Via one of my favorite travel and hospitality blogs — Hotel Marketing Strategies — comes TwitterSheep, a new tool which allows you to see a tag cloud from the ‘bios’ of your twitter flock.
The site scours your list of followers and pulls together various keywords to describe them. It gives a very good overall picture of who is who and what they might be interested in. Plus it look cool, too.
Chris Piel from Absolute Promotions understands the importance of giving clients an eco-friendly solution that also fits their corporate personality.
“A software company is looking for something that’s a lot different than a client in the financial industry. And, it’s our job to come-up with unique products that will help each company show off their brand colors in the best light and within budget,” says Chris.
“Some of my favorite promotional products are desk-sized wind turbines and organic cotton lanyards and key tags with full color custom cotton labels rather than just direct screens. I love preloaded biodegradable custom-shaped USB drives that hold exhibitors information and more. And, it seems so much smarter than handing out all that printed material you usually see at shows. Nobody wants to carry it around or find room for it on the plane home. Most of it ends up in the garbage and being more of a hassle.”
Minneapolis photographer Joe Szurszewski specializes in photographing news, people, features and sports for editorial, corporate and advertising clients. He is an experienced and accomplished photojournalist with clients in numerous fields, including entertainment, publishing, education, financial services, engineering, government, retail, non-profits and many more.
Whatever your event, a lot of time, hard work and money goes into making it happen. When you hire Joe to photograph your event, you maximize your ROI with an experienced photographer who delivers images that become valuable marketing collateral for your business and demonstrate to your clients, vendors and business partners that you put on a first-rate event.
With experience in photojournalism and newspapers, Joe is comfortable working to deadline. He’s happy to accept same-day and next-day assignments and has the maturity to adapt to last-minute changes. During a busy conference, Joe is able to deliver high-impact images on-site. And when you hire Joe, you’re guaranteed a wider selection of images to choose from in less time then it takes the average shooter. Joe retouches the best images from the shoot and includes these on disc along with all of the un-retouched images. This allows you to immediately use the best images in print or on the Web, while still having the freedom to use any image from the shoot.
To find out more about Joe Szurszewski Photography, please visit the Website at http://www.joesz.com/
WTTC: How did you end up in the event industry?
RR: I completely fell into event planning. I graduated college with a B.S. in Human Resource Management and found myself moving to Washington, DC by way of New Jersey. I needed a temp job to get myself started and my first gig was with an association that needed assistance planning their annual meeting. After that, I grabbed any opportunity I could find to be involved. I’ve worked as a server in catering, as a chocolate fountain attendance, as a roving espresso barista. I’ve also done day-of wedding coordination for probably 200 brides. I’ve worked hard to learn the in’s and out’s of the industry.
WTTC: What have you learned over the years that you didn’t really understand when you first started organizing events?
RR: That there’s so much more to event planning than just getting the pieces pulled together. Event planning is far more than logistics – you’re a therapist for a nervous bride; you’re first-line emergency care for an ill guest; you’re the contingency planner. In those weeks and days leading up to an event, you wear multiple hats and you need to be resourceful with all of them.
WTTC: What is the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
RR: “It’s all in who you know.” And there is no better place to live that mantra then Washington, DC – from building strategic relationship with vendors; to scheduled regular face time with clients; to creating impactful, positive relationships with everyone you meet. People work with who they know.
WTTC: Tell us about your “best” event ever. What made it special?
RR: I started my event planning career in the late 90’s with an association that was flush with staffers. Flash forward a few years and most of my colleagues had moved on and I was left holding the reigns for the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. I produced that gala from start to finish. From selling sponsorships to deciding on logistics to printing the name badges and place cards. Walking into the ballroom with my walkie-talkie in-hand having coordinated every portion of the nigh and having it be a smashing success … that was the best night ever. And it’s why I’ll never work in any other industry.
WTTC: Who are some of the groups that you’ve worked with?
RR: The bulk of my planning experience has been with associations, corporations and non-profits. I’ve had the opportunity to work in the social market also…weddings, mostly.
WTTC: What’s the largest event you’ve produced?
RR: I was fortunate enough to assist with production of the Audi Driving Experience around the time I set out on my own and started Behind the Scenes Events. We saw several hundreds of guests at every stop. It added up to several thousand of guests over the eight city tour.
WTTC: How do you stay ahead of the curve with respect to event style and design?
RR: I used to read every industry magazine I could get my hands on. And while I still wait for those glossies to find their way to me in the mail, I scour the blogs. It’s insane how fast pictures and descriptions of events become available. And it’s crazy how creative people are. I also love to spend time on the weekends browsing local boutiques – both furniture design stores and clothiers. The inspiration for event design can come from anywhere.
WTTC: What types of venues do you prefer to use?
RR: The more unique, the better. Washington, DC is filled with special venues. From the museums, private homes, rooftops overlooking the beautiful monuments, modern office spaces, outdoor spaces … the opportunities to create memorable events is endless.
WTTC: What are your main considerations when deciding whether a venue is appropriate for your event?
RR: Capacity, availability, venue accessibility to public transportation (near a Metro stop, parking garage, on-street parking), audio/visual capabilities, what other groups are in the building at the same time and their potential impact on the flow/movement of guests, comfort factor (ability to adjust heating and cooling, comfortable chairs, wi-fi access) and most importantly…what entertainment value the space offers. Does it have a ‘wow’ factor? I love having guests walk away not only complimenting the event, but the location we found to host it in.
WTTC: Any common mistakes planners make when picking a space?
RR: I know that some events lend themselves best to hotels but I often think planners fall back on ballrooms far too often. A little time and creativity should be given to the venue decision so that you can offer your guests that extra ‘pop’.
WTTC: Are there any standout or popular trends you’ve been seeing at events?
RR: We’re seeing an increase in smaller, more intimate affairs for fundraising purposes. With the reduction in large corporate donations, clients are looking to maximize personal relationships. And of course, everyone is keeping their eye to the environment. Clients are looking to reduce, reuse, recycle and stay local as much as possible.
WTTC: If I was to give you an unlimited budget, what would your fantasy event look like?
RR: I have to be honest, I’m recently engaged so all of my focus is on my own wedding lately. If I had an unlimited budget…my rehearsal dinner would be on the rooftop of The Hay-Adams Hotel, overlooking The White House. The service and views are simply exceptional. Wedding ceremony at The National Cathedral. Or in their Bishop’s Garden. The size of the church, the architecture and its stained glass windows are simply awe-inspiring. The wedding reception would be held at The Meridian House off of 16th Street – it’s a private estate built in 1909. Valet for guests and then a quick walk through the home to the courtyard, filled with statuesque linden trees, hanging globes and fragrant florals, for the reception. It overlooks the cityscape…a quiet, elegant oasis above the honks and horns of city life. A tasting dinner with wine accompaniments featuring Volt Executive Chef, Bryan Voltaggio of Top Chef fame, inside the home with tables decorated with calla lilies by our favorite designer/florist. Wedding and groom’s cake from Chef Duff and the crew at Charm City Cakes. A plate full of salt caramel truffles passed, compliments of J. Chocolatier. All followed by an endless night of dancing to a live band crooning hits. Guests enjoying after dinner spirits and espresso bar to keep them lively. Ha! I could do a lot.
WTTC: What type of events are you currently planning?
RR: Behind the Scenes Events is scheduled to produce around 85 events in 2010. We have several corporate and non-profit fundraising galas coming up, golf tournaments, private dinners, weddings, conferences and topic-focused seminars. I’m always excited to hear what the next client has in mind.
WTTC: What makes DC a great event city?
RR: Gosh, the list of what I love about DC is really endless. We have everything here that’s ‘big city’ without the big city feel. A rich and vibrant history. Monuments and attractions that bring us millions of tourists a year. An exceptionally active business community. Great restaurants and nightlife. Park land and multi-use trails that extend from Virginia to Maryland. I can’t imagine anywhere else I would want to live, work and play.
To learn more about the events, venues and trends that are shaping Washington DC society, visit Roxanne’s Behind the Scenes Events blog.
One item often overlooked when planning an eco-friendly event is the conference giveaway. Those little “tchotkes” that delegates look for when checking into their hotels; the logo-emblazoned tote bags and t-shirts and all the nifty pens, clipboards and stress-release gadgets can amount to a LOT of stuff. That’s why it’s important to source suppliers who can provide unique, quality giveaways made from environmentally friendly or recycled materials.
Before buying your next truck load of event products, here are a few things to consider:
1. No more built in obsolescence. Even the greenest giveaways are not green if they end up in the landfill. Look for durable and practical gifts that delegates can (and will) use well into the future. Put client logos on reusable water bottles or recycled tote and carry bags. These along with flashlights with long lasting batteries and solar battery chargers are all unique gifts that your delegates will actually use and appreciate.
2. Insist on environmentally friendly raw materials. Organic cotton and bamboo wine bags, shirts, hats and carry bags; skin creams and sunscreen (for your “tropical paradise” events) are available in a wide range of brands. Beeswax products like candles and lip balms are good for both the men and woman in your group. Incorporating biodegradable bags and gift items made from hemp will also contribute to the success of your meeting.
3. Source Recycled Materials. Old car tires, recycled steel and aluminum, plastic bottles and discarded glass and metal objects are prime ingredients for a new breed of event supplier. New “green suppliers” are springing up across North America to meet this new demand. According to Stacee Matheson, from Seattle-based EcoBrander Promos, customized “sticky notes”, notebooks and pens made from recycled materials are really popular with convention delegates. Customized seeded paper products are a lot of fun and delegates DO take them home and plant them in their gardens. In addition, items made from ‘post-consumer’ recycled materials lessens the carbon footprint more than buying items made from post-industrial recycled materials.
4. Eco-up your name badges and lanyards. Lanyards and badges are now being produced in a wide range of recycled, eco-friendly and bio-degradable materials such as recycled papers and corn. You may also want to provide drop-off boxes and encourage delegates to leave their name badges behind. Paper badges can be recycled and the plastic covers can be reused at your next event.
5. Shop locally. It can be a real challenge to decrease the transportation-related carbon emissions related to your events. EcoBranders’s Stacee Matheson recommends sourcing suppliers close to the event location. Ask your promo rep to source products that are as close as possible (geographically) to the final ship-to address. Decreased distance in shipping means decreased carbon emissions, and also lower shipping costs.
6. Use what you can. Donate the rest. It can be depressing to just THINK about all of the things that get thrown out at the end of even a small meeting or conference. Research charity organizations located near your next event. Partnering with local shelters or socially responsible organizations gives you an alternative to just tossing out extra gifts, t-shirt and other supplies. Acting in such a socially responsible manner will only heighten the appreciation that delegates have for your client’s commitment to the community and the environment.
Looking on the bright side of things, the meetings and conventions industry is taking sustainability very seriously. And as planners turn to eco-friendly products, the selection and availability of those products will only continue to grow. The promotional products industry has also made it clear that its commitment to these types of products is a permanent one.
Janet Latremouille is a sales associate at WTTC.com - The Meeting Planner’s Best Resource. She can be reached at 1-888-224-3178 or by e-mailing amjl@wttc.com
