Planning F&B gives us an opportunity to exercise some creativity and strategic thinking muscles. What are the new trends to incorporate? How are you updating your protocols for serving due to the pandemic? What are ways to make your guests more comfortable while we are still in the midst of a pandemic? In this session, panelists discussed what lies ahead for the next few months for planners and chefs alike while diving into a case study on a recent in-person event panelists attended and hosted.
As event professionals in a people-oriented industry, we are no strangers to challenging conversations. From saying no to a business partner turned friend, to a disgruntled attendee, to an office disagreement, you often find yourself balancing what is right and how you feel. Through real-life industry examples, attendees had the opportunity to learn and practice strategies to navigate difficult people and conversations with confidence.
C-Suite rightfully challenges us to evaluate the success of our events, and we know how difficult it is to quantify ROE and ROI. This session discussed several strategies for gauging a customer’s satisfaction, including the Net Promoter Score (NPS), which offers a unique look into brand loyalty. Attendees learned about the importance of evaluation data and how to demonstrate and leverage the value of your events. After all, numbers do not lie and are more important than ever to showcase the impact of meetings.
Tuesday, November 17 | 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. CT
Exploring the Initial Wins & Challenges of Virtual Events
Area of Interest: Technology Solutions
CMP -IS Domain: Domain G: Meeting or Event Design
Level: Essential
Dean Altvater, Global Sales Director, PRA; Allison Cooper, Vice President, Conference Experiences, LPL Financial; Joe Schmelz, President, Wolfgang Production Agency; Brandt Krueger, Technical Producer, Consultant, and Educator (Moderator)
From pivoting in-person events to virtual experiences and utilizing new platforms to connect with colleagues, the events industry leaned on technology to keep business moving forward. How is it going so far? Attendees heard firsthand from a panel of peers who shared their experiences planning virtual events, selecting the right technology and stretching the expectations of meetings professionals in a technology-dominated space.
Managing Personnel in a Remote Environment: A Senior Level Professional Peer Roundtable
Area of Interest: Focus on Senior-Level Professionals
CMP -IS Domain: Domain E: Human Resources
Level: Advanced
Christopher Hall, Director of Enterprise Meetings and Events, Ladenburg Thalmann (Facilitator)
The workforce looks and feels differently these days. COVID-19 has amplified the importance of flexibility, agility and the required skills to be an effective and important asset to your company. Prior to the pandemic, contract projects and employees were on the rise – will that trend continue? Teams are merging, in remote and/or split in hybrid environments - how do you support their needs and drive for results? Employee salary and work-life-balance expectations are evolving. Senior-level attendees discussed their experiences managing and engaging dynamic teams.
Connect Live! This 60-minute program mimicked an in-person roundtable/FICP Chats with active participation of all attendees. An expert facilitator will helped guide conversation.
The Evolution of Duty of Care: Understanding Your Role in Risk Mitigation
Area of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP -IS Domain: Domain C: Risk Management
Level: Advanced
Desi Whitney, President and Co-Founder, Emergency Concierge International
As a meetings professional, it is your ethical responsibility to keep participants safe. What happens when they book outside of your hotel block and a natural disaster occurs? What if an ill participant arrives to your event or develops symptoms while there? This session explored the ins and outs of duty of care and risk mitigation to increase understanding of what negligence and vigilance looks like.
Connect Live! The speaker’s presentation ran for approximately 30 minutes. After the presentation, all attendees joined a live meeting room to connect with the speaker and peers for continued Q&A and conversation.
Wednesday, November 18 | 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. CT
All Eyes on Contracting: Force Majeure, Cancellations and More!
Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions; Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP -IS Domain: Domain B: Project Management
Level: Advanced
Lisa Devlin, Devlin Law Firm PC; Barbara Dunn, Partner, Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Meredith Brewer Buggelli, Corporate Vice President, Corporate Events, New York Life Insurance Company (Moderator)
More than ever, we are holding a magnifying glass to all our contracts. Have you apportioned risk between parties in an agreeable manner? Will your force majeure and cancellations policies stand? Are you holding your speakers accountable? How specific is too specific? Panelists talked through best practices while drafting these clauses and answered attendee questions.
Prioritizing Your DEI Journey
Area of Interest: Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP -IS Domain: Domain E: Human Resources
Level: Advanced
Dr. Arin Reeves, President, Nextions LLC
While the issues of systematic racism and inequality are at the forefront of our national conversation, we are still at the tip of the iceberg. As individuals, leaders and life-long learners, we must continue to prioritize the uncomfortable conversations and unpack history, unconscious bias and experiences. This dialogue featured best practices to create and foster inclusion no matter the occasion or setting.
Understanding Your Personal Financial Health
Area of Interest: Financial & Insurance Industry Knowledge
CMP -IS Domain: Domain E: Human Resources
Level: Essential
Jackie Porter, CFP, Certified Financial Planner, Writer, and Speaker
2020 is challenging our industry in ways no one could have predicted and leaves many of us concerned about our financial future. Take this time to understand the financial implications and trends, strategies to establish an emergency fund and spending plan, and cash flow management. While this session will focus on personal finances, attendees expanded their own financial literacy and left with a better understanding of terms and practices that influence the important financial and insurance industries we serve and the timely meetings we plan.
Wednesday, November 18 | 11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. CT
Strategies and Tactics for Designing Hybrid and Virtual Event Experiences
Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends & Solutions; Technology Solutions
CMP -IS Domain: Domain B: Project Management
Level: Essential
Don Neal, Founder and CEO, 360 Live Media
Long gone are the days when an event was just an in-person gathering of likeminded peers. Attendees now look to meetings professionals and partners to build entertaining experiences throughout the entire event lifecycle, from the time they register to the post-event survey. Now add virtual audiences to the mix – how does this change the conversation? Attendees dove into strategies to build memorable hybrid experiences, presented through the framework of the 10 Ps marketing virtual and hybrid events.
Connect Live! The speakers’ presentation ran for approximately 30 minutes. After the presentation concluded, all attendees joined a live meeting room to connect with the speakers and peers for continued Q&A and conversation.
How to Increase Your Influence & Presence in a Virtual World
Area of Interest: Focus on Emerging Professionals; Professional Growth & Personal Development
CMP -IS Domain: Domain E: Human Resources
Level: Essential
Stacey Hanke, Founder and Communication Expert, Stacey Hanke Inc
We are living in a world of work called noise. 24/7 we’re receiving messages and managing distractions working virtually. What do you need to do to stand out above the noise your listeners are experiencing to lead and communicate with influence?
You may not be as influential as you think you are! Most of us believe if we know our topic or if we feel good, we must have influence. Being influential consistently requires you to interact, connect and engage in a virtual environment. This virtual experience gave attendees the opportunity to take a closer look at what’s really going on rather than what they believed to be true. What did they discuss?
- Determine if your body language enhances or jeopardizes your reputation
- Discuss strategies to increase your interaction, engagement and influence virtually
- Identify 3 easy mistakes that you might be making during virtual calls
- Provide action items for leaders to apply the recommendations to manage the challenges they are having virtually
Connect Live! The speaker’s presentation ran for approximately 30 minutes. After the presentation concluded, all attendees joined a live meeting room to connect with the speaker and peers for continued Q&A and conversation.
The Ultimate Disruptor: How COVID-19 Is Reconfiguring Event Housing, Specs and Transportation
Area of Interest: Strategic Thinking & Impact
CMP -IS Domain: Domain A: Strategic Planning
Level: Advanced
Rutger Hoorn, CIS, DES, Vice President Global Sales, Ovation Global DMC; John Washko, VP Expo & Convention Sales, Mohegan Sun
The way we source business and opportunity has changed significantly in the past decade and will continue to evolve as we navigate the consequences of COVID-19 and beyond. Today meetings professionals are challenged with navigating a variety of standards and expectations across airlines, buses and hotel configurations/specs. This session explored the disruption of these disruptors – what is novel and exciting and what unforeseen consequences event professionals need to watch closely.
Connect Live! The speaker’s presentation ran for approximately 30 minutes. After the presentation concluded, all attendees joined a live meeting room to connect with the speaker and peers for continued Q&A and conversation.
Areas of Interest
Designed to provide a focused and well-rounded experience, FICP education centers around the following areas of interest:
Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions: Sessions will focus on the day-to-day responsibilities of the meetings professional, highlighting best practices, trends, efficiencies and creative ideas.
Strategic Thinking and Impact: This area of interest will dive into honing critical thinking skills, developing strong meeting goals, and providing a look into the industry now and in the future.
Professional Growth and Personal Development: Focusing on brain and physical fitness, productivity tools and more, attendees will emerge as more engaged professionals.
Technology Solutions: Sessions will address two areas: technology to aid meeting planners and technology to enhance events.
Focus on Senior Level Professionals: Designed to guide senior level professionals, sessions will focus on management skills, corporate navigation, reverse mentorship and more.
Focus on Emerging Professionals: Future leaders will be developed through sessions highlighting professional development, networking and mentorship opportunities.
Financial and Insurance Industry: Sessions in this category will provide key insights into the Financial and Insurance industry, helping meetings professionals plan for opportunities and potential changes.