When the meetings are done for the day it’s time to relax with some fun networking activities. Here are a few of our top options. Group Ride on the Trail Rent some bikes at Spoke-N-Sport or Nyberg’s Ace downtown location and take a cruise on the 30-mile paved trail that loops around the city, following the path of the winding Big Sioux River through many of city’s beautiful parks. Sip-N-Cycle Hoping for a bike ride that’s a little less strenuous? Plan ahead and get a group for our Sip-N-Cycle. Enjoy your favorite cold beverage and blast your favorite songs from the speakers as you roll your w ..read more

Albany Capital Center is a beautiful glass structure located in the heart of historic downtown Albany, New York. This 80,000-sq.-ft. convention center is located just steps away from the New York State Capitol and has direct connections, via a climate-controlled walkway, to the Empire State Plaza, The Egg and the Times Union Center.  With the ACC as its centerpiece, these spaces make up the Capital Complex, the largest meeting space in Upstate New York at 159,000 square feet. Proudly managed by SMG, Albany Capital Center provides our capital city with a contemporary meeting, ballroom and exhib ..read more

They say teamwork makes the dream work. Destinations and hotels alike dedicate effort to creating that dream. These experiences at places like Barnsley Resort in North Georgia and Florida’s Historic Coast—St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches will inspire group camaraderie. Make Waves Get up close and personal with the wildlife at Marineland Dolphin Adventure in St. Augustine, where groups can get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the first underwater filming studios. This is where “The Creature from the Black Lagoon” was filmed. Groups can become part of the show while meeting dolphins ..read more

It’s a late summer evening outside Denver and about 100 executive-level attendees, amid of a corporate retreat, are enjoying dinner at an exclusive estate. The setting is swank: chandeliers, stained glass, fine china, stemware and linens. The menu is equally so, created by a notable chef who’s pairing his haute cuisine with fine wines and… marijuana. “You smoke, you eat, you drink,” is the mantra here, echoed by both the chef and the evening’s “cannabis sommelier.” At least a quarter of the dinner guests partake in this sensory feast to their fullest. Granted, it’s tempting to dismiss this odd ..read more

Register for Webinar Research has shown that traditional marketing tactics aren’t working, so people aren’t listening to you. What they ARE listening to is what the leaders of their tribe, the Influencers, have to say. Event Influencer Marketing is the best-kept secret weapon, a low hanging fruit that fits neatly in your existing event marketing campaign. Learn the difference between macro and nano influencers and how to identify if they are the right fit for your event. Gain knowledge from the insights of several case studies and see how your event can take advantage of low-risk, high-reward ..read more

Wisconsin produces more than 60% of our nation’s cranberries by harvesting millions of pounds every autumn. That’s a whole lot of tart fruit. While some companies opt to host retreats at their local escape room or head to a big city to convene, teams should consider experiencing Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest to grow closer as an organization. Here’s a roundup of cranberry-themed outings ideal for small groups. Cranberry Marsh Tour Start the trip off learning about the state’s No. 1 fruit crop at Wisconsin Cranberry Discovery Center. Groups can schedule a private tour of the museum to learn abo ..read more

Register for Webinar As an #EventProf your mind is running in a million directions when planning events. You need to think about the visual design, create engaging content, and of course, the overall experience of your event. But have you thought about connectivity design for events? On average attendees have at least two devices on them at events. If they can’t connect or have a bad connection, it could automatically ruin their experience, therefore tanking your event. But you don’t have to let this happen to you! In this session, we will teach you how to make sure you have the best connectiv ..read more

Bermudian entrepreneur Dennie O’Connor was recently named the 2019 International Certified Tourism Ambassador of the Year. O’Connor, who owns the Cosmopolitan Night Club in Hamilton and is a co-owner of Beach Boys Ltd.—Tobacco Bay in St. George’s and the Bermuda Triangle Experience at Clearwater Beach, is the first winner from outside the United States. “For more than 25 years, Dennie O’Connor has exemplified what Bermuda hospitality is all about,” says Karla Lacey, CTA, chief operating officer of the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “His passion and knowledge of Bermuda is what helps to set our isl ..read more

Event professionals can’t do everything themselves. These apps streamline the planning process to help events run smoother. Capsule Your attendees, exhibitors, vendors and team can share photos on one platform with Capsule, a photo app that lets users create a shared, you guessed it, capsule” of images from an event. Once you create the account, invite people to add photos, and members can vote for the best. Once the capsule closes, the app will generate the final group’s selection of pictures —enticing a slew of memories. iOS and Android Conference Compass Conference Compass is designed speci ..read more

The future of work is a hot topic right now. Technological advancements and changes in society have always both eradicated and created new jobs. For instance, technological innovation first created the job of a telephone operator and later abolished it. Similarly, technology led to developing the job of an Uber driver, which will most probably disappear along with self-driving cars in the future. That’s life. We all need to make space for something new and let go of something old. As futurist Gerd Leonhard puts it: “Everything that can be automated and digitalized will be automated and digital ..read more