From catering to lighting, design to social media and marketing – Event Professionals are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to create that ‘wow’ moment at an event. It is because of this innovation and creative thinking, that the event’s industry is one of the most exciting and fast moving industries around.

BizBash (an events publication from the US), recently released their list of The 68 Most Innovative Event Professionals. These are the faces who are changing the events industry through an influx of new ideas, technologies, and engagement strategies.

We’ve listed below a summary on our Top 5 Event professionals.

1. Brian Aaron (Catering)

President, Aaron’s Catering, Miami, 30, Twitter: @Aarons_Catering

Innovation: Aaron experiments with molecular gastronomy throughout his entire catering operation. He recently served 8000 people with edible capsules of orange juice and ginger at the 2011 Food Network South beach Wine & Food Festival. He is also creates cutting edge and unique dishes such as mac-and-cheese lollipops and juices frozen with liquid nitrogen.

2. Ira Levy (Lighting)

President, Levy Lighting, New York, 47, Twitter: @LevyLighting

Innovation: Levy combines artistic lighting designs with cutting edge technology. He experiments  with motion-triggered projections and is the brains behind iShadow – interactive tabletops, interactive dance floors and walls that come alive.

3. David Stark (Theming and Design)

President and creative director, David Stark Design and Production, New York, 42

Innovation: David creates colourful, jaw-dropping, larger-than-life installations. The difference is, he has a strong reputation for using recycled materials. In 2008 he made large sculptures made of $1 million of donated office supplies, clothing, and food for the Robin Hood Foundation benefit.

4. Adrian Segar (Conferences and Presentations)

President, Conferences That Work, Brattleboro, Vermont, Twitter: @ASegar

Innovation: The author of Conferences That Work: Creating Events That People Love, created “participant-driven” conferences. Gone are the days of long lectures, but rather short attendee presentations on topics of the group’s choosing. He designed and facilitated EventCamp East Coast.

5. Marlo Fogelman (Social Media and Marketing)

Principal, Marlo Marketing/Communications, Boston, 39

Innovation: Marlo’s social media-savvy firm has created strategic, integrated PR and marketing campaigns for clients such as Starbucks Coffee, Kimpton Hotels, and the James Beard Foundation. They recognised the need and value of what would become mainstream social media.

Do you know of any other event innovations or event professionals that you would like to share? Leave a comment below.

Top 5 Innovative Event Professionals is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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1. Top 10 iPad Apps For Event Managers It is unquestionable that the iPad has impacted the Events...

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With Easter just around the corner, we thought it would be a great opportunity to share with you some simple and inexpensive tips to help you make the most of your holiday.

1. When making drinks for your guests – (both young and old), why not try a few of these Easter themed beverages. Click here.

2. Don’t have a lot of space to hide Easter eggs? Try placing eggs in small, homemade baskets or grass patches, and placing them strategically around your flat. Have a lot of plants? Use the pots as hiding spots for your Easter eggs. Wherever your kids or guests find their eggs, simply finding them is sure to put a smile on their faces.

3. Jellybeans – in the appropriate Easter colour palette always make a nice statement. Try this: get a clear bowl and fill it with yellow, green, white, pink, grey and purple – a simple yet effective look.

4. Having family and friends over for dinner? Why not give each a personalised Easter egg with their initials? They won’t forget it and it is sure to add that extra something special to their holiday.

5. Bring on the trivia - Test your guests knowledge of Easter with a short, fun quiz. Could be a great option to have around should the weather turn sour. Here’s a really fun quiz we found on Martha Stewart.com

What are some other inexpensive tips and ideas for celebrating Easter this year? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below.

5 Inexpensive Tips to Enjoy this Easter is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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It is unquestionable that the iPad has impacted the Events Industry. From client presentations, product and information displays, evaluation surveys,  to project management apps there seems to be a feature or application for everything. So what are the Top 10 Apps that The Forum group can suggest? Read below to find out;

1.  Keynote - Create a world-class presentation with animated charts and transitions. it’s as simple as touching and tapping.

2.  iSurvey – The tool that market research professionals use when they are tired of using old fashioned clip boards and paper forms for face to face interviews. Great tool for conducting evaluation surveys at events.

3.  Go To Meeting – The easiest and most convenient way to attend online meetings. View slide presentations, design mock-ups, spreadsheets, reports and more.

4.  Office HD – View, create and edit word (DOC and DOCX) and Excel (XLS) files on your iPad.

5.  Super Planner – Business app for the event professional. It provides a variety of planning tools including calculators for venue capacity, staffing, catering, staging and floor plans.

6.  iLeads – The world’s first lead retrieval app. It enables exhibitors to collect leads at trade shows.

7.  Daily Notes and To Do – Great app for jotting down notes, thoughts and things to do.

8.  MindMeister – The one and only mind-mapping app you’ll ever need. Helps you organise, prioritise and generate new thoughts.

9.  Pocket Informant HD (Calendar and Tasks) – This app won “Best of Show 2011′ at ‘Macworld Expo 2011′. Tonnes of features and worth checking out.

10.  Sign My iPad – Simple to use PDF reader and annotation tool. No more printing documents to sign and then scanning and emailing. Do it all from your iPad.

What are some other great apps for Event Managers? Leave a comment with your suggestions below.

Top 10 iPad Apps For Event Managers is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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1. 5 Things for Event Managers to Consider When Selecting a Venue Selecting the right venue is one of the most important...

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Selecting the right venue is one of the most important factors in producing a successful event. It needs to serve it’s purpose logistically, drive attendance, and ideally leave a lasting memory in your clients and delegates minds!

So what are the key steps in making sure you secure the right venue? Read below to find out.

1. Identify the type of event

What type of event are you organising? Is it a corporate conference or exhibition? Or a more informal special networking event or awards dinner? Different types of events obviously suite different venues – hotels and 5 star conference centres generally work well for big conferences and unique fun venues are often better for fun, networking events.

You also need to establish if the event will be a breakfast, lunch, dinner or an all day event – as this will also effect your decision.

2. Do your research

Has your client held this event before? If so, what was the previous location? Where are your client’s competitors holding their events? What venues have a good reputation? Which venues should you avoid?

3. Identify the date of the event

Does the client have a specific date in mind? If so how flexible is the date? Checking availabilities with venues right from the first communication is extremely important! Always check on special holidays or school terms as this is almost always an important consideration for any business event.

4. Establish necessary requirements (and shortlist your venues accordingly)

Some examples include;

• Expected number of guests? – Can the venue cater for this amount?
• Is accommodation required? – Does the venue have accommodation in house or packages with any surrounding hotels?
• Is parking and / or public transport required? – How important is this to the client?
• Do guests have disabilities or require special access? – If so can the venue cater for this in the most effective way?
• What is the room set-up? – banquet, cabaret, classroom, theatre or cocktail?

5. Consider your client and attendee expectations and interests

This includes;

• Appeal of the location
• Convenience and accessibility of the location
• The cost (both of hiring the venue and for guests to travel there)
• Entertainment options (are there surrounding restaurants, golf clubs, night life?)

What are some other questions or things that Event Managers should consider when selecting a venue? Leave your comments below.

5 Things for Event Managers to Consider When Selecting a Venue is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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From incorporating a new form of entertainment to producing an innovative ‘one of a kind’ large scale event experience – event managers are always looking for new and innovative ideas to make your event stand out.

By doing so, you are providing your delegates with something that they might not have experienced before, something that your competitors probably haven’t offered before and something that is guaranteed to get people talking – and remembering your event for a long time to come!

So what are some examples of fun, innovative and creative ideas that are  guaranteed to leave this lasting impression? Read our 5 quick suggestions below:

1. Growing Gifts - Environmentally friendly gift ideas. Why not give someone the gift of a tree? (www.growinggifts.com.au)

2. Chocolate Prints – Take chocolate to a new level! Print high resolution images or logos on your delegate treats that are 100% edible – your delegates will be sure to thank you! (www.chocolateprints.com.au)

3. Paper Tiger Products - New and exciting sustainable products that are Australian designed and made, re-usable, recyclable and brandable. Showcase your corporate social responsibility by using some of these products at your next conference. (www.papertigerproducts.com)

4. Brad Blaze – The speed painter who painted his way to the top of the event entertainment industry. If you want dinner entertainment that’s a little different to your standard jazz band, then check this out. It’s guaranteed to keep your audience captivated. (www.bradblaze.com.au)

5. Adrenalin Adventures – Provide your delegates with an experience of a lifetime. With over 2000 adventures to choose from – ranging from massages to V8 car racing – you are sure to find something perfect for your next event!

Do you have any event ideas you would like to share? From small gift ideas to big sustainability ideas – we’d love to hear your thoughts on how to make your next event stand out.  Leave a comment below.

5 Ideas for Your Next Event is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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It’s that time of year again…where we reflect on all our hard work over the past year, kick back and celebrate with our colleagues at our work Christmas parties.

So what are some top tips to make the most of the silly season? Watch our ’12 Days of Christmas Parties’ video below:

1. Venue - Turn nothing space into something. Even an empty car park can be transformed into a nightclub with the right lighting! Get inspired. An empty space provides you with a blank canvas – create an event masterpiece!

2. Social media – Create a Facebook event page, send the link around the office and get everyone to LIKE it – get them involved and excited in the lead up to the Christmas party. Head to TFG’s ‘social media for events’ page for some tips to get started.

3. Gifts – Customised items are a great gift idea this season. It makes the item more personal and shows your colleague / employee that you have really thought about them. Check out some ideas here.

4. Lasting impression – People always remember the food at events. So give them something to talk about – serve food that tells a story / creates impact. An example could be setting up themed food stations.

5. Ice breaker – Christmas treasure hunts, trivia and other team building activities are a great way to set the scene for the evening and get people socialising…plus they are lots of fun! Some examples of Christmas team building activities can be found here.

6. Theming – Make your own centrepieces – something unique and personal with a touch of Christmas Flair! There’s lots of great websites online that can provide you with ideas. Some examples can be found here.

7. Technology – Make use of mobile and sms reminders. It’s a great way to build up excitement and remind guests of all the details – including time, location and what to bring.

8. Invitation – Personalise and make it fun to get their attention. Jib Jab have a great selection of e-cards which you can customise.

9. Jam sessions – Another option for entertainment / music is to hold a ‘jam session’. Tell guests to bring along their instrument and get into the festive cheer. It’s  free and guaranteed to be lots of fun.

10. Food – Bite size portions are really popular at the moment. Especially for cocktail parties / and social gatherings where guests are networking and moving around. Serving food in shot glasses is a unique and trendy option.

11. Beverages – Everyone likes to enjoy a nice drink at a Christmas party – so why not use your creativity and flair to make your own custom cocktail…make sure you have a mocktail version as well..something that everyone will enjoy.

12. Getting home – Remember the three S’s – be Safe, Share, Save money! Organise cabs or a mini bus to get everyone home.

We hope you have a great time celebrating Christmas with your colleagues and families…

Do you have any more tips or ideas on how to make the most of your Christmas party? Leave a comment below.

12 Days of Christmas Parties is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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• How to plan and promote events with social media

• How to use twitter to promote your event

• Social media for event planners

• Social media strategy IS the new event coordinator

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• How to create an event on facebook

Social Media Resources is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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Event catering is consistently adapting to new trends. With each season there are new hit flavours, social trends, innovative presentation methods and  exciting influences from different cultures and nationalities from around the world that influence what chef’s present on our plates.  So what trends are suspected to be popular in 2011? Read below to find out;

1. A rise in middle eastern influences. Falafel, couscous, hummus and other traditional ethnic foods are likely to become more evident in 2011 menu’s.

2. Cooking classes as social gatherings. With shows such as ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ and ‘Masterchef’ being as popular as they are, it’s not surprising to that 2011 is likely to see an increase in group cooking classes and other social food experiences. Event attendee’s want to learn something they can take home with them after the event and it’s also a great way to break the ice and socialise.

3. Unique serving methods. Architectural food, non-traditional serving platters, edible centrepieces and themed feeding stations will open the imaginations of caterer’s in the coming year and consequently add to the overall experience of event attendee’s in 2011.

4. A health conscious approach to food. Society in general is becoming more and more conscious of their health and what they can do to maintain this. 2011 will further see chef’s creating delicious meals with healthier alternatives.

5. Mixing and incorporating global flavours. A new trend that is becoming more popular is mixing global flavours with traditional foods. Eg. a traditional aussie barbeque with a french flair.

What other trends do you think the event catering industry will see in 2011? We would love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below.

Event Catering Trends for 2011 is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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IMBIZO is a Zulu word for gathering and also the name of South African Tourism’s (SAT) recent showcase: a four-city road show for Australian Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events market.  The Forum Group assisted SAT in managing and producing IMBIZO. Read our case study below.

Objective: To educate and immerse the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Events industry in the experience of South Africa and its new diverse offerings as a global meetings destination.

The key focus was to create an interactive and educational experience.

Strategy: To create a unique IMBIZO with a feel for the experiences that a delegate would have in South Africa.

Tactics: To transform an empty function space into distinct South African MICE encounters.

Guests were greeted by the memorizing voices a 24 piece choir singing lively traditional and modern South African music. Guests enjoyed South African flavoured canapés and wines.

From the pre-diner drinks area, guests were prompted to enter the ‘Stargazing Safari’ zone which was completely dark and only lit by subtle star cloth which covered all exposed walls. Unique sounds of the South African night noises were played subtly in the background.

Guests were required to spend 5 minutes at each of the 11 SAT partner stands to hear about existing and new venues, tours and DMC offerings. A loud elephant’s trumpet sound signaled the trigger to move to the next stand.

The main dinner area was transformed into a ‘Boma’ (campfire dinner) experience with a central campfire prop, long picnic style tables, wooden seating and reeds and plants placed around the room.  The area was lit with warm ambers and red lighting to enhance the campfire feel. Delicious traditional Braai (South African Barbeque style) foods were served at all venues.

Results: A highly successful engaging and interactive event which provided Event Management Companies, Professional Conference Organisers, Incentive Houses, Meetings & Conference Managers substantial information to be able to on-sell the wonderful destination of South Africa.

A sensory experience of a South African IMBIZO to the Australian MICE market.

IMBIZO – A South African gathering for Event Management Companies is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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Trade shows are a popular way of marketing your brand, connecting with your target audience and capturing new leads.

In order to successfully achieve this however, there are some key questions which you must ask yourself (and communicate to your booth staff in order to maximise your ROI);

1. Who is your target audience?

2. How will you attract them to your booth?

3. What is the one thing you want them to know about your business?

4. How will you communicate this and capture those leads?

5. How will you then follow up this lead and turn them into a customer?

Do you have any other questions that you think are important to consider? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment below.

Top 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Exhibiting at Your Next Trade Show is a post from: THE FORUM GROUP - Sydney Event Management Company

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