Let’s face it… the meetings and events industry is changing daily and can get busy.

And through the busyness, hurdles arise.

In this episode, hosts Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712/), Alyssa Peltier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssapeltier/), and Rachel Andrews (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-k-andrews/) sit down to chat about the challenges they've faced in the world of events during the peak seasons at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/). They also share insights on the difficulties of team resourcing, the shift from factory-focused to trial-and-error events post-COVID, and the struggles in justifying the need for more bandwidth and resources.

And through it all, they share advice and best practices to navigate these industry challenges.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The challenges faced in the events industry post-COVID and the need for flexibility in event planning and execution

The struggle with team resourcing and the difficulty of hiring new members

The importance of effectively communicating the true volume of time and expectations involved in event planning

Engagement.

A word that’s thrown around and talked about on the daily.

But what does it really mean, and how do you accurately measure it?

Well, you’re in for some good news.

In this episode, Clark Campbell (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bclarkcampbell/), CEO and Co-founder at RVRB (https://www.linkedin.com/company/rvrbagency/), and Heather Pocorobba (https://www.linkedin.com/in/heatherrenaep/), Lead of Social Media Strategy and Corporate Communications at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/), share all the answers.

They dive into the world of social media strategies for events while discussing valuable insights for marketing and meetings and events professionals that will empower you to level up your social media game.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to harness the power of emotional connection

How to elevate your social media strategy

How to shift from the FOMO to D Money approach

ABM has become a buzzy word in the marketing world.

But what exactly does it mean?

In this episode, EJ Oelling (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ej-oelling/), VP of ABX at 6sense (https://6sense.com/), breaks it down. She explains the difference between ABM and ABX while emphasizing the importance of bringing the experiential factor to ABM in events.

But what about the data?

Data is a crucial component of any successful ABM strategy, and EJ shares the five steps that drive their approach at 6sense.

It's not just about throwing a party anymore – it's about knowing your audience and getting the right return on your event investment.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

- The difference between ABM and ABX

- The role of technology in ABM events

- The importance of data in ABM and events

Ever think we’d do a live wine tasting on the podcast?

Neither did we.

Grab your choice of wine, and let’s get the party started.

In this episode, Anthony Giglio (https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-giglio-88381a4/), Speaker, Writer, Author, and Wine Expert, joins the show to discuss all things wine. From the importance of that first sip to challenging traditional pairing rules, Anthony brings a fresh and entertaining perspective to the art of wine tasting.

We'll explore the joy of unexpected pairings like champagne and popcorn and discover how Anthony's blue-collar roots have shaped his approach to wine tastings. Plus, he shares behind-the-scenes stories from his experiences hosting events and seminars that will leave you wanting to uncork a bottle and join the fun.

So grab a glass, pour yourself a drink, and get ready for this week’s episode.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why the first sip never counts

Why you cannot have wine without food

Why you MUST chill your red wine

With over 11,000 Martech solutions available in 2023, filtering through the noise and implementing the right technologies becomes crucial.

In this episode of Great Events, @Alyssa Peltier and Stephanie Sweetland (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniesweetland/), Director of Marketing Technology and Automation at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/), dive into the challenges faced by marketers and event planners in managing various technology systems. They discuss the pain points of siloed data, lack of integrations, and manual tasks that often hinder efficiency and productivity.

The episode further explores how marketing professionals can stay updated with Martech trends and validate technology sources through reputable reports, peer-reviewed sites, and marketing operations resources.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Martech can improve operational efficiency and save costs in your marketing and events practices

How to navigate the overwhelming landscape of Martech vendors and identify the right technologies to solve pain points in your organization

How to gain insights on validating and onboarding new technologies through reputable sources and industry research

Understanding and demonstrating ROI holds greater significance than ever in light of the industry's resource constraints and staffing concerns. One key step towards effectively navigating the dynamic events landscape is mastering the art of calculating and quantifying the value of event benefits within ROI.

In this week's episode, we're honored to be joined by Brad Gillespie (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tbradg/), VP and General Manager of Cvent Consulting (https://www.cvent.com/), who will provide insights into the world of ROI.

Tune in as he shares his perspectives on the importance of quantifying ROI, the challenges confronting event professionals, and the essential skill of crafting impactful ROI narratives to justify investments.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The significance of understanding and quantifying the impact that events have on stakeholders

The ROI equation

The challenge of measuring benefits for internal programs

A great keynote can be a strong tool to ensure attendees leave your event with a memorable experience. You want your speaker to be someone your audience can resonate with while providing an engaging and thought-provoking panel. But sometimes, finding the right speaker and sourcing them in time for your event can be difficult. So, how should you get started?

In this episode, Kayla Sommers (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kayla-sommers-cmp/), Events Lead at Cvent (https://www.cvent.com/), joins the show to give her insights on successfully navigating the keynote sourcing process. Kayla shares some of her favorite experiences working on Cvent Connect while also breaking down some challenges when landing that perfect keynote.

Listen as she details the importance of planning ahead. She explains that having an extra month to work on sourcing will help you avoid last-minute pitfalls. You’ll also learn how you can pitch your keynote ideas to your team in a way that gets everyone on the same page.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How you can get creative in your formal offer to maximize keynote marketing potential

What makes a good keynote

How you can navigate a bad keynote experience

After adapting to virtual events during the pandemic, many planning teams are searching for ways to improve their AV components. But to make improvements, it’s essential to understand what’s going on in the audio/video world. So, how can you learn where to start?

In this episode, Brandt Krueger (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brkrueger/), Senior Production Manager for EideCom (https://eidecom.com/), joins the show to delve into AV trends in events. Having been in the industry for over 25 years, Brandt has a wealth of knowledge to pull from and offers insights on how to level up your AV game. He shares his thoughts on how AV trends in 2024 will continue to evolve, moving in the general direction of more professional equipment. Dissecting the stigmas surrounding “hybrid events,” he explains the difference between attending an event virtually and watching a live stream. You’ll also learn Brandt’s strategies for getting ahead of the curve regarding the upward trend in AV pricing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why you should prioritize audio components in events

How the pandemic has evolved the usage of video in events

How you can avoid AV contract pricing pitfalls

Planning an event is a tall task in itself, and making sure everything is packed and ready to go only adds to the stress. So how can you make the packing process more efficient without worrying about forgetting the essentials?

In this episode, hosts Rachel Andrews (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-k-andrews/) and Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712) sit down to unpack the key to a successful packing experience. You’ll hear their insights on how to utilize spreadsheets and checklists to ensure nothing is left behind. You’ll also learn the significance of planning before the packing phase, ensuring your entire team is accounted for. And hear Rachel and Paulina’s personal packing lists they wouldn’t dream of leaving behind.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to create a successful packing plan

How to utilize checklists

How a general contractor can help save on shipping costs

When striving towards a more inclusive workplace, there’s a lot of focus put on diversity, equity, and inclusion. But one part of the conversation that’s oftentimes overlooked is ageism. It’s important that we work to bridge the gap between generations, and there’s no better way to close that gap than by starting a dialogue.

In this episode, Karen Carter (https://www.linkedin.com/in/karencartermktg/?originalSubdomain=uk), Director in Enterprise Marketing at Cvent (http://cvent.com/), joins hosts Alyssa Peltier (https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssapeltier) and Paulina Giusti (https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulina-giusti-96644712) to break down the barriers that ageism can cause in the workplace. hey sort through the Harvard Business Review, comparing the data to their own personal experiences, And discuss the importance behind bringing ageism to the forefront of conversations. When we see other perspectives, we start to understand and eliminate many of the challenges caused by ageism.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to bridge the gap between generations in the workplace

Why you should start the conversation regarding ageism

Why you should look at ageism from a different perspective