Ultimate Conference Blog

Recent rulings by the FCC against Marriott and Smart City for attempting to block Wi-Fi hotspots have sparked debates in our industry and raised many questions.

Understanding the FCC Wi-Fi Ruling.

The intent behind the FCC rulings is to protect the rights of individuals to use their own hotspots for Wi-Fi instead of being forced to pay to use a venue’s Wi-Fi network, usually at a much higher cost. The ramifications of these rules (which have actually been in place for a long time but are just now being enforced) are both good and bad from the point of view of an Event Planner.

Originally posted on the Ultimate Conference Blog by Christine Hawks

I have a secret.  One that I’m about to share with you.  I am an introvert…working in a very extraverted industry.  Networking opportunities are often promoted by event organizers, like me, as a benefit of attending their event.  Likewise surveyed attendees often cite networking opportunities and the quality of the connections that they make as a top reason for attending or returning to an event.  Conferences seem to offer the ideal place and opportunity to meet people, especially if you are of the extraverted variety. 

One of the keys to being an effective leader is to determine what motivates the people you are trying to lead. Don’t assume what motivates you is the same for others. Remember the “Golden Rule” we learned as kids? “Do unto others as you’d have done unto you.”  Well, I recently came across the “Platinum Rule”; treat others the way they want to be treated.  This is valuable advice not only for leaders, but also for event planners. Find out what motivates your participants and provide the content that your attendees want. Enable exhibitors to accomplish their objectives.

I’ve provided, below, a few of the “Cornerstones of Leadership” to demonstrate how these principles might apply not only to leading others, but to planning successful events.