Event Solutions | Breaking News

Nomination Site Open!

chadborenz — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:06:58 -0400

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The 2011 Event Solutions Spotlight Awards nomination site is now officially open. This begins the yearlong process of determining this year’s award recipients in 15 different categories so industry professionals should get their nominations in now to be a part of the industry’s most prestigious awards.

To start submitting nominations just click on the link below and fill out the attached forms. It’s all done automatically and nominees will be notified soon so they can start submitting their entry materials for consideration as a finalist and ultimately a recipient for this prestigious honor.

Are you next?

Nominate Now!

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Editor’s Extra: Cool Stuff from Cvent

chadborenz — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 17:29:11 -0400

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Occasionally, something exciting crosses our desk and we just don’t want to wait for the next scheduled blog or Event Solutions E-News. So here an editor’s extra. And if you’re a Cvent user, you are going to be a very happy camper.

We spent last Friday afternoon getting a sneak preview of the upgrades announced this morning by Cvent. Bharet Malhotra, V.P. of sales and Audrey Staples, senior product consultant, walked me through their enhanced Supplier Network.

In addition to some cosmetic changes, they’ve added a lot more functionality to the site.

To start off, they’ve added a Quick RFP in case the longer, more detailed version is not appropriate for you. The short version simplifies and streamlines RFP creation for planners and facilitites more timely responses from hotels and CVBs. (BTW, did you know that Cvent people follow up on every RFP request by phone, to make sure venues are responding in a timely manner? Nice…)

Then they’ve added RFI—Request for Information— options that allows planners to reach out to restaurants and special event venues, particularly for smaller scale meetings. This is great for when you don’t need a lot of detail, but still need basic like space availability, capacities, and private spaces.

Their venue library has enhanced profile details, including new sections for restaurants and special event venues. I really liked the special event venue option—the industry is turning more and more to unique places and spaces for events, and this definitely satisfies a need. (Example: Cvent now has a “Castles” category for Great Britain venues —very cool.)

Cvent has made a concerted effort to increase its international coverage. It now has more than 20,000 special event venues and restaurants and 50,000 venues outside North America. They actually have a team of more than 100 people calling and updating supplier information every day. So what you do find on the new site is pretty solid information.

Pretty exciting stuff, and if you’d like to see more, take a look at www.cvent.com/.
The have also posted a video at http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_v...

By Ann Turner, Editor

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Road Warriors Share Their Secrets

chadborenz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:58:18 -0400

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Travel can be stressful. But there are lots of little ways that you can ease the pain. We turned to our readers and asked them what secrets they have for making that trip just a bit easier.

Frank Robinson
Island Events
Hawaii

Buy the largest bottle of water you can after you go through security. Drink gallons of water to stay hydrated. Do not drink any of the small bottles of bad wine. Stick to hard alcohol, but don’t overdo.
Do not eat the airplane food! Buy snacks at the gift shop or newsstand before boarding.
Wear shoes that slip on and off easily.
Do not wear contact lenses when flying—the air is very dry on airplanes.
If you want peace and quiet, bring an eye mask and an iPod. It doesn’t have to be on—it just needs to look on to send a do-not-disturb message.

Denise Perich
MacDonald Financial Services
Loveland, CO

Wear flip flops—they’re easy for security—and tuck a fluffy pair of socks in your bag for the plane.
Wear cute, comfy but fashionable sweats.
I always bring trashy magazines on a trip. I love catching up on celebrity gossip!
Always remember: gum, chapstick, sleep mask, tunes, neck pillow, soduku and water!

Victoria Peterson
Grant Thornton

Bring carry-on luggage only—ship everything else.
Apple slices and turkey jerky are great snacks for the plane and hotel room.
Request a mini fridge to keep fruit on hand.
Ask for a concierge upgrade so you’ll have drinks and snacks available.

Cathy Poteet
Francis Tuttle Technical Center
Oklahoma City

Take your own toilet paper and hand soap. Seriously, some gas stations and even some restaurants (fast food and dine-in) overlook these necessities.

Lara McCulloch
Ready2spark
Ontario, Canada

I search through my social media contacts for people who live in the city I’m travelling to.
Good app: Tripit for my iPhone.
I always bring earplugs—they’ve saved my life a few times when in loud hotels.
This is kind of silly, but I bring Vitamin E oil. I use it to moisturize my skin, and I put it in my hair instead of gel. And it’s a great eye makeup remover. One small bottle goes a long way.

Marisha Morris
Done Beautifully Inc.
Los Angeles

If you have a question, ask someone who lives in the city. You’ll find great hidden gems.
I keep a toiletry bag packed, so I’ll never be without needed hygiene products or hard-to-find items.
No matter how great the deal, or how much or little time you plan to spend in your room, if your room doesn’t meet the standards you’re accustomed to at home, you won’t be a happy camper.
Be nice—smile! You’ll be surprised how far that will get you and how calm it makes your trip.

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Wi-Fi: 5 Things Planners Need to Know

chadborenz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:24:09 -0400

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With the accelerating use of laptops and smart phones in our increasingly mobile world, the topic of wireless internet, or wi-fi, has become hot, hot, hot.

More and more audiences, including conference and meeting attendees, are counting on having access to the internet no matter where they are. This is creating a whole new set of challenges for convention centers, hotels and other venues that may not be able to accommodate the group’s need.

Savvy companies like Smart City are stepping in to help. A leading supplier of telecommunications services in 35 facilities coast-to-coast, Smart City provides network services to more than 5,500 events each year. Here’s the advice they offer to planners who are grappling with the demand for wi-fi in their events and conferences.

Start planning early, at least six months before your event. “This can actually save you money, because we’ll have the time to put together a custom plan for you,” said Laureen Boykin, director of operations for Smart City. “A lot of people who wait until the last minute end up over-ordering services,” added Mark Haley, Smart City president.
Know your audience, and share this information with your service provider. The more information you have about your group’s demographics, the more likely your wi-fi will be successful. How tech savvy is your crowd? Will they primarily be checking e-mails, or will they be streaming video and doing advanced applications? Haley explained that type of usage will determine how much bandwidth is needed. At the recent International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, Smart City’s task was to provide services for more than 16,000 tech-savvy attendees, prompting them to add 500Mb of internet access and 138 new access points, and replacing every switch in the building.
Know your group’s traffic patterns. In what areas of the facility are they most likely to be using the network? Where are the hot spots that are absolutely necessary to have signal? What are the peak times they’ll be using the network? Will they need access in the break-out rooms? On the tradeshow floor?
Set up specific areas for wi-fi use. Your service provider can give you recommendations for good spots to put your tech lounges based on the building’s construction. Signals are blocked by concrete and steel but sheetrock walls allow signals to pass through. For ISTE, Smart City was able to provide the bandwidth for 5,000 wi-fi users in one designated room.
Ask your service provider for usage reports after the event so you can better prepare for the next event. How much bandwidth did you use? How many people accessed the network? What were the peak periods of use?

By following these guidelines and doing your homework, you’ll not only save money and avoid the pain of last-minute set-ups. You’ll also assure that your attendees have a successful wi-fi experience at your event.

For more information on Smart City go to www.smartcity.com.

- by Ann Turner, Event Solutions Editor

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iMentor’s Anniversary Gala

chadborenz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:11:15 -0400

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More than 700 young people and their mentors gathered at Cipriani’s in New York City June 3 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of iMentor, a nonprofit organization that links young, underserved students with mentors from the professional world.

More than 5,000 youngsters have benefitted thus far from the program, which uses a technology-based approach to youth mentoring and education.
To celebrate its anniversary, and launch its first fund-raising event, iMentor enlisted the services of Cheryl Gentry from Glow Media, a public relations and event management agency with offices in New York and Los Angeles. The result was a gala celebration that raised more than $3.8 million for the organization and highlighted the many successful relationships nourished by iMentor.

Dazzling Venue and Décor
The gala was held at Cipriani 42nd Street, in the heart of Manhattan. This Italian Renaissance-inspired showcase boasts towering marble columns, soaring ceilings, inlaid floors and spectacular chandeliers. Gentry dressed up the space with a silver and orange motif anchored by a 17-foot high tree with orange blossoms, symbolizing not only the growth of the iMentor organization, but also the personal growth many mentors and mentees have experienced as a result of the program.

Images of mentor/mentee pairs were projected onto screens flanking the stage area, highlighting the importance of celebrating these relationships.

The 17-foot high tree provided the “wow factor” as guests entered the event. Kiriba Logan from Atlas Floral affixed each orange blossom to the natural tree branches on-site.

The guest list included sponsors, donors, mentors and mentees, members of the hedge fund community, where iMentor founder and co-chair John Griffin got his start, and a host of celebrity names including Martha Stewart, Newark Mayor Corey Booker, Travel Channel/Cleveland Brown’s Dhani Jones and CBS’ Maurice DuBois.

Entertainment was A-List as well with recording artist and record producer Wyclef Jean performing for the group. “The final thrill of the evening was when Wyclef invited the mentees to join him on the stage for the final song,” Gentry said.

CONNECTIONS
Event Management and Design - Glow Media www.glowmediany.com
Catering/F&B - Cipriani www.cipriani.com
Staging and Lighting - Star Group Productions www.stargrouppro.com
Florist/Décor - Kiriba Logan, Atlas Floral Decorators www.atlasfloral.com
Video Production - B Productions www.bproductions.com
Graffiti Wall - Lumacoustics www.yrwall.com

To promote communication and the arts, as well as to provide a fun element, Gentry brought in a an interactive digital graffiti wall from London-based Lumacoustic Ltd. This is the first time this wall has been used in the U.S. The guests spray “graffiti” onto the wall with “paint cans” of infra red light that is tracked by a computer vision system. The system then prints out a hard copy of the artist’s creation.

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Top 5 Dining Trends for 2010

chadborenz — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:02:03 -0400

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The world is getting smaller, flavor is going global and sourcing ingredients is occurring more often in the chef’s back yard. And social media is revolutionizing customer involvement in the dining experience. So says Benchmark Hospitality International, which recently released its five top dining trends for 2010.

Trend #1 - Cultural Diversity and Authenticity Reign Supreme
More and more restaurant patrons have varied backgrounds and their preferences and demands are requiring culinary teams to create menus that are diverse, rich with intense flavors and authentic—the real thing.

Patrons want a dining experience that is sincere and honest—no disingenuous or gratuitous menu additions will be accepted by their increasingly sophisticated palates. For example, the slow food movement has taught us to respect products of true artisan origin, derived of ancient methodologies.

Food providers must be genuine in their relationship with their customers and deliver what they’ve promised. Today’s customer is not only seeking an authentic experience but recognizes when he or she is misguided. If you say you offer Cuban cuisine, make sure it’s genuine!

Trend #2 - Health and Wellness Begin at Home
America is finally waking up to the fact that health and wellness start at home! Fad diets and government intervention have not sufficiently protected consumers and countered the food industry’s supersizing or the American consumers’ overconsumption.

Today almost every agency is scurrying to find solutions to the problem. What’s working? The most basic approach of all: educating children during their formative years on healthy portion size and sound, nutritionally balanced eating habits, and then setting an example.

Today’s caterers and chefs need to respond creatively to satisfy increasingly health-conscience consumers. This can start with as basic a food preparation technique as substituting intensely flavored herbs for salt, punching up flavor while reducing unhealthy sodium levels.

Trend #3 - Biodiversity, Sustainability, Family Farms and Beekeepers
Expect to see more family farms, shrimp farmers, chicken, cattle and cheese producers waging a small but very significant war against mass production and unscrupulous use of resources or inhumane treatment of animals.

Going forward, menus will be infused by the freshest local ingredients as chefs increasingly develop kitchen gardens, produce their own honey and eggs, or secure fresh local and heirloom products in partnership with neighborhood grocers and artisanal purveyors. Locavore sensibilities are becoming embedded in the consumers’ psyches. And this trend is here to stay!

Trend #4 - The Future of American Flavors is International
The era for spices and herbs has begun. Consumers and chefs are expanding their repertoire of spices to little known names such as Fenugreek, Annatto, Charoli, Epazote, Galangal, Zatar and spices from around the globe.

While the wine world was rescued from domination by Chardonnays and Cabernets with grapes such as Verdelho, Tannat, Schioppettino, Mourvédre, Arneis and Aglianico, the spice world’s rescue has now begun! Flavor has never tasted so good!

Trend #5 - Social Media is Revolutionizing Menus and Service
Social media’s viral penetration of society, with its immediate feedback based on customer preference and service experience, is revolutionizing restaurants across the country. Menus are being tweaked and service streamlined in response to customer feedback, and consistent communication with customers is on the front burner. Nothing is taken for granted anymore!

Today, the dining experience must consistently hit on all cylinders; starting with placing the reservation, with phone etiquette, welcoming guests, dining room lighting and music, to the menu knowledge of servers, cuisine authenticity, outstanding flavors and the personal connection with the customer established before, during and after the meal has been consumed.

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Top Tips: Hiring a DJ

chadborenz — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 15:01:25 -0400

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We asked some experts what planners need to know when hiring a DJ for their event. Here’s what they had to say:

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We asked some experts what planners need to know when hiring a DJ for their event. Here’s what they had to say:

From Katherine McCommon, regional director, Soundsource Entertainment:

Ask for references from past clients who hosted the same type of event you are planning.
Never pay for set-up or teardown when booking a professional. These services should be included with any entertainment package. Also, your DJ should not include set-up time in your overall time reservation.
Make sure there is a backup plan. If case of illness or a family emergency, what will happen? It is important that there is someone available to step in if needed.
Ask about the size of the music database. You should never have to purchase music, unless the music you are requesting is internationally based or not available for online purchasing.

From Gary Berg, CEO, G.L. Berg Entertainment:

Make sure the actual person you check out is the same person who is going to show up for your event, and make sure he has the equipment you specified. Many companies now have multiple performers and there can be a great difference between their best person and equipment and the fifth one going out that night.
Know what you truly want from the experience. Do you want someone who is showy and wacky, or someone who is laid back and just plays the music? Are the music and show geared more towards teenagers or older people? Different performers have different strengths and interests and you want to find the right one for your event.
Make sure the contract specifies that set-up is complete before your guests arrive, so they are not disrupting your dinner, social hour or program. If the social hour is at 5:30, the system needs to be set up prior to 5:30, even though the performance may not start until 8:00.

From Suzanne Childers, Choozi Entertainment:

We look for someone who has a strong visual and create a reason for him to be part of the party. For example, when we did the Fiesta Bowl VIP parties, our theme was “Football Heaven.” We dropped the sound system into a grand piano shell, and dressed the performer as Ray Charles with angel wings. He could have been Ray Charles.
If you need to embellish the system with more speakers, consider renting high-end units if the budget allows, rather than plugging to the venue’s sound system. That way, you’ll get the optimal sound quality.
Be aware of the extra costs in hiring a headliner. In addition to performance fees, they will have production requirements such as sound, lighting, security, and accommodating entourages.

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Gasparilla International Film Festival - Tampa Sees Stars

chadborenz — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:08:26 -0400

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Every March for the past four years, the Gasparilla International Film festival in Tampa, Florida, has been a gathering spot for producers, directors, actors and film buffs from all walks of life.

In addition to screenings of new and notable films, guests enjoy a variety of events including an opening night gala and after-party, and a blow-it-out closing night bash. This year, Monica Varner of Elan Event Studio in Tampa orchestrated all the events.

A Memorable Night, a Historic Site
A VIP reception for 500 guests opened the festivities at the historic Tampa Theatre, a 1920s-era movie “palace” that boasts a Mediterranean courtyard with old world statuary, flowers and gargoyles and a ceiling complete with nighttime sky, twinkling stars and floating clouds. “We really didn’t need to do anything to the venue,” said Varner. “It’s gorgeous just as it is.” Ten area restaurants were tapped to provide a variety of local flavors for the guests, who moved from the lobby into the theatre when it was time to screen the film of the evening.

Then, after a brief awards ceremony, the group exited the building to the sounds of a live, local band positioned outside the front doors and trooped a block down the street to the after-party at a sushi bar, where MMD Events provided the décor, including lush floral arrangements.

Deep black magic roses stand out against a modern white trophy silhouette vase accented with slinky sequins.

Dark Clouds Move In
All of this was a warm-up for the closing night bash, which was to take place on the rooftop of a parking garage in trendy Hyde Park Village. “We’d been planning this for six months,” Varner said. “We had all the permits, had had the fire marshal out at least twice, had 10 big cabanas lined up along with a big stage.”

And, she’d been following the weather forecast, which “…didn’t look good,” Varner said. “Lightning, heavy winds and rain were forecast for the entire day. We held off as long as we could, but ultimately decided we had to go to Plan B indoors.”

She and her team had less than two days to transform an empty storefront in Hyde Park into a swinging 60s setting for their “In the Sky with Diamonds” theme. And that meant that they had to deal with the space’s periwinkle blue walls.

“We had to come up with a whole new floor plan for a much smaller space. We had to deal with the blue walls, so I raced to the linen supplier and worked with them to work more purple into the color scheme. We came up with a new lighting plan and new furniture plan,” Varner explains.

The entire day of the event, torrential rains hammered the city and the wind gusts howled as Varner and her team reworked the entire venue into a funky, hip setting for the party-goers. Go-go dancers were moved onto impromptu dancing platforms around the room, and models were positioned behind the bar for extra drama. A crystal ball juggler mesmerized the guests as they entered the party.

“We had 400-500 people packed into the space and they loved it. Governor Charlie Crist was even there, to show his support of the film industry in Florida,” Varner said. “In the end, everything worked out great—a perfect example of how to transition to Plan B.”

Photos courtesy of Limelight Photography

Planner: Élan Event Studio www.ElanEventStudio.com
Flowers, draping, furniture, lighting: MMD Events www.mmdevents.com
Linens: Linens by the Sea www.linensbythesea.com
Chiavari chairs, cocktail tables: Signature Event Rentals www.signatureeventstampa.com
Bartenders: U Dream Events www.udreamevents.com
Catering Main Food: Good Food Catering www.goodfoodtampa.com
Atmosphere entertainment: Jumpin Bumpin www.jumpinbumpin.com
Coffee: JavaWorks
Catering desserts: Events by Amore www.Eventsbyamore.com
Vodka: Diamond Vodka
Beverages: RedBull
DJ: DJ Fresh www.djfreshevents.com
Wine & Bubbly: Barefoot
Beer: Stella Artios
Video: Tampa Wonderworks www.TampaWonderworks.com
Primary photographer: Limelight Photography www.stepintothelimelight.com
Additional photographer: CSE Photography www.csephotography.com

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Jazzy Apps for Your Mobile Device

chadborenz — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 15:50:55 -0400

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On-the-Go Tools for Busy Planners. Busy planners-on-the-go need a bagful of tricks to manage all the details and stay on track. Here are a few mobile apps that may tickle your keypad and make your day just a bit easier.

Ootoweb (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch). Ootoweb recently announced its new mobile meetings management app, and it’s already causing a stir. It’s the first iPad app designed specifically for the meetings industry, and it allows you to manage registration, event websites and online payments. It also allows planners to access meeting details and status in real time and create reports on-the-run. See a demo video at Ootoweb Demo. www.ootoweb.com, 30-day free trial, then $49 per month.
Eventful (iPhone and iPod Touch). This is Event Central of the app world with listings of events, performers, schedules and venues. It will recommend events based on your preferences, and keep track of your friends’ favorites. With a GPS-powered search capability, it’s a great little app to have with you in a strange city. eventful.com, free.
Evernote (all platforms). If you’re one of those types who has dozens of little post-its clinging to your dashboard and your desktop , consider a free Evernote account. It allows you to collect all the little snippets with your mobile phone, from thoughts and ideas to photos, itineraries and lists. They have great customer support and an excellent website and blog full of useful tips for making the most of this handy app.
evernote.com, free.
Mark On Call (iPhone and iPod Touch). Originally intended for interior designers and DIYers, this cool app is also ideal for event planners. Create floor plans, select flooring and architectural elements, arrange furniture and even add custom colors and textures such as stone, metals and fabric to create the perfect virtual setting for your event. Then share your inspirations with clients and vendors with a few clicks.
whatwouldyoudowiththisroom.com, $2.99.
Bento (iPhone and iPad). Here’s the app to go to for serious organizing. Bento offers 25 pre-designed templates that allow you to organize contacts, budgets, event planning, recipes, expenses, time billing, images, diagrams and more. It runs great on the iPad’s interactive touch interface.
filemaker.com, $4.99.
Event Planning Tools (Android). For you open system geeks, check out a just-announced app from event planner Cheryl Lawson. It’s actually a two-part app, consisting of a meeting space calculator and a budget module that will calculate cost per attendee.
theperfectdate.com, $.99.
Beat the Traffic (Blackberry, iPhone and iPad). The last thing you need when dashing between appointments is to sit in a traffic jam. This app gives you live traffic maps, showing speeds and incidents on major routes in more than 100 cities. The iPad version has been flying off the app store shelves, according to the developer.
blog.beatthetraffic.com, free.
Vegas Reality (iPhone). Check out this augmented reality app that merges real Las Vegas with virtual Vegas for a multi-dimensional experience. Users simply point their iPhones at resorts and watch as information appears as floating text on the screen, using the phone’s camera and GPS. Check out a video preview at Vegas Reality. Free.

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25 Ways to Use Social Media for Your Next Event

webmaster — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:50:10 -0400

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Powerful social media tools are available to add marketing power to your next event. Jeff Hurt gives us his Top 25 ways to use social media for your next event.

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By Jeff Hurt, Velvet Chainsaw Consulting

Identify a hashtag for your conference.
A hashtag is a key word or abbreviation preceded by the hash or number symbol such as #EC10. Hashtags are adopted by event organizers so conference participants can include them in their tweets. Hashtags were created as a way to search and aggregate information on Twitter.
Use one of the following tools to see if anyone else is using your desired hashtag.
Tagalus—a user-defined dictionary of hashtags. Twubs—uses a wiki system to disseminate information on a hashtag. It creates a conference hub for all things related to your event: content tags, members and contributors, photos, related websites, RSS feeds, Tweetups and event schedules, and videos. Currently in Beta testing, it is free of charge.
Use “What the Hashtag,” a user-editable encyclopedia for hashtags found on Twitter. Sign up for an account and register a hashtag. WTHashtag provides great analytics to track the past seven days’ use of the hashtag, top contributors, number of RTs, percentage of tweets from top contributors, and more. Users can also print a transcript of tweets mentioning a hashtag for a specific time period. (Great for note-taking.)
If your desired hashtag is not taken, be sure to list it on these same tools to help protect it from being used by others.
Use the same abbreviation and hash symbol for Flickr photos and YouTube videos.
Ask attendees to tag their personal photos and videos and upload them to your Flickr and YouTube conference pages.
Promote the Twitter hashtag, and Flickr and YouTube tags, early and often.
Include it on all marketing material and event communications.
Create a YouTube Conference page for videos created by staff and attendees.
Market early and often.
Hold pre-conference social media contests and provide free registration, lodging and travel to winners.
Ask potential attendees to write a blog post, tweet a special code and/or create a YouTube video on why they want to attend the event.
Create a Facebook Conference Page.
Create special short videos about conference speakers and locations and upload to your conference YouTube page.
Embed these videos on your Facebook Conference Page and your conference website and distribute via your e-mail and social media marketing pages. Use Animoto to create slick videos using pictures and text.
Create short, simple, YouTube videos explaining how to use Twitter, Flickr, YouTube and your conference eCommunity for your conference and event.
Create a Twitter list of all your conference speakers so attendees can follow them.
Provide a website widget of the Twitter hashtag that users can post on blogs, personal pages and websites.
Make a widget using Twitterfall, TwitterFountain, TweetGrid or Widgetbox.
Create a conference speaker hub that aggregates RSS feeds of each speaker’s blog posts.
Many conference eCommunities’ solutions have this feature built into their program for your conference Twitter feed, Facebook page and blog posts. If you are not using a conference eCommunity, consider iGoogle, Netvibes, Nomee, Pagecasts (a public version of Pageflakes), Twubs, Wakooz or other aggregator.
Create a conference hub that aggregates all online information about your conference.
This information should include a Twitter hashtag, Facebook page, conference and speaker blog posts, Flickr tagged photos, YouTube conference video page and more.
Create a LinkedIn event and invite people to link it to their LinkedIn profile.
Create a Facebook event and invite your organization’s followers to participate.
Create several conference badges that are hyperlinked to the conference website.
Badges can be placed on personal Facebook profiles and blogs. Badges can say things like ”I’m attending Event x,” or, “I’m speaking at Event x.”
Use a conference eCommunity.
Online conference eCommunities have become a supplemental form of communication between people who are attending the same conference. The registrants of the face-to-face event use special online social software to connect with each other.
From free to low-cost eCommunities like MeetUp and Ning, to customized features of Social Collective and Zerista, there are ample opportunities for you to provide conference attendee engagement experiences through an online conference eCommunity.
Set Google and Twitter alerts for the conference hashtag and name.
Monitor and listen to what others are saying about your conference. Respond as needed.
Secure part of the general session room for a bloggers’ and Twitter hub.
Invite specific industry influential bloggers to attend and provide free registration to them.
Contract with them to provide live blogging and tweeting in exchange for free conference registration.
Create a daily electronic conference paper using Twitter hashtags at http://paper.li/.
Promote the paper daily via email, Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter.
Create a Conference Slideshare page and post speaker presentations there.
When booking speakers, include a pre-conference Webinar, blog post, eNews article, Blogtalk Radio interview along with the face-to-face presentation in their contract.
This will extend the conference learning experience as well as market content and speakers to potential attendees.
Make the conference a hybrid event.
Live stream general sessions to those who could not attend the face-to-face experience.
Use social media press releases.

To learn more, go to www.jeffhurtblog.com.

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Green Corner - Making Everyday Choices

webmaster — Wed, 26 May 2010 14:07:55 -0400

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By Richard Byford, Byway Entertainment
I remember reading in a Reader’s Digest way back in the 1970s that the downfall of the 1990s would be the “proliferation of choice” and that most of us would not be well equipped or sufficiently educated to make the right choices.

Here we are in the 21st century and when I see the choices that are being made, in regards to sustainability and a green future, I know why we have arrived at the point in this planet’s life, where we have to make smart choices or there could be serious consequences.

Changing our everyday habits is the hardest thing to do; we are all guilty of it. This was driven home to me recently while producing a large gala where the entertainment’s rider called for bottled water in the dressing room and on the stage. The show was “The Music of ABBA” by Arrival from Sweden. As you all know,Sweden has one of the most aggressive national sustainability programs anywhere on the planet. The act was surprised when they discovered that I was not allowing plastic bottles of any kind at the event. However, they were even more surprised and pleased when they discovered they were given stainless steel drinking cups full of purified cold water, which could be refilled, used on stage and taken home with them at the end of the night.

Three years ago at this same event, which is only five hours long, guests used over 4,000 bottles of water. For the past two years, we have not used one plastic water bottle, thanks in great part to Culligan Water, who provides portable water purifiers, and The Desert Water Agency who provides a 500-gallon water tank (called a water buffalo). All staff were asked to bring their own drinking cups and guests were served from water pitchers.
This change alone will not make a dent in the alarming rate at which we are filling our landfills. However, as I said in last month’s column, go out and tell the world what you are doing and just maybe, someone else will do a little something. Before you know it, we are well on our way to a revolution. It may not happen in our lifetime but certainly your children and their children will thank you as they grow up in a world where living a sustainable lifestyle is the norm.

All of us who speak in public, no matter the subject, are flattered and honored when people take action on something we have said. Such was the honor when I received an e-mail from Rebecca Stoddard, who had been in the audience of a round table that I was a part of earlier this year. I had mentioned, as I always do, that there are various shades of green depending on where in the United Sates you live and depending on your budget. She said that my line had made such an impression on her that she was opening her own company in North Carolina and calling it “Shades of Green Events.” Is that cool or what?! Thank you, Rebecca, and we all wish you well in your new endeavor.

I would like to leave you with a thought that I’m sure will have some of you running to post a comment on my blog. I believe that this is the perfect time for businesses and organizations to start putting in place green, sustainable business practices because the majority of these practices will save money, not cost you more money! It simply is not true that going green will cost you more!

Next month I will explore how you can save money by going green. If you have come across a new idea or something worth sharing with the rest of us please drop me line on my blog.

Byway Entertainment Blog

Stay well! Think green!!!

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Move the Event Outside!

webmaster — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 14:05:20 -0400

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Planners and suppliers alike are saying that clients are looking for beautiful, organic, natural, fun and affordable. All of these things are leading to the estimated 11% increase in outdoor events this year.

“This season in general we are seeing increases in all events, but more dramatically outdoor tented and non-tented events are in high demand,” comments Larry Green, president of Rentals Unlimited, Stoughton, MA. So, what are the trends to watch as you take it outdoors?

Anything Weddings!
You don’t have to look any further than the magazines at the supermarket checkout to see that weddings are on the rise and planning them outside is definitely the hip way to go. Nico Cervantes of NICO designs comments, “Outdoor weddings are HUGE right now. The backyard wedding is so so so back.”
Cervantes believes that even if the wedding isn’t actually taking place in their backyard, the couple wants it to look like it could be their backyard. Adding personal touches through décor allows couples to create that intimate feeling that they are truly sharing their lives with their guests. Cervantes is using a lot of vintage items as decor including old bird cages, crystal door knobs, skeleton keys, lace, milk glass, old perfume bottles and mis-matched chairs.
Using outdoor spaces also allows couples more control over their budget. Choosing the right venue offers them the flexibility of selecting food, décor, entertainment and rentals that all fit within their budget. The large number of DIY wedding blogs and websites are creating a new type of wedding coordinator. Couples no longer come to their wedding planner with just their color and flower selection, but also an intricate list of the personal touches and “wow factors” that they want incorporated into their special day.

Under the Big Top
Tents aren’t just for weather back-up any more. The demand on the tent manufacturers for new and different is at an all time high. An architecturally pleasing-to-the-eye look is a must. If a client has the financial resources to go creative, they will select the tent that looks custom designed for them. If financial resources are more limiting, then the custom look is coming from interior design through fabric liners, lighting, and simplistic design elements.
When using a tent, clients are really just looking for ways to be outside, without braving Mother Nature. This has created a demand for more innovative siding on tents with glass walls, windows, clear walls and shear fabric panels.
A creative use of tenting that is becoming popular is allowing guests to eat and celebrate in open air spaces, and then creating lounge environments under smaller tents throughout the space. Along the same lines, a tent might be used for the dance floor or a reception space, still allowing for the open air experience for most of the event.

Unique Lighting Options
There has been a trend toward more complex lighting in both tented and non-tented outdoor events for the last several years. The creation of new technologies in the lighting and video world are translating well to outside of a ballroom.
Companies such as Firefly LA are able to design a tent’s total space décor through lighting & video. They are using 360-degree projectors to create a custom look throughout the entire tent – painting the tent with lighting, so to speak.
Airstar Space Lighting has been lighting outdoor functions, without shadows, for over 16 years. Using their lighting balloons with custom colors, themed covers or logos and images continues to be a great option for outdoor lighting.
“Old carnival string lighting is also extremely popular at the moment. I feel this look has become more popular because of our economic times,” says Cervantes.
Another trend in lighting is the use of chandeliers, both in tents and used creatively as table décor or staked in the ground. They are being seen as both extravagant and ornate or simple with lanterns, paper lanterns, or chandeliers that look more like you would find them in a home.

Go Natural
“Going Natural” for outdoor events means two things, one is the trend toward using natural elements when doing an event in nature and the other relates to green event initiatives.
The use of natural colors, such as corals and turquoises fits well with many outdoor events. Designers and planners are using organic elements, like grasses, sand and even dirt, in their designs. All of these concepts are creating a “natural chic” feel that is minimalistic and well-suited for smaller budgets and natural environments.
It can’t be ignored that in spite of the economic challenges, the world is looking to more green solutions for our lifestyles. This includes events. Recycling, reusing centerpiece vessels and other design pieces, organic products, and in general, using event elements that have a smaller environmental impact are definitely on the uptrend. Most venues and event suppliers are offering these types of solutions for their clients in an effort to stay ahead of the imminent greening wave.
From a design perspective, being outdoors lends itself to a very organic and natural feel. Valerie Bihet, owner, Miami-based the VIBE agency, wraps up the trends for outdoor design as, “Everything is more art infused – real life, real colors, more exquisite versus gaudy, more refined. Sophisticated, modern, minimalistic, and simple.”

Splashes of Color
When an event calls for color, the colors will be bright. “Brighter colors are trending this summer,” predicts Bihet. “Violets, romantic shades to correspond to flowers and classic reds, then turquoise blues and pink champagne to add some neutrality. This balances out all of the brilliant colors.”
Bright colors are celebratory and offer an immediate “wow factor” to an event. These color splashes are translating into flowers, linens, tent liners, lighting and sometimes in very small ways, such as having the napkins on the table be the only bright color at the event.
Designing through the creative use of color and more personal décor items is fast becoming the replacement for “themes,” and is bringing sophistication to both outdoor and indoor events.
The feeling about outdoor events is that if it can be done indoors, it can be done outdoors. Event supplies and services are available for anything you can imagine that would make your time outside more comfortable. High-end restrooms, weather-resistant furniture, heaters, air conditioners, lights, flooring and even special outdoor throw rugs are all available to bring the comforts of home to your next event with Mother Nature as host.

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Green Corner – What is my incentive for greening my event?

webmaster — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:30:31 -0400

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By Richard Byford
What are the incentives for people to go green? That is a good question and it was asked recently by a member of my audience when I was speaking recently at The Event Solutions Conference in Las Vegas.

I had spoken for over an hour on all the different things that producers and event people can do to produce green events. When I get going, the passion rises and I start talking about recycling, reducing our carbon foot print, reducing power usage, reducing paper usage and all the other things that I feel so passionately about. My excitement for the topic seemed to catch on and the audience came on this ride with me.
An hour into my session, I asked the audience for comments or questions. A young lady immediately spoke up - I don’t know her name and I have no idea what part of the country she came from - I do know that she was very knowledgeable and well-spoken and that she stopped me right in my tracks because I did not have an immediate answer for her.
Her statement: You talk a lot about going green for all the right reasons; you’re talking about doing it for the good of the planet, but you have to be real - look at how many people are in this room compared with some of the other panels. We are in a recession and people are going to the panels to learn to survive. The question should be, “What are the incentives financially for the companies to go green?” You have to talk about the triple bottom line - there is the social capital and the environmental capital, but also the financial capital.
I guess I am naive. I thought that producing green events and living a sustainable life style was just the right thing to do and that everyone would realize that the Special Event Industry could lead the way by example and we would change America. I guess I’ve always been a dreamer, however this mysterious lady is correct. The incentive in America to do anything, especially where change is required, is governed by the dollar and the bottom line. The first question out of everyone’s mouth is how much does it cost and how much money will I make?
I do not intend to waste this space by discussing the rights and wrongs of the American way of life, however, since “going green” is so important let’s discuss briefly the costs and the financial gains. It is true to say that there are a lot of little things that we can all do for little or no expense to make a difference in the way we do things. However small you think your part may be - it is the total of all those parts that will help lead us into a green sustainable future.
All of the little things we do have a marketing value. So tell everyone what you are doing, however small, so that others may follow your example. The bigger changes that would add additional cost to your client’s bottom line are much more difficult to achieve, unless there is a financial gain or a good marketing plan that would give them the reason to do it. You know, it has taken us a lot of years to arrive at this point and to be honest, it will take a lot of years down the road before we will see a marked difference.
What keeps me going is that as I travel around the world, I do see things changing - there is a quiet revolution starting to take place. Companies are slowly changing their thinking and their way of doing things. The week we were in Las Vegas, where the conference took place, Bally’s was awarded the highest EPA rating of any gaming facility in the US. They employ people on their dock to sort through the trash 24 hours a day and they recycle everything that it is possible to recycle.
So, I say to my unknown lady friend who prompted me to write this - yes there is a triple bottom line - social, environmental and financial. But it all starts with passion - a passion to do what is right for the country or the world. I truly believe that the financial bottom line will become easier as we move through the years. But we need the passion and desire to start somewhere!
If my mysterious lady reads this please contact me - I think we would have very interesting conversation. Actually that invitation goes out to everyone - let’s start a dialogue so we can all learn from one another. Let’s share the passion!

Richard Byford is the president of Byway Events & Entertainment based in Palm Springs, Calif. To view other blogs by Richard go to Byway Blog

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MAC Meetings & Events Acquires Interest In New York-Based Logistic Innovations

webmaster — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:41:00 -0400

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MAC Meetings & Events, headquartered in St. Louis, an industry leader in event, meeting and destination management, announced today it has acquired an interest in Logistic Innovations, a New York City-based logistics and event management company. Both companies have strong reputations for delivering unsurpassed meetings and events. Terms of the deal between the two privately held companies were not disclosed.

Logistic Innovations is a fully integrated event management and consulting company that also offers audiovisual technology and support from a single source. Their sophisticated, technological infrastructure provides a turnkey, modular approach to logistic planning; providing support options for a wide range of small and mid size meetings. Their business model is a streamlined, efficient and budget conscious outsource option to companies across industries, managing varied types of meetings and events.
While each company will keep their own identity, the move is a strategic expansion of MAC Meetings & Events’ into the New York City market. “MAC Meetings & Events saw the opportunity for continued growth and recognized that Logistic Innovations’ philosophies on client relationships, client service, and business mirrored MAC’s,” said Susan Gray, DMCP, President, MAC Meetings & Events.
“With paralleled and complimentary services, affiliating our companies will enhance our ability to build on our respected reputations and offer our clients a full range of products and services that are consistent in the growing need to outsource and manage business with a keen eye on overhead and resulting costs,” said Merrill Corry, President, Logistic Innovations.

About MAC Meetings & Events
MAC Meetings and Events provides a holistic approach to planning award-winning programs. MAC’s wide range of services includes destination management, meeting management, international meeting and incentives, event management and production, exhibit management, mobile marketing and professional staffing, MAC offers a single resource to handle all the details of any program, large or small. MAC’s corporate headquarters are located in St. Louis, Missouri, with offices in Kansas City, MO; Springfield, MO; Valdosta, GA, Birmingham, AL, and New York, NY

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Larger Than Life! PTE Productions turns Marriott World Center BLUE for National Autism Awareness Day

webmaster — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 13:32:42 -0400

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When it was time to paint the World’s largest Marriott Blue, they turned to PTE Productions. Nationally renowned for its creative abilities, and “out of the box” solutions, PTE Productions tackled one of the tallest buildings in Orlando.

Utilizing nine fixtures and just two 20-amp circuits, they turned something very difficult into something very simple. With only one week to plan, PTE Productions performed several onsite tests and selected the Phillips Color Reach fixture as the best tool for the job.
PTE Productions recently announced the addition of Phillips Color Reach High Output LED fixtures to its inventory with immediate availability. Clients now have the ability to light up large areas with minimal setup time, minimal power draw, and startling coverage and color saturation, ushering in a new era in building and structure lighting for PTE. Available as a direct rental or as part of a larger package, the Phillips Color Reach will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis, as demand for these new, state-of-the-art instruments is expected to be very high.
Please contact PTE Productions for additional information, high resolution photos, and/or to reserve this system for your next event.
www.pteproductions.com

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Phoenix Open weathers the storm with help from local pros

Aubrey — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:53:24 -0400

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What do you get when you combine the big-circus atmosphere with the PGA tour? Although not historically known for big-top style events, every year the PGA lets its hair down for the event which has earned its moniker as The “Biggest Show on Grass” a.k.a. The Waste Management Phoenix Open. This anything but the typical PGA tour event isn’t your mild mannered, palm-clap, moneyed event, with over 200,000 spectators each day and stretching across an estimated 7 square miles of eating, drinking and golfing and parking, the Phoenix Open is a logistical marvel.

An annual fundraiser, the $25 general attendance is all but unlimited. Crowds funnel in early beginning their day with bloody mary’s while staking claim to their perch on the greens. Known for their impromptu beer-induced chants (particularly at the 16th hole) and ability to continue the party throughout the evening at the post-party Bird’s Nest, the multitudes have a reputation for being rowdy. While the party-like atmosphere is allowed and even encouraged by the organizers, there is an admitted fine line between having fun and downright obnoxious. Its up to the security staff at PRO EM to make the call between heavy-handedness and safety, but after 8 years they have it down to a science and event organizers continue to rely on their crowd control. According to Tony Wetjen, head of Phoenix Open security for PRO EM, their goal is to ensure that spectators respect the game, the golfers and one another. But as the local boy Phil Mickelson approaches the notorious 16th hole, spectators in the stadium-style seating, a man in a red shirt heckles “Black is slimming!” with reference to Phil’s all-black attire. Tony rolls his eyes and tells me about the group of men from Minnesota who descend on the Phoenix Open each year in matching red shirts, they goad the golfers and spectators alike to remember why the Phoenix Open is so famous: a good time. Wonder if red is slimming in Minnesota?

The 800 PRO EM staff working during an event that Andrea Foster, Marketing Communications Manager of PRO EM, calls the biggest annual event in the Phoenix area, come from a database of over 1200. The recruiting for staff is year ‘round with PRO EM training new security, performing background checks and cross training positions for each and every staff member.

But it isn’t those easy-to-come-by general entry passes that event and golf aficionados covet, the big ticket is in the one of the many luxurious tents lining the fairways at the Scottsdale TPC. There are over 300,000 square feet of tents and semi permanent structures built exclusively for the Phoenix Open; also provided by PRO EM since combining forces with Arizona Tents and Events in 2008. Over 30,000 square feet is dedicated to the expo space, but many of the structures provide sponsors and their guests with excellent viewing and comfortable surroundings, including tiered stadium seating, space heaters, linen covered tables, and flat paneled TV’s showing the day’s Olympic events.

While scaffolding and tent set-up for the Phoenix Open begins approximately two and a half months in advance, when the PRO EM crew commandeers the Scottsdale TPC links and begins working through weather, holiday weekends and errant golf balls, this year it wasn’t the set-up, or even the 7-day security-parking-tenting-logistics extravaganza that the Phoenix Open has become, that provided the biggest challenge.

Despite the guys in the red shirts, this year, it was Mother Nature heckling event organizers and the PRO EM event services team. Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour combined with almost an inch of rain hit the Phoenix area the night before the final round. While there is always staff on-site over night, the winds and rain required all hands on deck. As Brady Castro, Vice President of Operations says: “It looked like a war zone out here, but, because of our resources, we had the staff we needed to get out here and clean it up.” Beginning at about 1AM, PRO EM staff, including CEO Bradley Kramer, descended on the TPC course, to re-set all of the wind-swept equipment. With tables and chairs blown around the course, along with cushions, umbrellas and space heaters, the PRO EM staff scrambled to recollect equipment and reassess the damage. Winds were strong enough to bend a flag pole about 30 degrees and upend a 50 foot gabled footbridge, but tents and scaffolding stayed solid and by the time spectators arrived, they were none the wiser for the disaster the previous night.

The 2010 event proved that it isn’t just the golfers who have to bring their “A” game to survive the Phoenix Open.

Are Social Events the New Corporate?

Aubrey — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 20:41:19 -0400

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There can be no doubt that the last few years have forever changed the events industry. For some, it has changed not only how they do events, but the type of events they do as well. Many planners originally focused on corporate events have now opened up their doors to the social arena and have found incredible success, like Meghan Schinderle, CEO & senior event planner for Los Angeles-based event company Intertwined.

“When we first opened our company we focused primarily on corporate events,” said Schinderle. “To date, corporate events make up the smallest percentage of our business.” And she’s not alone. Lisa McGowan, president of AWA Meetings & A Wondrous Affair in Winnetka, Ill. shares a similar story. “Since the recession, my business has grown significantly in the social and non-profit sectors while being reduced in the corporate arena. My bread and butter events are now my non-profit gala fundraisers.”

But why the switch to social and non-profit events? Of course a reduction of budgets in the corporate sector coupled with public scrutiny have been the strongest factors driving down corporate events, but why haven’t social events seen the same drop? In many cases, social and non-profit events are increasing, but why? Carol Galle, president of Royal Oak, Mich.-based Special D Events has a theory.

“While some of our corporate clients opted to postpone their annual meetings and events, our non-profit clients still need to raise funds,” said Galle. “Non-profits have fewer staff members these days, so they have been calling upon us to supervise volunteers and serve as the project manager for various events.”

As for social events, “I think no matter what the economy, people will always find the inspiration to celebrate an event,” said McGowan.

So should you pursue more social events and non-profits and how do you get a larger piece of the pie? For Schinderle, she not only accepted social events, she embraced them and went through a complete re-branding process at the beginning of 2009 to reflect the type of events her business was attracting. The result was a complete transformation from corporate to social that brought her company “closer to the money.”

While a complete company face-lift might not be right for your company, sometimes just changing the way you do things can do the trick. Lisa Jennings, chief experience officer at Orlando, Fla.-based Wildly Different is working to make her corporate events “appear” non-profit.

“We now offer a philanthropic twist on many of our standard offerings and have developed entire new programs based on giving back,” said Jennings. “For instance, where we used to do a standard game show that perhaps incorporated training information for our clients, now we work in challenges that allow participants to win much needed items for a non-profit, which are donated after the event.”

Social events aren’t for everyone, and it’s likely they will never out-price the corporate market, but there may still be a place for them in your business. “Sometimes you have to do what you have so that you can do what you want to do,” said Hillary Fosdyck, owner and event designer of Destin, Fla.-based Monark Events.
So whether you’re looking to do more non-profit or social events, doing business in this economy will require a little extra ingenuity. Creating new business models, putting a new face on your company or simply doing more networking could be the key to your success. According to Michael Owen, CEO and managing partner of Nashville, Tenn.-based EventGenuity “Instead of a ‘new normal,’ we are operating as if there’s no more normal.” The simple fact is, the industry has changed. Only one question remains, how will you ensure your business stays on top?

Aubrey Blankenship is the associate editor for Event Solutions. Contact: aubrey@event-solutions.com

PosterGarden Makes it to the Academy Awards

Aubrey — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:14:51 -0500

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The bright lights of Oscar night will shine on PosterGarden when Silhouette Optical, an international manufacturer of high fashion eyewear, sets up its display in the gifting lounge before the 82nd annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 7.

A customer of PosterGarden’s, Silhouette’s space in the celebrity gifting lounge will include a head-turning Rollup Banner with brilliant graphics printed on TerraPro. Silhouette’s display promotes their popular Titan Minimal Art line of eyewear, which is marking its 10-year anniversary this year.

Celebrities and press who attend the awards extravaganza browse their way through the gifting lounge, selecting goods to take home with them. The lounges are usually filled with everything from jewelry and electronics to clothing and stylish eyeglasses.

“It’s pretty exciting to think that one of our displays is actually going to be a part of such a high-profile event,” said Travis Rigby, president and CEO of PosterGarden. “We’ve always known that our displays can mingle with the best of the best, but this reinforces it for us.”

The Rollup Banner that Silhouette selected is an easy-to-use banner stand that sets up quickly and turns heads with its full-color, custom-printed graphics. And at the 82nd annual Academy Awards, where big-name stars like Morgan Freeman and Sandra Bullock will be out in full force, there’s no telling just whose heads may be turned.

“We’re looking forward to hearing about Silhouette’s experience at the awards and how our display helps them,” said Rigby. “This is a big deal for them and obviously they want to put their best foot forward. We’re glad they came to us to help them do just that.”

For more information about PosterGarden, visit www.PosterGarden.com.

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New Eco-Fabric from Moss Inc

Aubrey — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:38:37 -0500

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Tensioned fabric structure provider Moss Inc. has added Eco Blend Poly Duck to its line of environmentally friendly fabrics. The fabric is made from 45% recycled polyester yarn — made from clear, recycled plastic bottles — and will replace Moss’s current Poly Duck at no additional cost.

Moss also offers Green Moss Knit and Green UltraStretch. Moss Green Knit is a printable polyester based knit fabric used primarily for tensioned fabric structures. Green UltraStretch is a printable stretchy fabric most often used with Moss’ extrusion systems: Moss Max and Moss Groove.

For more information, visit www.mossinc.com.

Aztec Tents Introduces New Pole-less System

Aubrey — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:25:25 -0500

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Aztec Tents, a tent manufacturer based in Torrance, Calif., has introduced the radically re-designed Tidewater Frame Tent System. Taking its inspiration from the successful introduction of the Tidewater Sail Tent, which was released in early 2009, the new Tidewater Frame Tent creates the same dramatic appearance of its sister product while eliminating all internal poles to create more usable space inside the tent.

With features including a complete kedered wall system, wall tensioning and an adjustable mast to support the roof fabric, the Tidewater Frame Tent System offers the tent rental industry a new look in frame tent style and elegance. The system also makes available an integrated roof-lining system and a variety of different walling options.

“Our research and development of new products has consistently been steered by the feedback and comments of our customers,” said Chuck Miller, president of Aztec Tents. “The introduction of our new Tidewater Frame Tent System is an exciting culmination of feedback we have received over the last year following the release of the Tidewater Sail Cloth pole tent line.”

The Tidewater Frame Tent System will be available in widths of 20, 30 and 40 feet. The design allows customers with existing frame tent inventory to convert to the new system by replacing only a few fittings and the top to create a new iconic look.

For more information, visit www.aztectents.com.