Experts & Opinions
Apr 13, 2021
The highly anticipated shift back to in-person events is slowly getting underway as meetings and events planners around the globe rejoice. Virtual remains the overarching preference today, but many companies are looking toward later this year and beyond to attempt hybrid, if not fully live events.
Put the enthusiasm under the microscope, though, and it’s no surprise that most planners have a thick layer of caution and concern when it comes to navigating what will certainly be a non-traditional live events environment — at least for a while.
There’s a particular tool planners should strongly… more
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Apr 08, 2021
I love college football. The passion, the pageantry, the roar of the crowd. Few things come close to the excitement reserved for Saturday afternoons in the fall.
Growing up in Central Florida, I was a Gator football fan before I knew how to tie my shoes. When I became a student at the University of Florida, I spent every weekend at The Swamp chanting, cheering on the team and chugging water to offset the heat. I never missed a game.
These days, I prefer to watch from the comfort of my couch. It’s slightly calmer, food prices are more reasonable and it is no less a tradition in our… more
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Apr 06, 2021
As hotels, restaurants and venues begin to reopen, we’re all imagining what post-pandemic events will look like. Many businesses and trade associations have publicly released reopening plans to inspire public confidence and help other businesses learn best practices.
At the same time, thought leaders in many industries, including in meetings and events, are calling to use this global reset as an opportunity to imagine and create a better future.
While I admire an attitude of radical improvement, I’m also sensitive to the hardships facing event professionals, many of whom are out of work or… more
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Mar 31, 2021
There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed the way we live our everyday lives. From the way we socialize to the way we work, no aspect of life seems to be left untouched, and business travel is no exception.
Before COVID-19 had a profound effect on the travel industry, business travelers were hopping on planes each week to meet with coworkers, attend conferences and network at corporate events — then all of that came to a halt. However, meeting planners and business travelers are adapting to the ever-changing environment to continue moving forward and safely meet in-person. One way to… more
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Mar 30, 2021
My dog dreams a lot. He’s 16 years old and I’m convinced he dreams about his younger self running through fields and swimming in rivers. His feet and nails scratch the wood floors, kick the Roomba and slam into the wall. All of this while I’m four feet away wearing earplugs to drown out the scratching so it won’t wake me up and tumble me into anxiety. But it always does.
I wake up, readjust his position and climb back into bed. My eyes are closed but my brain turns on, thinking — about how I’m going to make a hybrid event I’m planning successful; about keeping my team motivated and… more
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Mar 25, 2021
The Pandemic has dramatically changed speaker sourcing and performance. Last year saw far fewer bookings, compelled most professionals to reskill and revamp content for virtual, lower their pricing and become more flexible. Many trends will endure as in-person events return - here are a few to consider:
Content and Formats:
Pre-recorded virtual talks reduce risk while enabling questions afterwards. This enables better participation from those in different time zones, too.
In-person engagements are adding webinars at a later date for more value and extended learning.
Fireside chats/AMA (… more
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Mar 23, 2021
Whether caused by taking part in a series of daylong video conference calls, catching up with loved ones from afar, or attending an event or meeting via an online platform (or a combination of all of these), virtual fatigue is a very real thing.
Now a year since the pandemic began, it’s clear that certain brands and organizations are coming out on top — those paying attention and addressing virtual fatigue by placing both their audiences and storytelling at the heart, thinking creatively and embracing new yet equally relevant technologies to enhance the virtual attendee experience.
Let’s… more
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Mar 18, 2021
Last year, I took the Yale certificate course on the science of wellbeing. This fascinating topic really hit home with me. I started to dig into more of what makes long-term happiness sustainable. Once I grasped Yale’s model behind sustainable wellbeing, I started translating that to my events and to my daily life to test it out. It turns out that Yale was on to something. Below are some tips and tricks to make your events (and perhaps your personal life) more joyful!
1. Human Connection
We all crave some sort of human interaction — even introverts like myself weren’t spared when the… more
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Mar 16, 2021
In my last blog post, I discussed how several virtual platforms and standalone matchmaking services tout the promise of highly effective matching between attendees to attendees as well as attendees to exhibitors. In reference to the data that is available to any matchmaking system and the subsequent value that’s likely to be output, I dug up that age-old saying “garbage in, garbage out.”
There are also more than a few vendors out there that love to put the ”AI” label on their process as if to assure event organizers that just because artificial intelligence is being used that highly… more
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Mar 11, 2021
Major live events are where sales conversations get jump-started — those major venues where marketing, product and sales teams engage with hundreds or thousands of prospects and customers. However, for the first half of 2021, virtual events will be the norm: 95% of enterprises are now implementing virtual events and webinars (compared with less than 25% before the pandemic).
To drive ROI from your events budget this year, focus on booking more virtual customer and prospect meetings in connection with your virtual events. B2B meetings, whether they are in-person or virtual, are excellent… more
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Partner Voices
Overview:
The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality.
In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way.
“We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.”
Amenities:
The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.
The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience
The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need.
Gold Key Members
The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events.
OCCC Events:
This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.
The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:
AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023
200,000 Attendees
$257 Million in Economic Impact
MEGACON 2023
160,000 Attendees
$205 Million in Economic Impact
Open Championship Series 2023
69,500 Attendees
$89 Million in Economic Impact
Sunshine Classic 2023
42,000 Attendees
$54 Million in Economic Impact
Premiere Orlando 2023
42,000 Attendees
$108 Million in Economic Impact