Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals

Event planners continue to seek out innovative ways to ensure their meetings are sustainably run. That's particularly important for a destination like Monterey, Calif. With beloved sites including Big Sur, Carmel by the Sea and Pebble Beach, protecting natural surroundings is a vital part of any gathering held here. To understand these efforts, we spoke with Teresa Savage, senior vice president of business operations for See Monterey, the destination's marketing organization. She discusses how sustainability has been a priority for the organization for decades, but so has evolving with new developments and demands from event planners — ensuring the destination is working with groups to put the most effective eco-friendly efforts into practice. We discuss what's next for sustainable events and, as Savage puts it, planners can “ensure that all travel paths contribute to a better quality of place and leaving the destination better than it was before.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Like almost every business sector, the events industry has been abuzz about AI for months. And the more widely these tools are adopted, the more rapidly they seem to evolve to better meet the needs of meeting planners.   At this exciting but uncertain moment in event tech, we spoke with Huong Nguyen, CEO and president of Shiloh Events who will be moderating a panel at this year's IMEX on “Leading in the AI Era: Insights and Best Practices.” Here she shares a preview of what will be discussed during the session and shares her own perspective on where AI technology best serves event planners — and where it still may be falling short. To this last point, Nguyen breaks some news about her own efforts to develop an AI program to better meet planners' needs when it comes to on-site event execution. She also discusses how being based in California's Bay Area, a hotbed of innovation, has helped fuel these efforts and inspired her and her entrepreneurial efforts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyle Jordan, chair of LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, discusses inclusivity goals and best practices for business events Join Northstar's Loren Edelstein in a conversation with Kyle Jordan, chair of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association, for an update on the nonprofit's efforts and the current state of inclusivity in the business events industry. Planners can do more to create safe spaces and accommodations for underrepresented groups, says Jordan, particularly the LGBTQ+ community. There's a lot of discussion in June for Pride Month, but this issue requires collective action year-round, he adds. Topics covered: New leadership and brand identity for LGBT Meeting Professionals Association (1:00) The need for more inclusive event planning to welcome LGBTQ+ attendees (4:00) Considering discriminatory laws and practices as an important factor in destination selection (6:00) What planners can do to create more inclusive events (7:00) How the travel industry at large needs to be more accommodating (12:00) LGBT MPA's long-term goals (13:45) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to developing creative, out-of-the-box meeting experiences, independent hotels provide a number of appealing options for event planners. In this episode of Eventful, created in partnership with the Caribe Royale Orlando, we delve into the advantages of working with independent properties, by looking in depth at Caribe Royale's approach to events. We speak with the property's managing director, Amaury Piedra about how he and his team works with meeting planners to create exceptional events—and how input from meeting planners has shaped new, major upgrades to the property. For a bigger-picture perspective on the value of independent hotels, we also spoke with Michael Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, which serves as a global sales arm for independent hotels for meetings, incentives and conventions. He shared what he thinks sets independents apart and how planners can leverage their offerings. Listen to the in-depth conversation in our latest episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, and remember to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.This episode was created in partnership with Caribe Royale Orlando.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorney Joshua Grimes provides a legal perspective on duty of care, cancellation clauses and more when planning events in states with controversial legislation. Many meeting professionals believe controversial issues like abortion rights are political concerns that have no bearing on their jobs. But that isn't true, says industry attorney Joshua Grimes, Esq., president of Grimes Law Offices, LLC. In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Grimes talks with Northstar's Loren Edelstein about the potential risks legislation could pose to meeting organizers and attendees. This timely and important discussion covers: • Why controversial legislation shouldn't be dismissed as "politics" (0.15) • How laws regarding bathroom use, prenatal health care, undocumented immigrants and other concerns can directly affect meetings and attendees (1.00) • Possible workarounds for meeting successfully where such laws exist (3:30) • The effectiveness of nondiscrimination clauses in meeting contracts (5:00) • Duty of care, liability and other legal concerns (9:15) • Weighing the decision to cancel an event (12:00) • Why planners, suppliers and industry associations should be having candid conversations about legislative issues (14:15)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does the future hold for our business and personal lives? Risk-management expert Bruce McIndoe, president of McIndoe Risk Advisory, LLC,  tackles that topic in this enlightening discussion with Northstar's Loren Edelstein. From weather disasters to robotic companions, here's what to expect in the years ahead. 1:20 Why meeting planners should anticipate more frequent and intense weather events5:00 How hybrid events provide a number of benefits, among them a good resiliency strategy7:00 Why human resources should be collaborating with meeting and event planners9:20 The growing need for internal meetings as more organizations have remote workforces11:20 Strategies for recognizing and supporting employees with mental health issues15:20 Where and when robots will replace humans in the hospitality industry18:05 How automation will solve the problem of staff shortages21:20 When to expect flying taxis and personal drones to be in wide use22:20 How education will be geared toward gig workers vs. career professionals23:50 The role of companion robots that will support humanoid unitsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creating an emergency response plan is one of the many responsibilities that fall on an event planner's plate. While they hope to never need to execute it, sometimes disaster strikes mid-meeting. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Senior Associate Editor Elise Schoening spoke with LaToya Williams, manager of global accounts for HelmsBrice, who was on Turks and Caicos with an incentive group when Hurricane Fiona tore through the Caribbean. The storm cut short the incentive program and forced the group to shelter in place while the worst of the hurricane passed through. The podcast was recorded while Williams was still on the island. In it, she shares her experience of real-time crisis management and offers advice for other meeting planners who find themselves in the midst of an emergency. Since recording, Williams and all 83 attendees have made it home safely.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Salaries have recovered, but the pay gap between women and men has widened. In conjunction with the publications of the 2022 Northstar Meetings Group/Meetingjobs-Cadre Salary Survey, we discuss the findings with Dawn Penfold, president of Meetingjobs.com, in this episode of Eventful, the Podcast for Meeting Professionals. Salaries for planners have recovered from the pandemic, but the pay gap between men and women widened over the past two years. Contemplating this and other statistics from the survey, Penfold adds thoughts on what's currently happening in the job market and which industry segments are looking for planners.In this episode, we discuss: • The rise in base pay for meeting planners• The pay gap between women and men• How certification affects planner salaries• Planners' stress levels• How the pandemic affected planners' jobs• What would make planners happier in their jobs• How hiring continues to shift in the meetings industrySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob Mitchell, an integrated marketing and event strategist with a background in the television industry, believes virtual-event tech platforms are scrambling for business now because the entire business model of the past two years was based on false assumptions. Most planners did not want to be digital marketers, he says, which created a bifurcated market for in-person and digital. In this discussion with Northstar Meetings Group executive editor Michael Shapiro, Mitchell explains what he sees as the central disconnect between the tech platforms and meeting planners, the misguided ways in which the technology was targeted over the past two years, and how recent data should make it clear where virtual events can and should still play a significant role. In this wide-ranging discussion in which both Mitchell and Shapiro steadfastly avoid using the 'h' word, Mitchell addresses the need to blend in-person and digital content and reach a target audience despite the challenges. Among his key points: • Virtual event platforms should not have been designed to mimic a planner's in-person event workflow (1:40) • Digital marketers are the real customers of virtual-event technology (4:18) • The events industry's reliance on the hospitality industry creates conflicts of interest with tech (7:04) • We have a bifurcated marketplace, as in-person and virtual events have different value propositions (12:17) • Mitchell predicts which large tech companies will become event-tech game-changers (16:37) • Organizations have to think like media companies in the way they deliver content (21:48) • Different business models will emerge to facilitate in-person and digital audience blending (25:29) Listen to the in-depth conversation in our latest episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, and remember to subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts and anywhere else you listen to podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President and CEO Paul Van DeVenter discusses how the events industry organization had to find ways to remain viable during the pandemic — lessons that resulted in a new structure and focus. Staying relevant to members was not a problem for MPI over the past two years, according to president and CEO Paul Van DeVenter. More difficult was finding a way to stay financially viable. In this podcast discussion with Northstar's Sarah J.F. Braley, Van DeVenter describes how the association's structure was redesigned, how pandemic lessons learned are being applied to MPI's in-person events and how to achieve the goals that have been set in the group's five-year plan (among them, bringing the community size to 250,000 people by 2027; having a 40,000-person customer base; bringing in 20 percent of the association's revenue from outside North America; and having more than 20 affiliate partners). The association is now focused on creating a stronger meeting professional community that isn't solely based on membership. Among Van DeVenters insights are: How Covid underscored the importance of organizations like MPI (1:20) How MPI restructured in order to stay financially viable over the past two years (3:38) Challenges Van DeVenter faced at MPI and as volunteer chair for the Events Industry Council (9:15) How lessons learned during the pandemic are being applied to MPI's in-person events (11:09) How attendee desires have changed (13:24) What associations took away from the pandemic (15:40) Reaching MPI's 2027 goals (16:35) Bold predictions going forward (19:33) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deception is rampant in the business world today, says body-language expert Traci Brown. After suffering significant losses, meeting planners and suppliers are more apt to bend the truth or omit important information to seal a deal. In this discussion with Northstar's Loren Edelstein, Brown reveals the verbal and physical clues that subconsciously coincide with lying. Key topics addressed: Why lying is so prevalent today (1:45) How deception can take many forms, including lies of omission (3:15) The danger of “alternative facts,” bold-faced denials and “deep-fake video” (3:45) Why there's less transparency in hotel negotiations today (5:00) Clues that suggest someone is lying or holding back information (6:48) Why performance guarantees aren't effective (8:30) How communication is critical for avoiding and resolving problems (10:00) Identifying signs of deception in a phone call  (10:50) Why you should trust your gut; believe it the first time and take action (12:20) How paying close attention is the most important way to spot deception (13:00) What to do or say when you suspect a problem (13:50) How to present yourself as authoritative and trustworthy in negotiations (14:35) A simple hand trick that will give you confidence (15:00) How confidence is reflected in your choice of words (16:55) Where to go for more information on reading body language (18:40) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the past few years, hundreds of meeting and event planners have made commitments to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2030, 2040 or 2050. To date, however, relatively few have taken significant steps to accomplish those critical initiatives, says Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events.   Among those who have acted is Amy Kramer, market and product innovation leader for Maritz Global Events. In this episode of Eventful, Northstar's Loren Edelstein talks with Pelham and Kramer about the process of implementing sustainable business practices and supporting the sustainability efforts of clients and suppliers.   Among topics discussed are:   • What is the Race to Zero Accelerator Program and how do you join? (1:40) • The process of launching a sustainability program (2:48) • Resources and tools to use for measuring progress (5:59) • The process of reporting on sustainability initiatives and achievements (8:08)  • How the internal commitment begins with a mindset shift (11:47) • How to address cost concerns (13:24) • Why today's voluntary measures could become mandates in the near future (17:38) • How to start with an assessment and set small goals (22:51) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March 2020, David Peckinpaugh was running Maritz Global Meetings, the third-party planning division of Maritz Holdings. By this past January, Peckinpaugh had been promoted to president and CEO of the overall company, but he had to make a lot of tough decisions along the way.   In this episode of the Eventful Podcast, Peckinpaugh discusses the hurdles that remain as business rebounds: Filling open positions, monitoring hotel service levels and managing ever-changing contract terms. Although building back isn't easy, Peckinpaugh says he has never felt more optimistic about the future of the events industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now that meeting and event professionals are once again focused on in-person gatherings, it's the perfect time to rethink the design of the program in order to make sure attendees are getting the most out of the event. In this episode of the Eventful Podcast Anthony Vade, event experience strategy director for Encore and director USA for the Event Design Collective speaks with managing editor Sarah Braley about how planners can balance the content being delivered at a meeting with the networking opportunities being offered, as well as how to collaborate internally to create a well-designed event.   Listeners will learn:   • How meeting and event professionals can effect change in their organizations (1:50)   • How planners can bring these practices back to the in-person environment (3:40)   • The art of measuring the intangible, emotional impacts of events (6:10)   • How to use keynote presentations as setup for more interactive learning (8:35)   • How to collaborate internally to design a better meeting (11:20) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Be prepared for high-profile disasters — as well as the many incidents that are more likely to arise.   Event-safety training might cover a weather event or active shooter scenario, but will you know what to do if an attendee has a heart attack on-site? While it's important to prepare for major but less common disasters, we can't forget the incidents that are much more likely to happen, says Alan Kleinfeld, an event-safety specialist and a meeting planner. In this episode of Eventful, he shares best practices for minimizing risks and handling problems with maximum efficiency.   Among topics addressed:   Why we tend to be more prepared for events that are less likely to happen (3:15)   How preparation helps us push past the natural reaction of fear (7:51)   Basic safety elements to look for when doing a site inspection (8:21)   The expectation that our next “pandemic” will be a widespread mental health crisis (11:49)   The importance of communicating safety protocols to attendees (15:21)   How to delegate so that safety and crisis preparation doesn't all fall on the shoulders of the meeting planner (17:46) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to surprise, delight and engage meeting and event attendees Traditional presentations generally too long, too dull and fail to hold an audience's attention. It takes a little creativity — and lot less time — to effectively capture and hold people's attention, according to Scott Steinberg, a global consultant, speaker and futurist. Listen in to his conversation with Northstar's Loren Edelstein to learn how to surprise, delight and educate and educate meeting attendees in 15 minute-increments. Listeners will learn: Why our attention spans are shorter than ever (2:30) How to design presentations that are shorter, highly engaging and memorable (3:20) How to shrink content and add elements of surprise to engage virtual attendees (8:00) The importance of storytelling — even if you're making it up (9:25) How to coach speakers to break out of traditional presentation styles (10:30) Ways to break down a longer presentation into short segments (13:00) Questions to ask when hiring a speaker (14:20) Other ways to use speakers and thought leaders during your program (17:00) Using the “Pop Future” method to make complex concepts simple, fun and attainable (18:25) How to think like a futurist (23:20) Why the future of meetings looks bright — and hybrid (25:20) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonya Hempstead of American Express GBT discusses how the organization is building a more mature diversity and inclusion strategy, and how others can do the same.   Diversity within the meetings and travel industries has long been lacking. Although a wave of industry organizations have made public pledges to do better, turning these promises into progress is easier said than done.   On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group's senior associate editor, Elise Schoening, sat down with Tonya Hempstead, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at American Express Global Business Travel, to discuss how the organization is building an inclusion ecosystem to ensure a long-term commitment to DEI. Hempstead explained the many partners involved with bringing the strategy to life, and why a regional-based approach is key.   Other topics of discussion include:   How to address staffing shortages and attract diverse talent (10:40)   The role suppliers can play in driving change (12:10)   The value of DEI certifications and whether they will become must-haves in the industry (14:10). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The events industry must take action to shape the sustainability policies that will govern our business. In Scotland this past November at COP26, the United Nation's climate-change conference, governments and industries made a pledge to reduce carbon emissions. At that time, Northstar's Loren Edelstein spoke with Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events, about why and how the events industry must commit to reducing its carbon footprint. (For details, listen to the Nov. 3 episode of Eventful.)   Nearly five months later, very little action has been taken on that pledge, says Pelham. In this episode of Eventful, she stresses our need as an industry to have a role in framing policies that will govern our business, as well as free resources for reducing the carbon footprint of business meetings and events.   Among topics addressed:   What the growing focus on carbon means to the events sector today (1:25)   Why government policy will soon impact the way we work (4:00)   How the industry needs to shift its focus from profitability to creating a sustainable business model (5:10)   Why the events sector needs to take initiative to frame the policies that will impact us (9:20)   The imperative to move from pledging to action in the Race to Zero (10:00)   How to make a net-zero commitment (11:00)   What a commitment means and how to take action (14:10)   The reality that most in our sector who have made the pledge haven't done anything further (18:10)   An open invitation to share your sustainability journey with Northstar (18:55) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Iwamoto of Bizly talks about what event planners should be doing differently right now. As pandemic concerns ease and gathering restrictions are lifted, how has the business of in-person meetings and events changed? What should we be doing differently now? What's the outlook for the near future? In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar's vice president and content director, Loren Edelstein, talks with Kevin Iwamoto, chief customer officer for Bizly, about new realities and how planners can avoid troublesome surprises. Among topics addressed: How to justify the value of large in-person events as a necessity for business growth and opportunities (3:14) Why in-person audiences will be smaller, and why we'll still need to offer virtual options to participants (4:15) Emerging meeting formats, such as holding smaller events in geographic regions rather than one national meeting, or holding one conference with digitized content for remote audiences (6:10) How compression and labor shortages are affecting negotiations and service levels. (6:10) The important questions planners should be asking in their RFPs and RFI's about staffing and on-site services (7:00) What happens if an attendee gets sick during the event? Can they stay in the hotel, or do they need to leave? (9:07) Who covers the cost of travelers who fall ill and need to quarantine in a hotel — the host organization, the person's employer, or the attendees themselves? (10:15) Why we should be patient and empathize with hotels doing their best to run a property that isn't fully staffed (14:20) How meeting professionals learned to cope with the pandemic and are well positioned to move forward with confidence (16:50) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2022, incentive planners and program owners continue to grapple with the pandemic and other challenges.   Following the Incentive Research Foundation's first board meeting of the year, president Stephanie Harris shared these concerns with Lisa Grimaldi, NMG's editor of incentives and destinations, and discussed the findings from the 2022 Trends Report, among other recent studies from the IRF.   In our conversation, we cover: • How the disaggregated workforce is creating new challenges (2:15) • Findings show travel is still a huge priority and a top noncash reward (5:10) • Program budgets are increasing (7:00) • Hybrid incentive travel programs are difficult to do well (9:50) • How cash incentives are being used to pay bills and standard expenses (12:30) • Gifts and points rewards that bring pleasure are popular now (13:30) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Eventful, The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we're talking with Brett Sterenson, president of Hotel Lobbyists, a 15-year-old site-selection firm that mostly focuses on government events. In the past couple of weeks, Sterenson has heard from clients far and wide — including many he hadn't spoken with during the pandemic — and his level of business on the books has ticked way up. But there are many Covid restrictions still in place for these meetings, and plenty of changes that need to be incorporated in event contracts going forward.   In our conversation, we cover:   • How the GSA's per-diem rate is helping government meetings stay competitive (6:20)   • Where government meetings are being placed (7:00)   • Which Covid protocols government meetings are paying the most attention to (9:30)   • Event contract changes that are here to stay (11:30)    • What the meetings volume for the rest of the year will be (17:30)   • The challenges of working with state governments (20:50) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marriott International's Dana Pellicano discusses how the brand adjusted for the pandemic, how event food and beverage has changed for good.   In the early days of the pandemic, Marriott International put in place a comprehensive set of protocols that balanced safety with a positive guest experience. The company has adjusted the policies continually to stay a step ahead of shifting circumstances. In particular, Marriott has paid attention to groups meals — and nobody has been closer to these issues than Dana Pellicano, vice president of U.S. and Canada food and beverage.   On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we speak with Pellicano about how Marriott has struck this difficult balance and how it has impacted attendees' expectations for food and beverage at events. She offers up the specific trends she is seeing, many of which were shaped by safety protocols, as well as what's next for group dining.   On this episode, we discuss:   • Marriott's approach to food safety and pandemic protocols (3:50)   • Will the buffet ever come back? (6:05)   • The central role of outdoor dining spaces (7:35)   • The evolution of the ready-to-drink cocktail (11:50)   • How attendees are looking for a higher level of experience when meeting in person (12:35)   • Mobile dining as a valuable offering (14:15)   • The ongoing appeal and increasing quality of mocktails and nonalcoholic spirits (14:35)   • Healthy and alternative foods and beverages (15:15) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Omicron will subside soon, believes Gregg Talley, but organizations should prepare for longer-term effects of the pandemic For associations worldwide, the new year started with an unexpected wave of cancellations and postponements, but Gregg Talley, president and CEO of Talley Management Group, believes membership organizations are facing greater challenges to the live-event business model. In this episode of Eventful, the podcast for meeting professionals, Talley talks with Northstar's Loren Edelstein about other factors hampering in-person events — and possible solutions. Among the topics discussed are: • Current realities for association meetings and unknowns about the longer-term impact of the pandemic (1:20) • How the lack of critical services such as childcare directly impacts in-person attendance (3:00) • The effect of staff shortages in service industries, and the imperative to pay front-line workers a living wage (5:00) • What international meetings industry associations can and should be doing to support business events (6:00) • The elusive goal of monetizing a digital meeting (7:30) • How some associations obtained IATA numbers to receive commissions from airlines and hotels (8:20) • The opportunity — and imperative — to reconsider the varied needs of members, and find new ways to engage and serve them (12:20) • Why collaborating with sister organizations and other creative ideas are essential (13:45) • How consolidation of meetings industry associations would serve planners and suppliers better (15:45) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2022 approaches, meeting planners still are grappling with the changes the pandemic has wrought on the events industry. For this podcast, Jonathan T. Howe Esq., president and founding partner of Chicago's Howe & Hutton law firm (and NMG's longtime legal expert), spoke with Northstar Meetings Group managing editor Sarah Braley about three main contract trends that meeting planners need to note for the coming year.   The three trends we are tackling for this podcast are:   Flexibility: making sure all parties can modify or terminate agreements when situations change (starting at 1:35 of the recording)   Performance details: specifying in contracts what each party expects from the other (starting at 8:15); and   Shifting risks: how the risks for events — which should be spelled out in the agreement — have been changing, as responsibility moves between the host organization and the hotelier and sometimes to the attendees themselves (starting at 13:50).   The podcast ends with a discussion of the negotiation landscape between planners and hotel salespeople. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The job market has swung wildly over the past two years, but as in-person meetings have returned, so have planners' opportunities for career advancement. As demand for skilled candidates has grown, meeting professionals are likely sensing that now might be a good time to make that career move they've been considering.   Dawn Penfold, president and founder of MeetingJobs.com, shares her insights on the shifting market for employment opportunities on this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals. Penfold, who has been helping meeting professionals find new positions for more than 30 years, speaks with Northstar Meetings Group's managing editor, Sarah Braley about a range of career-focused topics, including:   Which industries are seeing the strongest opportunities and what skills are in demand (2:15)   How candidates are being more creative in their benefits requests, including flex time and even loan repayment (4:00)   How much the standard salary increase from one job to another has changed (7:45)   Why the right request during an interview could make a candidate look more appealing to an employer (11:20)   What skills distinguish the most in-demand and resilient candidates (14:10) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the United Nations climate-change conference, COP26, now underway in Glasgow, Scotland, governments and industries from around the globe are presenting the strides they've made toward reducing the carbon footprint of their respective operations. Where does the events industry stand? We asked Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events, to discuss the progress to date and the challenges ahead. (For highlights, see related story [LINK.]   Among topics covered:   • What is COP26 and why should it be important to meeting professionals? (1:50)   • What net zero means, and the significance of pledging to achieve net zero by a given date (3:00)   • How the Race to Zero lets small- to medium-size businesses make a commitment and provide the resources needed to get there (6:00)   • Where meetings industry associations stand on unifying members behind climate initatives (8:20)   • How simply making a commitment helps the events industry at large (11:35)   • Why this is a difficult topic for the travel and events sector (12:10)   • How to help us advance as an industry by asking your suppliers to make the net-zero pledge (21:13)   • Why sustainability awards and designations don't do anything to raise the profile of our sector in business and government (22:25)   • What needs to happen for in-person events to exist in a net-zero future (25:10) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managing Covid tests and mask mandates can get complicated even for a small gathering—but what about a high-profile series of events across multiple venues, in which you're testing everyone from frontline workers to Lady Gaga herself? That's the situation event planners found themselves in as they prepared for the grand opening of Los Angeles' Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. To pull off this feat, health-testing company Co-Protect had to manage thousands of tests, masks and other services, ensuring the numerous galas, press events and openings went off without a hitch.   On this custom episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we discuss this event with Darren K. Green, the chief sales officer for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and Tom Penn, cofounder and CEO of Co-Protect, as well as cofounder of the Los Angeles Football Club and a longtime sports analyst for ESPN.   We delve into the specifics of the Academy Museum opening, what lessons it offers for meeting planners, and how Co-Protect's partnership with LA Tourism is helping elevate the security and safety of every event held in the city.   Among the topics discussed in this episode:   How Tom Penn's experience in the professional sports world helped him identify the potential of customized face masks for events, including business events (2:25)   What Co-Protect and LA Tourism's partnership means for meeting planners (4:40)   How the complex and high-profile opening of the new Academy Museum was held with a high level of safety and minimal logistical challenges thanks to this partnership (7:00)   Why a consistent, comprehensive approach to testing is key for large-scale international events such as E3, Adobe and Japanese Anime, all being held in Los Angeles in the next year (14:05)   How planners can navigate the frequently shifting mandates on vaccines and testing, particularly for international events (15:05)   This episode was created in partnership with Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Their turnkey solution helps event professionals ensure their L.A. events and attendees are in compliance with the latest health protocols. Working on in-person meetings these days, event professionals have had to spend considerable time ensuring the safety and health of their attendees. To help share these additional responsibilities, the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board has partnered with CLEAR, creator of the CLEAR Health Pass, to give attendees an easy way to verify a range of health information, including Covid test results, vaccination status and more. This turnkey solution helps planners ensure their L.A. events are in compliance with the latest protocols and lets attendees know their health is being taken seriously.   In this custom episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we speak with Darren K. Green, chief sales officer for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, and Jerome Pickett, senior vice president and general manager of sports and entertainment for CLEAR, about this partnership. Among the topics discussed:   • How CLEAR has evolved in the last year to meet the shifting needs of meetings and events (3:45)   • How its partnership with Los Angeles Tourism helps meeting planners get their attendees to comply with health protocols (7:30)   • How this approach to attendee health can be applied to events both large and small (10:00)   • How to mitigate the challenges presented by shifting restrictions and requirements for in-person gatherings, in Los Angeles and elsewhere (11:15)   • How meeting planners' priorities around health and compliance have changed recently (14:00)   • What's next for meeting safety (18:30)   This podcast was created in partnership with Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are in a particularly crucial moment in the evolution of events and event technology. The pandemic accelerated many trends towards digitization that were embraced by the industry, because really we had no choice. But now, industry members are taking a hard look at what we've learned so far and what our strategies should be moving.   In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we share excerpts from the recent MeetingsTech Roundtable 2021. Moderated by Michael Shapiro, executive editor for Northstar Meetings Group, it includes a number of insights from top industry thought leaders, including entrepreneur and advisor Marco Gilberti, CEO of Vesuvio Ventures; tech expert Dahlia El Gazzar, the founder and force behind DAHLIA+ Agency; and marketing and events executive Cathy Song Novelli, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Hubilo.   Listen for some highlights of our discussion, or watch the full roundtable on demand at northstarmeetingsgroup.com/MeetingsTech2021. Topics from this conversation include:   How organizers are learning because they have permission to experiment and innovate with virtual events  (4:57)   Why it's key for planners to move past the desire to return to how things were in 2019 (7:00)   How we need to go beyond turning all of our events into basic webinars (10:00)   Why we should think less about "hybrid events" and more about the hybrid world (11:49)   Why 2021 is different because we should have a digital strategy in place if we cancel in person (15:42) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IMEX America, the meetings industry trade show that will take place Nov. 9-11 at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, announced last week that all attendees and exhibitors will be required to be fully vaccinated with a vaccine approved by the World Health Organization. Carina Bauer, CEO of the Imex Group, spoke with Lisa Grimaldi, Northstar Meeting Group's incentives and destinations editor, about the decisions that led to the show's updated health and safety policy; how attendees and exhibitors have reacted to the news (mostly positive!) and how participants will be able to register their vaccination status. Bauer also discussed the hurdles caused by the U.S.'s strict entry requirements for European and U.K. attendees.   Among the topics discussed are:   • The considerations that organizers took into account before deciding to require vaccinations (2:50)   • How registrants have responded to the news (5:30)   • How the IMEX team is preparing for additional challenges related to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements (10:30)   • What visitors can expect from IMEX America this year (13:50)   • New offerings, including "walking, talking" education sessions and back-of-the-house tours throughout Las Vegas (15:00)   • How this year's show will "bring the outside in" with creative space designs (16:20) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorney Jonathan Howe offers advice on the latest legal questions facing the meetings and events industry. As the Covid-19 Delta variant has shaken up plans for many upcoming in-person events, meeting planners are increasingly finding themselves forced to make decisions with only the slightest idea of what the future might hold. It's more important than ever to ensure legal protections are in place. To discuss what options are available to event planners, industry attorney Jonathan T. Howe, Esq., president and founding partner of Howe & Hutton Ltd., took questions during a Q&A session led by Northstar Meetings Group's managing editor, Sarah J.F. Braley. For this episode of Eventful, we include highlights from that conversation, including: -Whether a “pandemic clause” exists, and where such concerns should be addressed in a contract (2:05) -How to add flexibility into your hotel agreements (6:20) -How contracts are being adjusted to take hybrid events into account (11:45) -How corporate travel restrictions will impact attrition (12:10) -What challenges are presented by having to rebook an event that was already rebooked (16:30) This episode is sponsored by Visit Long Beach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meeting planners are getting nervous again — with good reason, according to risk-management expert Bruce McIndoe. If we don't act collectively to reduce the spread of Covid-19, we'll be grappling with the virus for years, he posits. Listen to his discussion with Northstar's Loren Edelstein in this episode of Eventful. Among best practices for meetings, McIndoe explains why everyone should be wearing masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status.   Among topics discussed:   • What the virus is likely to do over the next few months (2:00)   • Why everyone should be wearing masks, whether or not they're vaccinated (4:00)   • Challenges and solutions for meetings and events (6:30)   • Why a number of companies have decided not to hold in-person events until Q1 2022 (10:20)   • The reasons why unless vaccination rates are high globally, the virus will spread and new variants will emerge (11:30)   • The high probability of long-term health problems among those who've had Covid, including cognitive decline (14:30)    • Best practices for meetings and events, and common errors to avoid (18:30) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Destinations International's Jack Johnson discusses why destination marketers should focus first on making their cities better places to live.   We generally think of destination marketing organizations as focused on bringing visitors to their destination — attracting outside business to help support the local economy. But Jack Johnson, chief advocacy officer for Destinations International, maintains that DMOs should be more concerned with how they can better their cities for the local community.   In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Johnson speaks with Northstar Meetings Group vice president and content director Loren Edelstein, discussing why it's more important than ever for DMOs to find ways to support their own destination, serving as a local asset and viewing residents as customers. Recorded at DI's Annual Convention in Baltimore, the conversation took place just before the organization published its updated “Community Shared Values Workbook,” laying out nine core values for destination marketers.   Among the topics discussed:   Why DMOs should be more proactive in sharing data about economic development with destination partners, ensuring everyone feels included in the tourism economy (6:45)   How the funding model for DMOs should be reformed to ensure greater security for the industry (10:30)   How funding sources could be expanded beyond hotel taxes, to include “anyone who benefits from the positive portrayal of the destination” (13:25)   The two things DMOs should change immediately in the way they do business (15:30)   Why values are going to play an increasingly important role in attracting meetings and events (17:05) This episode is sponsored by Visit Long Beach. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Gewirtz, editor and publisher of SportsTravel, has been covering the Olympics for several years, but this year's Games have been an experience like no other. Even with no spectators permitted, an estimated 50,000 people will visit Tokyo for this year's competitions. All were issued extensive Covid-safety protocols to follow before and during the event.   In this week's episode of Eventful, Gewirtz shares his experience with Loren Edelstein, vice president and content director for Northstar Meetings Group, and explains how the Olympics might set an example in Covid safety for other large-scale global events.   Among the points that were discussed:   • All participants needed two negative Covid tests prior to arrival, and then were tested again at the airport — a six-hour process! (2:05)   • There was a lot of criticism about whether this event should even take place, with Covid rates in Tokyo even higher than they were last year when the Games were postponed. (6:25)   • Logistics involved an extensive transportation system connecting the Olympic venues with about 200 area hotels. Public transit was off limits, per Covid protocols. (9:40)   • Media members were required to wear masks at all times. (10:55)   • For athletes on the medal stands, the 30 seconds that were allowed for photographers to get pictures of the competitors without their masks was not quite long enough. (11:30)   • Extensive and well-organized testing throughout the event was critical to the safety plan. (15:00)   • The loss of revenue from tickets sales and spectator spending is financially devastating to the host city. (18:45)   • Planners of large-scale sporting events, meetings and conventions can learn from what worked — and what didn't — in providing a Covid-safe international gathering. (21:45)   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Event Specialists' Mahoganey Jones shares tips for leveraging audience data, monetization opportunities and more.   The restrictions on in-person gatherings over the past 16 months gave meeting planners the opportunity to embrace digital events. But for Mahoganey Jones, founder and CEO of Toronto-based Event Specialists, her company had already been “going virtual” for more than a decade.   In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Jones discusses how she used her experience as a longtime producer of virtual events, and how the growth of hybrid is opening up new ways for planners to extend the life of their meetings. Here she discusses how to drive value before and after the event itself through smart monetization opportunities, digging in to audience data and more.   Among the points Jones discusses:   Why planners must focus on their core strengths, whether they are creating a virtual, in-person or hybrid event. (3:40)   How a “paid upgrade” approach can help planners monetize their virtual events. (5:55)   How to stand out in a crowded marketplace. (9:35)   How an affiliate model can be used to create additional funding opportunities. (10:30)   Why limiting space for in-person events can be an advantage. (15:20)   Why the post-event process is a crucial, but often overlooked, piece of the event marketing cycle. (19:15) This episode is sponsored by Hubilo, the hybrid platform built for event excellence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The events sector must transform itself in order to address the issue of global climate change, stresses Fiona Pelham, CEO of Positive Impact Events. With COP26 — the United Nation's 26th Climate Change Conference — just months away, the industry must take action now.   COP26, set for Oct. 31 - Nov. 12, 2021, in Glasgow, will bring parties together to accelerate action toward meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. This should be of vital importance to meeting professionals, says Pelham. Coming out of a year where we saw a dramatic reduction in meetings and travel, we are now challenged to resume those activities in a much more sustainable matter.   The June 29 launch event, “Road to COP26: Events Sector Transformation,” aims to compel at least 1,000 meeting and events professionals to commit to a carbon-reduction target and begin the necessary action to achieve it. The program, which provides tailored resources and education, is ideal for small to medium enterprises that don't already have a carbon target, says Pelham.   Among the points she addresses on this episode of Eventful, the Podcast for Meeting Professionals, are:   Why planners should now be seeking ways to reduce the carbon footprint of their events (8:35)   Why being proactive on climate change initiatives can help planners avoid having tougher restrictions being imposed on them later (10:00)   How the discussion about climate action provides an opportunity to trumpet the importance of events (12:55)   What a “sustainable event” looks likes (14:20)   The business opportunities that are created by focusing on sustainable meetings (20:35) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Nawn explains how creating impactful hybrid and digital events requires thorough analysis well in advance of the gatherings.   Event planners must think strategically, whether their meetings are virtual, in-person or a hybrid version of the two. John Nawn, cofounder of Event Strategy Network, maintains that planners too often get caught up in the technical details of an event and lose track of the big-picture stuff: specifically, how a particular event fits into their overall business goals.   Nawn delves into greater detail on this topic in his just-released "A Planner's Guide to Digital and Hybrid Events," which can be downloaded at northstarmeetingsgroup.com/HybridGuide. In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Nawn discusses specifically what a planner should be assessing in the early stages of developing a virtual or hybrid event.   Among the points he covers:   • How to conduct a needs analysis to clarify an event's mission and value proposition (3:30)   • How to build a team that can best execute a technically complex event (8:50)   • Why selling "generic, prepackaged opportunities based on tiers" is a dead sponsorship model (14:25)   • How to apply to in-person and hybrid events the lessons we've learned about gathering attendee data during virtual events (16:40) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pride Month is here. A time to celebrate, support and uplift members of the LGBTQ+ community. While diversity issues have taken on greater prominence over the past year, there is still much work to be done, and the meetings industry is well-positioned to lead that charge.   On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Derrick Johnson chair of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association and chief diversity officer and director of event strategy for Talley Management Group speaks with Northstar Meetings Group's senior associate editor Elise Schoening about how planners can better support the LGBTQ+ community. Among the points discussed:   -What sets this year's Pride apart from that of previous years (2:55).   -LGBT Meeting Professionals Association's plans for the coming year (3:40).   -How planners can seek out inclusive destinations and use their influence to encourage greater inclusivity in the sites they select (12:35).   -Details about LGBT MPA's first ever educational event, Day of Diversity, taking place on June 30 (16:30). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new white paper from ADMEI lays out ways planners can strengthen their relationships with destination management partners. One of the key resources for many meeting planners is the destination management company that helps them select a location for their event, scout venues and assist in almost every aspect of a gathering. When a planner needs local, insider knowledge they lean on their DMC partners. But the halt to many in-person events that began last spring revealed the vulnerable position in which many DMCs find themselves and the disadvantages of their current business model. This issue is the focus of “Evolution of the DMC,” a white paper produced by the Association of Destination Management Executives International. Drawing on industry research and focus groups, this report suggests best practices for adjusting the current arrangement between many DMCs and meeting planners, providing a way forward for a more open partnership that will benefit all involved. The full white paper is available at northstarmeetingsgroup.com/DMCwhitepaper. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we spoke with two people instrumental in this effort: Lorenzo Pignatti, ADMEI president as well as CEO and founder of Italy-based TerraEvents, and Jill Tate, CEO of Corinthian Events & Newport Hospitality, a DMC Network Company and a member of the ADMEI Focus Group/Task Force. They discussed the ways the current business model often falls short and some simple measures that could create a better situation for meeting planners, DMCs and attendees. Among the points discussed: How the pandemic exacerbated longstanding problems with the model for many DMC-planner partnerships. (4:20) How a more simplified RFP process could benefit planners as well as destination management companies. (7:55) How a letter of engagement can alleviate one of the biggest weaknesses in the current RFP process. (11:37) Why now is a good time to rethink the industry's standard approach to site inspections. (14:10) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary-Ann Urbanovich discusses how the Pandemic Compliance Advisor designation makes health an enduring priority. As more face-to-face events resume, health protocols should be considered in every stage of planning. Efforts to establish best practices are ensure that they are being followed bring a new set of responsibilities to the process, from the earliest stages of venue selection through post-event follow-up. This imperative led three meeting planners to develop the Pandemic Compliance Advisor certification, which trains industry professionals on the specific, practical steps needed to keep their attendees and staff safe, even as conditions are changing rapidly. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we speak with Mary-Ann Urbanovich, MS, CMP-HC, meeting manager at healthcare education company HMP Global. Last year, Urbanovich and two fellow healthcare meeting planners — Heather Seasholtz, director of Americas operations for the Drug Information Association; and Shannon Majewski, education program coordinator for the department of pathology at Medical College of Wisconsin — saw a need in the industry for a program that provided members with an end-to-end understanding of how to ensure event safety in the midst of a pandemic. They launched the three-hour PCA course in beta form last October and more than 2,000 industry members have taken part since (the next course takes place June 4, and Eventful listeners can sign up for 15 percent discount with the code NSM15). Here, Urbanovich shares how the PCA program was developed (3:00), why organizations should include a pandemic compliance advisor as a distinct member within their planning team (9:45) and how best practices in attendee health continue to evolve as face-to-face meetings return (20:20). This episode is brought to you by Visit Long Beach. Long Beach Live. Revolutionizing the Event Industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MeetingPlay's Joe Schwinger discusses how to get the most value from events with both in-person and virtual audiences. After a year in which most found themselves only attending events remotely, the value of in-person has never been clearer. But the meetings industry has also seen the many advantages that virtual events can provide, including greater accessibility, availability and data-collecting opportunities. As travel and gathering restrictions continue to loosen, planners are looking to create events that tap into the best of both the in-person and virtual worlds — in a word, hybrid. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we speak with Joe Schwinger, CEO of MeetingPlay, about how his company has shifted from planning in-person meetings to all-virtual, and is now helping clients leverage a hybrid approach. He discusses how a year of virtual events has shifted audience expectations of in-person (5:20), how organizations can manage the extra costs of connecting with both on-site and remote attendees (11:25) and why there are more options than ever to generate revenue with both audiences (17:15). This episode is brought to you by Visit Long Beach. Long Beach Live. Revolutionizing the Event Industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conference for online creators transformed its annual gathering into a year-long online offering.  Pulling off a successful virtual event is no easy task, especially when there are thousands of attendees to cater to, but it can also present opportunities to rethink your entire event strategy. Such was the case for VidCon, an annual conference for digital creators that typically attracts 75,000 attendees. It was one of the first events canceled due to Covid-19 last March. But rather than cancel outright, the organizers decided to transform the four-day, in-person conference into a summer-long digital program. It proved successful enough that VidCon was soon expanded into a year-long online offering. In the end, its 2020 numbers far surpassed that of previous years.  In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Jim Louderback, general manager and senior vice president of VidCon, speaks with Northstar Meetings Group’s associate editor Elise Schoening about how they created new opportunities by embracing digital. Louderback discusses the process of bringing an event of this size online, including how to generate engagement opportunities with such a large gathering (4:00), how to tailor content to a truly global audience (6:10) and VidCon’s new metrics for success (12:05).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global Wellness Institute’s Nancy Davis discusses how the pandemic has transformed the way we think about attendee wellness. As meeting planners navigated the Covid-19 pandemic this past year, concerns about attendee wellness transformed how events were held — or, in most cases, not held. Now, as vaccinations become more widespread and in-person gatherings are poised to fully return, it looks like one of the lasting effects of this disruptive year may be a continuing, elevated focus on the health of attendees. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Nancy Davis, the chief creative officer and executive director for the Global Wellness Summit and Global Wellness Institute, discusses how planners’ approach to wellness at events is likely to change after the pandemic. She shares how meetings will be planned with “wellness at the core,” how planners are shifting to a more proactive approach in instituting health measures and the changes she is instituting at this year’s Global Wellness Summit. This episode is sponsored by Colombia, the most welcoming country in the world for events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than a year into a global pandemic, if there’s one thing meeting planners have learned, it’s that connecting with at-home attendees presents distinct challenges. In the virtual environment, every detail needs to be reconsidered, from the flow of the agenda to education formats, marketing and more. Even as in-person events return, it’s important to consider welcoming virtual attendees for hybrid gatherings. To discuss these points, we spoke with Melissa Park, a global event producer who has specialized in creating events for the tech industry, first at Hortonworks data software company in California, and now as an independent planner based in Australia. She recently launched a masterclass on 7 Steps to Event Success. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group Deputy Editor Alex Palmer speaks to Park about how to keep attendee eyes on screens for virtual events.  This episode is sponsored by Colombia, the most welcoming country in the world for all events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonathan Howe discusses the latest legal issues facing meeting planners. Can meeting planners require attendees to be vaccinated? And what privacy issues does this raise? These are among the thorny questions that meeting professionals have to consider as they plan safe in-person events. Jonathan Howe, president and founding partner of Howe & Hutton Ltd., and the leading legal mind on meetings law, recently shared his insights as part of Northstar Meetings Group’s webcast, “Ask the Attorney: New Legal Issues for Event Planners and Suppliers.”  On this week’s episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, we share an excerpt of that conversation, moderated by Sarah Braley, managing editor for Northstar Meetings Group. Howe tackled a wide range of questions from the audience, and in this episode he also discusses liability protection for event hosts and venues (7:20), how cancellation clauses differ for hybrid events (11:23) and whether planners can put language into their contract that will ensure a full refund in the case of another pandemic (14:08).  Listen now, and to view the full, hour-long webcast now, go to northstarmeetingsgroup.com/LegalWebcast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bizly's Kevin Iwamoto discusses why now is the time for meeting professionals to speak out. Last week, a gunman killed eight people in Atlanta, six of whom were Asian-Americans, but this was not an isolated incident; according to the nonprofit organization Stop AAPI Hate, nearly 3,800 incidents of violence and discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were reported over the past year. As it has grown increasingly urgent to address these issues, members of the meetings industry have raised their voices about what actions our community can take.   Prominent among these voices is Kevin Iwamoto, chief strategy officer of the event planning platform Bizly, who spoke with Northstar Meetings Group's associate editor Elise Schoening about the recent attacks, how fear of violence might make Asian Americans less likely to travel or attend events, and the continued lack of diversity within the meetings industry.   On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Iwamoto discusses how members of the meeting industry can help support the AAPI community (4:45), his own experiences with discrimination (9:45) and why leaders in the industry must speak up about these issues now (12:30).   Listen to the in-depth conversation in our latest episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, and remember to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. And be sure to register for Northstar's upcoming webcast, Diversity Now: How to Plan a Truly Inclusive Meeting, taking place April 21 at 2 p.m. EDT. Learn more at northstarmeetingsgroup.com/DiversityNow See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brightcove’s David Bornstein discusses how they’re helping to transform the cultural event into must-watch TV.   In normal years, the month of March means people are about to flock in droves to Austin, Texas — home to South by Southwest. The gathering has become an increasingly high-profile cultural event, a conglomeration of an interactive media and tech conference with a concurrent film and music festival. But this year it's all happening online.   One of the entities helping to execute SXSW in its digital incarnation, beginning March 16, is Brightcove, which will provide the video platform through which the content will be delivered. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Dave Bornstein, Brightcove’s field chief technology officer, discusses how the production of this year’s SXSW will differ from much of the virtual event content we've been consuming online over the past year.   In this conversation, Bornstein tells Michael Shapiro, Northstar Meetings Group’s editor of news and technology, about how his team is creating an event where the attendee “grabs their remote, not their keyboard” (4:18), how it balances scheduled content and viewers’ choices (8:45) and the unique challenges of producing content for an event such as SXSW (12:20). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meetings consultant Liz Warwick discusses the EIC’s Code of Conduct and how attendees play a part in creating a safe event.   A safe gathering during the pandemic and beyond now requires everyone to take some responsibility in reducing health risks – attendees included. More than ever, actions taken by individual attendees — to follow social-distancing protocols, to wear masks and take other precautions — can have an effect on every other person at the event. How can planners get participants to buy into the necessity for individual responsibility?    Discussing this challenge on this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting professionals is Liz Warwick, current chair of the Events Industry Council’s Meeting and Event Redesign Workstream, which supports EIC’s Covid-19 Business Recovery Task Force. Warwick was instrumental in designing a new industry Code of Conduct, a template meeting planners can use when asking attendees to accept their own accountability.   Here, Warwick speaks with Sarah J.F. Braley, Northstar Meetings Group’s managing editor, about how attendees are increasingly responsible for ensuring event safety (1:50), how the Code of Conduct provides a framework that can be adapted to any organization (8:30), the effect vaccines will play in bringing back face-to-face gatherings safely (10:25) and how protocols can help to manage an attendee who does not want to wear a mask (12:05). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Travelocity founder Terrell Jones says digital health apps can restore confidence in flying and meeting.   How can we restore confidence in traveling and attending in-person events? Proof of a negative Covid test is required of international travelers entering the U.S., but that’s not the rule for domestic travel…yet. As vaccine distribution continues to expand, we’re likely to see some form of a digital Covid passport required for all travel, believes Terrell Jones, founder of Travelocity, Kayak and several other travel startups. He’s now working with governments and travel leaders to establish such digital records.   In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Loren Edelstein, vice president and content director for Northstar Meetings Group, speaks with Jones about these efforts, including whether it would make sense to conduct Covid testing at airports (3:55), how a globally accepted Covid passport could work (6:50) and whether meeting planners should be prepared to require such records from attendees (14:45). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IAVM’s Mark Herrera discusses how risk assessment is evolving. When it comes to identifying and reducing event security risks, planners must navigate a constantly shifting landscape. Health concerns around Covid-19 continue to dominate most event professionals’ concerns, but over the last month worries about disruptions from civil unrest have taken on growing importance. In Northstar’s recent PULSE Survey, a number of respondents mentioned, unsolicited, that civil unrest is an issue that’s impacting their events. To address these issues, we spoke with Mark Herrera, director of education for the International Association of Venue Managers. Herrera brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience to this role, and he draws on that to train managers who host large gatherings. In this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, he discusses what the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol could mean for venue security more broadly, as well as the strategies he teaches to help his members ensure that events are held safely. Herrera also will be a presenter at Northstar Meetings Group’s upcoming Back to Booking digital event, taking place on Feb. 23. Learn more at www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/BacktoBooking See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elliott Ferguson discusses the Capitol riot, inauguration and the future of event security. While meeting planners had high hopes that the new year would be one of recovery, 2021 got off to a rocky start in January. In addition to a slow vaccine rollout, the attack on the Capitol raised new fears about event safety. On this episode of Eventful: The Podcast for Meeting Professionals, Northstar Meetings Group Associate Editor Elise Schoening spoke with Elliott Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC and national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. Ferguson discussed what it was like to be in D.C. during the insurrection and shared what the CVB is doing to address planner concerns around civil unrest. He also discussed new hybrid and virtual event offerings available at the convention center and how the city is adapting to a changing meetings landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.