How Do We Optimize the Human Experience?

As Event Producers, we face the question of, “how are we optimizing our guests’ experience?”, but are we truly ensuring that it is benefitting ALL of our guests? Accessibility and Inclusion have been a hot topic within our industry for years so when listening to the chatter throughout social platforms regarding ADA and DEI needs, […]

Gathering with Authenticity

The magnificent fall foliage beaming bright hues of red and yellow has signified the seasons’ change throughout the windy city. For some, this means filling their homes with warm scents, trying out every recipe from Half Baked Harvest, and wood burning in fireplaces as guests gather to play endless games of rummy. For others, this time […]

Giving Gifts With Intention

It’s that time of year again – it sneaks up on all of us, stresses most of us out, but ultimately brings us all a little closer. It’s the season of giving, and although we give gifts throughout the year for different occasions, it felt like a good time to share a few of my […]

Letter From The President 2023

The last time I wrote I was trying to breathe, refresh and engage. As my life has progressed since then, my chosen mantra is simple…Do. Fun. Sh!t.  It’s been a minute since I last wrote – 36 months to be precise.  “Letter from the President”, January, 2020…clearly before “unprecedented” “new norm” “social distancing” and “flattening the […]

Stakeholder Mapping: A Clear Path To Event Success

Are you finding planning events post-pandemic to be an incredibly different ballgame? More difficult? More reactionary? Less clear on what you’re planning, and more so…why!? This has been an ongoing conversation in our offices for the past 12 months or so, and we’ve been trying to dig into why this seems to be the case.   We’ve […]

Celebrating International Women’s Month

“The success of every woman should be the inspiration to another. We should raise each other up. Make sure you’re very courageous: be strong, be extremely kind, and above all be humble.”                      – Serena Williams Cathy – 1st Year in Hospitality Industry My family has been in […]

New Year, New Conversation

As we near the end of January, I’m curious, have you kept your New Year’s Resolution? Are you victim to the cliche that “resolutions are made to be broken,” or are you holding onto the optimism that “this will be the year I make it all 365 days!?” I love the analytical activity we all […]

Insiders Recap: Live Events Season

Live events are inherently exciting. They’re risky (hello #NippleGate), and we are naturally drawn in by the risk – not that we want to see a blunder, but that there is a possibility of one occurring. We also watch to view incredible individuals showcasing their talents for the world to see because let’s face it, […]

What is GMID and Why Should I Care?

What is GMID?!? For starters, the acronym literally means “Global Meetings Industry Day” and I’m sure you’re thinking – it’s not easy to say nor does it roll off the tongue. Maybe you’re wondering “is it Gee-Mid, or G.M.I.D”?… However, getting beyond the letters….  It means a LOT – particularly for us in the event […]

What Exactly is an Experiential Event?

The other day, like any typical professional, I was asked what I do for a living. My response was “Corporate Event Planner focusing on experiential events”. Then, of course, came the question of “what exactly is an experiential event”? This isn’t a new term and it gets thrown around a lot in our industry. As […]