Ice cream cones in a row

Whether you’re from the East Coast or the West, it’s hard to deny that ice cream is a great treat to cool down with on a hot summer day. Chocolate or strawberry, gelato or sherbet, in a cup or cone, the possibilities are endless. People love ice cream, and with so many unique ice cream shops around the country, how could you deny yourself—or your attendees? Here’s the scoop.

Garden Creamery—San Francisco

If you’re looking for an ice cream shop that fits almost everyone’s needs, Garden Creamery in San Francisco is the place for you. From ice cream and pops to sandwiches and vegan sorbet, all their deserts are hand-crafted in small batches. Pops, sandwiches and ice cream are made with organic Straus Family Creamery organic products. Vegan sorbet is 100 percent plant-based using coconut milk and agave nectar.

Full Tilt Ice Cream—Seattle

Featuring new and vintage arcade and pinball machines, an awesome mix of music, an array of sodas and some of the best beers the Northwest has to offer, it’s amazing that this gem even has the time to make their all-natural ice cream! Located in Seattle, Full Tilt Ice Cream is a place the whole group can hang out for true refreshment.

Dough Nation—Tampa, Florida

If your attendees love ice cream, cookie dough and giving back, Dough Nation could solve your CSR needs. They can even mix and match ice cream and cookie dough in the same cup or cone to design a sweet personalized creation! Right in the heart of downtown, this ice cream shop is owned and operated by Metropolitan Ministries, so proceeds go directly to their hunger relief programs, helping feed the needy in Tampa Bay!

Ted & Wally’s Ultra-Premium Homemade Ice Cream—Omaha, Nebraska

Made the old-fashioned way, Ted & Wally’s has been serving up natural homemade ice cream since 1984. Frozen delights are made from scratch and slow churned with rock salt and ice in antique White Mountain freezers. Vegan and no-sugar added Keto ice cream options are available. There’s even an ice cream taco on the menu!

Soft Swerve—New York City

Going through about 20 pounds of purple yams a day to make their Ube ice cream, Soft Swerve is located in the Big Apple near numerous hotels and restaurants. On top of their unique list of flavors, your attendees can even add toppings like Mochi and Boba if they’re feeling adventurous!

The Franklin Fountain—Philadelphia

If your attendees like to mix nostalgia and dessert, The Franklin Fountain could fit the bill. Inspired by a marble portrait of Benjamin Franklin, brothers Eric and Ryan Berley opened this ice cream shop as an authentic soda fountain. From classic favorites to Teaberry Gum—a popular choice in Northern and Central Pennsylvania—it’s easy to see why they made the list.

More: 9 Inspired Sweet Treat Ideas

Rollin Creamery—Fountain Valley, California

As Orange County’s first Thai-style rolled ice cream shop, Rollin Creamery serves up a bunch of funky, unique flavored ice creams along with summertime lemonades. Black Sesame and Matcha, Thin Mint Double Roll and Thai Tea are just the beginning of their rolled-up ice cream concoctions. Pair with Spicy Watermelon Lemonade for an unforgettable experience.

Pretty Cool Ice Cream—Chicago

From custard bars to pony pops to plant pops and buttermilk bars, the list keeps going! Pretty Cool Ice Cream in Chicago is serving up novelties for everybody. This is not your average ice cream shop. Guests can watch their favorite pops and bars made by hand and dipped in chocolate! And don’t worry, Pretty Cool Ice Cream has vegan, plant-milk based and dairy-free pop options, so everyone can enjoy!

The Creole Creamery—New Orleans

If quirky flavors are your group’s prerogative, The Creole Creamery offers plenty. Creole Cream Cheese, Nectar Cream Sherbet and Lavender Honey are local favorites scooped along with classics such as chocolate chip and vanilla. Look for seasonal favorites: Lemon Icebox Pie, Strawberry Jalapeno Cheesecake and Chocolate Guinness Cake and dairy-free sorbets!

Izzy’s Ice Cream—St. Paul and Minneapolis Minnesota

Boasting a flavor selection nearing 200, Izzy’s Ice Cream has a little something for everyone. From regular to non-dairy, sorbet to gluten free, this is inclusion in a cup. Their website is updated with whatever flavors their two locations are scooping up every three minutes. So, your guests can decide exactly what they’re going to order before they even step inside the shop!

Despite uncertainty about where the world is headed, the meetings and events industry is getting larger by the day. According to CWT M&E’s 2020 Future Trends Report, the industry is expected to grow 8 percent in 2020.

Trends contributing to the growth of the events industry include the digitization of everything, the popularity of live events and changing demographics as millennials and centennials become a larger part of the workforce.

The Web and You

Since 2017, event websites began to materialize at a fast rate, up to 52 percent year-over-year. CWT M&E estimates that this number has risen 83 percent. The number of people using their mobile devices has seen a significant increase as well, with 50 percent of attendees downloading apps, compared to 74 percent year-to-date in 2019.

Researchers at CWT M&E believe the use of chatbots, machine learning and AI will soon contribute to even greater personalization for attendees in the future. Those same event apps can also serve as a way to measure the level of engagement with those attendees during an event, by linking an attendee’s social media accounts, allowing them to engage quickly and easily.

The report found that online booking tools are not used by planners as frequently as they could be, despite the number of tools that have cropped up in recent years. As planners begin to realize online booking’s many advantages, their usage could increase within the next few years.

Millennials Making an Impact

Much of this digitization is being spearheaded by millennials, the same group that is projected to become the largest group of business travelers by 2024. Centennials (or Gen Z)—those born in 1996 and after—are unique in that they are the first group that hasn’t known the world before the internet, smartphones and apps, so they may be slightly more comfortable around tech than the generations that came before them.

Their expectations of the amount of tasks they can complete on their phone is heightened as well, with 75 percent on Gen Zers expecting to be able to complete their travel bookings all on their smartphone.

Incentives are Growing

With an increasing focus on improving company culture and creating relationships between employees and leaders, incentives—while they’ve always been important—are one of the fastest growing type of events. Although at the center of incentives is business, improving sales and profitability, this doesn’t negate attendees’ desire for a great experience.

Attendees want a morale booster, something that they can call a “life-changer.” Part of that is dropping the touristy outings and living like a local. Part of being a local means visiting locations that are on the fringe, which is why taking paths less traveled has seen in increase in popularity, as well as much-traveled locations, such as Paris, New York, Dubai and South Africa. Lesser-traveled destinations, such as Nepal, Namibia and Montenegro are also set for travel in 2020.

This desire to trek the road less traveled has resulted in heightened security measures being taken, with 42 percent of travelers being subjected to pre-travel risk assessments, a trend that has seen a 5 percent increase year-over-year.

Influential figures, such as actors, musicians, supermodels and athletes, have long signed multimillion-dollar deals to become the face of brands. Companies try to tap into the celebrity’s fanbase to attract new customers. In a Forbes article published earlier this month, it was revealed that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson charges a seven-figure fee to promote his movies on social media.

“Social media has become the most critical element of marketing a movie for me,” Johnson told the publication. “I have established a social media equity with an audience around the world [and] there’s a value in what I’m delivering to them.”

In the hospitality industry alone, members of the glitterati have been plastered as the faces of hotel chains, travel websites, CVBs and airlines. With the introduction and growth of social media, a whole new crop of influential celebrities has emerged, and they are simply known as “influencers.”

MMGY Global’s Portrait of American Travelers survey will release findings in February about the “Profile of the Social Media Traveler.” It will deep-dive into the impact of influencers on travel-making decisions. The company also conducts surveys on business travel.

Many travel influencers appeal to the leisure market, but that’s not to say the luxurious and Instagram-worthy destinations they are visiting aren’t applicable to meetings, as well. “Though MICE-specific influencers are not as common, working with the right influencers—even if it is consumer-facing—does influence meeting planners, simply because most planners, like many of us in the travel industry, frequently follow many of these influencers, and if they see something they like on social, they’ll keep it in mind,” said Cessie Cerrato, senior director of public relations for Palace Resorts.

People who work in the travel industry have gotten in the game, too, and raised their profiles by upping their web following. Emirates flight attendant Brigita Jagelaviciute has received press recently for accumulating nearly 80,000 Instagram followers and 20,000 YouTube subscribers. The 23-year-old Lithuanian told The Daily Mail that she’s visited 74 countries and counting. News sites have also taken notice of several globe-trotting female pilots. The sky’s literally the limit for these Instagram stars: Maria Pettersson @pilotmaria, Malin Nygren @pilotmolly, Lindy Kats @pilot_lindy, Sara Johansson @johsara and Eva Claire Marseille @flywitheva.

Tools to Make Events Influential

YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and SnapChat allow anyone, attendees and meeting planners included, to be an influential star. As a planner, you regularly travel to luxurious places, conducting site visits and hosting meetings. The fab photos and videos you post along the way can influence clients and colleagues to book meetings in those destinations. If hotels and convention centers see RFPs and signed contracts as a result, the sales team will love you for the marketing boost you are providing.

“I am constantly traveling, so I truly enjoy showcasing that aspect of my job while on social media, while at the same time showcasing the product that I am constantly promoting—our brand,” Cerrato said. “To be successful in ‘selling’ a product—in my case—you have to be that product’s No. 1 fan, and there is no doubt that I am a fan of our resorts.”

Cerrato adds, “It’s one thing to talk about how amazing and incredible a resort’s amenities are, but to show them is what makes the difference. People tend to trust the opinions of frequent travelers, so when they see you actually living ‘The Palace Life,’ it gives your audience a sense of FOMO [fear of missing out]. You can talk about how incredible the 24-hour room service is, but when you post a picture of a perfectly seared ahi tuna, with pesto risotto, delivered to your room at 10 p.m., people really understand what [it] is all about.”

Meeting planners can use the influencer phenomenon to their benefit, too. You can encourage more people to register for your next event and achieve FOMO by becoming an influential planner. You can suggest that attendees post from the event, and invite an established influencer who has a large following to attend and post from the event. Emelina Spinelli, Instagram consultant and creative director, suggests inviting 10 medium-sized influencers to an event instead of one major influencer, to add diversity.

Smart Tips

  • Have a designated photo booth with a tablet that enables users to post immediately to their social media accounts.
  • Have a well-lit step and repeat wall.
  • Have a GIF center with props, such as hats.
  • Post signage and table tents around the conference room to inform people of the event’s official hashtag and handle for each social media platform.
  • Spinelli recommends 26 to 28 hashtags in each post to make the event “more discoverable.”
  • Geotag the location in all posts.
  • Create an Instagram story about the event.
  • Create a Snapchat filter for the event.
  • Award attendees with prizes in a social media contest for most likes and shares of their posts.

“There is always some aspect of fun tied to conferences. Whether it’s a welcome cocktail, themed parties, interactive learning or downtime, there are so many ways to showcase your favorite parts,” Cerrato said. “It could be a motivational speaker that provided some inspiring words, or delicious tacos al pastor, authentically served during a Mexican themed party, or it could be the 5K race the group participated in before their busy day.”

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona has taken matters into its own hands by hiring a full-time Instagram concierge. This social media-savvy individual works with groups meeting at the resort to capture photos and create hashtags that are most likely to gain traction. Pam Gilbert, director of sales and marketing, told Smart Meetings that the hotel’s mural, which reads “Best. Summer. Ever,” is a great spot for groups to snap a photo opp for social media.

Mural at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

The concierge can also work with meeting planners to create custom Instagram walls, art installations and a social media feed wall. Gilbert emphasizes the value social media has on creating a buzz about an event and inspiring more people to sign up to attend the following year. The hotel even gifts selfie sticks in branded packaging as a swag bag item.

Do Hotels Give a Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down to Influencers?

Just like hotels and CVBs host fam trips for members of the media and meeting professionals, some also host influencers at their properties to share experiences through photo and video posts. Ace Hotel brand has a special form on the press section of its website for influencers to request a discounted media rate in exchange for posting, but it does not offer complimentary stays.

Starwood Hawaii, which has locations in Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island, offers a social media storyteller program with clearly defined requirements to participate, and a contract must be signed between the two parties. The resorts are looking for influencers who provide rich content, share on multiple channels and have more than 250,000 followers.

“We value the power of social media and its potential to build awareness and drive engagement in an authentic and unique way,” the website states. “We are always open to working with social media storytellers to help reach new audiences and excite loyal customers by sharing new perspectives on the experiences we offer at our resort. Our resort shares social stories based on a variety of content themes and brand attributes to which a social influencer might align his or her own brand.”

However, in a recent article published by The Atlantic titled “Instagram’s Wannabe-Stars Are Driving Luxury Hotels Crazy,” times may be a-changin’. Hotels are finding there are too many phonies out there who are just looking for a free vacation and changing their influencer policies to be more stringent, or ban them altogether. More important than quantity of followers, because many followers are often bots, is engagement. One thing hotels can do to assist influencers in holding up their end of the bargain is providing reliable Wi-Fi.

“Not all of them are authentic and they are saturating the market, making it difficult for brands to weed through the good ones,” Cerrato said. “Their demands can be borderline outrageous, more than those of a traditional journalist. Many want to be compensated in addition to their complimentary stays and perks.”

That’s where meeting planners and attendees can swoop in and save the day. Planners can prove that their and their guests’ posts bring monetary value. If they can provide this evidence through case studies, perhaps it’ll be a bargaining tool when they enter the negotiation stage for a better price.

A specifically meetings-related influencer to watch is Kate Patay, who currently has more than 5,300 Instagram followers. The event and hospitality consultant and speaker was featured in the October 2017 issue of Smart Meetings as the guest Pinterest pinner.

Planning a meeting is much more than finding adequate square footage, delicious food and beverage, and flexible meeting space. Holding a meeting is the primary reason many groups stay at a hotel or resort, but it is never the only reason. The activities attendees engage in are often almost as important—if not equally important—as the meeting itself.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa provided Smart Meetings with a few ideas on how to create a space that makes attendees feel special and keeps them engaged pre- and post-meeting.

Relax in Exclusivity

Who doesn’t like a little exclusivity when staying at a hotel? It’s special to experience something only a handful of people have access to. These include pools and spas that are available only to club-goers; eating chef-prepared, specially-crafted local food and beverage; and receiving help from dedicated concierge teams in vacation planning, restaurant reservations and expansive tours.

Many of these things are offered at JW Griffin Club, JW Marriott Desert Ridge’s exclusive club experience, located on the property’s fourth floor.

Go Poolside

When the meetings are over and the day is nearing its end, it’s nice to have things to do. Neglecting post-meeting activities can make for a dull trip; hotels offer much more than meeting rooms. Exciting festivities after the meeting are sure to increase attendee engagement and create an experience that is unforgettable.

Why not encourage attendees to go for some waterway adventures to take the edge off? JW Marriott Desert Ridge is home to five swimming pools, two whirlpools, a waterslide, a lazy river and Griffin Bay, the property’s new pool experience in the main pool complex.

Collaborate in Immense Space

Not a day goes by without talk about square footage—it’s the meeting planners’ bread and butter. Properties—much like JW Marriott Desert Ridge, home to the 33,128-square-foot Grand Canyon Ballroom the largest ballroom space in Arizona—are always looking for ways to keep the conversation going, either by reinventing or expanding their meeting spaces to accommodate groups.

International Women’s Day is March 8 a reminder of how far women have come and how far there still is to go. Women have worked together for years, from the early suffrage movement to the recent women’s marches. To honor the holiday, hotels around the world are offering services tailored specifically to women.

W Dubai–Al Habtoor City, Dubai

W Hotel’s “What She Said” series revolves around powerful women starting conversations about femininity and gender equality. This year, the W will host its first event, featuring inspirational speakers, drinks and an exercise class. The theme is Breaking Boundaries, with women in sports giving keynote speeches regarding their stories, obstacles that stood in their way, and the lessons they learned from facing these barriers and breaking through them. It’s also an opportunity to mingle and network with other strong women in every industry.

Barnsley Resort, Adairsville, Georgia

If you’re looking to work on your aim, escape to Barnsley Resort in Georgia. On March 8, take part in a complimentary golf course clinic to perfect your swing with a pro. If that doesn’t interest you, there’s also a sporting clay shooting lesson available. Just make sure to reserve your spot in advance.

W Punta de Mita, Mexico

Get your girls together for a beach trip in Mexico at W Punta de Mita. Up to four at a time can take complimentary surf lessons, which come with GoPro photos as souvenirs. Wait your turn as you lounge on the sand and take in the view.

Renaissance Tuscany il Ciocco Resort & Spa, Italy

Itching to get out of the country? Go big and head to Italy. Renaissance Tuscany il Ciocco Resort & Spa has everything you need to relax, from a heated pool to in-suite massages. For International Women’s Day, attend a special complimentary pasta-making class. You’ll learn the ins and outs in this hands-on experience, from kneading the dough to boiling the noodles.

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort’s restaurant, The Grill, will be implementing a three-course menu in honor of International Women’s Day. While it’s a bit of a splurge, female diners can choose any image to be printed on their dessert in edible ink. Who doesn’t want to eat a picture of their friends’ faces in celebration of their womanhood?

Taking a strategic approach to event planning will elevate your position in the company while improving meaningful outcomes. But how do you make the shift from logistics to management? Author and owner of Strategic Meetings & Events Christy Lamagna shared tips from her book The Strategic Planning Guide for Event Professionals in an exclusive interview with Smart Meetings.

Following are the three pillars of the Discovery Process, step two of the Strategic Planning Principles, to guide anyone to achieve spectacular results to their goals while following the Strategic Planning Process.

View on Demand: How Strategic Planning Can Supercharge Your Business

1. It’s Not About You

Lamagna stresses the importance of starting with the company’s goals to create memorable events. A better understanding of what the company wants to achieve allows the planner to prioritize expenditures and make decisions aligned with desired outcomes. One of her events saved the company money and made the event more memorable because she asked the hotel how to best use their space based on the company’s goals. Instead of the 10 breakout rooms she planned, the hotel suggested a session with two small groups at the rooftop garden with the chef for a lesson on rooftop garden-to-table concept. This suggestion provided a break while staying on task.

2. What’s in It For Me?

Always ask who the desired audience will be so you can attract the right people to events and deliver what they need. When you ask them the right questions, the audience feels more engaged in the process and allows you to create more targeted content.

More: Get Ready for a Strategic Shift

3. Plan Continuous Communication

People receive thousands of pieces of information a day. How can you make sure your message is remembered? The solution is the Rule of Seven. Lamagna says that a message must be communicated seven times to motivate a person to make a change. Plan for a stream of continuous content before and after the event to reinforce the message. There are 16 ways to release content. A few notable methods include webinars, blogs, case studies and videos.

The same strategic approach needs to be taken for post-event feedback. Often, surveys are sent, and the questions don’t offer much room for improvement. When you generically ask about the speaker or the registration process, it doesn’t usually give enough specifics about how to improve to be of real value. Instead, focus on what the lesson was in the material presented and test the audience to see if they recalled the content. The answer to that question is a true value of the effectiveness of the event and something top management will recognize as valuable.

Meetingmax and Aventri have teamed up to make your life easier through a completed integration, which will save valuable time for you and your attendees. The integration connects the Meetingmax room block management and Aventri event registration systems, combining to be the ultimate planning software. “Event professionals streamline planning, while driving registration and increasing attendee satisfaction,” was said in a press release on September 9.

“We are proud to offer event planners a fully integrated registration and housing solution,” said Jeff Duncan, president and chief executive officer of Meetingmax. “With this integration, they will be able to offer attendees a seamless registration and hotel booking experience. Using the integrated platforms, planners will exercise greater control over their inventory, improve pick-up rate and ultimately increase revenue.”

So, how does this help you?

Ensure Attendance

In any industry, there are those who procrastinate. With this integration, you can see who has registered but haven’t booked. This allows you to act and encourage stragglers to book. We all get busy, but now you can ensure that, even with their—and your—busy schedule, they don’t forget to get their room.

Control Inventory

Customizability for any event professional is a plus. Through the integration, you are able to customize the registration setup so only registered attendees can book within the hotel block. And as a bonus, you can limit the number of rooms an attendee can book. Essentially, the platform allows you to make sure that rooms go to the right people.

Drive Data

Aventri “delivers innovative technology solutions to streamline the event process, providing real-time data and analytics on event performance, customer engagement and increasing measurable event ROI,” which is all available at your discretion. In understanding your data, you no longer have to switch between platforms. One of the best things to come from this integration is that you can get real-time data, which lets you get complete reports from both systems at the tip of your fingers.

More: Aventri Launches One–Stop Hub for Events

Not only does this make life for event professionals easier, but attendees’ lives too. Attendees can register for an event and book accommodations all in the same place, strengthening attendee participation. This new system is available to all customers of Meetingmax and Aventri with no additional set-up costs.

Managing and tracking social media engagement can be a daunting task, but attracting an audience to engage is a much greater challenge. Instagram has set itself apart by helping not only grow an audience, but also show it something new.

Earlier this year, Business Insider reported that 60 percent of all Instagram users discover products on Instagram, so why not your event or business? Many tips and tricks can ease the strain of managing an Instagram account, but here are five steps you can take to gain more followers.

1. Create an Aesthetic

Content creation is the name of the game. It’s important that content is unique, but not jarring. No one wants to see the same landscape photo of a sunset repeatedly, but no one wants to see completely unrelated content, either. In other words, don’t be afraid to mix up your content. Personalize it to show behind the scenes at an event—even the life of an event professional.

Both Instagram posts and stories should be consistent with your brand. Don’t be afraid to branch out. In Hootsuite’s “22+ Instagram Statistics That Marketers Can’t Ignore This Year,” there has been an 80 percent increase, year by year, for videos on the platform. So, as you curate your Instagram aesthetic, keep in mind the type of content you’re sharing, all the way down to the color scheme of your profile.

2. Get Used to Saying “Link in Bio”

A lot of features and abilities are unique to Instagram. One is that you can’t post a link as the description of your photo. Instead, embrace writing “link in bio.” There, you’re able to drive traffic more directly than by using any other platform. Potential followers that cross your profile can then be directed to your most recent event or update.

Not only can you gain Instagram followers by doing this, but it can also help you gain new followers across multiple platforms. It can be helpful to essentially guide those who might have stumbled upon your profile. When you post a photo for your next event, be sure to put that event link in your bio and let your followers know you did.

3. Engage Existing Followers and the Local Community

When trying to gain followers, don’t forget about your existing ones. New followers can follow organically, but are more likely gained when there are mutual followers. One of the best ways to engage followers is through hashtags. They can help label an event, but even more importantly, bring in followers. Along with hashtags come the geolocation tags. Tagging your location in a post provides publicity to the surrounding community.

The local community is important in different ways, but especially for your potential followers and attendees. Both groups are interested in the area where your event is being held and want to know their pre- and post-event options. Highlighting the local community through your posts can help build a positive reputation, which can lead to more traffic and followers.

4. Start a Conversation

Get your name and event out there. Now that you have an aesthetic, utilize features specific to Instagram, and target your existing followers and surrounding community, it’s time to start a conversation. Although Instagram is known for its FOMO-inducing ability, it is still a social networking platform at its core. Use Instagram to chat publicly with others about the industry and upcoming events. Create buzz and bring in new followers by providing interesting descriptions of your photos. Don’t just describe your event—describe what it took to run it and who attended.

5. Stay Active

Consistency is key. Being inactive for long periods dramatically decreases the interest of both potential and existing followers. Many influencers feel stress and pressure from constantly updating and posting, but being consistent doesn’t equate to high volumes of content.

If being active becomes too tasking, there are several ways to queue posts. Regardless, staying active might be the last step, but by far the most important. When new followers see your profile, they are discouraged when the link in the bio is outdated or there is no new content to engage with. To be active is to be present, and your followers will see your effort or lack thereof.

Instagram and social media will not be fading anytime soon. It can be difficult to pinpoint a place to start on social, but these five steps do just that. The life of an event professional can be extremely busy, but a little more effort on social can bring in potential business.

Social media is key to drawing in clients and connecting with your audience, and can even aid in putting on a successful event. Each platform is different—some are humorous, some are serious and some are a mix of the two. The key to creating social media campaigns lies in how you post to each platform, which requires understanding of your initiative and the different voices required to best reach your followers.

Alex Plaxen, founder and president of Little Bird Told Media, chatted with Smart Meetings to share the top secrets to posting on each platform for maximum exposure and connection with your followers.

Facebook


These days, most people have a Facebook profile, and they use the platform to follow their favorite restaurants, musicians, event-planning services and more. Facebook is meant to be fun: You can share casual posts about what you’re working on as well as professional posts from successful or ongoing events. Connect with your audience by posting regularly, as the algorithms can occasionally hide your posts from news feeds.

Secret: One of the best ways to engage with attendees is by creating events on Facebook. Attendees can start networking with each other, see which of their friends are going, and check in to the event once they’re on site. This can further amplify the social footprint of your event.

Twitter

Twitter is your chance to demonstrate your charm. Show your personality and sense of humor by constantly tweeting about your projects, your day—anything relevant. You can also retweet others’ posts, and this can, in turn, help you to connect with other professionals and companies. Make sure to include hashtags in your posts, and follow and utilize trending hashtags for more views on your own tweets. It’s a great, casual way of networking, no matter where you, future clients or other event professionals are located around the world.

Secret: A hashtag is essential for your event. But more than one hashtag can really elevate your Twitter strategy to the next level. For example, have your attendees add the word “help” to the end of your hashtag (for example, #ABCconHelp) to filter all questions or complaints to a different feed. This makes it easier to monitor and respond.

Instagram

A picture is worth 1,000 words, so utilize your Instagram! Show behind-the-scenes photos of meeting preparations, live feeds of the event you’re hosting and the occasional picture from your personal life. By giving a glimpse into your life, you’re piquing others’ curiosity while showing your humanity. Make sure to choose a flattering filter and a witty caption, and use those hashtags so others can find and follow you.

Secret: Instagram stories are a powerful tool to share content in the moment that doesn’t need to live on your feed forever. These posts only last 24 hours, which helps ramp up the FOMO (fear of missing out) engagement. Use this tool for giveaways and contests on site to ensure that your attendees are always checking in on your story.

Snapchat

One of the most popular platforms, Snapchat may seem unnecessary—but that is far from true. Snapchat has a certain mystique that you can’t find on any other app, because its stories disappear after 24 hours. This will leave people regularly checking your feed for anything they might miss. To get the most out of your stories, consider posting promotions and announcements on the platform first. Your followers will feel like they’re in on a secret that the rest of the world is waiting for.

Secret: Even if you don’t plan to use Snapchat at your event, your attendees might. Create an unpublicized account so you can create and purchase Snapchat geofilters for your attendees to use. A geofilter is a location-based graphic overlay that your attendees can put on top of their photos or videos that they share while at your event. It’s also very reasonably priced, providing lots of bang for your buck.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the most official and professional platform out there. Used mainly to connect with colleagues, clients and professionals in the same career as you, this is a great place to share what makes you the professional that you are. Fill out all relevant career information, list your skills, and reach out to past employees and clients for endorsements. LinkedIn is a way to show that you work hard, have experience and can handle any event thrown your way. It’s also one of the best places to post professional achievements and milestones—the humble-brag has few limitations here.

Secret: LinkedIn is one of the least mobile-friendly social media platforms. The majority of users still use it on their desktops. Keep that in mind when creating your social media strategy. It’s a fantastic platform before and after your event, but don’t dedicate many resources to LinkedIn when you’re on site.

By 2024, meeting professionals hope that venues will have the problem of food waste under control. That was one of the top findings in IACC’s 2019 IACC Meeting Room of the Future report released today at MPI World Education Congress in Toronto. Planners are also looking to venues to partner on managing cyber security, the changing needs of millennials and emerging technology. The following are the key points from the 39-page report by the association of global meeting venues:

  • Younger generations are influencing everything. In a time where millennials represent the largest generation in the workforce, their needs are driving demand for shorter presentations (due to a shorter attention span), healthier food options, and more sensory stimulation.
  • Sustainable practices and ethical operations are becoming a priority as planners become more aware of the environmental impact of meetings. They are looking for venues that try and reduce this impact, such as a push for less food waste.
  • Planners are adopting emerging technology only when it truly contributes to objectives and end-goals cyber security is a priority. Often venues have little more security than a home network, leaving clients vulnerable to attack, a factor that must be addressed as technology integration increases.
  • Planners are increasingly looking for creativity in their events to ensure a unique and memorable experience. This creativity is often being found in boutique venues.
  • Location and accessibility are almost equally as important to planners as venue flexibility.
  • Healthy, unique food and beverage options are becoming more important. Locally sourced food, effective waste management practices and creativity in meeting dietary requirements speak to the changing needs of attendees.
  • The importance of attendees’ experience continues to rise as planners focus on a holistic approach when creating meetings.

More: Taking ‘Think Outside the Box’ to a New Level at IACC