I am excited to share my experience attending a PYM LIVE event for the first time. I admit to being skeptical about the event at first. How would this be different from another network meeting and/or “lunch and learn” provided by a local organization?
PYM LIVE FAQ
Why is there a preference given for people actively making site selection decisions? At PYM LIVE, a large section of the show is dedicated to 1-on-1 meetings between meeting planners and sales reps from local and national hotels, convention and visitors bureaus and other industry service providers. Of course we’re offering high-caliber education that others may benefit […]
PYM LIVE recap: What you missed in NYC, lessons learned
As planners, we know to expect the unexpected. But having the pope, the president of the United States and the United Nations’ full complement of distinguished delegates in town at the same time as a PYM LIVE Event was a first. We learned an important lesson about the value of pre-show communication.
Celebrating the art of doing business in Houston
Our last event of the year took place at the new JW Marriott Houston Downtown. Here’s what you missed.
Mile high adventures in Denver!
We’re holding our PYM LIVE Denver event in the Grand Hyatt Denver’s 38th floor Crystal Peaks Ballroom. Incidentally, that’s the tallest event space in the Mile High City! Read more…
Sustainability, working smarter and wine in Dunwoody
There are so many facets to metro Atlanta. That’s why, for our second PYM LIVE Atlanta this year, we’ve decided to go OTP (outside the Perimeter for you non-ATLiens) to Dunwoody! Read more …
Everything’s bigger in Dallas, including PYM LIVE!
Can’t be with us in the Big D today? Here’s a recap of our PYM LIVE Event as well as a real-time chat window from our event app Topi.
Raise your voice and become a PYM AllStar
Did you know that Plan Your Meetings has a national network of passionate meeting planners who help us define and design everything we do?
New York City, Event Alley and PYM LIVE, oh my!
PYM LIVE hits the Big Apple Aug. 7. See what your peers are digging and sharing and view a post-event recap here.
Enjoying ‘sites & bites’ in Washington, D.C.
Can’t be with us at PYM LIVE DC? Here’s a window into the education and experimentation happening in our nation’s capital.
Tips for menu planning and meeting planner tech
Did you miss the June 26 Visit Raleigh Client Appreciation Event, powered by PYM LIVE? See what you missed here.
The benefit of using beacons for events
Once attendees get onsite, do you know what they’re doing? If you use beacons, you do. Learn more …
F&B and new technology in Austin
Crave education about menu planning, F&B negotiation strategies or tech tools for site inspections? View presentations and social media chatter from PYM LIVE Austin here.
Beta-testing new technology and event ideas in San Francisco
We’re thrilled to be back in San Francisco for March 27’s PYM LIVE Event. Here’s how you can be a part of the show even if you’re not with us in person. #yaypym
PYM LIVE know-before-you-go info
Before you come to a PYM LIVE Event, make sure you read these useful tips. They will help you make the most of the experience and prepare you for some of our on-site experiments.
Experiments in meeting design in Atlanta
The first PYM LIVE Event of the year kicks off today in Atlanta. We have a whole new series of ideas and experiments we’re incorporating into our Sites & Bites program. Among them: Social media competitions, on-demand fitness breaks and bite-sized accredited education on contract negotiations and food and beverage for advanced and intermediate-level meeting/event planners who are responsible for site selection. Can’t be with us, but would like to follow along? Use the hashtag #yaypym.
Tips for using Topi for events
There are many benefits to downloading our event app, Topi, before you get on-site. You can research exhibitors, find other attendees to carpool with, and much more.
Exploring new ideas, new ways to make meetings better in Houston
The last PYM LIVE Event of the year took place in Houston at the Royal Sonesta Nov. 13. Here’s a recap of the event app, social media and educational content shared. Theme of the day? How to make meetings more fun!
25 ways to make meetings better
What have planners been struggling with this year? Contract negotiations and budgets, is what they’re telling us. So at our first-ever PYM LIVE in Alexandria, Va./Washington, D.C., we asked planners and supplier for some tips.
Sequestration, the shutdown and how meeting planners can make a difference
How is sequestration and the shutdown affecting meeting and event planners? Our first-ever PYM LIVE Alexandria, Va./Washington, D.C. gave us the perfect opportunity to find out.
Sharing time-management, event marketing and cost-saving strategies in Atlanta
Can’t be with us in person at PYM LIVE Atlanta II? Follow the #yaypym hashtag on Twitter, or get a window into what’s going on through the live event feed here.
Ethics, advocacy and opportunities for meeting planners @PYMLIVE NYC
Did you miss our first-ever PYM LIVE NYC event? Here’s a recap of the event…
Tackling crisis management, budget restraints and other challenges in Denver
Couldn’t be with us in person at our PYM LIVE Denver 2013 event? Here’s a recap of the education, the app-based conversation and more.
Discussing hybrid meetings and events in Raleigh
At Plan Your Meetings we strongly believe that “hybrid” is the new “green” in the meetings industry — everyone wants to do it, but not everyone knows what it is. That’s why the Greater Raleigh CVB asked PYM to power the education at its June 25 Client Appreciation Event.
The future of event engagement
A focus group in San Francisco revealed that audience engagement ranked among local event designers’ biggest challenges.
Weekly deals and highlights: April 18, 2013
In this issue: @wyndhampeachtree @hardrock @CobbGalleria @CobbEnergyPac @PYMlive
Trying new things in Chicago
Well, things are always interesting around Plan Your Meetings and today is no exception. The PYM LIVE team is in multiple places, which means today’s event is happening simultaneously in Chicago; Columbia, S.C.; the Netherlands; several regions of California; and Atlanta. Because some of our panelists have to join via mobile devices, we won’t have […]
Discussing the future in Dallas/Irving
As the March 19 PYM LIVE Dallas/Irving unfolded, attendees and exhibitors experienced a lot of new things: the LEED-certified (and unconventional) Irving Convention Center, augmented reality, networking-focused conference apps, virtual panels and digital daydreaming. But the focus was — and will continue to be — on taking these new technologies and integrating them in face-to-face events […]
A moving events laboratory at PYM LIVE Atlanta
We think of our PYM LIVE Events as a way to put ideas into motion. At each event, we’re trying something new and figuring out new ways to maximize the value of the time our attendees spend with us. At our March 6 event at 200 Peachtree Special Events & Conference Center, some of the […]
Revitalize your event marketing strategy with these 14 tips
The traditional model of event marketing is broken. Here are tips to get you back on track.
Our first Jacksonville PYM LIVE
For 2013, we’re trying many new things. Among them are hybrid educational panels and a conference app that puts the emphasis on networking. One of the coolest things about Topi is the public chat room conversation we can embed like a YouTube video on our site. Here’s what people were saying during the event. Did […]
PYM LIVE in New York postponed; plan now for hybrid event
Dear friends, We hope this letter finds you safe and whole. We know many of you may still be without power or unable to go to work. With hotels in and around New York still housing people displaced by Hurricane Sandy, it seems frivolous to take those rooms for an event and inappropriate to pretend […]
‘Hotels are not a nonprofit organization’
The relationship between hotels and meeting planners doesn’t have to be antagonistic. But it’s easy for conflicts to form when both parties are operating under different assumptions of what has value during contract negotiations. That’s why Michael Dominguez’s educational presentation at PYM LIVE Atlanta II 2012 focused on defining what the “new abnormal” in the […]
PYM Live Chicago 2012 recap
How to increase leverage during contract negotiations and augment events with virtual meeting technology were the key educational points discussed at PYM LIVE Chicago, which took place at the Dana Hotel on July 25. Here’s a Storify recap of the social media conversation surrounding this event and its #yaypym hashtag.
Learning about revenue management and hybrid event planning in Denver
We had a blast in Denver at the Brown Palace.But don’t just take our word for it: Read all about it, in the words and images of our attendees, sponsors, exhibitors and event team.
‘Everything about the iPad is about to change the way you do business’
What a fantastic welcome we had in Austin — and record-breaking attendance! Stormi Boyd, CMP, CMM taught planners how to replace their conference binders with iPads and Mike Mason from Zentila gave excellent tips on negotiating with hotels. In case you weren’t with us at the AT&T Executive Education and Conference Center May 16, here’s […]
Getting mobile and meeting-savvy in San Antonio
Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of meeting Stormi Boyd, CMP, CMM (@stormisee) at Southwest Showcase. She was participating in a “Going Mobile” panel our editorial director was moderating. When she mentioned during that session that she’d replaced her 10-lb. conference binder with an iPad, you could hear a pin drop. We realized that […]
In Dallas, mastering 4 essential innovative behaviors, and more
PYM LIVE Dallas 2012 was special for a number of reasons. Jeff Hurt of Velvet Chainsaw Consulting led a fascinating session about how meeting planners can become more innovative. Zentila’s Jamie Murdock shared why hotels sometimes bump your business or won’t budge on your requested concessions. The discussion that followed really helped planners figure out […]
Building essential skills in Atlanta
If you weren’t able to join us in Atlanta for the March 1 PYM LIVE Event at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, you missed a couple of incredible sessions on essential planning skills. Luckily we didn’t forget you, so we archived half of it, and the other educational session will be available as a […]
Drinking the Kool-Aid at 2012 PYM LIVE Tampa
The first PYM LIVE Event of the year (#yaypym!) kicked off in Tampa at the Wyndham Tampa Westshore. In addition to an educational session led by Erica Prewett, there were roundtable discussions on the trade-show floor — including one that gave planners insight into how hotel sales staff values their business. (Support PYM partners. Click here to […]
Do you want to educate at a PYM LIVE Event in 2012?
Plan Your Meetings is seeking hospitality and meeting industry professionals who are eager to educate and facilitate conversations with our audience of corporate meeting planners at 2012 PYM LIVE Events in Atlanta, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Denver, San Antonio, Orlando, Tampa and one other city to be determined by our audience. PYM’s editorial and […]
Recap of 2011 PYM LIVE Chicago
They don’t call it the Windy City for nothing. Wind speed around the corner from our final 2011 PYM LIVE Event venue was clocked at 60 mph. But that didn’t deter our hardy meeting and event planners from tromping out to take in the spectacular views the Signature Room at the 95th had to offer. […]
ROI: Remember our imagination?
More than 100 people joined us in Atlanta to hear @JoanEisenstodt talk about the importance of play and planning uncommon events. An additional 100 or so people joined us virtually to attend her session via Telenect. It was a thought-provoking day — and not just because of Joan’s speech. The way she integrated the virtual […]
Innovating in Houston with PYM LIVE
We had a blast in Houston yesterday with Cindy Lo of @RedVelvetEvents and our hosts at the InterContinental Houston at the Galleria (@ICHouston). Couldn’t join us there? Here’s a summary of the educational session “Next Stop: Innovation” as well as some pictures from the event. View “2011 PYM LIVE Houston” on Storify
2011 PYM LIVE Charlotte: Being innovative is more than ‘pressing the easy button’
@Checklistqueen Erica Prewett provided the education at the 2011 PYM LIVE Charlotte, N.C., event last week. Here’s a recap of the event and the “Next Stop: Innovation” educational session.
Bringing innovative ideas to Denver
The Denver PYM LIVE might just have been the best event yet this year. Renee Ortiz, president of Eventful Productions Inc. led the session “Next Stop: Innovation,” and as you can see from the recap below, we had a very active audience of notetakers on Twitter. From their arrival at Denver’s gorgeous Brown Palace Hotel […]
Jiving on new technologies and the VIBE at PYM LIVE Orlando 2011
In case you couldn’t be with us at our 2011 PYM LIVE Orlando event June 1, we collected the social media buzz on the event and published a little recap story using the free tool Storify. Check it out:
Innovative venues and views in Dallas
The Dallas Arboretum is a stunning meeting facility. On May 12, we had an interesting conversation about meeting innovations here with @Jeff Hurt. Take a look at the venue: And here’s our story, archived from the social media conversation, courtesy of Storify: [View the story “PYM LIVE Dallas 2011” on Storify]
Third time’s a charm
Our third PYM LIVE Atlanta event, sponsored by the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Dunwoody, took place Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Ravinia at Perimeter. Our educational discussion was about “everything you’ve ever wanted to know about meeting planning but never had the chance to ask.” […]
Revving up for Charlotte
August 10’s PYM LIVE Event is in Charlotte, N.C., home of the new NASCAR Hall of Fame. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hilton Charlotte Center City, meeting planners convened to network and learn from their peers. The educational session was led by Kimberly D. Roberts CMP, CSEP, and Caryn Terradas. Here are […]
PYM meets Chi-town!
On June 17, Plan Your Meetings was in the Windy City for the first ever 2010 PYM LIVE Chicago. Hosted by the Sutton Place Hotel, Steve Lowe (STLowe@harrahs.com) of Harrah’s & Harveys Lake Tahoe and Kevin R. Johnston, CMP (@Kevin_Johnston) of the Advantage Event Group addressed pressing industry topics and concerns, such as measuring ROI, […]
Spicing things up in Miami
Meeting professional Eli Gorin, of gMeetings and Train 2 Meet, spearheaded our educational session at our “choose your own adventure”-style PYM LIVE Miami on April 29 at The National Hotel South Beach. Based on the 2010 PYM Big Book of Answers, he moderated a discussion, addressing pressing industry concerns and proposing creative solutions. Here’s a […]
Big Book of Answers comes to Atlanta
Current and emerging trends, professional designations, pricing structures and social media best practices were among the topics of discussion at the 2010 PYM LIVE Atlanta II, held at the Hilton Atlanta Marietta Hotel & Conference Center from 2-5 p.m on April 20. Top planners Terry Singleton, CSEP (@CCPEvents), Qualena Odom-Royes, CSEP, CMP (@EventEssentials) and Claudette […]
In Dallas educating and waiting for … snow?
It’s not unusual for winter events to be threatened by snow. But in Atlanta and Dallas? That’s just weird. Luckily, word on the street is that we haven’t had any cancellations for today’s PYM LIVE Event in Dallas, and we’re expecting some walk-ups. In case you aren’t able to make it, a transcript of the […]
PYM LIVE Events
PYM LIVE Events are a mobile events lab where planners can shop for vendors, learn essential skills and play with new technology.
On the road with meeting planners in the ‘Ham
Every October, PYM does a really special dual event with the Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau. We take a busload of Atlanta-based meeting planners to Birmingham for a daytime PYM LIVE Event (this year it’s at the amazing Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa), which local Alabama planners also attend. Then, the Atlanta planners […]
Texas two-step
Claudia, Evan and Lisa have their hands full this week, hosting not one, but two Texas PYM LIVE Events: Houston on Oct. 6 and Dallas on Oct. 8. I wish I were with them, but since I can’t be, here’s a timeline of tweets on what happened. Jeff Rasco’s presentation at the events: Jeff Rasco […]
Going green at the Atlanta Botanical Garden
We geared up for a very special sustainability-themed PYM LIVE Atlanta at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on Sept. 16. @Kevin_Johnston presented about contract issues planners need to consider when trying to put together a green meeting — clauses, tips and other advice.
We captured the buzz on Twitter, for those of you who couldn’t be with us …
Road trip!
When we do PYM LIVE Events close to home, we typically drive out to the venue. As I type this, we’re packing up and getting set for our first-ever PYM LIVE Charlotte event in North Carolina. It also marks the final Industry Challenges and Solutions presentation I’m giving for PYM this year. I’ve already led roundtable discussions with planners in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas and Denver — all of whom faced very different challenges. After Charlotte’s session, I’ll publish a whitepaper on the subject and start work on our 2010 PYM annual issue: The Big Book of Answers. If you have a burning question or something you’ve always wanted to know the answer to, send those questions to me and I’ll get our experts to work on answering them for you.
In case you can’t join us in North Carolina, here’s what’s going on at 2009 PYM LIVE Charlotte…
Tackling industry challenges and solutions in Denver
Lisa, Claudia and I are off to Denver for the first-ever Colorado-based PYM LIVE, Aug. 6. While there, I’ll be helping meeting planners find solutions to their biggest challenges, Lisa will be talking about all the cool new things PYM has coming down the pike and thanking our lovely sponsors, & Claudia will be fabulous, […]
Couldn’t be at the PYM LIVE Atlanta event?
If you couldn’t be at today’s PYM LIVE Event in Atlanta, no problem. Here’s a live Twitter stream of what people are talking about:
Planners to suppliers: ‘This is how to win our business’
Advice to suppliers: Bone up on your customer service. That was the No. 1 message planners had for sales reps hungry for business. Plan Your Meetings conducted an informal “state of the industry” roundtable with 20 Atlanta-based corporate, government, association and independent planners who attended its PYM LIVE Event in Birmingham. They talked about current […]
Emergent technologies for meeting professionals
At the PYM LIVE Atlanta Event at Retreat of Dunwoody, Dr. James Hogg spoke about “Emergent Technologies for Meeting Professionals.” His goal was to blow our minds, and he did. We have received an avalanche of requests from attendees and those unable to attend to share the educational content, so here are some audio of […]
