Top Trends for 2007
Stay Ahead of the Game with these Eight Event Ideas
by Jean Vivrette | Published in February 2007 Event Currents
Change is a constant, and staying at the forefront of shifting times, revolutionary technologies and the changing needs of demanding clients is vital to today’s top event producers. Keeping current on today’s cutting-edge trends allows you to not only add that wow factor to your conference, meeting or incentive, but also keep guests intrigued, excited and yearning to come back next year.
Here’s a look at the trends that will be shaping our events as 2007 unfolds.
Texture, Texture, Texture
With lounge environments still en vogue for events, a new addition is the use of low cocktail tables covered with a tight pave of flowers. This not only brings out the fragrance but the sense of touch into the event experience. You are actually able to place plates on the pave of flowers, and it is typical to leave a 5-inch rim around the flowers where glassware can be placed.
Go Big
Sure, large-screen formats have been utilized by sizable groups in substantial environments for some time, but they are now widely popular for smaller ballrooms and event spaces with fewer attendees, as in the setup Tustin, Calif.-based Video Applications created, shown in the picture. Creating these visibly immersive environments greatly enhances the impact of presentations to smaller groups (250-plus people). Wide-screen designs also create greater opportunities for pulling the viewer into the message — a big plus!
Telepresence not Teleconference
Teleconferencing is not new, but telepresence is — and will soon be a much more useful tool. Telepresence means virtually recreating a person’s image, full size, full color, full motion, eye-to-eye as if the person were sitting across the table from you or standing behind a lectern on the dais before a group. Teleportec (www.teleportec.com) is one option that brings this communication concept to life.
Environmental Décor
Natural elements have already been the trend in home design and advertising, but these organic essentials can now add a clean, fresh look to your events. Fresh greenery and decorative branches such as curly willow or mitsumata branches can add a powerful décor impact to a simple room.
Available from companies such as Nettleton Hollow (www.nettletonhollow.com), natural elements are typically less expensive than florals, ultimately adding to your bottom line.
Try incorporating these centerpiece ideas into your next event:
- Wooden bowls filled with dried split oranges and pomegranates;
- Kiwi branches and lotus pods in glass bowls.
Incentivizing Middle Management on a Budget
With the growing trend of incentivizing the middle management non-sales employee, companies are looking to high-end destinations on smaller budgets. Solution: all-inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya. In the world of mid-range incentives, the high-end all-inclusive resorts are increasingly impressive and reasonably priced! Two examples include the Royal Hideaway Playacar (pictured) by Occidental Hotels & Resorts (www.royalhideaway.com) and Playacar Palace by Palace Resorts(www.palaceresorts.com).
Make a Statement!
Keep it simple, yet make a big splash with a single focal point in your event space. Any one element out of place can distort the effect, eliciting a “Wow!” from your attendees. Think big and bright — then black out the remainder of the room for dramatic effect.
Go Virtual!
A picture is worth a thousand words. With 3-D diagramming software tools, virtual concept images are quickly produced, providing an accurate representation of the event.
Vivien Virtual Event Designer (www.cast-soft.com), for example, is a complete software solution enabling event and meeting professionals to sell and design proposals with 2-D floor plans, virtual views and 3-D photorealistic images.
Poker: the New Golf
Golf will of course always remain a favorite pastime for groups, but with Generation X dominating attendance, there is a greater need to incorporate alternatives. Try a professional poker tournament as your next group activity or include one in your next evening event.
Hint — a professional tournament director from the World Poker Tour (such as Matt Savage, www.savagetournaments.com) is the key to this type of event! Another great option is including celebrity poker players to liven up the tables.
About the author: Jean Vivrette
Jean Vivrette is president of Irvine, Calif.-based Pacific Partners, an event management firm. This article was adapted from a recent series of symposiums the company offered.