Every Meeting is a Blank Canvas
As meeting planners, we’re fortunate to have so many chances to tap into our creativity. Whether it’s finding those magical venues or brainstorming an amazing banquet with a chef or searching out speakers to inspire our groups, who doesn’t love the event side of the business?
My inspiration when it comes to event design is my “creativity guru”: the speaker, author and educator Dianne Devitt. For years, she’s spoken to audiences around the world about how meetings are like Broadway shows, and how you can choreograph magical moments into your events.
We recently spoke to Thomas Serrano and Anastasia Nisenbaum of Exclamation Events about how, by using elements of entertainment, gastronomy, visual, sound design and theater, you can map out at what moments attendees will experience what emotion. “At what point do you want them to experience a moment of nostalgia? Or maybe a more joyful, light moment? Should guests be intermingling or networking? Or perhaps a moment should be reflective and pensive,” they said.
Culture and creativity are the focus of this month’s cover story by sr. contributing editor Regina Baraban. She spotlights creative experiences for groups in a variety of destinations, from Disney, where groups have access to thousands of props, set designs and decor, to Malta, where chefs re-create culinary delights in the actual venues where inquisitors, corsairs, knights, and libertines once dined. Think of your meeting as a blank canvas, just waiting for you to transform through your creativity.
Also in this issue, in the Inspiring Spaces article, you'll learn how destinations—from New Zealand to Nassau, Bahamas—and hotels are using their outdoor spaces to create memorable events. For experiences that immerse attendees in the local culture, turn to the Creative Midwest article. And don't miss the IMEX America Planner, which will help you connect with the right suppliers during the show. There's also a handful of on locations you'll want to check out—Uniworld Boutique River Cruises' S.S. Catherine; Holland America Line's Nieuw Statendam; Philadelphia; and Boise.
Enjoy the issue. —Barbara Scofidio