A few years ago, at a major international airport, I was late for my flight and going through the long line at security. As a result of scrambling to arrive on time, I had forgotten to pour out the ice water in my Yeti Water bottle, covered with my favorite stickers. I had a choice: to allow the agents to throw away my water bottle or go back through security. I didn’t have time to go back through, so I begrudgingly hurried off to my gate.

The “Emotional Support Water Bottle” has become an extension of us, like our phones—and that fact doesn’t look to be changing anytime soon. From Yeti to Stanley’s climb to ubiquity everything in between, it’s rare to see someone out in public without one. When attending events, however, we typically see single-use plastic bottles.

While visiting Sarasota, Florida during the holiday season, I saw a sign at Baggage Claim that mentioned the Ringling Museum of Art. With a full day of freedom ahead of me, I decided to spend it exploring its vast grounds. Call me crazy, but I did not immediately link “Ringling” with the circus, although it’s arguably one of the most famous names associated with that industry.

When I arrived, I noticed that there were several buildings housing a variety of exhibits and event spaces throughout the property. The exhibits focused on art, history, architecture, design, and yes—the Circus—were spread across the acres. After about five hours walking through each of the experiences, I sat down outside and admired the Banyan trees that surrounded the property. It’s an absolute must if you’re in the Bradenton or Sarasota area, as there’s really nothing else that I can think of like it!

Every once in awhile, I am able to sit down and read some of the various industry publications that accumulate on my desk throughout busy season. In these magazines, I find inspiration and ideas that I can apply to Client events, to my own business, and to my Catalyst Call event planning consulting hours.

The events I work on vary, from private invitation-only conferences to public celebrations, but the desire to increase attendance is shared across the board. I was thankful to find an article full of ideas in this issue, and want to share in the hopes of filling the room with the right people at your next meeting or program.

2024 is almost over, and I can’t even believe I’m writing this! As you start wrapping up your events for this year, it’s tempting to take a little vacation, a long nap, or a hiatus and decompress. I’m here to tell you: Don’t let that critical time for feedback and ideation go to waste! On average, an event takes between 6-24 months to plan, depending on the type of event.

I’m planning events for the Fall, and this year, I’m considering Signature Cocktails—and, signature mocktails.

I polled my LinkedIn audience about their favorite liquor for a signature cocktail/limited bar menu event. Overwhelmingly, the answer was Vodka, followed by Whiskey and Tequila. In an open bar that serves beer, wine and a signature drink, a vodka-based beverage seems to be the winner—though I’d recommend polling your audience or looking at your previous bar tabs to see what was purchased the most.

Besides being crowdpleasers, both vodka and tequila beverages are easy to make into ‘virgin’ drinks, or what we now call ‘mocktails.’

One of the things I work on most with Clients is refining their sponsorship decks. As event organizers, we know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to designing sponsorship packages, but it can feel exhausting trying to create custom sponsorship packages for each event or potential partner.

In getting down to the nitty-gritty of event sponsorship, it appears that two of the more popular offerings that I see in sponsorship decks, speaking opportunities and experiential or activation opportunities, are all but inconsequential to our potential partners.

Photo by Jakub Dziubak on Unsplash

With the rise of food and beverage costs, event planners like myself who manage multi-day conferences and conventions are looking for ways to save, while still offering a wonderful experience to their guests. 

Thankfully, I’ve had wonderful experiences with the hotels for my Fall events, and one suggestion that a Conference Services Manager made stopped me in my tracks.

Photo by Or Hakim on Unsplash

Are you an event planner, meeting planner or event host who is noticing an uptick in catering, food and beverage pricing? Well, you are not alone.

I was scrolling through Instagram a few weeks ago when I noticed the James Beard Foundation had conducted a survey of chefs on the effects of Climate Change on being able to deliver to their clients. Not surprisingly, they shared stories of temporary shut-downs due to weather-related disasters; increased prices on the items that event planners creating menus want the most; and less ability to source ingredients, among other consequences.

When I received an email last week stating that I was named one of 50 Top Voices in Events to Pay Attention To by Gather Voices, I was elated. Then, when I examined my fellow ‘classmates,’ I could not believe I was considered among these true powerhouses in the Event Planning and Hospitality world!

If you have been able to see any of my interactions on LinkedIn over the years, you know that I am a huge fan of Victoria Matey. As an Event Psychology Strategist, she has always shared tips on how to, quite simply, build better events. From programmatic changes to an increase in the amount of down time, her tips have always made me think more strategically about my approach to program design and the logistics that make it happen.

On August 27th, I was honored to be among the class of Event Professionals who became certified in Event Psychology! I learned so many invaluable lessons during the virtual seminar (and had a lot of fun, as well!)

Minneapolis is a fun city, and one that I’ve been to a few times. First, during the Connect conference in August of 2023, next for a walkthrough with the Client in January, and finally for the event in May of 2024. I have a few places that have stuck with me in a positive way - and not all are vendors I worked with or venues I held events in. Here are some of my recommendations if you find yourself in Minneapolis:

This week, DEI Expert, speaker, educator, consultant, and entrepreneur Brandyn Campbell joins Beth for a critical conversation about her decades-long journey in this industry, her personal experiences, and her tips for beginning, continuing, and sustaining your support of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in your homes, communities and workplaces.