Seminar Overview
The unique and extensive combination of event and catering education at the 2009 Conference means you get TWO shows for the price of one! Mix and match your education or follow a specific track — the choice is yours and the options are limitless. More than 150 sessions cover a wide range of event-related topics to fit your needs, plus provide more in-depth catering education for you or your vendor partners.
For a full description of each Event Solutions class, plus speaker information, go here.
Event Solutions sessions are in BLUE and Catersource sessions are in GREEN.
SUNDAY, February 22
Afternoon Education
• What’s Haute for the Table: A Design Face-Off
• Exhibit like an Expert: Boost your Booth Sales and ROI
• Introduction to Financial Management for Events
• Introduction to Risk Management for Events
• Entertainment Acquisition and Management
• PR 101: Just the Facts
• Catersource Forum ‘LIVE’
• Focus on Sales & Marketing - Regional Roundtables
• How the Conference Works
• Earn Dollars By Making & Selling Your Own Floral Centerpieces
• Masterful Banquet Service That Will Enhance Your Image
• Happiness is… Hot New Hors d’oeuvre
• Selling Tips For New Caterers That Will Make Sales Soar
• Find New Clients With Upscale Grilling Menus
• Selling Events To Charities and Other Non-Profits
• Winning During Unpredictable Times
MONDAY, February 23
Morning Education
• Invites and More: Branding the Event Experience with Effective Marketing Materials
• Bringing your Brand to Life: Marketing through Sponsorships and Events
• I Sold It…What Is It? Selling your Services Realistically and Effectively
• Case Study Workshop
• Designs for the Senses
• Do You Know your Audience? Hitting the Bull’s-Eye with your Target Marketing
• Innovative Refreshment Break Design and Menu Development for Planners
• Using “Little Plates” to Earn Big Profits
• Commission Impossible: Paying, Training, Motivating and Developing a Winning Sales Team PART 1
• Commission Impossible: Paying, Training, Motivating and Developing a Winning Sales Team PART 2
• A Proven Formula for Personal Sales Success
• Costing For Profit In Small and Mid-Sized Catering Companies
• How to Create Events from Brainstorming the Concept to Making the Sale
• New Service Techniques & Ideas for Buffet and Action Stations
• Seeking Excellence Through Innovation: An overview of Best Industry Practices
Afternoon Education
• 35 Cost Saving Tips for Meeting Planners
• From A/V to E-Z: Getting What You Want from A/V, Lighting and Special Effects Vendors
• Recession Proofing your Event Planning: Make Yourself Indispensable — Regardless of the Economic Climate
• Event Design: Generation Next
• Everything You Always Wanted to Know about Selling to Corporate Planners
• Beyond ROI: Creating Strategic Event Experiences on Any Budget
• Marketing 2.0: Promoting your Business in a Web-Savvy World
• You Can Always Get What You Want: Advanced Negotiation Strategies
• Events Tonight Show with David Merrell: The Art of Design, Branding and Inspiration
• Impact your Bottom Line Utilizing Students and Interns
• Simple Green: Eco-Friendly Event Tips and Tricks You Can Implement Today
• Expo Essentials: Add Value and Excitement to your Next Trade Show
• Festival and Event Management
• Decision Management: Are your Decisions Brilliant or Blundering?
• The Event World is Flat: Producing Successful International and Multi-Cultural Events
• Wedding and Event Trends 2010
• Achieving Success with your Wedding Business
• Cutting-Edge General Sessions: Amp up the Impact
• MASTER PLANNER SERIES (I): Advanced Event Design
• Customer Pleasing Buffet Stations With New Designs
• “After Hours” The Transformation from Museum Exhibits to Special Events
• Managing A Profitable Banquet Facility, Restaurant, and Off-Premise Business All At The Same Time
• Growth During Unpredictable Times
• Weddings: Walking New Ideas Down the Aisle
• The Anatomy of a Guest Pleasing Event From Production To Completion
• Slice It , Dice It, and Spice It Up! Unique ideas to Add WOW to Your Catering Menus
• You Had Me at Hello! How First Impressions Help You Close the Sale
• Learn How To Earn Dollars From Kosher Catering
• How To Publish Your Own Cookbook to Increase Your Image and Bottom Line
• Understanding the Numbers….Basic Financial Literacy For Caterers
• Ways To Take Your Idea or Product To The Retail Marketplace
• The Evolution Of Event Style….From Then To Now
• The Newest Buffet Ideas From Coast To Coast
• Catering Trends for Non Commercial Companies
• Trends in Private Institution Design for Special Events and Food Service
• Update On Tax & Legal Issues That Caterers Need To Know
• “Stoke The Fire”…. Updates On How Bar-B-Que Caterers Are Fueling Their Sales, Products, And Profit
TUESDAY, February 24
Morning Education
• Empower Yourself: The Networking Power of Social Events
• Contemporary Lighting Designs in a Cost-Conscious Climate
• CSR in a Brave New World: Impact your Attendees, Community and your Bottom Line
• Making the Cut: Producing a Successful Golf Tournament
• Events on a Shoestring: Solutions for Non-Profit Planners
• CSM Secrets: Working Better — and Smarter — with your CSM/Event Manager
• Increase Sales, Add Value, Build Relationships — in Any Economic Climate
• Making your Event a Mega Media Star
• Convention Wisdom: Increasing Value, Attendance and Revenue in Any Economy
• Stylized, Personalized, Idealized Weddings: Finding your own Personal Style — and Theirs
• Incorporating Killer Multimedia into your Events
• MASTER PLANNER SERIES (II): Advanced Entertainment and Technology
• Early-Morning Mental Aerobics With Phila & Mike
• The Asian Connection: Trend Setting Menus That Will Spark Your Sales
• Teach An Old Bird New Tricks….. Easy Ways To Enhance Your Poultry Recipes From Appetizers to Entrees
• Marketing Successfully To Today’s Millennium Bride
• The Dynamics Of A Successful Family Run Catering Company
• Bar/Bat Mitzvahs…..A Simple Guide to a Profitable Market
• Selling Catering During Unpredictable Times
• Using Vertical Integration to Dramatically Increase Profitability
• Raising the Bar… Simple Changes for Your Beverage Services that Brand Your Company and Bring Profit to Your Bottom Line
• The Off Premise Kitchen Blueprint to “Get the Food Out”
• Industry Trends that You Must Know
• Non Commercial Catering Success Stories
WEDNESDAY, February 25
Morning Education
• Getting Down and Dirty with Venues: The Secrets of Contract Negotiation
• Volunteers Wanted! Get the Most for the Least at your Next Event
• You’re Worth It: How to Sell a Business in an Uncertain Economy
• Platinum Weddings and Socials without the Cost of Precious Metal
• Form and Function: Take your Branding — and Style — to the Next Level
• Building your Special Event Business
• How to get Maximum Return from your Marketing Dollars
• Pairing Food and Spirits with Amazing Panache and Style
• Non Commercial Catering Success Stories
• Roman’s Drop-Off Catering Show & Tell
• STAND OUT! How Branding can Differentiate Your Company
• The Hiring Tool Kit
• Kitchen First Aid… How to turn your “out of control” catering kitchen into a high performance machine
Afternoon Education
• The Consummate Professional: Improving your Business Relationships for Greater Wedding Business Success
• Lower Stress, Increase Sales — Even in a Tough Economy
• Turning Non-Traditional Venues into “Wow” Events
• Focus on Special Effects: Creating Effective Effects for your Events
• Strategic Hotel Contract Negotiations: How Hotels Value your Meeting
• Producing Awards Events that Keep Them Applauding
• Style Me Pretty… Tricks and Techniques to Create “WOW” and Define YOUR Company’s Style
• How To Bring 10% to Your Bottom Line
• Pricing During Unpredictable Times
• Developing Special Events at Public Facilities
THURSDAY, February 26
Morning Education
• Simply Green: From Sustainable Kitchens to Earth Friendly Events
• Caterers Can Make Money By Doing School Food Service
• Where to Find Clients, How to Book Them, and Keep Them Coming Back for More
• A Salt & Pepper Experience: A Manifesto on Seasoning
• Proposals That Win Sales and Impress You Clients
• Building Powerhouse Management Performance
• Throw Your Own Party to Market Your Company
• Meet the Catersource Consulting Team
All sessions are subject to change without notice.