Tag Archives: event planning

How Events Can Embrace the Circle of Life

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Spring conjures up images of new life. From birds hatching to flowers blooming to trees re-growing their leaf canopy. No matter the species, all living things need three things to thrive - food, water, and a hospitable habitat.

The idea of greening events is not new. Event planners and venues have been looking for ways to make events more sustainable and reduce the amount of waste produced from these mass gatherings. Reducing paper with mobile apps and providing recycling and composting options are popular ways to shrink a carbon footprint. We wanted to go beyond those tried and true methods and look at events as a living being, examining how to provide the keys to life in a way that benefits not only attendees, but the planet as whole.[Tweet "Event planners and venues have been looking for ways to make events more sustainable. #GovEventsBlog"] Continue reading →

Battling Short Attention Spans

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A 2015 study conducted by Microsoft found that the average attention span is about eight seconds. This gives us about five more seconds to keep your attention.

Still with us? Keep reading to learn how to do the same with your attendees.

Getting people to your event is only the first step. Once they arrive, you have to battle for their attention. Work-related emails, text messages from home, social media check-ins, and even the quest for the next level in Candy Crush all threaten to steal the focus of attendees. We've pulled together a couple of ideas to put to work as you battle to make it past the eight second mark.[Tweet "Once they arrive at your event, you have to battle for their attention. #GovEventsBlog"] Continue reading →

Names Have Power. Be Sure to Pick the Right One

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The government market is not known for having catchy or memorable slogans. Job titles of executives routinely spread over two lines. Legislative actions are named as blandly as possible and then later nicknames are coined for easier pronunciation, quick recall or political branding. Look at how the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act became the Cheeseburger Bill and how the Affordable Care Act became Obamacare.

It's not surprising then that events for the government audience tend to follow these same naming patterns. While music lovers have Lollapalooza and entertainment fans have Comic Con, Federal workers attend Government Software Forums and Data Analysis for the New Threat Landscape. While these are important and serious topics, we'd like to challenge government meeting planners to come up with more creative naming conventions to drive interest and excitement around these critical topics.[Tweet "Ideas for getting creative with government event names. #GovEventsBlog #GovernmentMeetings"] Continue reading →

Behind the Curtain: AWWA ACE

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The American Waterworks Association's Annual Conference and Exposition, known to attendees as ACE, brings together the wide variety of individuals involved in the spectrum of the water sector. What began as an informal gathering of 22 men discussing the need for safe drinking water in the late 1800s has evolved into the premier show for the water industry to share the latest trends, challenges, policy, and technology. This year's show will take place June 11-14 in Philadelphia, PA. While the show may be a whole season away, the opportunity to get the super-saver registration discount is closing soon (March 30 to be exact).

Cynthia Lane, Director of Engineering & Technical Services spoke with us to share what attendees can expect at this year's event. Continue reading →

Something Old and Something New: DC Venues

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a push pin over washington dc in the map

With spring approaching we've caught the fever for everything new and fresh. We took a look around the DC venue scene to find some of the newer options for event locations and found a common theme -- everything old is new again. Historic DC landmarks have gotten substantive makeovers and a casino introduces a new element to the DC event landscape.[Tweet "The old is new again! #DC meeting and event venue options. #GovEventsBlog"]

  • MGM National Harbor - The glitziest and most publicized new venue is undoubtedly the MGM National Harbor. The 308 room hotel and casino boasts all the amenities a meeting planner or attendee could ask for. The Grand Ballroom features sweeping views of the Potomac River. Multiple smaller meeting spaces feature state-of-the-art technology and various options for meeting configurations. The facility also boasts a 3,000 seat theater and multiple restaurants. MGM National Harbor is tailor made to cater to large groups but may also provide an interesting change of pace for smaller gatherings.[Tweet "The @MGMNatlHarbor casino introduces a new element to the DC event venue landscape. #GovEventsBlog"]
  • Trump Washington DC - It's a neck-and-neck race between the Trump Hotel and MGM for which facility received the most press at opening. Located in the historic Old Post Office building, this hotel breathed new life into a Washington landmark. The hotel has 17 meeting/event rooms, totaling 38,000 square feet. The 13,000+ square foot Presidential ballroom is the largest space with the Lincoln Library and Franklin Study providing smaller, well-appointed space for meetings and events.
  • The Watergate - While not a new venue, the Watergate complex completed a massive renovation this past summer. The renovations include 7,000 square feet of flexible indoor event space and 10,000 square feet of outdoor space. The hotel's rooftop bar, Top of the Gate, is equipped with fire pits and can hold as many as 250 guests with a 360-degree view of Washington and the Potomac River. The Library is a great option for smaller events holding 60-80 guests.
  • Mayflower Hotel - Like the Watergate, the Mayflower underwent a renovation that was completed in the summer of 2016. The Hotel is now part of Marriott International's Autograph Collection and features a completely redecorated ballroom. The hotel boasts a diverse set of 27 meeting spaces that can meet the needs of any gathering.

[Tweet "What is your pick for best DC meeting or event space? #GovEventsBlog"]This trend of modernizing old spaces will continue into 2017 with several anticipated openings including The Line Hotel in a former church and the reinvention of the Doubletree Washington as The Darcy. Brand new spaces will also be opening in 2017 with the completion of The Wharf on Maine Avenue with a host of new restaurants and meeting space.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on the revitalization of these and other landmarks as well as the creation of brand new spaces. Let us know your picks for best new event space in DC in the comments.