Impact in 2024
As we plan out our year of internal events, continuing education, and networking - we look at local and regional events, but also nation-wide and international events.
We are excited to attend events like the EMERGE conference in Lexington and the CXO conference in Las Vegas in March 2024, and that’s just in Q1! We look for a number of things when investing in our attendance at these events, and impact, reach, and mission of the events are some of those factors.
IMEX America is certainly on our short list. They always have an annual talking point - a theme, if you will - which sets the tone and conversation for their meetings. “Impact” is the 2024 talking point, and it’s appropriately timed - for us at least. What does that mean for us in 2024 and beyond?
Sustainability - we have put an even bigger emphasis on sustainable practices, both in our events and our business operations. Recyclable, re-useable, low-impact, low carbon footprint, and more. We are practicing what we preach and we are bringing our clients into this fold. From gifting to inviting, executing and clean-up - there are a number of ways we can help make this happen. We are proud members of MUSE, and will continue to learn from them on sustainable event practices.
Growth - we want to be on the cutting edge of event best practices, trends, and new technology. But, we also want to ensure we cultivate excitement for growth within our team. Otherwise, we are no benefit to you….. we don’t like the “status quo”. We will continue to foster interest and exploration through continuing education related to events, marketing, business operations, technology, and more.
Inclusion / Access - it seems like a no-brainer but this is an area that always needs continual improvement, monitoring, and update. We want to be sure that everyone has access, feels included, and feels accommodated within our organization, when you work with us, and when you attend an event we are hosting or producing. From the communication, to the registration - check in to check out. This needs careful and constant consideration to ensure that everyone feels seen, included, and has their needs met. We are continuing to work with organizations to review our practices and help us make changes where needed.
Supporting Others - We are big fans of small business over here. We want to continue to support small business no matter the city, state, or country we are producing in. And, we will work hard to continue to grow our network across the country, bringing you the best of the best talent to meet and exceed your needs…. which doesn’t always mean the one with the flashy website. (It could mean that, it just doesn’t ALWAYS mean that). We want to continue to provide support, lend an ear, and give encouragement to our vendor friends and fellow event producers. And we will ALWAYS continue to advocate and participate in education opportunities with folks who might have an interest in the event industry as a future career.
Slowing Down - This seems odd….. why would you want to “slow down” in business. Well, it’s simple. We’ve realized over the last 4~ years that everything can change on a dime - whether you like it or not. We are being more intentional with what we agree to participate in, the clients we partner with and serve, and the time we carve out for our team to be with their friends and families. Allowing meaningful space outside of work creates an environment where our team excels while at work - and that results in the best events for our clients.
Several of these align with the IMEX definition of Impact. We are excited to learn and grow throughout the year, and hopefully bring this experience to you, our clients, friends, and followers.
What #Impact do you hope to make in 2024?
And - what events are on your radar to attend for continuing education?!