffee, write in a journal, maybe I read a few pages, or maybe I move my body and take a walk. Maybe I am advancing a creative project or writing 500 words for a deadline. The goal is to give yourself the gift of the morning. Even if it’s just the first hour of your day. Because when you own your morning, you own your day, and when you own your days, you own your life!

Second, I micro-dose everything! This means I think in smaller time chunks, not in big looming deadlines that feel overwhelming and out of reach. For example, when writing my book, I’d set a timer and just write for 10 minutes to invite in some momentum and get those creative juices flowing. I wouldn’t say to myself, “OMG, I’m on deadline and have to write an entire chapter today!” Instead I would say, “Ok, I’m going to write for 10 minutes and see how that feels,” or “this morning I’m going to write a paragraph then take a break.”  Most times, once I was 10 minutes into the activity, I was in too deep with momentum and I didn’t want to stop.

The goal is forward momentum. Fear hates this space because when you move forward, you have a really big chance of actually achieving those goals. That brings about change, which makes fear very uncomfortable. Plus, research shows us that when you set small, specific and slightly difficult goals (you ‘gotta get uncomfortable!), then break them down into 30-day windows, you will double your chances of achieving results. Personally, I’ve seen an 85 percent increase in my overall productivity.

The most common thing keeping women from reaching their goals is themselves. Self-doubt, imposter syndrome, comparison and guilt hold us back from connecting in the powerful and profitable ways we desire—and deserve! Self-doubt makes us think we aren’t ready or that someone else is more qualified. Imposter syndrome keeps us stuck in the cycle of “safe” because we feel like we are not worthy of our success or accomplishments. Comparison steals all our joy and causes us to doubt ourselves. And the guilt of letting our families down by being ambitious, or for putting ourselves first, has us saying no more than “yes.” The second we realize that there is room for all of us and that we no longer need to feel guilty for putting ourselves first, we can truly step into a life and a career that gives us what we all really want—more freedom!

I hope participants feel empowered to fear their fear less and realize that inside “the discomfort zone” is where all the magic lives.

Carina Bauer, CEO, IMEX Group: Goal Focused

I haven’t traditionally written my personal goals down, although I have a new appreciation of the value of doing this from having been involved in the Fast Forward 15 mentor program this past year. However, from a business perspective, I create the yearly and five yearly goals for the business and this very much forms the goals that I work on during the year. In addition, I am constantly seeking to improve and innovate and I read articles, listen to podcasts and get involved with organizations beyond the industry to find new ideas and ways of doing things.

Challenges for women in the industry are the result of a mixture of things, including the perceived difficultly of juggling an always-on events career with family life, as well as the lack of role models at the highest levels. I do think that our industry is very open to women leaders and therefore I believe that improved opportunity will have a great impact.

Hopefully, attendees will be inspired that they, too, can achieve whatever it is that they desire in their career and family life.

Related: The Ubercool Approach to Planning Events

Carol McGury, EVP, event and education services, SmithBucklin: Always Growing

My goals have always been focused on growth—professional growth and client growth. So, I didn’t necessarily approach my path through titles I would hold or roles I should play, but instead I concentrated on how I could gain exposure and grow through experiences. This came about through continually stepping up (and not only when asked) and asking for more—raising my hand to take on a project, stepping up when someone left to help keep things in motion, showing my interest beyond just my “day job.” And ultimately, what I did made an impact on my team and with my clients. Growth is a mindset—for me, for my clients, and for my teammates.

I honestly don’t think there is anything keeping women from achieving their potential. As someone who went from an entry level role to an EVP role, I’ve coached and mentored team members, former colleagues, and individuals from various industries to never fear—lead with strength.

I hope attendees take away the knowledge that even though everyone’s path might be different, you need to keep true to who you are and where you want to go. Staying focused is critical. Too many people look around and want what others have—I want attendees to think about what they want and I’m hopeful sharing some of my experiences will help them on their journey.

Carrie Freeman Parsons, board chair, Freeman: Prioritize Impact

One of my mentors often says, “Activity does not equate to impact.”  This has become one of my mantras, especially when I am feeling overwhelmed or I’m not making progress against my goals. Am I making an impact? Or am I just busy?

For me, it starts with clarity regarding my personal values. A couple years ago when I felt a bit out of control,  I wrote my values down—and more importantly, I defined how they should be expressed. This gave me the platform to then create goals that align with those values. This clarity is the filter against which I spend my time. It has freed me up to say “no” to things that I previously said “yes” to out of self-imposed obligation. It’s a never-ending process of ruthless prioritization. But, for me, when that prioritization is screened against my goals which are aligned with my values, it’s much easier to make those decisions.

I think the professional progress of women in the meetings industry has been slow, but it has been steady. Many of the impediments in the past regarding bias, access, female role models, etc. have lessened. Significant progress will happen when more women have the courage to tap into their full potential.

I hope that the session will spark insights that will awaken possibilities.

Mass meeting cancellations have wrought financial and personal havoc in the events industry. Just when we need the support of our peers the most, we are banned from coming together. Smart Meetings reached out to three emotional health experts for suggestion on the best way to support our teams until we can come together again. Jessica Pettit, author of the book Good Enough Now, Cynthia Scherer, CEO and certified executive coach and Dr. Romie Mushtaq, a neurologist and chief wellness officer at Evolution Hospitality and keynote speaker had

How can we support the mental health of event professionals?

The constant stress, back-and-forth and paranoia is enough to tire anyone out, said Pettit. She suggested starting by frankly assessing the situation. “None of us have been through something like this before and we are all doing the best we can with what we have. Your mental health is dependent on grace for yourself and that same grace will help others feel supported,” said Pettit.

See also: COVID-19: Planning During a Pandemic

Cynthia Scherer stresses the importance of prioritizing mental and physical health. “Encourage yourself and your team to be open to finding perspective and enjoying new ways to get your work done in less time with less stress,” said Scherer.

What is the most important step to staying sane during quarantine?

In order to remain calm and keep a level head when confined to your home, Mushtaq suggested focusing on maintaining positive, consistent habits. Neglecting self-care is easier—and more dangerous—than ever.

More: 5 Resources for At Home Wellness Routines

“Protect your sleep at all costs. When we sleep, it reinvigorates our physical health and it reduces our stress hormones,” Mushtaq said. She preaches the importance of maintaining a digital detox one hour before bedtime—no digital devices. “Limit the amount of time you’re on social media and watching the news,” she said.

Cynthia Scherer offered similar advice. “It is essential to allow yourself and others to feel all the feels (scared, happy, sad, angry, confused, enlightened) without judgement to keep your sanity and sense of humor intact during this time of uncertainty. Let the laughter and tears flow as both are healthy and amazing ways to relieve stress and anxiety!”

How can meeting professionals shifting toward a more positive outlook?

Pettit recommends structure. That doesn’t mean working all the time. Planning for moments of peace, tranquility, creativity and mindfulness will help banish burnout.

“The unknown is just that—unknown and can be countered by providing yourself structure where there seemingly is none to be found,” she said. She sets up office hours for three hours a day via Zoom where her fellow keynote friends join in. She follows the 20-minute Pomodoro approach with regular breaks for a round of applause. “I need structure to be productive, otherwise my anxiety gets triggered and I need people time during social isolation,” said Pettit.

What is the number one mistake people make when unexpected disruptions make their way into daily routines?

Every day, things change and disruptions are inevitable. No one is ever fully in control. However, it is possible to have power over yourself and what you’re feeling.

Scherer explained. “In the midst of crisis and chaos, it is common to become indecisive and begin to feel like you are running in circles. I invite you to look at your daily habits and ask yourself if they are causing you to evolve or revolve? Many people are working from home, so be open to exploring and finding new ways to live, lead and succeed so you can start getting the sustainable results you want and the fulfillment you deserve.”

Romie advocated for taking a moment to pause. “Often, we fail to recognize that we’re in trouble or not in control. When we’re vulnerable with ourselves that we’re in a difficult situation, then we know to reach out for help. When we don’t do that, we end up with our wheels spinning. Business mistakes, loss of temper or bad decisions are made. Control your mind and you will be able to control the situation,” said Romie.

Some 170,000 attendees of Salesforce’s 17th Dreamforce user conference swarmed San Francisco this week, making their black hoodie-clad way from the expanded Moscone Center to breakouts that took over almost every open meeting space in the city. In addition to actionable tips on best practices for leveraging the customer-relationship management platform and new product rollouts, the massive citywide had logistical lessons for planners tasked with scaling up without losing the personal approach.

Go Big

A man-made waterfall was erected as part of a transformation of Moscone Center into a camp setting, with thousands of square feet of artificial grass rolled inside and out. Celebrity speakers and performers drew overflow crowds—former President Barack Obama keynoted with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and Fleetwood Mac headlined Dreamfest, a concert benefitting UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, at Oracle Park. Company mascots in the form of a vested bear, thoughtful Einstein and helpful Astro were everywhere, while an army of guides in ranger uniforms directed attendees to their next breakout.

More than 2,700 sessions went down at Moscone Center, The Westin St. Francis, City View at Metreon, InterContinental San Francisco and Hilton San Francisco Union Square Hotel. After-parties filled Union Square and Financial District restaurants, bars and art galleries. From Karaoke for a Cause to CRM Science Puzzle Party and CMO Confessions Cocktail Party, there was something for everyone.

Prices and availability of hotel rooms in the city reflected the demand. Jason Webb, general manager of Tilden Hotel, said his 118 guest rooms were sold out months before the event, and  people started reserving for the next year before they left town. Brian Fenwick, general manager of Nob Hill property Huntington Hotel reported his 134 guest rooms on the cable car line were also full. In addition to the iconic private dining room in Central Pacific Room and 2,500 sq. ft. of meeting space on site, his team worked with nearby Grace Cathedral and SF Masonic to secure room for more gatherings.

Mid-conference, a Holiday Inn guest room far from the main campground was going for $700. An Uber ride that is normally $20 was clocking in at $40.

Share the Stage

 

In addition to presentations from company executives, the conference shared case studies of customers and partners who have built on the technology platform to manage everything from marketing and sales efforts to philanthropy. Actual users were featured in posters all over the conference and on stage. Stephani Slingerland, director of philanthropy and social impact at Kellogg’s, shared the company’s success in addressing hunger by using Salesforce software to track volunteering and giving, as well to leverage the passion of employees, customers and consumers in a partnership with United Way to provide breakfast to students in need. She called it the right thing to do and a way to more fully engage employees and enhance customer loyalty.

In a surprise move, Benioff allowed a protestor, who was part of a group calling on the company to drop its contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to speak during his keynote on Monday morning. He told the audience that he stopped the program to allow the message because he values free speech.

Thoughts from the conference were not limited to those who could make the trip in person. Another 13 million watched presentations online.

Cook Out

How do you ensure your attendees are happy campers? Keep them well fed. At an event this spread out, that required distributing grab-and-go meals at locations in or near each of the venues, including a picnic spread in Yerba Buena Garden. Security ensured only those with badges were selecting box lunches. Labeling and ingredients took into consideration all possible dietary needs. Plus, meal packaging was 100 percent compostable.

A Climate Summit on Thursday showcased solutions in the areas of youth activism, food systems and the environment. But the environmental effort was more than words from a stage. Many of the strategies discussed by Michelin-starred chef and activist Dominique Crenn for rethinking the supply chain to be more sustainable were on display throughout the conference. Attendees received reusable water bottles in their welcome backpacks, a move that was designed to save 100,000 plastic water bottles. Lunches were beefless in a nod to conserving the water required to raise cattle.

Additionally, suggested donations to the nonprofit Cool Effect to offset travel carbon emissions will fund greenhouse gas-reducing projects all over the world.

Have Fun

Jody Kohner, senior vice president of employee marketing and engagement for Salesforce called the conference “the ultimate expression of the cultural voice” of the company. “Don’t underestimate the value of fun,” she said.