Meetings & Events

October 30, 2019 - As meeting planners, you are constantly planning for everything, but we hope you don't forget to plan for unexpected disturbances and crises. Especially in this day and age, we all need to have plans and strategies for dealing with terrorists, active shooters, strikes, and other disruptions. These articles may help you develop those emergency and crisis plans.

"Woulda-coulda-shoulda" regrets are never more painful than when we must admit, in retrospect, we didn't have a contingency plan in place. (Item #1)

The reality is that while you can't foresee and prevent many crises, there are steps that every planner should take to ensure they are prepared to handle any issue that comes along, as part of their "duty of care." (Item #2)

A strong and up-to-date plan should be in place to ensure the safety and security of attendees regardless of where a meeting is held. (Item #3)

No matter the size or location of the area you are trying to protect, following these steps will help you have a safe and enjoyable event for your attendees and staff. (Item #4)

These resources may be helpful when developing your emergency/crisis plan for meetings. (Item #5)


For the full issue, click here.

Avoiding Meeting and Event Disasters

June 12, 2019 - When it comes to events, Murphy's Law is always at work. All of us have no doubt been victims of it at one time or another. This week we are focused on avoiding those disasters that Murphy can cause, from natural disasters to technical ones to faulty marketing messages. We hope you'll find some helpful tips in these articles.

Chances are you won't avoid any and all problems that come up during your event but following this guide will certainly help you avoid the biggest disasters, even including dinosaurs running rampant and eating your guests. (Item #1)    Here are 10 painful moments every event manager will have experienced at one time or another and how to tackle them. (Item #2)    Learn from some of the industry's experienced individuals and consider the best ways to prepare for and tackle the unforeseen. (Item #3)

In this EventTalk, Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, known as the Disaster Avoidance Expert, talks about using a scientific approach to avoiding event disasters. (Item #4)    Prospects are getting smarter. They'll avoid you and your marketing messages unless you also are smart about them and know how to build value and trust so they convert into attendees. (Item #5)    Chances are if you are in the events industry you have used AV at your events. Chances are you've also run into an AV disaster...or two...or three. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

How to Deploy an Emergency Response Plan for Your Meetings & Events

February 14, 2019 - Event-Aware is a mobile application from Attainium Corp that simplifies building and deploying emergency response plans for meetings and events by putting the information literally at your fingertips. The service is the first of its kind, combining hands-on guidance with an easy-to-use consumer-style app that makes meeting and event emergency response plans actionable and visible.

Users of the Event-Aware app can retrieve all relevant plan components through an interface that is simple, powerful and intuitive. Whenever on-site event staff launch the app, it downloads the latest updates to plans, contact lists, schedules, and links to emergency services, venue staff, and local authorities. This ensures that event personnel on the ground have access to the current version of the plan whenever and wherever they need it, especially in a crisis situation.

“Every event organizer knows the importance of having an emergency response plan, but making that plan available to everyone who needs it and keeping it updated has always been an issue,“ said Bob Mellinger, Attainium CEO. “Event-Aware gives all users access to vital information even when their mobile devices are not connected to wireless or cell networks.”

The app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices, is supported by the Event-Aware team, who create tailored and relevant emergency response plans based on industry best practices. The team is available to assist users throughout the development and deployment process, incorporating the unique issues of various events.

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If your next meeting/event needs:

- an Emergency Response Plan -
- a more prepared on-site team -
- venue, hotel, and local resources -
- immediate access to response procedures -

then check out Event-Aware.

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Meetings and Events 2019

January 9, 2019 - It's a new year and you're likely already planning for upcoming meetings, conferences, and other events. The articles herein focus on some of the trends that are changing the meetings industry and how you might use them. Plus, Item #4 focuses on some events that went badly... some of the changes might help you avoid such chaos.

Prevue's editors picked their favorite five top meeting industry trends for 2019. (Item #1)   Here's how the meetings industry is changing the events game. (Item #2)   What are some of the trends in event venues that you need to be aware of? (Item #3)

These disasters are a reminder that designing meetings and conferences isn't for the inexperienced. (Item #4)   This article highlights six meetings and events technology trends to try in 2019 and tips to implement each in your future programs. (Item #5)   In this guide, EMB shares how trends all come together for the benefit of the planner and the audience. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

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Meeting & Event Emergency Management Planning

September 26, 2018 - Every event or meeting is both an opportunity for success and a possible potential for failure; you just never know what might happen. But planning can help ensure success, or at least, help deal with disasters to avoid catastrophe. These articles identify many possible pitfalls and ways to overcome them.

What's your "Convention Misery Index" number? (Item #1)   Here is a list of nine threats to your event and how you might overcome them. (Item #2)   Here are 10 painful moments every event manager will have experienced at one time or another and how to tackle them. (Item #3)

Here are some lessons learned from event planning failures. (Item #4)   What makes great events so memorable, and how can we bottle up that magic and replicate it in the future? (Item #5)   Being prepared is the #1 way to avoid a crisis when you can and mitigate the damage when you can't. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meetings/Events Risk and Mitigation

June 13, 2018 - Something always happens at events... you've had the experience yourself when something goes wrong and a crisis ensues. So it's never a case of IF you need a mitigation plan, but how soon can you put one together. And these days, there are more new risks: data breaches, terror attacks, sexual harassment, disease, and others too numerous to mention. If you haven't sat down and considered your next event's vulnerability to various risks, it's time to do so now.
 
Here's what planners need to do to anticipate, assess, and address each event's security needs from soup to nuts. (Item #1)   Here are some things to consider when working with a Professional Conference Organizer (PCO) to manage your meeting. (Item #2)   Risk management overall is a hot topic for most companies, but very little is known about the specific risks as they apply to the meetings and events space, and the strategies that can be applied to mitigate these risks. (Item #3)

Information gathering, education, and flexibility will help you hone your mitigation plans. (Item #4)   For the time being, safety should be the priority for planners as they look to stage new events, even if a destination doesn't seem particularly risky. (Item #5)   Of the 100 event professionals who responded to a recent poll, 80 percent said that they had experienced some form of on-the-job sexual harassment. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meetings & Events: Crisis Management

March 21, 2018 - So you have everything set for this event, the keynote speech is about to begin, and you sit in the back of the meeting room and breathe a sigh of relief. All of a sudden, you smell smoke and alarms are going off. People are screaming and running out the doors. This is one of those crises that could easily ruin your event. If you have a crisis plan, you may be able to deal with this situation and maybe even be able to get everything back on track. If you haven't thought about event crisis plans, now is the time to start. These articles can help.

"In today's world, it's really frustrating to me that meeting planners are not taking emergency planning more seriously." (Item #1)  Here are five tips to help you bounce back from an event crisis. (Item #2)  In the event of a crisis, here are nine tips to save face and ensure your event goes on without a hitch. (Item #3)

Getting event crisis communications right is not an easy thing so don't leave it to chance and don't underestimate the consequences. (Item #4)  Make sure nothing comes between your event and success. (Item #5)  Here are some common event disasters and tips on how you can manage them. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Guns in the Workplace

March 14, 2018 - Does your company have a policy on guns in the workplace or at your events? These days, almost every company allows guns to be kept in cars in the parking lot, but do they let them in the office? And how do you handle requests from employees who want to bring concealed weapons to work? Every company has a right to allow or prohibit guns at work. Take a look at this week's articles and see if you need to develop or revise your guns-at-work policy.

Bring your kid to work? Sure. Bring your dog to work? No problem. Bring your gun to work? In many states, packing heat on the job is a legally protected right. (Item #1)   Guns in the workplace will continue to present challenges for corporations. Companies that fail to address this issue are placing themselves in serious danger of civil and criminal liability. (Item #2)   In a world of ever-increasing, gun-related violence, with very strong gun rights laws for employees protecting their right to carry, a well-thought-out policy and review of these issues is important to all prudent employers. (Item #3)

With rising concerns about the dangers of guns in workplaces, there has never been a better time to consider prevention policies and ways to address employee issues related to bringing a gun to the workplace. (Item #4)   Without taking sides on this hotly debated subject, the reality is that you can't plan your next meeting without addressing the question of guns. (Item #5)   Recognize that the reason you might adopt any concealed carry guidelines is to keep your employees safe and comfortable. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meeting & Event Planning

June 14, 2017 - When the going gets tough... meeting and event planners step up! It's what you do, right? We know that there's no such thing as a perfect meeting and event, so it's always good to refresh what you know and increase your arsenal to handle problems and disruptions. Try these articles for some additional perspectives.

Here are some common reasons why virtual meetings go wrong.  (Item #1)   Know the real costs of corporate meetings and events, and realize that a dollar saved may actually be $100 lost. (Item #2)   Here is a list of the top five things that frequently go wrong at events and what action you can take in order to mitigate them. (Item #3)

Aside from falling on your sword, what should you do when something goes wrong, and someone needs to be held responsible? (Item #4)   These 10 commandments might make your meetings better. (Item #5)   Here's how to find, evaluate, and prep your speakers. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meeting and Event Planning

March 22, 2017 - Wherever groups of people gather, there exists the potential for disaster or disruption. There are plenty of examples in the news every day to underscore this truth. So, when you have a large important meeting coming up, are you doing everything you can to help prevent something from mucking it up? This week's articles look at everything from helping attendees stay healthy and attentive to how deep to delve into venue security. We hope they will encourage you to take a fresh look at your meeting plans.

In the current environment, what's an event planner to do? Plan for disaster with these best practices. (Item #1)   Have you heard the one about the women in high heels running down a hotel lobby with stolen flat-screen televisions and a blue Rubbermaid bin full of event supplies? (Item #2)   With potential threats constantly evolving, everyone must be informed & cooperative for meeting security to work. (Item #3)

Do you know what precautions you should take to protect meeting content and proprietary information? (Item #4)   Check out these top 10 healthy meeting tips. (Item #5)   IAEE and ESCA have announced a collaboration with DHS to develop guidelines and standards for event safety and security. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meetings and Events

If you run events and have not had any incidents that made you wonder why you do it, then you must be one of the luckiest people on the planet. And in today’s world, there are more possible disruptions and potential crises than ever before because our increased use of technology has made us more vulnerable to hacking and other incidents. So remember that, where crises are concerned, it’s not if you’ll be a victim but when. This issue can help you be better prepared to avoid these risks.

The author provides some general guidelines for meeting security. (Item #1)   Here are five things to look out for when planning for event app security. (Item #2)   To protect your meetings, your organization and your attendees you have to be vigilant and you have to stop sharing passwords.  (Item #3)

This brief video provides some security tips. (Item #4)   Corporate espionage puts meeting, conference, and event planners on the front line when it comes to protecting the sensitive information assets of those participating in your meetings, conferences, and events. (Item #5)   Covering everything from pre-event to on-site, this checklist will be helpful to you. (Item #6)


For the full issue, click here.

Meetings and Events

If your corporate or nonprofit event is coming up soon, and you wake up in a cold sweat hoping the nightmare about a disaster doesn't come true, you're obviously worrying that things could go wrong. And, of course, they can. But the best antidote to worrying is to be as prepared as possible – this issue can help.

Effective event preparedness and planning often starts with identifying the threats and preparing for worst-case scenarios. (Item #1)   See what these event pros have to say about how they avoid disaster. (Item #2)   Being safe and keeping your guests safe while on-site is the number one most important job you have.  (Item #3)

Incidents like the Brussels and Paris terrorist attacks, the shooting in San Bernardino, CA, and the spread of the Zika virus have highlighted the need for meeting planners to review their organizations' risk management plans. (Item #4)  Joan Eisenstodt helps planners imagine the worst -- and shares five steps to making sure they are ready to handle it. (Item #5)   Almost all nonprofits have special events and anything can happen, but it's not necessarily the crisis, but how an organization responds that people will remember. (Item #6)

Meetings & Events

At today's meetings and events, the security of your content is as important as the safety and security of your attendees. You still need to take all the usual steps of creating a plan, assessing the risks, and testing that plan. What's newer, however, is the critical need for security of any intellectual property at events. This issue provides valuable information on every type of security needed at your event.

Meeting planners for any kind of company or association can learn valuable lessons from their peers in the insurance business. (Item #1)   Here's a checklist detailing safety, contingency and disaster preparedness for the meetings, events, conferences and conventions. (Item #2)   Keeping attendees safe, and ensuring proprietary information stays out of the public domain must be part of any solid strategy for any meeting or event. (Item #3)

These five tips can improve event security and site protection and security's role in event planning. (Item #4)   Here are nine questions to ask with regard to risk management and planning for meetings and events. (Item #5)   With the right precautions and participation from attendees, planners can greatly reduce the threat of theft of intellectual property. (Item #6)


Past NewsBriefs are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs/

Meeting and Event Safety and Security

Attendee and employee safety and information security may be the most important concerns you have for every meeting/conference you sponsor, but there are hundreds of other details to consider as well. There's no doubt you have a plan to cover all these concerns, but this week's articles might provide some additional information you can use to tweak your current plan.

If not handled deftly, security issues could lead to incidents that prove both embarrassing and costly to the hosting company. (Item #1)   Maintaining security and privacy for high profile meetings is vital whether it is a shareholder meeting, political fundraiser or internal executive meeting. (Item #2)   The level of security you impose at any conference is parallel to the sensitivity of the information presented. (Item #3)

From ensuring safety of attendees to protecting personal and group property to safeguarding an organization's reputation, risk management of host venues takes many forms for planners, whose job is to think of everything. (Item #4)   Consider these 7 ways to keep your employees safe – before, during and after your corporate event. (Item #5)   Here's a checklist to implement, well in advance of your event, which will aid in effective planning and the achievement of an acceptable level of risk reduction. (Item #6)


Past issues of the NewsBriefs are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs/

Meeting and Event Planning

Most meeting & event planners have seen more than their share of disasters and near-disasters in the years they have worked in this field. But, regardless how much you've been through, you've not seen every possible thing that can happen. This week, our articles focus on avoiding and handling disasters at events and meetings and steps you can take to help you do this. One important thing to remember is to do your research on the venue and its location so you’ll have a better idea of what types of disasters or disruptions could occur -- strikes, demonstrations, weather, etc. If you have a big event coming up, perhaps it would be a good idea to meet now with your team to brainstorm possible problems and solutions.

Here are five potential conference fails you will want to avoid, and how you can prepare for them. (Item #1)   No matter what type of event trouble you’re facing, here’s how to get things back on track and avoid disaster.  (Item #2)   Vivid nightmares that often haunt a planner in the days prior to an event could become reality. (Item #3)

Failures in the planning and administration process also can derail an event. (Item #4)   Protect guests and crew by planning for any contingency in inclement weather at outdoor gatherings. (Item #5)   Here are five things meeting planners can do to make meetings safer; it’s not a comprehensive crisis preparedness plan, but it’s a start.  (Item #6)   Take a look at this checklist and list of resources for planners; you might find some good tips here. (Item #7)


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Meetings & Events

As you plan your meetings & events, you always need to ensure you have a backup plan in case something happens that would seriously impact your event. Those experienced with event planning know that, as the saying goes, anything that can go wrong will. The only way to guard against total meeting failure is to plan ahead to deal with identifiable risks... and hope you haven’t missed any. This week’s articles can help you focus.

What if a major storm or other external crisis disrupted one of your big events? What would you do? (Item #1)   As the variety of event venue options available to planners grows, so do the challenges associated with site safety and security. (Item #2)   A recent study took a look at top technology concerns of event planners and determined that content security was the top technology concern among them. (Item #3)

Any special event introduces new variables into the security equation (Item #4)   This article explores the first two of the vital "steps" to event safety. (Item #5)   Here's what you need to know to be prepared for your next event. (Item #6)


Subscribe and read past issues of the NewsBriefs at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs/

Meetings & Events

You should have a continuity plan for all your events, large or small, in order to be ready to respond to the unexpected. Even if you've had 50 events with no issues, don’t assume you never will have a disruption or disaster that you need to deal with. And never assume your venue has a plan... make sure you see it and know what it covers. This week’s articles contain good information for you to consider when making or updating your plan.

Sometimes even the most thoroughly planned events have unexpected incidents that are beyond anyone’s control. (Item #1)   There are numerous examples of accidents/incidents occurring within the events industry on a daily basis; risk management planning can’t be left to chance. (Item #2)   A mathematical equation helps determine event risk. (Item #3)

Here’s a checklist detailing safety, contingency and disaster preparedness for the meetings, events, conferences and conventions. (Item #4)   Preparing to send employees to far off and unfamiliar lands for a meeting or event? (Item #5)   With a little due diligence, you can avoid problems with the fire marshal. (Item #6)


All issues of the NewsBriefs are available at http://www.attainium.net/newsbriefs/

Meetings & Events

What’s the probability that a natural disaster or other disruption will impact your meeting or event? It’s probably greater than you might think - it can happen to you! You need to have a plan for mitigating and/or responding to any kind of disruption that could derail your meeting. This week’s articles can help you with your continuity and disaster response efforts.

Even the threat of a disaster can have a profound impact on meetings and conventions, ranging from the cancellation of flights to the postponement of meetings - here’s why you need a plan. (Item #1) If the worst happens, you’ll be happy to have these four tips on disaster preparedness. (Item #2) Canceling all or part of a convention is a nightmare that no event planner or destination convention organization ever wants to deal with. (Item #3)

How would you deal with these three scenarios? (Item #4) Florida is a popular meeting and event destination; here’s what you need to know to prepare for your next Florida event. (Item #5) The best way to plan for the unexpected at your next event is by having a solid disaster management system in place. (Item #6)

Meetings & Events

For meeting and event planners, disruptions usually come as no surprise and many have planned on how to handle them. If you do not have a contingency plan for your meeting or event, it should be an action item on your list. This issue will help you pull things together, whether you are just beginning or updating your plan.

If you do not have a contingency plan for your meetings/events, you should put this at the top of your to-do list. (Item #1) Assessing and managing risk is the best way to begin. (Item #2) We can all learn about contingency plans from the insurance industry. (Item #3)

Here is some advice on various strategies to use if things go awry. (Item #4) Your venue should be just as invested in contingency planning as you are. (Item #5) These tips can help keep everyone safe and secure. (Item #6)

Meetings and Events

If you take all precautions possible when planning your meeting or event, you shouldn't have any of the moments mentioned in this week's quote. While you cannot plan for every contingency, you can prepare yourself to deal with any disruption if you follow the advice in this week's articles and do everything you can to manage risk.

A risk management plan can help you with many of the contingencies that could arise. (Item #1) Since you can't do away with all risks, you do ensure that you can manage them should they occur. (Item #2) Start with this checklist, add your own items, and then use it when you're planning. (Item #3) 

Liquor at meetings is always a concern; see these steps to limiting your liquor liability.(Item #4) Your organization, and even individuals, could be at risk of liability exposure if you're not aware of all the laws that could land you in trouble. (Item #5) Meeting planners need to be risk managers. (Item #6)