All posts by Maura Keller

Great outdoor activities like boating and golf, as well as the draw of the magnificent resorts along the Atlantic beaches and Gulf Coast, offers something for everyone.

Have you ever worked with a meeting or event industry supplier who meshes so well with your vision it’s simply startling? You know the ones — they are organized, effective and deliver on their promises each and every time.

While the potential for risk may be low, with safety and security issues, the cost can be astronomical.

Whether a meeting planner is looking to motivate employees, inspire an audience or educate C-level executives on the latest marketing strategies, hiring a professional speaker is often easier said than done.

Darci Motta, CMP and senior conference manager at CSAA Insurance Group, and board director of Meeting Professionals International, Northern California chapter, recognizes the vital role diversity and inclusivity plays in today’s meetings arena. In fact, CSAA Insurance Group’s focus on diversity is expanding beyond race, ethnicity and sexual orientation to encompass inclusion and belonging, and creating strategies to bring the best out of all people.

According to Business Review USA and Visit Orlando, 83 percent of meeting professionals say attendance spikes when meetings rotate to Orlando.

At some corporate meetings and events, the chosen venue is a predictable affair. Now, planners are looking for memorable venues that surprise and excite.

The prospect of a meeting disruption is more a matter of “when” than “if.”

One surefire solution to sagging attendance is to choose a popular vacation destination that will appeal to the whole family.

Predicting the future is like forecasting the weather. You think you can anticipate what’s going to happen — then it doesn’t.