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M&T Bank Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens, is one of the most interesting event venues in Baltimore. In particular, the lounges on the Club Level of the stadium rival any other special event facility in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The North Club Level Lounge can accommodate groups from 50 people to upwards of 2,000 people, while offering a fantastic view of the Baltimore skyline, including the nearby Sheraton Inner Harbor and Hilton Baltimore hotels. The two South Club Level lounges can accommodate up to 1,000 people each. In addition, there are several smaller areas on the Club Level that easily handle smaller meetings of 60 to 250 people.

Meetings, sit-down dinners and receptions can be accommodated in either the North or South Club Level Lounges. The folks at Aramark can create custom menus to match the theme of your meeting. Additional attractions for your special event can be arranged at the stadium, such as having the Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders or mascots attend, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of the suites, Press Box, and locker rooms. This is truly a unique venue in Baltimore and one that guests talk about after they leave.

View more information about M&T Bank Stadium on the Cvent Supplier Network

Now more than ever is a time to save, and the Hilton family of hotels wants to help. Event planners who book and stay at any participating Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites Hotels or Waldorf Astoria Collection property between February 16, 2009 and March 31, 2010, can receive extra incentives.

Incentive options are:

• Complimentary room ratio of 1 per 35 per paid group room nights
• 25 percent allowable attrition
• Double Hilton HHonors Base points for the attendees
• Complimentary staff meals for up to four staff members
• 2 percent rebate on room revenue
• 500 Hilton HHonors bonus points per paid group room night

Book 50 to 99 group room nights to receive one incentive of your choice; book 100 to 149 to receive two incentives; or book 150 or more to receive three incentives.

To take advantage of this meeting promotion, mention "Book Now and Save" when you call Hilton Direct USA at 1-877-476-2426 or contact your local Hilton hotel or Sales Worldwide representative. To find a Hilton in your area with enough space for your next event, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

More than 100 years after its original opening, The Edison still shines brightly. Conveniently located near the LA convention center, it is set in one of the first private power plants in California. The historic Edison is truly one of the most unique venues in Los Angeles.

A tribute to the sultry bygone era of industry, science and innovation, this LA party venue explodes with provocative history and tantalizing treats. Depression-inspired comfort food, decadent nostalgic design, and glamorous live entertainment are what makes this locale a top LA attraction and "one of the best new bars in America," according to Esquire magazine.

If you are looking for electrifying entertainment, this LA restaurant is sure to spark your interest. It has a lofty open floor plan, making it perfect for accommodating intimate groups of 10 people to grand gatherings of 300 guests.

Cvent Planner Insider Tip: Receive glowing reviews from your clients this holiday season by booking this rare Los Angeles corporate event space.

View more information about The Edison on the Cvent Supplier Network

In today's climate of budget cutbacks and scrutiny on corporate excess, you and your company's execs might not have holiday parties on the brain. After all, is this really the time to spend money on the all-out celebrations of years past?

Just because you can't have all the (jingle) bells and whistles doesn't mean you and your employees can't celebrate the season. Why not host an event that's not just about glitz and glam but rather giving back? Try adding socially responsible team building to your party agenda!

As I've blogged in the past, team building is an important element in keeping your employees involved and invested in each other's and the company's success. When such bonding activities involve giving back, it yields even more benefits, as these corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs foster pride in your workforce.

The holidays are a perfect time to give back and boost the morale of both your employees and those in need.

"People need camaraderie and to feel good about themselves by helping others," Alan Ranzer, executive director of Impact 4 Good, recently told Incentive magazine. "I think more companies will turn to CSR to give meaningful holiday experiences."

While building bikes for a local boy's and girl's club or volunteering at a soup kitchen are great "do good" ideas for team building, Impact 4 Good has ideas for less intense activities that are more suited to a holiday fete.

At a recent holiday party for a client, the company gave attendees a 10-square-inch foam piece of canvas to paint, which was then used to create a mural for a children's hospital. The activity took just a half hour!

Obviously, it's easy to make your holiday parties a win-win for everyone involved. So will you incorporate CSR team building to your holiday event?

Yesterday I blogged about how the travel industry is preparing for flu season. Now I want to know, are meeting planners even concerned?

The answer is "Yes," according to a recent survey by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), but that won't stop them from hosting events. The survey found that 63 percent of travel mangers surveyed have serious concerns about the spread of H1N1 flu, but 91 percent aren't holding off on meetings and conferences because of it.

"On one hand, it is commendable that companies are not giving in to panic," ACTE Executive Director Susan Gurley said in a statement. "Yet on the other hand, this is a situation that can develop very quickly and it is very important that the appropriate arrangements be put in place."

The survey found that 34 percent of companies have a plan or instructions for travelers who may get caught up in airport screenings with flu-like symptoms. If you need some advice on getting your flu season action plan together, read my 4 Ways for Meeting Planners to Prepare for Flu Season.

Looking for a unique venue in Baltimore to hold an after-hours reception or wedding? The Maryland Historical Society, centrally located in the Mount Vernon section of Baltimore, is well worth checking out!

Easily accessible from hotels in downtown Baltimore, via the Light Rail System, the Maryland Historical Society has four different venues that can accommodate between 40 and 400 guests for a seated function or between 100 and 500 guests for a reception. Docent-led tours of the museum galleries are available for an additional charge and are highly recommended. Among the current exhibitions, guests can have the opportunity to see an original hand-written copy of the Star Spangled Banner on display, a giant version of Nipper (the RCA Victor dog), and one of the finest collections of silverware in the country.

The Meyerhoff Courtyard or the Monument Street Garden would also make a wonderful place to hold a wedding in Baltimore. The MHS has a list of exclusive caterers and approved vendors with which they work.

The MHS is within easy walking distance of several Baltimore hotels such as the Mount Vernon Hotel, Peabody Court and the Inn at 4 East Madison. The Maryland Historical Society is a great option for holding your next event in Baltimore. If you have an interest in history, this is a great venue!

View more information about Maryland Historical Society on the Cvent Supplier Network

Home 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

Atlanta is known for its lush landscape, rolling hills and red clay, and the city is trying to preserve this environment one establishment at a time. Many Atlanta caterers, restaurants and even hotels are doing their part to extend Earth's time clock in little ways. You, too, can make a difference the next time you host an event in Atlanta.

The Crown Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia was recently reported to be the first hotel in Georgia to be certified by Green Globe Recognizing Sustainable Practices. What are these sustainable practices? They include the hotel's extensive recycling and waste program, low flow shower heads promoting water conservation, and the donation of hotel linen and furniture to local charities following recent renovations. Feel free to host your next green meeting in this Atlanta hotel's 32,000 square feet of meeting space.

Doubletree Hotel Atlanta Buckhead welcomes guests with its Green & Sustainable Initiatives, designed to address the hotel waste issues. Currently the hotel allows visitors to recycle by placing both trash and recycle bins in every room. If you ever wondered what happened to the other half of that chicken sandwich you couldn't finish, rest assured that the kitchen's garden is layered with a compost mixture of food waste.
 
Events at the Doubletree can take advantage of the the Peachtree Ballroom, seating 300 guests, which is complete with energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting.

For more information about these and other green hotels in Atlanta, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Of the roughly 115 downtown restaurants in Orlando, I've compiled a list of 10 great ones to host small- to medium-sized meetings and events. These Orlando private dining facilities feature great food, amazing service, and wonderful people in charge of event and hospitality coordination.

Funky Monkey Wine Company
Cuisine: Fusion / Eclectic
Price: $31 to $50

Napasorn Thai Restaurant and Sake Bar
Cuisine: Thai/Chinese
Price: $20 to $40

Citrus Restaurant
Cuisine: Contemporary American
Price: $30 and under

Java Lava
Cuisine: Coffee and Bakery
Price: $5 to $15
 
White Wolf Cafe
Cuisine: Healthy Mediterranean
Price: $15 to $30
 
Sam Snead's
Cuisine: American Fine Dining
Price: $30 and up
 
Ceviche
Cuisine:Spanish
Price: $10 to $30
 
The Black Olive
Cuisine: Italian
Price: $15 to $30

Wildside's Bar and Grill
Cuisine: Barbecue
Price: $15 to $30

Crooked Bayou
Cuisine: Cajun
Price: $7 to $20

Chicago is known as the city to accommodate most large meetings and events for associations and corporations. In fact, the meetings industry brings thousands of guests to Chicago for annual events and product launches every year. With McCormick Place listed as the nation's top facility for meetings and conventions, Chicago has built the resources to accommodate these groups with some of the best brands of hotels in the world.

These large hotels are now not only housing guests who attend these meetings, but also hosting them in their own top-notch Chicago meeting facilities. Check out some of the premier hotels in Chicago that have meeting space to welcome thousands of convention guests:

Hyatt Regency Chicago

In addition to being the on-site hotel brand stationed at Chicago's convention center, Hyatt Regency is no stranger to large meetings of its own. With 228,000 square feet of contemporary and flexible function space, Hyatt is equipped much like any other large convention center. The Hyatt is home to four ballrooms, 63 meeting rooms and 70,000 square feet of exhibition space.

This Chicago hotel's impeccable service is monitored by a Meeting Concierge. This friendly aide is by your side from start to finish, ensuring that everything runs flawlessly.

Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers

The Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers has over 120,000 square feet of meeting space. This property can host up to 4,600 people for an event or conference. With four above-ground levels of meeting space, 34 breakout meeting rooms, and a 40,000-square-foot ballroom—standing as the largest hotel ballroom in the Midwest—the Sheraton Chicago has all of the amenities to host large groups.

Situated  the heart of downtown Chicago, the Sheraton is near the city's most popular attractions, making it easy for guests to venture out and explore the city. From their 35,000 square feet of exhibition space to their convention registration area, the Sheraton Chicago is sure to cater to your every need!

To find out more about Chicago convention hotels, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Guests at a wedding rarely remember the flower girl's excellent petal throwing skills or the best man's drunken toast about the first time he met the bride. Often times it's the wedding cake that is the headliner, focal point and, for some, wedding the favor of choice. A wedding can do without many things, but not without the cake.

Around the world, the wedding cake comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and styles. In Britain, where they lay claim to the wedding cake, these celebratory desserts are ornate pieces of art. In France, guests enjoy croquembouche, an ice cream cone-shaped tower of profiteroles covered in caramel or toffee.

In the Caribbean, black rum cake is a two-for-one special: the cake's fruit are soaked in rum for weeks on end, giving it a dark brown color that guarantees your guests will go home happy. In Atlanta however, the red velvet cake is king, often with walnuts sprinkled between layers to give it a crunchy, sweet taste.

Rafeedie's Catering is one of the premier caterers in Atlanta. Providing catering services to weddings and other special occasions for almost 25 years, Rafeedie's international culinary team can create menus to a wide array of tastes. As for wedding cakes, Rafeedie's is at the top of the list. With flavors ranging from amaretto to raspberry filled to orange almond, you'll be sure that your wedding is memorable for all the right reasons.

To find more Atlanta caterers, visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

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!

November marks the start of regular flu season. I recently blogged about what event planners can do to get prepared, and, luckily, it looks like plenty of other members of the travel industry are doing what they can to prevent flu outbreaks as well.

Hotels such as Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and InterContinental are focusing on day-to-day preventative measures, such as cleaning oft-touched items like phones and elevator buttons, according to The New York Times. Hotel employees are also being reminded to wash their hands often and sneeze into tissues, not hands. John Wolf, a spokesman for Marriott International, also told The Times that its properties were stocking hand sanitizers for conference and meeting groups.

Airports are taking similar steps, adding hand sanitizer dispensers near security checkpoints and using signs to highlight proper hygiene to passengers. However, the airplanes themselves can offer less protection, so business travelers such be prepared by packing antibacterial wipes, tissues, hand sanitizers, etc.

Have you noticed more flu precautions being taken at hotels and event venues? What are you doing to prepare your event guests?

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry hosted this year's Columbian Ball, an elegant black-tie affair that was themed after the its new exhibit, "You! The Experience." This colorful and lively exhibit sparked a unique theme idea that was a great success.

The theme of the evening, "A Celebration of You: Mind, Body and Spirit," inspired a 1960s decor mock up with bright lights and colors. The decor which was provided by Heffernan Morgan and included red, blue, yellow and green strips of fabric draping from the ceiling, tables topped with candles, light boxes and bright flowers, as well as chandeliers and disco balls lining the dinner area. BBJ Linen's provided brightly colored linens of orange, green and blue to add even more pizazz to the venue.

Food for Thought was the Chicago caterer of choice Friday evening. To correlate with the theme, the menu was chosen to reflect good health and well being. During the cocktail reception, a selection of health conscious appetizers, including steamed duck pot stickers served with organic soy sauce and Tiger shrimp, were served to guests. The bar also had an alcohol-free shooter of beet juice infused with herbs, apples and carrots for guests to sample. Meanwhile, the evening's first course was a choice of well prepared dishes including chilled corn bisque, a haricot vert salad, and a mesclun salad topped with red peppers and blue cheese.

The evening's entertainment included a live auction hosted by television journalist Bill Kurtis, who was suited up in a red boxer's robe. The Jessie White Tumblers also made an appearance to wow the guests with risky acrobatic leaps over the stage to encourage guests to interact.

The museum's exhibit was also a great success as a backdrop to the Chicago event. The exhibit highlights the comprised qualities of a person, stressing that we are more than just bodies. You! is a breakdown of personalities and environments that help shape people into being the person they are today. The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago has a wide range of exhibits and event spaces that serve as a great resource for Chicago event planners.

To learn more about the Museum of Science and Industry or other Chicago event suppliers, please visit the Cvent Supplier Network.

Sheraton has been in the midst of a multibillion dollar global revitalization effort, renovating almost half of its North American profile. One of the newest on the scene is the Sheraton Dallas.

Following a $90 million transformation, the downtown Dallas hotel boasts 1,840 redesigned guest rooms and over 230,000 square feet of flexible meeting rooms and banquet spaces—some of the largest in the state of Texas. Whether in the 40,800-square-foot Lone Star Ballroom or 750-square-foot Executive Boardroom, Dallas events at the hotel enjoy expert in-house catering, audio-visual, floral and convention service departments.

Outside the boardroom, the Sheraton Dallas' new dining options, The Kitchen Table restaurant and Draft Media Sports Lounge, provide a place to kick back with a drink or dinner. The new lobby, complete with complimentary work stations and flat-screen televisions, is also a chic spot to rest after a day of work.

Located in the Arts and Financial District, the Sheraton Dallas hotel is extremely convenient for out-of-town meeting guests. The hotel itself is a stop on Dallas' light rail system and connected to the shopping complex Plaza of the Americas. Booking these Dallas accommodations also places attendees just minutes from the Dallas Convention Center, American Airlines Center and historic 6th Floor Museum.

View more information about Sheraton Dallas on the Cvent Supplier Network

In today's economy, it's helpful to get an idea of what an event is going to cost you before you start the long and arduous task of making it happen. To help, the event coordinators at Reveal (my staffing and events company in Orlando) have a pricing rubric to put together before we even start an event.

This rubric works anywhere and for any event, from corporate functions to social parties, to get a general idea of budget on the low, middle, and high ends. Keep in mind that Orlando has so much to offer to make any event happen, but setting your event budget is one of the first things to be done during the planning process.

Write out the six basic elements of your event in individual squares. Then list three preferred Orlando event suppliers, or the elements that you want, from least expensive to most expensive.

For example, here are two of the category listings one of our event coordinators put together in the early planning stages for a recent Wake-board DVD release party in downtown Orlando.

Downtown Orlando Venue
1. Latitudes on Church St.
2. Rooftop Waverley Condo
3. Lake Eola Amphitheatre

Food
1. Bubbalous  Bar B Q
2. Wildside Bar B Q 
3. Puff-N-Stuff Catering   

Laying out these options makes the choices much easier when it comes to sticking to your event budget. You can select the most important areas in which you want to really invest, then opt for the less expensive options for the remaining categories. Plus, laying out the pricing allows you to see where what competition is out there, making it easier to negotiate a great deal when you send these suppliers your Request for Proposal!

There's a new green venue on the Toronto meetings scene. Located at the 192-acre Exhibition Place, the Allstream Centre incorporates state-of-the-art technology into its historical, 160,000-square-foot facility.

Following its multimillion dollar makeover, Toronto's former Automotive Building is now the go-to destination for special events and banquets. Its popularity is no surprise, seeing as how the Toronto venue boasts the largest ballroom in the city, seating up to 3,000 guests. It also offers 20 meeting rooms, capable of accommodating 50 to 750 people.

The Allstream Centre is committed to keeping events green, targeting to be the first LEED silver certified conference building in Canada. Eco-friendly initiatives include the use of low VOC paints, carpets and adhesives; an innovative white reflective roof; and food service that includes locally grown food and a perishable food donation program.

The Toronto conference center's functionality has not taken away from its beauty, which is a mix of old and new. The original terrazzo lobby floors, iron stair railings and tulip-shaped Art Deco lighting fixtures have been restored to their original glory. Meanwhile, contemporary elements, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired design in the ballroom ceiling and 40-foot-high tavertine relief wall, keep things modern.

For Toronto meeting planners in need of even more meeting space, the Allstream Centre is adjacent to the popular Direct Energy Centre, which offers over one million square feet of space. Together, both buildings can comfortably house your next Toronto event.

View more information about the Allstream Centre on the Cvent Supplier Network

You want big? Want trendy? Want everything at your fingertips? How about the Angelika Theater at Mockingbird Station in Dallas?

A theater, you ask? A theater. But not just any theater. The Angelika is one of Dallas's most beloved, most stylish film centers and is notorious for showing under the radar, Oscar-worthy films. Celebrities have been known to frequent the venue for premieres and hardened movie critics come for the atmosphere alone. This place is new world hip, with old world charm.

It's also perfect for any Dallas event! Whether you're looking for something different for the company meeting or you're planning a sassy soiree, the Angelika has the Dallas meeting space and expertise to make any event a success. From the wall-to-wall screens in the auditoriums with Dolby Digital Surround Sound, to the sophisticated lobby and cafe space with traditional movie snacks, to the endless catering options, this unique Dallas venue is sure to please even the pickiest client!

Aside from the obvious theater space, this Dallas hotspot sits atop one of the trendiest rail stops in the city where everything is, literally, a hop, skip, and a jump away. The luxurious Palomar Hotel is right across the street. Numerous restaurants and bars are within walking distance, such as Trinity Hall, an upscale Irish restaurant and bar where you can see everything from A-list celebs to World Cup Soccer matches to local Irish bands performances. It also offers easy, easy highway and airport access to Dallas Love Field.

Additionally, some of Dallas's biggest companies are within five miles in any direction of The Angelika. And one of Dallas's, and the country's, most prestigious law, business, and art schools, Southern Methodist University, is less than a quarter of a mile away.

This place has it all! Here is a list of notable features:

• 8 auditoriums with a variety of seating
• Available lobby and/or cafe reception space
• State-of-the-art audio-visual equipment including 35mm, 16mm, or digital projection
• Outside catering (bonus!)
• Personal attention from an Event Director
• Courteous and professional staff

I've written several blog posts in the past about how to stay green and stay on budget. One tip I've seen time and time again is to reuse event decor, props and whatnot, whether you've kept them yourself or have asked the event venue to to recycle them from an earlier event that day.

Today, I read about a great website that offers another option. Event Leftovers is an online marketplace where meeting and event planners can buy and sell new and gently-used supplies. It's great for planners of all markets and levels, from once-a-year company holiday parties to monthly client events.

Event Leftovers a win-win for both buyers and sellers: buyers get bargains on event goods, while sellers (who can list items for free) get some additional revenue. Plus, both sides are being eco-friendly!

Right now, items for sale range from the wacky and fun (like these tropical birds—perfect for a luau theme!) to standard items that could work at any event, like charger plates and clear votive holders.

Registration and listings are free, so the next time you need to buy or sell some event party rentals, check it out!

Who said going to the Opera was a bore? Owners of the Atlanta Event Center at Opera invite you to host various events—from wedding receptions, corporate functions and fashion shows—in its lively facility. With its Greek columns, luminescent chandeliers and three-tier balcony, the center makes your attendees will feel like royalty the moment they step inside.

Built in 1920 as a performing arts theater for the Atlanta Women's Club, the center has since undergone two million dollars worth of renovations to revitalize the space to its original luster. Now, the Atlanta special event facility boasts three separate and beautiful areas with their own appeals.

The Opera House encompasses a stage, perfect for performances or speaking engagements. The mezzanine level accommodates up to 450 guests, including a full service bar, private VIP sections and private restrooms.

For more intimate events, the Venetian room is an appropriate choice. Host 150 guests for a reception in this Atlanta banquet hall, which includes Victorian accents and hardwood flooring. On those hoTLANTA days or cooLANTA nights, try the Patio, offering greenery, lounge-style seating with breathtaking views of the skyline.

No need for your guests to worry about lodging or car rentals for events at the center. Several Atlanta area hotels are in walking distance, including W Midtown, Four Seasons and Marriott Suites Midtown. As food food choices, Opera provides in-house catering from Chef Jeffrey McGar, a culinary master whose meals matching the unique design and style of the venue. The chef and the culinary team at Opera recently won the 2009 Allie Award for Best Buffet/Reception Menu in Atlanta.

But if not for the culinary delights of miniature Cubans and mojito lamb chops, come for the scenery and ambiance of this unique Atlanta venue. Feel free to leave your falsetto at home!

View more information about the Atlanta Event Center at Opera on the Cvent Supplier Network