Working with a Caterer
By Jody LongCatering can make or break an event. Guests will either leave your event raving about the food, or starving because they were expecting something great and your caterer did not live up to...
View ArticleHow to Reduce Your Paper Clutter
By Jody LongPaper can be the most challenging area of any office. As an event planner, you want to be organized, efficient and able to find things quickly. Here are some ways that can help you conquer...
View ArticleStaying on Track with Your Event Budget
By Jody LongLast minute expenses, wanting to impress your customers and guests; your event budget can get out of hand much quicker than you thought. First things first: If you’ve held this same event...
View ArticleEvent Management Resources
By Jody LongYou’ve landed the job as an event planner. Great! But, now what? Are you the only planner at your company, and not part of a team that you can gain valuable event information from? Looks...
View ArticleTips for Creating a Fundraising Letter
By Jody LongIf you’re planning on raising money this coming year for your non-profit event, consider writing a letter to local businesses to help your cause. Fundraising letters can sometimes be viewed...
View ArticleUsing Facebook to Promote Your Next Event
By Jody LongWith over 1.11 billion users as of March 2013, Facebook is the world’s largest social media platform (source: Facebook, Jan. 1, 2014). To give you an idea of how big Facebook is, the same...
View ArticleUsing Email Marketing to Promote Your Events
By Jody LongWhy use it? · Allows you to stay in contact with customers and event attendees before, during, and after the event.· Allows you to invite them to future events.·...
View ArticleAudio Visual Basics for Event Planners
By Jody LongWhen it comes to Audio Visual, let's be honest, it can be very overwhelming if you don't have the most technical background. You may only need a flip chart and podium, but you may be...
View ArticleEvent Planner Terminology
By Jody LongIn the process of planning one of my very first meetings, a hotel event manager emailed me and said to sign the BEO and send it back to her. I knew she meant the attachment in the email,...
View ArticleUsing Twitter to Promote Your Next Event
By Jody LongWhen breaking news hits the internet, the first place it usually goes is Twitter. Why? Because it moves faster than any other form of social media out there. Twitter is all about sharing...
View ArticleWhy You Shouldn’t Be Multi-Tasking
By Jody LongIt’s the last hole of the company golf tournament; your co-workers are all watching you. You’re trying not to concentrate on them, and trying to focus on the pin. It’s a simple game,...
View ArticleGo Green at Your Next Event
By Jody LongHave you ever thought about how much waste is associated with some meetings and events you plan? Signs, hand outs, name badges, food…there’s a lot of one-time-use items that are thrown away...
View ArticleErgonomically Speaking
By Jody LongNo matter how comfortable the conference room chair is, sitting in an all-day meeting is usually not ideal. Unfortunately, in our line of work, these meetings have to take place. Here's an...
View ArticleSaving Time at Your Meeting
By Jody LongWhen someone tells you “that was a good meeting”, they are probably referring to one of a couple things. It was either: A) You didn’t waste their time, and meet to just to meet, or B) It...
View ArticlePreparing Your Resume & Portfolio
By Jody LongWhen a recruiter is reviewing resumes, it usually takes them about 20 seconds or less to get a first impression. That means you have to have a clear, concise, and well-written resume that...
View ArticleWhy You Didn't Get The Attendance You'd Hoped For
By Jody Long Think about your last three events. In particular, think about your attendance at each of them. Did you have a goal in mind for each event? Did you meet that goal? If not, here are some...
View ArticleWhat Type of Planner Are You?
By Jody LongIf you're reading this, you're probably considering a career as an event manager. You've probably given it a lot of thought, and know that you have what it takes to be able to plan meetings...
View ArticleHiring a Guest Speaker
By Jody LongOne of the most important parts of an event is the guest speaker. It can be a stressful task, on top of everything else you're planning for your event. So if you've never dealt with hiring...
View ArticleTrade Shows
By Jody LongOne word comes to mind when the words “Trade Shows” comes up: Opportunity. If this isn't the first word that comes to mind when you think of your company attending trade shows, take another...
View ArticleEvent Management Resources
By Jody Long In an earlier post this year (http://institute-of-event-management.com/event-management-resources), a list of event management resources was provided on this blog. Wether you are an...
View ArticleFinding the Perfect Event Space
By - Jody LongYou've just decided on location for your upcoming event, a huge hurdle in the event planning process no matter what size event. The next step? Figuring out the perfect event site that...
View ArticleGot the Feedback - Now What?
By Jody LongIn a recent post to this blog (http://institute-of-event-management.com/ask-feedback-every-event), the importance of obtaining feedback from customers was discussed. It is a crucial tool...
View ArticleGuest Approved Catering
By Jody LongGluten free, vegan, dairy free, vegetarian. You've heard these terms before. Food sensitivities, food allergies, diet restrictions. You've heard these too. It may seem overwhelming when...
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Vanessa Williams’ Egyptian Wedding - A look into the beauty of her invitations.
Earlier this year - Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams was wed to NY accountant Jim Skrip. Vanessa and her partner met whilst cruising down the Nile in Egypt, and wanted their...
View ArticleFree Event Planning Job Listings at IIEM
IIEM is inviting free job listings for organizations and employers seeking to fill event planning related opportunities including: Event Managers, Event Co-ordinators and Event Planners. IIEM job...
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Top 5 Event Destinations in Dubai
Once a small fishing village and trading port, Dubai has transformed into one of the top choices for companies, enterprises and individuals for hosting a variety of events - from meetings, conferences,...
View ArticleCase Study | Why it's Always a Bad Idea to Change Event Objectives Last Minute
I attended a New Year’s Eve party that was born from uniquely odd and somber circumstances. The event originated not as a celebration of the arriving New Year, but as a wedding reception. It was, as it...
View ArticleHow our Body Language Shapes Who We Are
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how “power posing”— standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don’t...
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Kenya's Most Popular Event Planning Destinations
Kenya is quickly becoming a popular destination for international event planners, with the growth in Kenya tourism over the past several years. Kenya’s infrastructure to host a variety types of events...
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