I thought I was successfully stepping away from event planning, but they’re dragging me back in so who are the young leaders on creative education formats and please do not recommend somebody that was popular 10 years ago. #eventprofs

My favorite thing overheard at the ASAE Annual Meeting just now: “we have the Cadillac of lanyards.” Get deal done sales rep.

So cue the setting up the auto forward to a folder rule for #ASAE26 vendor solicitations. If you have something genuinely new in tech - hit me up here. I will check it out - but no way am I reading these emails. #eventech #eventprofs #associations

If you have a US event that relies on international travelers... I feel for you right now.

I am likely moving to Blue Sky - if you DM and I don't respond, it is likely because I am not here. Likely.

I spoke to an expert in tech pricing. They told me how technology companies in the event industry purposely leave out the most needed features to inflate pricing. Blaming it to 'complexity' to boost sales. Then it all turns out into 'let us help you reduce stress' marketing.

In-person events for a virtual platform was always interesting to me.

The problem with many eventtech company is that they raise $10/15M and instead of spending on the product, they prefer to waste them on clueless sales people who send random messages and leave voicemails to lists acquired on the internet. No marketing, no relationships, no

5.) I went to a Hyatt evening reception, and a salesperson from another chain cornered me and kept talking about their property, which was not a Hyatt property. Maybe it was a normal practice, but it felt icky. Don't do that.

I found one vendor I was ready to sign up for. He was like “I will follow up later” and off I went to view other products that compete against his. If you are paying for a booth, be prepared to do deals.

4.) How many people here are interested in getting a scan over getting a client. Are you all setting scanning quotas rather than engagement time?

3.) How many people refuse to give you cost estimates before the demo? Like you are just wasting everyone’s time if your price point isn’t in the ballpark.

2.) How being over prepared with your sales speak turns so many people off. I asked a vendor a software question, and he launched into his sales speech, and I was like, nah... I just want to know the answer to that question. He seemed flustered and wanted badly to finish.

A few observations from the ASAE show floor. 1.) knd of surprised when I asked twice - can I see the software solution in action - and they say not at the show, but we can set up a time later. That's likely not to happen. Work is going to take over, and I am here and present.

The trend for mystery trips is on the rise — but your destination doesn’t have to be a secret to be a surprise. We reveal how event planners can inject the unexpected into their next off-site meeting. https://t.co/3v2pYI4sSG Produced in partnership with @arizonatourism

Many event planners are going Open to Work on LinkedIn. I cannot recommend enough hiring them for whatever you have going on. Operations Project management Customer success These people are incredibly gifted and don’t flinch when presented with the most challenging task. Hire

The planner in me wants to scream right now. Just open the other doors. @ASAEcenter

But it is weird to say we hit a peak when consumers want more. It is just how do you make the numbers work anymore if you aren't the big “summer blockbuster”?

However, the model has to change. Maybe it is in selling data. Maybe CVBs need to change focus to sponsoring small and medium events. Maybe it is nontraditional venues and smaller footprints. But the framework that made events work is broken. So I guess it is a peak.

I am not predicting the collapse of an industry - I think the value of meetings will remain, and people crave face-2-face interaction. (Remote work has only added fuel to this desire).