CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Event Management & Growth Strategies

Innovative but practical. Inspired but real-world. Four sessions of ideas and insights to jump start your career and business for maximum growth.

Event Trends and Inspiration

From the cutting edge of the best event minds in the business - everything you need to know to stay current in this fast-changing business.

The Experience Zone

Agenda delivers hands-on learning in four interactive sessions that let you see, taste, try and experience for yourself.

Click here to view the Agenda-at-a-Glance.

 

Event Management & Growth Strategies

 

Meetings and Events in a Changing Business Climate
10:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Today's economic conditions mean budget cuts, smaller staffs, and leaner prospects for corporate and independent event planners. Get ideas and tools to withstand the current corporate climate by demonstrating the value of your events-and yourself-- to the organization.

Speakers: Catherine Chaulet, Senior Vice President, Events, BostonCoach
                     Joan Levine, Marketing Specialist, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
                     Liz Ranelli, Executive Assistant to the CEO, Experience, Inc.

 

Straight to the Top: Success Strategies for Women in Business
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Today, female professionals do not have to conform to the "men's club" as they rise to the top, but many struggle with finding a comfortable powerful professional identity without compromising their individuality and personality. This is a can't-miss session for any woman in business who wants to gain unparalleled insights to set herself apart as a leader in a female-dominated industry.

Speaker: Beth Ann Kaminkow, President; Chief Talent Officer, TracyLocke

 

Reinventing Corporate Meetings
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.

Listen in as our panel of corporate event planners discuss their most successful internal company meetings-how they freshen up their agendas and environments to create experiences that leave their organizations buzzing.

Speaker: Howard Givner, CEO, North America, Global Events Group; President and Founder, Paint The Town Red

 

How to Stand Out in a Crowded Industry
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.

This session is a must-attend if you're an event business owner or independent planner who wants to learn tips for growing your business-from how to gain maximum exposure to winning the RFP.

Speakers: Christina Pappas, President, Open the Door
                     Faith Moore, President, Faith Moore & Associates, Ltd.

 

Event Trends and Inspiration

 

Five Trends You Can Use to Improve Event Performance Right Now
10:45 - 11:30 a.m.

The inventor of Strategic Experience Mapping and worldwide head of GPJ’s Program Strategy Practice will lead an interactive session touching on five key trends in event marketing: (1) the impact of the changing business and social landscape on event strategy, creative and execution; (2) the role of event strategy in integrated marketing communications; (3) the increasing impact of technology on event and experience marketing; (4) the blurring lines between B2C and B2B marketing; and (5) contending with the increasingly important green and environmental issue from an event perspective. With an emphasis on case studies and examples and drawing on data from the EventView 2008 study (co-produced by the Meeting Professionals International Foundation, The Event Marketing Institute and George P. Johnson), this session will provide insight into these topics with an eye towards helping you build a business case for change in your organization.

Speaker: David M. Rich, Senior Vice President, Strategic Marketing/Worldwide, George P. Johnson

 

Event Design Trends for 2009
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

What's new in lighting, event décor and furniture options. Whether your goal is simple elegance or an urban-sleek vibe, you'll learn the latest insights for elevating your experiences through design.

Speaker: Rebecca Coons, Executive Vice President, Ethos Design and Lounge22

 

15 Ways to Green Your Event Today
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.

This session packs in 15 take-home tips and simple measures to create more environmentally responsible events. Hear tips and tricks regarding venues, menus, waste management and much more. Come learn how to be ahead of the curve, as these are the event practices that wills soon become the industry standard.

Speaker: Leslie Lukacs, Founder and Chair, Venues and Special Events Recycling Council and Project Manager, SCS Engineers

 

Fresh Technology for Modern Events
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.

What's happening with technology and how will it directly affect the event industry? This interactive session led by a renowned technology expert will explore the most significant techie trends impacting meeting and event planning, including ideas on how embracing technology can make events easier to execute and more engaging to attendees.

Speaker: Corbin Ball, CSP, CMP, Corbin Ball Associates

 

The Experience Zone
Session times subject to change

 

New Venues 2008
10:45 a.m. - 11:30 a.m

A fan favorite comes to XPO Boston. Get a sneak peek inside the newest venues on the Los Angeles scene in 2008, hand-selected by Agenda's editors. You'll get a virtual tour complete with floor-plans and visuals to "see" what makes these new properties so unique.

• Mandarin Oriental Boston
• Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel
• WGBH

 

Taste-off!
11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Selecting an innovative menu can feel a bit like playing Russian roulette with your event. Come enjoy the delectable samplings of several top caterers, each demonstrating their latest in menu offerings. Now your palette can experience these newest tastes first-hand.

• David's Catering & Events
• Jasper White's Summer Shack Catering
• Tables of Content

 

Creative Meeting Ideas
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.

Teambuilding and interactive brainstorming activities can add excitement to corporate meetings or conferences. Come experience a few unique and appealing activities that could make your next meeting a winner.

• The Ant & the Grasshoper
• Drum Café
• Teambonding

 

Beyond Wine-Tasting
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.

The vine meets technology to create a totally interactive, totally engaging wine-tasting experience. Sophisticated guests will be wowed by the experience of sampling and rating wines using the latest technology. Come sip and see for yourself.

• Winefellow

 

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