During the education session "Set the Scene: Go Beyond Traditional Design," Cliff Rigano, creative director and head of culture, content, and experiential marketing for Mast Jägermeister US; Lilian Shen, director of marketing for CORT Events; and Andrew Roby, event producer for Andrew Roby Events participate in a discussion with host and BizBash assistant editor Shannon Thaler.Photo: Amelia Pavlik
BizBash had something new for event pros in Puerto Rico.
During Connect Spring Marketplace, hosted by Connect and BizBash in San Juan from May 22-24, we brought together 30 executives from experiential agencies, event technology companies, and corporate brands to help map the future of the events industry. Known as the BizBash Leadership Summit, the experience included representatives from such companies as ESPN, Forbes, T-Mobile, Univision, The Walt Disney Company, Hubilo, Mast-Jägermeister US, and more.
The executives participated in a number of workshops, led by facilitator Adrian Segar of Conferences That Work, meant to stimulate conversations surrounding some of the event industry's most prominent issues today. Our goal was to mine the room for best new practices for a new events world.
These participation-rich sessions included the World Café, a format for creating dialogue in small groups around questions/topics that were determined by BizBash in advance. (How are you working with partners/vendors now that so much has changed since 2019? How have you and your teams been legitimized through the eyes of the C-suite? How are you keeping attendees actively engaged during meetings? What's useful and what's hype when it comes to virtual/hybrid/the metaverse?) The group was split into four tables, each table labeled with a specific topic, and participants moved tables every 20 minutes, sitting with new people at each round.
Leadership Summit attendees, with the help of Segar, also conducted an "unconference," where they brainstormed and voted on the topics, ideas, and issues that they wanted to explore further the following day.
"I have never before had the privilege to be embedded in such a group of impactful and visionary leaders in the events industry," said Maureen Elliott, director of event marketing at ESPN and a Leadership Summit participant. "I excitedly took away creative solutions to real issues we face and was able to glean effective, creative strategies that will propel my team forward."
For those that would like to hear more on what was discussed, the solutions offered, and the innovative ideas shared during the Leadership Summit, BizBash will be producing an e-book on the findings and insights captured during the two days. Stay tuned.
Our Puerto Rico event also introduced our Hosted Buyer Experience. This was an exclusive pass for suppliers and planners to a custom curated event featuring one-on-one appointments. The experience for event planners and event marketers included covered airfare and hotel costs, as well as exclusive opportunities to network with other event professionals.
"Firsthand witnessing RFPs being distributed and casual networking leading to new business opportunities reaffirmed that this new model creates an affordable and efficient option to source business and nurture relationships," said BizBash president Matt Johnson.
The experience was designed for qualified corporate, association, nonprofit, and independent planners specifically focused on event experience.
"It was such an amazing experience to meet with other companies and the BizBash team in Puerto Rico," said Taylor Tennyson, event manager for Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products. "The hosted buyer appointments allowed me to meet with new vendors, and the content sessions were amazing on how we can all partner together to solve current industry challenges. It was very eye-opening to see everyone going through the same challenges."
Inquire for our next event, happening August 8-10 in Detroit.
What else was in store for attendees in Puerto Rico? Connect, BizBash, and Discover Puerto Rico (the island's destination marketing organization) worked hand-in-hand to bring the event to life. Attendees were treated to a lively opening reception at Distrito T-Mobile—a brand-new entertainment district just steps from the Puerto Rico Convention Center—and an authentic Puerto Rican festival in Old San Juan the following evening.
“We’re honored to have had the opportunity to work together with Connect in bringing Connect Spring Marketplace to Puerto Rico," said Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico. "The event not only had an over $3 million immediate economic impact on the island’s communities, but also showcased Puerto Rico as a world-class destination for hosting meetings and events and generated interest in the island for future events."
Those who couldn't attend in person were still able to participate in the event in a meaningful way. BizBash partnered with leading event tech company Hubilo for the BizBash Virtual Summit, where all of the show’s enlightening education was livestreamed to audiences around the world. That content is now available on-demand.
Want to relive the fun or see what you missed? Scroll through the photos below.
