Testing is going to remain an important qualifier for meetings and events in the initial phases of reopening as part of our new normal. So, we were delighted when one of our clients let us know about Inspire Diagnostics, a free COVID testing company for group gatherings and special events. They developed a trusted turnkey system to test event hosts and guests through professional healthcare technicians. You can opt to mail FDA-approved PCR tests to attendees prior to your event or conduct the tests onsite—results will be received in 48 hours. Additionally, they can conduct on-site Antigen Rapid tests that yield results in just 10 minutes.

Our team and our industry has a lot to celebrate … California finally released meeting reopening guidelines last week so we can start planning events in our home state!

When California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced plans to fully reopen California by June 15, it was music to our ears. As long as case numbers continue to downtrend and the vaccination supply remains robust, gatherings greater than 100 people will be allowed if attendees are wearing masks, and those attending larger gatherings of 5,000 or more will be required to provide a negative COVID test result or proof of vaccination. We can work with that!

With everyone being asked to do more with less and many meeting departments shrinking, we believe outsourcing the site selection component of future meetings may be imperative as our industry rebounds. Third-party meeting planners like Site Selection Services are certainly not one-size-fits-all providers. Whether you’ve worked with a third-party before or are looking to outsource future meeting location bookings, finding the right match to meet your needs and represent your company and brand can have a real impact on your event’s success and ROI. Examining these key factors will help you find that perfect fit:

We are big fans of The Rachel Hollis Podcast and glean a lot of inspiration from her conversations with thought leaders and successful individuals across a diverse spectrum of industries. As business owners, we found Episode 173: Donald Miller Teaches Your How to Tell Your Story to be very enlightening. Founder of the StoryBrand agency, Miller is a branding expert who helps companies clarify their story and value proposition in a way that resonates—and translates to success.

The hospitality industry lost a true leader and icon with the recent passing of Arne Sorenson last month, the beloved President and CEO of Marriott International. As former hotel executives with many ties to the Marriott organization ourselves, the loss of Sorenson hit us hard. So, we were very moved to learn of the Marriott-Sorenson Center for Hospitality Leadership being established in his honor.

A hotelier recently invited Kim to join the social networking app, Clubhouse. It was the first we’d heard of this new platform, so we did a little digging to figure out what it’s all about. BizBash published an informative article, What Is Clubhouse, and How Should Event Pros Be Using It? that answered most of our questions. Much of its iPhone-only Beta community of 600,000 users is comprised of event and marketing pros who use it to share ideas and make connections. A visit to the Apple App store also informed us it’s in an invite-only phase of development currently, so you’ve got to know someone to start using it. (We can help you out with that, if you’re curious!)