From Distaster to Success

From Disaster to Success  by Ola Kastensson

In Russia the majority of palaces during the communist era where given to various departments, unions and official organizations and converted to meeting spaces and conference areas (still is). This gives us a unique opportunity to use a nearby Palace in baroque style for any meetings located around the palaces in St. Petersburg. 
In the early days of modern Russia we had a search for an Italian Conference to provide a welcome reception in a nearby palace that fitted both the size, location and budget.

We located a beautiful palace room – however in need of new curtains and a fresh up of the wooden parquet floor. A finalizing of the contract included that we should provide new curtains and pavement and the administration included the work of polish and painting of the floors during Saturday and Sunday prior the reception on Monday afternoon.

Monday came and our client called us hysterically from the palace when understanding that due to an official request form the local administration – during the weekend – the work were not done according to the agreement. The floors were still not done!

Our first mini conference is a fact!

D-day is the 21st of May in Frankfurt. Today our final speaker confirmed. Meet him in person when he shares his story with us.

The line-up is complete; 4 great speakers will share their stories with you.

Would you like to be part of this intimate setting of about 20 – 25 global event experts at the Kameha Suite venue? A few seats are left.

Register today for only EURO 199 per person at info@sharetoday.com

More info? Check-out the program at  http://m.twoppy.com/sharetoday/

We love to see you in Frankfurt!

Kim Alderden & Yolanda Logt

#SHARETODAYevent

Top 10 Meeting Trends 2012

The Top 10 Meeting Trends of 2012  by Yolanda Logt

As an Event Professional you also have your clients’ meetings to organize besides their incentives. That’s why our next theme will be meetings in the broadest sense of the word. Meetings nowadays ‘change’, like the good old incentive has changed. What do you think are the ten biggest developments we should look out for in the coming year?

Benchmark Hospitality International, a leading US‐based hospitality management company operating 35 prestigious hotels, resorts, and conference centres worldwide, recently published its Top Ten Meeting Trends for 2012. What’s moving in the MICE* World? Check this out.

Ice and Ice Cold by Yolanda Logt

Ice and Ice Cold  by Yolanda Logt

Although some of us are ready for spring, in other parts of the world they prepare for autumn or winter. Besides many of us Event Professionals, know to think long term, so we dare still to bring some ideas for a winter wonderland event by staying at ‘icy’ accommodations.

Create unforgettable moments not only by hosting your group in these once in a lifetime venues but also by the complete atmosphere around it. Let them make their own snow and ice structures, enjoy food and drinks form ice glasses, plates and bowls, and expose the company logos in ice.

An invitation to a new lifestyle: Get ‘Out of the Box’!

An invitation to a new lifestyle; Get ‘Out of the Box’!  by Annemarie The-Vegt

In the events industry we all promise our clients ‘once in a lifetime’ experiences, tailor-made programmes, creativity, originality and uniqueness. But isn’t it time to evaluate honestly how creative we really are? Are we copiers or true creative minds?

In times of decreasing budgets I think it’s even more crucial to be creative or in other words to be able to think ‘Out of the Box’. However…….. is creativity a given talent or a skill?

Often people say: wow, you are such a creative person. This suggests that creativity is a talent, given to some people by nature. You are either a creative, or you’re not. Is that true? I can tell you it’s not. Creativity is a skill that can be developed by almost everybody!

Global Creative Minds

Global Creative Minds  by Kim Alderden

Sometimes you encounter creative minds or inspiring ideas which you immediately like to share among your friends or fans or followers.  Sharing is a natural behaviour at SHARE TODAY. Why? Well, it can set the standards for a winning concept or the first steps towards a unique business relationship.

Here’s our top 3

A pop-up hotel in Tulum, Mexico. A crazy idea of some true creative minds. From December last till May,5 2012 this 99 cabana room hot spot sets its gypsy feet along the beautiful coast of Tulum. Design hotels is one of the initators here and shows us what you can achieve with a creative bunch of partners. www.papayaplaya.com

Enjoy and explore a city by some authentic experiences of locals; not a new idea. But we found www.gidsy.com an inspiring example. Here you find locals in Amsterdam, San Fransisco, Berlin, New York and London with some strange but great ideas to show you. From running with entrepreneurs in Amsterdam to how to change a flat tire in San Fransisco. And if you have something special to share, feel free to upload it at gidsy.

A self service model on the internet if you need to organize a group event? Yes it exists. We found www.destinationpro.com a start-up company with the roots in Prague. Linda Benmammar is a well known event personality in town. A lady with a vision. She knows the event market is in need for a self service tool on the web for easy group bookings; the basic idea behind the tool. Prague will soon be followed by some other countries. Stay tuned.

These are only 3 examples and much more to come. Keep an eye on our blog. We keep up the sharing. If you have any tips, tricks or anecdotes feel free to share them with us.

Being Alice in Eventsland

Being Alice in Eventsland   by Kim Alderden

Out of the Box. We use this phrase often to point out some creative way of thinking. However I feel the literal translation is not inspiring at all. I do immediately think of a brown box with a lot of packing material left in it, which does not fit in my garbage bin. Inspiring? You mean irritating!

When we shaped the 2012 concept for the E-magazine of SHARE TODAY we decided to create various themes throughout the year as inspiration for our E-mag and our social media. We kick-off with a capital C of Creativity. In the events industry creativity or thinking Out of the Box are the magic words. But can anyone give me the clear and transparent definition of creativity?

I am a type of person who in a brainstorm easily jumps from one idea to another and along the road my creativity starts to flow. I never encounter bears on this road, no; it feels more like being Alice in Wonderland on a road movie to another perfect event for my client. This results in unique but challenging ideas…

‘Paradise Hotel’, surviving in the Canadian wilderness!

‘Paradise Hotel’, surviving in the Canadian wilderness!  by Malte Kluetz

There have been several memorable events but the one I would like to share today is called “Paradise Hotel”, a concept of a self-build snow village for which Uniquely Northwest won 1^st prize in an ADME competition.

The challenge of this event was to create a unique winter program that was fun for all 40 participants since skiing was only an option for a few guests. The Canadian Rockies and Banff have been marketed for a century as a wilderness playground. We combined the fascination and natural beauty of the National Park with first class activities and a very unique overnight option. We included a variety of activities, such as dogsledding, ice climbing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. The highlight, however, was a night out in the Canadian wilderness. The idea of the snow village was born! Together with local suppliers, we created a snow village in the Panorama mountain valley.  This one-day event in the midst of the six-day incentive program showcases a unique and authentic winter idea. 

Slovenia: the last of the unexplored European territories

Sometimes we read stories which are truly interesting to share with our followers. Here is such a story. One of our Dutch colleagues in the events market explored Slovenia. Thank you Karina to let us your personal experience!

Slovenia: the last of the unexplored European territories  by Karina Schuil

I have to confess: during the flight I quickly snatched the Adria Airways magazine and secretly browsed for the Airline destination pages. Where exactly was Slovenia located? If you asked me before I probably would have answered you that it was next to Poland. As it turned out next to Austria, Italy, Croatia, Hungary and the Adriatic Sea was the right answer. Could it have been the busy times and last minute trip preparations that I didn’t know of its exact whereabouts? Or could my missed Topography class of Central Europe in elementary school have created the blank?

Why it’s important to have a Project Manager or two on site at a corporate incentive

Why it’s important to have a Project Manager or two on site at a corporate incentive  by Lisa George

Having finished 2 weekends in a row where I was assisting our Project Managers with incentive group travel, it amazes me how some DMCs don’t have PMs on site during their client’s travel to Scotland and other destinations.

I think on-site support is an essential service that all DMCs must provide for their clients who have large, or logistically complex groups. Here’s why…