Experiential Event Planners are busy- we get it. Adding tasks like research to your already crammed schedule is the last thing you need. But how can one stay on top of resources, ideas and solutions for your next event? Sifting through blogs, websites and other information is time consuming and often fruitless. Asking around to get an answer from colleagues can be equally frustrating. So we decided to help and provide the ultimate list of 2016 resources for event planners. An organized list, arranged by topics and recent ratings by the top experiential event planners in the industry will help YOU to see all the top resources at a glance. No need to sift through fake reviews, bogus comments and who knows what other misinformation. Here are some of the top resources to make your big day a success- before, during and after the main event.
So let's take a look at what resources you need to stay on top of the industry's trends for 2016.
Top 2016 Experiential Event Planner Resources
Event Planning Trends
MeetingsNet
Remember the old saying "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail"?
So when it comes to planning, make sure you pay attention to every part of your event. Too often we see certain aspects of an event being put on the back burner. It is easy to focus on everything that needs to be in place during the event and forget about what needs to be in place before and after - such as event transportation. One of the prime resources for event planning checklists we found is MeetingsNet- the meeting industry's portal for information and resources related to planning meetings & events.
Event Technology
Event Technology Awards
While ultimately extremely helpful, weeding out if and what type of technology to apply to your event can be a daunting task. The tools available nowadays can range from "CRM" to "Event App" and "Agenda" all the way to "Reports"- and more. Using a different company at every stage of the journey might traditionally have been the way to go. These days however there are companies offering a unified solution designed to help you safe time and create a better overall event experience. Every year, the Event Technology Awards are handed out to the best of the best within the event industry. Recently Bizzabo was named the "Favourite Event Technology Supplier – The People’s Choice Award". Their mission? To make your event "more successful, impactful and rewarding." Check out their recent article "Event Registration Software Platform - What To Know When Choosing An Event Registration Platform."
Event Marketing
Event Marketing Institute
Besides being a top go-to site for all things events, Event Marketer especially shines when it comes to marketing. Their Event Marketer Institute focuses on B2C as well as B2B and offers industry leading insight through research. Their yearly experiential marketing summit is the perfect chance to learn tricks of the trade from top brands such as Pepsi, Amex and Google, along with hand-picked design experts, strategy chiefs and bestselling authors. During the conference attendees can demo new products as well as test new tools and services- essentially screening over 100+ potential partners.
Event Transportation
Brilliant's Event Planner Blog
If you are like many of the top event planners we work with, transportation management, logistics and production are a major pain for you. Accordingly, you try to delay the headache by ignoring event transportation for some time and focus on other event related work. The result? The event transportation to and from the venue will be neglected and not budgeted for correctly. Keep in mind though that transportation is the first, and last impression attendees have at an event. As such, they leave an indelible overall feeling of the event in the guests' minds. This makes it clear why transportation should be a top priority in the early stages of the event planning process, so that it can be an integral part of the experiential event.
Keep in mind that it is not only of importance that your guests arrive safely at the event, but also how- especially VIPs. Event transportation is usually the first and last impression your attendees have on the big day. Arriving in a dirty, old or uncomfortable vehicle will most likely have the guests in a less than perfect mood. Broken ACs and overflowing on-board bathrooms are just some of the horror stories we have heard from event planners. Many of whom then contact us in need of an alternative to their current lackluster transportation providers. One of our transportation specialists recently wrote a blog addressing common issues that can arise from booking transportation last: "
Prioritize event transportation during the beginning stages, work with a great partner such as an Event Transportation Management Agency so you and your attendees will have a remarkable experience from beginning to end.
For more tips on how to make your event transportation a successful part of the event, please download our free ebook below.
