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Big Blocks: Block parties are fun and, done right, can be suitable for corporate events, including product launches, says Aaron Kaufman, owner of 5th Element Events in Toronto. Picture the Canadian National Exhibition with arcades, bandstands and thoroughfares. "It's more of an informal feel," explains Kaufman. "People are moving around so it's important that the flow between attractions work well." And anything goes: bongos, graffiti artists and real tattoo artists doing temporary tats. Bottom line: Blow them away with an event theme that no one has done before. |
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Ditch it! for a great cause.: Nicole Langille, then general manager of Down East Destination Management in Halifax, chose the ditch surrounding Citadel Hill for her event, Exile Island. A fundraiser for the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada's Nova Scotia Chapter, it saw 100 corporate heavyweights as castaways divided into 10 costumed teams. Each team, representing a Wish child, was charged with building their own camps and other mucky hands-on tasks. "As the finale, the 78th Highlanders piped in the Wish children," Langille says. "It was the most touching moment." Bottom line: Don't be afraid to select unusual venues. |
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All's Fare. "Everything has changed," says Kenneth Kristoffersen. Calgary-based Kristoffersen, president of POP, is referring to food presentation at events. After attending the North American Catering Association Conference in Las Vegas, he says the hot food trend is the element of surprise. "Make your first course look like dessert," he says. "Offer some great out-of-the-box food like duck confit cupcakes as an entrée." He says food presentation has the potential to get "the big wow!" Bottom line: Keep them guessing and give them something to talk about long after the event has ended. |
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Untraditional Holiday Events. Vancouver-based Sharon Bonner, president of Bright Ideas Event Coordinators, prefers a travel-through-time approach for the holidays, like the Speak Easy event she planned. The theme began the moment guests arrived at the dimly lit entrance door, where actors wearing six-inch heels asked for a password. Once inside, guests walked down a dark hallway that opened up to a casino with dealers wearing armbands, and cigarette girls and flappers weaving through the crowds. "We were trying to keep the clients entertained for a long time," says Bonner. Bottom line: Thread the theme from beginning to end. |
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Culture Sample. Take your cue from countries rich in culture. "Think of a Venetian carnival or a Russian romance," says Alison Silcoff, owner of Alison Silcoff Events in Montreal. For a Middle East themed event, Silcoff transformed the Windsor Station into a movie-like setting evoking a souk with a marketplace punctuated by colourful Arabian costumes, Moroccan music, lights and exotic animals. "We had camels and a snake charmer; some guests even handled the slithering Burmese Albino Python," she says. Bottom line: Scent can be a powerful element for cultural themes. Infuse the air (and the mood) with strong aromas and spices. |
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Site Canada Summer Social
When: June 12, 2012
Where: Heritage Court, Direct Energy Centre, 100 Princes' Blvd., Exhibition Place, Toronto
Why go: It's your chance to meet and mingle with the cognoscenti of Canada's incentive travel industry, along with international suppliers in town for the Ignite Business Event Expo.
What's in it for you: Meet and catch-up with industry colleagues, bid on the silent auction items and get in on the live auction travel packages.
More industry events at Ignitemag.ca
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INCENTIVES + MEETINGS
MICE Assignment in South America
The Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO) is looking for an experienced volunteer advisor to consult with an incentive company in Bogota, Columbia. CESO is a not-for-profit organization with a mandate to provide Canadian consulting experience in developing nations. For this assignment, CESO is looking for an expert in MICE to work with an organization in order to promote Colombia as a destination for incentive travel. The assignment is expected to last for three weeks. Accommodation and food will be the responsibility of the volunteer. All other related expenses, including insurance, will be handled by CESO. Contact CESO for further enquiries, and make sure you reference assignment #14033. |
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CORPORATE TRAVEL MANAGEMENT
Finding the Balance
The Global Business Traveler Study 2012 finds a significant difference in satisfaction levels between managed and unmanaged travelers. Sponsored by Concur, the study found that road warriors participating in a mandated program are less successful with their business travel than those that are less managed or not managed at all. More needs to be done to help them plan and have choices available when they need to re-juggle their itinerary in-transit. On average, 33% are traveling to meet with colleagues, 18% of trips are for sales, 21% are on the road for training or industry conferences and 9% is for other uses. Only 21% of business travelers are under a mandated travel program, a third are unmanaged, and nearly half (47%) fall into an "under guidelines" program where they may have to follow policies but are only "encouraged" to use preferred providers.
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CORPORATE GIFTS + REWARDS
Recognize, Reward, Retain
Managing talent is the biggest concern for Canadian tech start-ups, according to a recent report by PwC on emerging technology companies. Of the 150 CEOs interviewed, 26% said compensation was the most significant cause of voluntary turnover. The report also notes that ineffective or non-existent total rewards programs may also be part of the problem as only 29% of those interviewed said they had an operational total rewards program in place. While 43% claimed to have a program, they were unsure of its effectiveness, and almost a third of companies had no program at all. Almost two-thirds of CEOs interviewed said that in recent years it has become more challenging to find technical recruits as an increasing number of technology engineers and developers are launching their own businesses or moving to U.S. companies.
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| Share your event news, case studies or story ideas with us here at ignitemag.ca. |
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Reach For It
The Arthritis Society has an opening for a full-time special events and education coordinator to plan, develop, produce and evaluate events and special education programs for The Society in Montreal. Your five years of event organization skills, excellent communication in both official languages and ability to work with tight deadlines are necessary qualifications for this position. Want more info? Click here. |
Congress Connection
If you've got sales savvy and strategic smarts, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is looking for an experienced professional to drive congress business to Toronto. Reporting to the vice president of sales, you will identify and pursue international congress and convention business from around the world. If you've got at least three to five years of work experience in international congresses, special events or hospitality, click here for further details. |
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