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Hot Tips For Elevating Your Event Planning in 2024

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As the countdown to the New Year begins, it’s the perfect time for event planners to reflect on the past and embrace new beginnings. At Cornerstone Events, we understand the dynamic nature of the events industry and the importance of staying ahead of the curve. As we usher in the New Year, let’s explore some resolutions that can elevate your event planning game to new heights.

1. Embrace Technology for Seamless Events:

As winners of the “Best Use of Onsite Technology” award at the EventsAir Innovation Awards, we know that technology is your best ally. Resolve to explore and adopt innovative event management tools and platforms that can streamline your processes. From efficient registration and ticketing systems to cutting-edge solutions, staying tech-savvy will not only save you time but also enhance the overall event experience for your clients and attendees.

2. Prioritise Sustainability:

Drawing inspiration from the valuable insights shared by sustainability experts Tim Jarvis and Jessica Vandy at the PCOA23 conference our team recently attended, we recognise the profound impact the events industry has on the environment. As you gear up for your event planning endeavours in 2024, make a resolution to prioritise sustainability. From sourcing local and sustainable materials to implementing waste reduction strategies, every small step counts towards creating memorable events with a positive environmental footprint.

3. Recognise Traditional Land Owners and Incorporate Indigenous Elements:

In the spirit of acknowledging the rich tapestry of our communities, resolve to recognise and honour the traditional landowners at each event location. Incorporate Indigenous elements into your events, weaving the stories, art, and traditions of the local community into the fabric of your planning. This commitment not only adds depth to your events but also contributes to the preservation and celebration of diverse cultural heritages.

An indigenous man playing a didgeridoo to an a seated audience who are clapping and smiling

4. Enhance Networking Opportunities:

Networking is a cornerstone of successful events. Next year, resolve to create even more opportunities for meaningful connections. Explore new formats for networking sessions, leverage social media platforms, and consider integrating interactive elements that encourage participants to engage and build valuable connections.

5. Invest in Professional Development:

Your conferences are more than just events—they’re strategic investments. As a certified event management company dedicated to excellence, we prioritise staying ahead in industry trends. We urge you to invest in your professional development by attending workshops, webinars, and conferences. Networking with peers and learning from thought leaders not only keeps you inspired but also brings fresh perspectives to elevate your event planning endeavours. Just as we are invested in making each event stand out, your commitment to ongoing learning is a key factor in achieving success in the dynamic world of event planning.

6. Diversify Your Offerings:

In the rapidly evolving events landscape, versatility is paramount. Resolve to diversify by exploring new event types, themes, and formats, ensuring your portfolio remains dynamic. Whether it’s themed experiences or niche markets, staying adaptable broadens your appeal. At Cornerstone Events, we not only embrace diversity but also offer tailored solutions for any occasion. Whether you need a discerning MC, compelling keynote speakers, interactive workshops, or engaging fishbowl sessions, our diverse offerings cater to your unique event needs. Let’s discuss how Cornerstone Events can elevate your next gathering with a touch of innovation and distinction.

A street performer dressed in a mirrored suite walking through a crowd of people who are drinking and talking at an event at night.

7. Prioritise Well-Being:

Life can be demanding, especially in event planning. While on-site, consider incorporating a quiet space during your event for recharging. At Cornerstone Events, we collaborate with wellness experts who seamlessly integrate self-care into your event’s content—quick massages, energizer sessions, and mindfulness moments. As you navigate event intricacies, prioritising well-being is a resolution for success. Delegate tasks, take strategic breaks, and ensure a positive work environment. A balanced approach ensures not just event success but the well-being of everyone involved.

8. Collect and Analyse Data:

Data is a powerful tool for understanding event success and areas for improvement. Resolve to enhance your data collection and analysis capabilities. Utilise attendee feedback, track key performance indicators, and leverage insights to continually refine and optimise your event strategies.

As we bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, let these resolutions serve as a guide to elevate your event planning endeavours in the coming year. At Cornerstone Events, we look forward to another year of creating unforgettable experiences and setting the stage for success. Happy planning and a prosperous New Year!

Hybrid Events

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Whilst we are seeing more confidence from our clients in planning events this year, the constant challenge of snap border closures continues to be concerning. The hybrid event is emerging as a key solution in 2021.

What is a hybrid event?  Glad you asked! 

A hybrid event can take numerous forms, all of which combine a portion of the event being in person, with a virtual component. This may mean you have teams located in various “live sites” perhaps in each state of the country, and link them via “telecast” style presentation; or you may have a live conference where you have an audience attend, as well as streaming to others watching from their home or office locations.

Planning a Hybrid event will allow more flexibility should there be changes in regulations around attendance to your meeting, and reduce any uncertainty for your attendees in travelling to a location.

Many companies are finding a new audience for their events by providing a variety of ways for an attendee to join the event, often attracting first-time attendees who have been unable to attend in person previously.  Getting a first-hand experience of your event may encourage the attendee to cement it into their calendar for the future. Providing users with flexibility is key to a great customer experience. Offering both in-person and virtual-only access to live content gives attendees a choice to watch from the comfort and safety of their own environment should they not be willing or able to travel to attend the event in person.

We’d certainly recommend being proactive with your event planning – studios, speakers and experienced AV teams are all in demand.  Planning does take time in the virtual/hybrid space, so engage experts to assist you.  There are definitely lots of learnings we can share from experiences over the last 12 months. With some slight tweaks to your programs to enable the delivery in a hybrid format, your attendees will gain maximum impact from your event.

Hybrid events are just one step towards us meeting together in person like we used to – embrace it and start planning now!  The Cornerstone team would love to help you with your plans – 

Contact us today for our expert advice on all your hybrid event needs.

 

Case Study – Virtual Event

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The Brief 

A regular client had to cancel their 2020 event due to COVID-19 restrictions. They banded with a like-minded organisation to keep their membership engaged, provide ongoing learning experiences, network, and connect with sponsors via an online medium.

The client wanted to hold the event across a week with multiple streams to maximise content available to attendees. The client appointed Cornerstone to source the best platform to deliver the event, manage speakers, program development, registration, sponsorship and overall logistics and production management. The theme of the conference was set as ‘Resilience, The New Normal’.

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Why you should consider Incentive Travel

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Wise business operators have long seen the benefit of incentivising their teams, and in particular that unbeatable once in a lifetime experience that a well created trip brings to the table, enhancing culture, bottom line results and loyalty. Many who have long shunned this type of program are jumping onto the bandwagon and implementing programs […]

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Event Security – How to safeguard your event

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Arguably event and venue safety and security has never been as challenging as it is today.

Horrendous attacks which have occurred with seemingly increasing regularity have targeted public gatherings and events internationally. The overt and callous acts of terrorists do not respect traditional rules of engagement and the strategy to maximise fear in the community seems to target our workplaces, arena, public venues and places of mass gathering.

Due to this current elevated security climate, it is imperative to strategise and plan early to keep your event safe.

Having a well-prepared strategy will help to safeguard your event.

  • It is important to be prepared at all times, keeping up-to-date with the latest in security – not just when an attack or threat occurs
  • Cyber security threats to businesses and hacking are also becoming more prevalent
  • Having the right resources is crucial to combat attacks

As an event holder, you need to: Identify Threats, Understand Risks, Assess Vulnerability and Implement appropriate security measures.

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Choosing the perfect Keynote Speaker for your event

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Your keynote speaker plays a significant role in influencing the success of your event. 

Your conference not only has goals to reach, but also has an important message to deliver to the attendees. A keynote speaker not only helps to influence attendees, but also creates an audience focus and generates a positive influence around the event.

Preparation and research are key to ensuring that your chosen speaker meets the brief, captivates the audience and delivers a high impact and memorable presentation.

The speaker helps to set the overall tone of the conference. The keynote who opens the conference determines the atmosphere and core messages, whilst the closing speaker helps to continue the conversation and wrap up key points.  They add a great amount of value to the program whilst also providing stimulating, meaningful and thought-provoking material.

However, choosing the right keynote speaker to deliver on all these aspects and create cohesiveness to the event can be particularly challenging.

These are the key points you should keep mind when selecting a keynote speaker for your next event.

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Why you need an Event App for your next Corporate Event

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Simple event apps can be key to a successful event.

Being able to establish one consistent up-to-date form of communication is essential to providing seamless, and easily accessible information for all involved.

Event technology is becoming increasingly more advanced and the opportunity to utilise apps to create a more productive and engaging experience is at its forefront.

Today people are constantly connected by their mobile phones, with users checking their phones up to 150 times a day. In addition, smartphones are driving app downloads with 268 billion app downloads predicted this year.

With so many people using their phones as their key form of communication, we outline how a simple event app can improve your next corporate event.

 

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