Conference Management

Five Ways to Use the Cvent Supplier Network to Save on Meeting and Event Planning

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Katie Hollar
Thousands of planners have discovered that the Cvent Supplier Network is a fantastic resource to research meeting venues, whether they’re looking for a venue locally, nationwide, or even globally. But what many planners don’t know is that sending a Request for Proposal (RFP) through the network can equate to major savings for their clients or organization. Did I mention that this service is completely free of cost? Listed below are five cost-saving reasons to send an RFP through the Cvent Supplier Network:

1. Save Time

Save time on the Cvent Supplier NetworkYou may be thinking, “I already have a system in place to source venues for my events, and it works just fine for me.  Why should I invest time in learning a brand new process?” The answer to that question is quite simple—because it will save you much more time in the long run! Do you re-write an RFP for every meeting that you plan? Chances are, if you’re holding an event this year that you have held in previous years, your requirements for a venue probably aren’t going to change much. With the Cvent Supplier Network, you can replicate your previous RFPs and quickly update any changes to send it out year after year. Then, you’ll have a record of all the venues you’ve considered over the years and all of their quotes, easily accessible from your Cvent account.

Maybe your current system doesn’t involve writing RFPs at all, but rather, you research venues on the internet and call the properties directly.  But how long does it take you to Google all the potential venues in an area, confirm that they have the meeting space that you need, find their contact information, wait on hold while the front desk transfers you to the Sales office, relay all the information about your meeting, wait to get emailed back pricing…? You get the picture. Multiply that process by 8-10 properties to make sure you’re getting the best deal, and your days are easily consumed just sourcing your event—not to mention all the planning that comes after! Fortunately, Cvent has a team of representatives called the Supplier Response team who are entirely dedicated to getting your bids back from venues quickly when you send out an RFP. They make all the phone calls and explain your meeting details directly to the venues so you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting. The Supplier Response team also ensures that venues respond to your RFP through the Cvent system in a timely manner so that you can compare your bids side-by-side, all in one place.

2. Gain Negotiating Power

Another reason you might be skeptical of sending an RFP is because you already know the venue where you want to hold your event, or you’ve held it at that location before.  But are you sure that you’re getting the best rate at your stand-by property? What if another property could better suit your needs? On Monday, I wrote a post on how to negotiate better deals by sending an RFP on the Supplier Network. Knowing what else is out there is extremely important, even if you’re sourcing an event locally, because if you have bids from competing properties, you can better negotiate down the rates at your preferred venue. In this economy, several venues have had to significantly change their pricing, and sending an RFP is a quick way to check what the going rate is in an area. You might even find that a venue has an enticing promotion that you just can’t turn down!

3. Build on Existing Relationships

Perhaps you’ve already done your time on hold, waiting to be connected to the correct contact at a venue, and since then you have actually built a rapport with that person.  That’s great! In the meetings and events industry, relationships are extremely important (and they can even help you snag better rates).  With Cvent’s functionality, you can send your RFPs directly to your personal contacts at a venue to ensure that your RFP falls in the right hands. You get all the benefits of having your RFP details and meeting history stored in your Cvent account, plus you get the credit for sending business to your go-to supplier!

4. Leverage National or Global Sales Contacts

What if your contacts aren’t at an individual property but you rely on National or Global Sales contacts at major hotel chains? Cvent has you covered! On the Cvent Supplier Network, you can take advantage of our NSO/GSO forwarding functionality, which allows you to send your RFPs to a National or Global Sales rep.  Then, the NSO or GSO can forward your RFP out through Cvent to its properties that fit your needs. Using this feature, you get all the cost-savings of using the NSO or GSO, plus benefits #1-3 above. 

5. Use a CVB’s Expertise


If your job entails planning meetings in destinations that you’re unfamiliar with, a Convention and Visitors Bureau (also known as a Destination Marketing Organization) can help. A CVB is a non-profit organization that represents a specific metropolitan area or city. Since CVBs are the experts on their respective destinations, using a CVB helps you save time and money because they know which venues in their area are best suited to your RFP.  CVBs also know which properties can offer you the best rates and promotions because they’re always looking for ways to make their city more competitive than the next.  On the Cvent Supplier Network, you can send your RFP to a CVB (or a few), and they can forward your RFP to the best properties in their city.  It’s as simple as searching a major metro area on the Supplier Network and filtering the “Venue Type” on the left hand side of the results screen by clicking “CVB.” Add the CVB to your RFP and launch. Voila! Just wait for the bids to start rolling in.

If you’re not even sure yet which cities to consider for your next meeting, check out the Cvent Destination Guide, which has information specifically geared towards meeting planners about destinations around the world. You can also see which destinations are most economical for your meetings by comparing average stats for each city on our Event Planning Comparison Chart.

Find Meeting Planning News, Tools and More at MeetingsNet for Free!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Cvent Staff
Need information about implementing a Strategic Meetings Management Program? Are you looking for tips on negotiating contracts? Or maybe you just need to check out the latest food & beverage trends for events? MeetingsNet is the perfect resource!

MeetingsNet’s websites and magazines are conducting their annual subscription drive and invite all professionals with meeting planning responsibility to sign up for free subscriptions to Corporate Meetings & Incentives (now including Financial & Insurance Meetings), Association Meetings, and Medical Meetings. Religious meeting planners can get more information about obtaining a subscription to Religious Conference Manager.

MeetingsNet also publishes the popular MeetingsNet Extra, delivered every Tuesday to your inbox with newsbreaking stories, and MeetingsNet Tech Extra, a monthly newsletter that takes the mystery out of meeting technologies. It just takes a few minutes, and planners have the option of signing up for digital or mail delivery.

Visit MeetingsNet to subscribe today!

Seeing is Believing: Why to Hire A Photographer for Your Next Event!

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Leneille Brathwaite
Event PhotographerPictures hold two key benefits for third-party planners. First, photos are an opportunity to prove that they can create successful events. Whether they are posed or candid, photos can be the deciding factor in whether or not you book your next event. Second, often times attendees who forget their camera will still want memories of how the event transpired - and they'll expect you to provide them.

Selecting an event photographer is a challenging task. Without proper knowledge of photographic elements, lighting or even the basic skills of your photographer, you run the risk of having a great event with mediocre pictures.

Be sure your photographers have everything they will need for excellent pictures. Check out their online portfolios, inquire about their photography equipment, and confirm their guest count (some photographers bring assistants). Have an area for guests to take posed photos that is clear of wires, AV equipment and, most of all, people.

Atlanta photographers Atlpics and Sandra Rose have made a name for themselves in the Atlanta event sector by posting event photos online. This is a benefit to both your guests and your brand recognition. It will only guests to see everyone that attended as well as preserve memories of the event. For your benefit, the photos will create a buzz about your event planning talents and possibly gain potential clients that may have never thought about hiring you.

All in all, remember that seeing is believing. You want your prospective clients to believe that you can create eye-catching events!

Find more information about Atlanta photographers on the Cvent Supplier Network.

Learn Holiday Planning Tips from the Experts at Christopher Todd Design

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 by Lisa Valentine
Thanksgiving isn't even here yet, but it's quite apparent that Christmas is right around the corner, and there is so much to do! Let design pro Christopher Todd Hall of Christopher Todd Design put all your holiday party planning worries to rest!

CT has you covered, from food and event decor to invitations and entertainment. He even does Las Vegas corporate event planning. 

If you are looking for more of a do-it-yourself route, CT is hosting a class at Whole Foods Market Las Vegas Boulevard in Town Square on December 3 from 6 PM to 8 PM. This class will prepare you to host whatever type of holiday party you have in mind. He is fun, engaging, and has quite the sense of humor!

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from a seasoned design expert, who has been featured in the November issue of Luxury magazine. Specializing in artistic design for floral and table settings, he continues to impress me with his artistic talent and eye for detail.

Chicago Holiday Party Promotions!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Mallory Szabo
Suppliers and vendors all around the city of Chicago have been releasing promotions for event planners as an incentive to book their services for this year's holiday gatherings. Take a look at some of the best meeting promotions in the Chicago area for the holiday season:

Fulton Lounge

Fulton lounge is located in the West Loop. This relaxed but intimate Chicago party venue is a perfect place to host a holiday event. With space for up to 300 guests, the lounge serves as an ideal Chicago banquet hall and offers several packaged options to make the event planning process proceed with ease. This year, Fulton Lounge has a new menu crafted by OTOM Restaurant. If you book your event by November 30, you will receive 20 percent off the beverage minimum for parties of 25 or more guests!

theWit


theWit Hotel is located in the Downtown Loop. This relatively new Chicago boutique hotel has many event spaces available for private events. From their three amazing restaurants to their high definition theater, theWit is sure to please any guest. If you book a holiday party in one of this Chicago hotel's unique spaces, you will receive a $150 gift certificate to one of its three in-house Chicago restaurants.

Ditka'sDitka's Steaks, Seafood & Chops

Located in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, this traditional steakhouse is one of Chicago's prime restaurants. Named after Mike Ditka, former coach of the NFL Chicago Bears, this Chicago banquet facility is filled with Chicago sports memorabilia to give it a local touch. When booking with Ditka's, you will receive 10 percent off your food or beverage package of your choice, an autographed Mike Ditka football, as well as entry into their holiday raffle, which includes a chance to win prizes ranging a winery trip for two to a dinner for six prepared by the restaurant's executive chef in your home!

Spiaggia

Spiaggia is located at the end of the Magnificent Mile in downtown Chicago. This highly-rated Italian restaurant offers space overlooking Lake Michigan. The fact that it will be celebrating its 25th anniversary over this holiday season makes it an even more special option for your Chicago events. If you book an event in one of their private dining rooms, Spiaggia will over 25 percent off selected menus.

eBay: Your Newest Event Resource?

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Sarah Larkins
eBay is a go-to resource for just about everything under the sun: electronics, clothing, cars, jewelry, events? Yes, you can even find this year's holiday party on the auction site, as various UK firms have listed Christmas parties for sale.

Consider The Ultimate Christmas Party, to be held Friday, December 18, for up to 100 people. Starting at £4,000, it includes a three-course dinner, accommodation, and party games and dancing to DJ "Gayzer."

Or, book a Stunning Christmas Party on The Thames, starting at £3,500. The historic Havengore vessel will ferry up to 40 of your event guests along the river for an unforgettable nighttime cruise of dinner and unlimited wine and beer.

Impulse Events is featuring its venue on five separate dates for a starting bid of £5,875. Canapes provided by Mint Catering, unlimited beer, wine and soft drinks, professional security, an on-site event manager and beautiful decor are among the benefits of this all-in-one package.

eBay Events

So far, no bids have been placed on these pre-packaged holiday events. What do you think: would you buy a pre-made event on eBay?

Happy Cvent Client Raves about Recent Success!

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
We're pleased to report that one of Cvent's clients, the Business Development Institute (BDI), held a successful event yesterday in NYC: The Social Consumer B2C Case Studies & Roundtables.

Maria Feola, Director of Events, explains how Cvent has turned around their organization's whole operation: "Registration and website updates used to be a nightmare because we had to send all website changes through our vendor. Registrations were constantly rejected, and we would have to process any refunds through a separate system."

That does sound scary. But now with Cvent, Maria has everything she needs in one easy-to-use program. "I can access [the system] from anywhere with an Internet connection. I don’t need HTML knowledge for the website and everything is customizable so I don’t feel trapped in another person’s idea of what MY business needs."

"Cvent is also constantly updating features to make things easier for clients and the dedicated staff is always there to answer my questions and take my suggestions. I have not had the chance to fully take advantage of all its offerings, but we plan to be fully integrated within the next year. There is no need for multiple systems for websites, registration, webinars, surveys, event email communications, etc. when Cvent has it all!"


Founded in 2001, BDI is a small corporate event planning company and a leading conference and webinar producer for communicators.

Don't Be Late Rabbit, Hollywood's Back in Wonderland...

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Charity Hill
Mondrian HotelOne of the most enchanting hotel renovations Los Angeles has ever seen has built upon its world of wonder. The Mondrian, already among the finest of 5 star hotels in Los Angeles, now features hotel rooms that are as whimsical as the famed Skybar lounge they overlook.

Finally trading in their cool tones of gray carpets for warmer hues and sleek honey wood floors, the Alice in Wonderland-inspired Los Angeles meeting hotel is complete! With Los Angeles accommodations fit for the queen of hearts, the hotel showcases Los Angeles corporate event planning at it's best. State-of-the-art boardrooms, fairytale ballrooms, an award-winning Los Angeles restaurant, and a nightclub almost as famous as the city itself are sure to persuade your next client to attend your next LA meeting.

Cvent Planner Insider Tip: Early bookings are a must, so don't be late for your very important date! You won't find an LA meeting space like this unless you fall asleep under a tree and dream it up.

View more information about the Mondrian Hotel on the Cvent Supplier Network

Chicago Dine Arounds is a Culinary Adventure!

Thursday, November 12, 2009 by Mallory Szabo
With the current state of the economy, groups traveling out of town for conferences or meetings usually have a very limited budget as well as limited time. This can be a challenge for event planners who want their guests to both network with each other and experience the city. Chicago Dine Arounds is a great solution!

Chicago Dine Arounds is ideal for taking your corporate events out of the boardroom. A full service event management company, Chicago Dine Arounds offers a progressive dining tour that covers three of Chicago's finest culinary experiences. 

The tour begins by picking up your attendees at their respective hotels or the meeting facility. Then, the group enjoys hor d'oeuvres at the first location, a main course at the second location, and dessert and drinks at the third and final location. In between each Chicago restaurant, a professional driver/docent will be guide your guests past some of the most unique attractions in Chicago.

This memorable evening event is perfect for a group on a tight budget. Listed packages are $85.00 per person, though they can be customized to meet the needs of any type of Chicago event.

Start Mixing It Up in your Social Meeting Space

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
We've recently touched upon Twitter and the benefits that social networking tools give planners. Now let's take it one step further and connect your audience as tightly as possible while planning events through Cvent!

Gone are the days when you can bombard attendees with e-mails, newsletters and web sites and call it a day. Sure, these are necessary in the event planning process, but they're tools where the events talk to them. As a planner, you need to provide ways for attendees to have real conversations and build communities around your events.

When clients give us feedback, it's evident that sometimes they find the greatest interaction with attendees through Twitter, while in other instances, LinkedIn or Facebook works better. So what's the take-home message? There probably isn't one right answer as to which tool is ultimately the best

Don't view this as a complication, but rather as an opportunity. There is a plethora of social networking tools at your fingertips - don't be afraid to experiment with all of them! It may be trial and error, but the reality is that with each unique event, it's hard to predict which is the right tool to get the job done right.

While working with Cvent, start implementing these options - either one at a time or in combinations - it's up to you. But no matter how you choose to go about it, your attendees will surely appreciate resources that display important content in a more relatable way!

3 Online Resources to Help Decorate Your Events

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 by Leneille Brathwaite
BalloonsFor your next destination event in Atlanta, remember that, although you may not know the city, you can order supplies online and have them shipped to your location. The city can be difficult to navigate through, so starting your supplier search online is a great idea for event planners unfamiliar with the area and local event suppliers.

These resources can help keep your headaches away and promote smooth transitions from event to event. Remember your time is money, so why not use available resources to assist in the event planning process?

Smartyhadaparty.com has a wonderful idea for planners who need disposable and reusable items for a deal. Want the quality of silverware at the price of plastic, the appeal of cotton chair covers at the cost of paper, or even the appeal of glassware without the washing time? Then check out this company's website. The quality is exceptional and allows you to save your event budget for more important areas such as food and drinks.

• Want to get your items and be on your way? Check out Shindigz.com. They offer theme boxes in which you pay one set price and your party comes to you. The theme boxes include backdrops, props and other decorations depending on what your event theme may be.

• The Cvent Supplier Network features tens of thousands of event venues and suppliers, including over 200 in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. Find local and national providers of Atlanta catering services, audio-visual technology, floral decorations and more.

Many meeting planners prefer to see the items before coordinating their next event, however time is not always on our sides. The Internet has become a  wonderful resource to have in your event planning toolbox, so why not make the most of it?

Weave Twitter into your Event Planning Process to Communicate and Create Buzz

Tuesday, November 10, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
With all the buzz around Twitter, you may be asking yourself, "How can this social networking tool benefit my event planning processes?"

Professionals in the event planning industry agree that tweets can effectively drive traffic before, during and after your event. Posting updates to the social networking service gives you an avenue through which you can showcase the cool things going on with your event.

Live Twitter feeds are an easy, inexpensive way to get attendees and notable event guests communicating and staying connected. Say you're hosting an event with a well-known guest speaker - starting the conversation before the event as early as possibly will help by building more buzz and positive talk.

In any situation, tweets are a great way to promote your organization and brand. The best part is that Twitter keeps the process simple, just going to show that it doesn’t have to be all glitz and glam to capture attendee attention. As long as you keep your short messages relevant to the audience, Twitter will keep them engaged.

To apply this tool in a practical way, think about doing a Twitter Q&A to get people networking and to gather some key take-away thoughts from the minds of event participants. Or have a staff member on-site tweet during the event.

Go ahead - make use of this great technology and improve your events. It's easy to set up a free account, so get logged on and tweet until your heart's content! That way, you can answer "yes" when someone asks, "...have you tweeted yet?"

Los Angeles Believes in Magic That Few Will Ever Witness...

Friday, November 6, 2009 by Charity Hill
Be among the few to stand in front of the secret bookcase and say the magic words: "Open Sesame." And poof! The Magic Castle, an elusive LA attraction, will reveal itself as one of the most coveted venues in Los Angeles.

It's not an illusion! World-class entertainment in Los Angeles unfolds right in front of your eyes as you enter this four-story Victorian castle smack-dab in the middle of Hollywood. It holds up to 360 people for meetings and special events.

Combined with the most exciting group dining Los Angeles has to offer and the convenience of a hip hotel right on the property, the Magic Castle is a triple threat. Successful Los Angeles corporate event planning includes a creative conference site or diverse banquet hall, and the Magic Castle holds the cards.

Cvent Planner Insider Tip: Put an ace in your pocket! Befriend a magical member to harness your full Los Angeles event planning potential.

To find more unique Los Angeles venues, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Hop on the Virtual Bandwagon with Cvent's Webex Webinars

Thursday, November 5, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
With the dark clouds of a gloomy economic climate still hovering over our heads, many professionals are being forced to move into the virtual meeting space. But no need to be discouraged; Many of our clients have been faced with this reality, and we provide a way for them to hold various events over the Internet without losing an ounce of professionalism.

We've responded to this online trend by integrating with Cisco's Webex - the leading online meeting and presentation tool. Users are leveraging our sophisticated event management application to bring their meetings, seminars, training classes and more to a higher level of success.

The Webex integration opens a world of possibilities:
  • Send registrants confirmation and reminder emails with updated session links and access codes
  • Save time that would otherwise be spent importing and exporting files
  • Control the activation and modification integration settings for each event you host

Customers can seamlessly share data between the two systems, ultimately allowing  registrants easy access to Webex meetings. The benefit to users is that they can side-step the technical mishaps that usually deter meeting attendance and get in the way of their organization's attempt to deliver value.

Wild Game "Meats" Wealthy Hollywood...

Wednesday, November 4, 2009 by Charity Hill
Nestled in the canyon of the Santa Monica Mountains near Malibu is the rustic yet decadent oasis of Saddle Peak Lodge, the gold medal winner of romantic wedding venues in Los Angeles.

A breathtaking countryside landscape frames this picturesque lodge, making it the perfect setting for a fairytale Los Angeles wedding reception. From a cascading waterfall and lush patio to the intimate library and den, this LA venue is a Los Angeles wedding planner's dream.

Deemed the only 6-star restaurant in LA, this hidden gem is a best kept secret of Hollywood's elite. However, the cat's out of the bag the moment you pull into the parking lot next to the Rolls Royce and Maybach. But don't be intimidated—the service is impeccable and the staff is as familiar as your local neighborhood haunt.

Everything's game on this eclectic menu, literally, as venison, bison, elk, beef, quail and lamb all find a place on the menu. Exercise your palate by including an out-of-this world wine flight guided by your personal sommelier.

Cvent Planner Insider Tip: LA can be a fickle town and Los Angeles event planning can be tricky. However, having a unique wedding in Los Angeles is do-able with a dreamy Los Angeles special event facility like Saddle Peak Lodge, coupled with the fact that it is considered one of the best caterers in Los Angeles.

View more information about Saddle Peak Lodge on the Cvent Supplier Network

Dallas Hotel Spotlight: Hyatt Regency North Dallas

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 by Despina Karintis
Hyatt Regency North DallasHome to popular art and cultural events, a well respected branch of the University of Texas school system, and several large IT and Telecom firms, Richardson is a quaint, yet urban, North Dallas community. Located about 20 minutes north of downtown and perfectly situated in the center of it all is the Hyatt Regency North Dallas, a massive red brick structure with a distinctly pointed roof.

This large, luxury Dallas hotel has recently undergone a multimillion dollar renovation and now boasts 15,000 square feet of sophisticated Dallas meeting space. So whether you're looking for full-scale Dallas conference facilities or have large meetings requiring several breakouts, the Hyatt Regency North Dallas offers a multitude of options to suit your needs.

The hotel itself is gorgeous. Upon entering, guests are greeted by an elegant foyer lined with four-story windows and adorned with rich drapery. There are 342 remodeled guest rooms complete with high-speed wireless Internet, flat panel televisions with digital video-on-demand and cable services, huge work desks with comfortable chairs, and an iHome alarm clock perfect for iPods. As with any full-service luxury hotel, guests are met with all the amenities one would expect, such as in-room dining, laundry and dry cleaning services, turndown, and a multilingual staff.

Moving on to the meetings side, Dallas event planners won't be disappointed. There is an incredible 7,800-square-foot ballroom that can be broken into seven different sections, as well as a 2,700-square-foot junior ballroom that is divisible into four areas. In addition, there are six extra breakout rooms, 4,000 square feet of prefunction space, and two "lounge" areas to consider as well. The icing on the cake: The Hyatt Regency offers complimentary parking and shuttle service within a five-mile radius of the hotel.

With delicious catering options from their in-house, full-service restaurant, experienced sales and event managers, and on-site audio-visual techs ready to handle any request, there's no excuse not to consider the Hyatt Regency North Dallas as an excellent, and economical, option for hard-to-please clients while in Dallas.

View more information about Hyatt Regency North Dallas on the Cvent Supplier Network

Cvent's Committed to Highest Level of Client Data Security

Monday, November 2, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
Leave manual payment transactions and logistical headaches in the dust while collecting online payments quickly and securely, all with the added benefits of real-time tracking and automated refunds that Cvent offers.

This September, the Payment Card Industry welcomed our company to a very exclusive list of only 1,000 PCI Level 1 compliant service providers in the world for both Visa and Mastercard. We officially only needed to self-assess, but we went above and beyond the requirements to show a commitment to our customers that we take the security of their payment card data seriously. 

To achieve PCI Level 1 status, our systems underwent an extensive third-party audit process, which validated over 200 security practices and technologies. We're proud to offer our clients peace of mind with the highest level of data security.

If you're not currently using Cvent for your event management needs, perhaps you should reevaluate your processes: does your current vendor have as deep an understanding that a key to business success is always protecting client data to the greatest possible degree?

Holding ourselves accountable to keep a stringent set of regulations in place is a great company achievement - and just another reason why we're the market leader in the industry!

Selling Electronic Real Estate - Leveraging your Sponsors and Cutting your Costs

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
Perhaps you're worried about the cost of investing in online event management software because your organization charges little or no money for its events. No matter the price (or lack thereof) associated with your events, you shouldn't let it hold you back from reaping the benefits of a great online system - so let's look at a new way to work around some seemingly unavoidable expenses.

Among the numerous industries Cvent works with: corporations, associations, universities, non-profits, government and independent planners, many rely on sponsors for support - whether it be financial help or through the provision of products and services.

Many of our clients have taken advantage of this situation by tapping into their sponsors to further cover event costs. How? They charge them more money in exchange for more exposure!

Think of it as selling "electronic real estate." As a planner, you can use Cvent's capabilities with email invites and event websites to generate this additional revenue. For example, you can require sponsors pay a higher price to have their logos displayed on every event-related email or placed prominently at the top of the "Sponsors" page you create on your event website.

Or you can "sell a survey question" in a pre- or post-event survey (think about selling multiple questions if you have multiple sponsors).

Just check out this sample event Cvent did for a real client to see how SCW Fitness Education leveraged its sponsors!

Slowly but surely, your sponsors are realizing that there exists a two-way street and that they benefit from getting their name advertised throughout the entire registration process as well as on the day of the actual event.

So don't be afraid to leverage those who are already willing to help your organization - just approach it in a smart way and be prepared to defend your request with reasons why it's smart for them to get as much time in the spotlight as possible.

Business Travel Buyers Expect Slow Growth in 2010

Thursday, October 29, 2009 by Cvent Staff
NBTA Cost Containment Measures for 2010Slow and steady is the motto for business travel next year, according to a recent survey by the National Business Travel Association. According to its 2010 Business Travel Buyers' Cost Forecast of 180 direct corporate travel buyers, 69 percent of respondents expect to see business travel volume "grow slowly" throughout 2010.

For meetings, 58 percent of respondents said that reducing the number of meetings is one of their measures to cut costs in 2010. However, on the bright side, this percentage is much lower than last year, when 85 percent said they would be cutting meetings.

To save money, travel buyers also cited auditing travel and entertainment expenses (84 percent), enforcing travel policies (77 percent), mandating online booking (76 percent), and reducing nonessential travel (71 percent) as their cost-cutting measures. Just over half of respondents—more than twice as many as last year—also said they would start implementing Strategic Meetings Management programs for their meeting in 2010.

A True One-Stop-Shop: Let Cvent be your #1 Destination

Friday, October 16, 2009 by Elizabeth Elko
For event industry professionals, Cvent can't be beat as the best one-stop-shop: our web-based software offers online event registration, event management, event web site creation, robust reporting, online surveys, and a sourcing tool. In addition, we've rolled out a Destination Guide so planners can focus their site selection and event sourcing efforts by comparing meeting-specific details among international cities.

At Cvent, we understand that you are burdened by the daunting task of coordinating countless aspects of the meeting and event planning process. We want to lift that burden by offering you an abundance of comprehensive resources, along with as much technical support as you need to keep things running smoothly and successfully.

And once you have all the event-related details in place or complete the meeting, you can easily distribute a variety of internal and customer pre- and post-event surveys to capture the valuable feedback that will help your organization in future planning.

The tasks involved with meetings and events can't get any easier or more customizable in look and feel with Cvent, and the seamless integration of all our online tools is extremely helpful because it allows you to have everything housed and connected in one central location.

Intimidated by the thought of taking on a system with multiple components? Just start with one of our offerings. Let us take the bulk of your manual processes and handle them with our impressive products. We're confident you'll want more after getting a little taste of Cvent!

And we're sure you'll find that choosing Cvent to manage all aspects of your organization's event needs is more affordable in the long run than trying to keep up a decentralized system. Once you get comfortable with Cvent's high-quality software, you'll wonder why you haven't stuck with just one "shop" until now.