Event Planner Confessions

I have been having so much fun recording our new podcast! For many of you that have known me for a long time, having a podcast has been a dream of mine for almost 10 years and it’s finally come true thanks to CSI DMC! Check out Event Planner Confessions however you listen to podcasts and please share your own confessions with us to be featured on an upcoming episode! Follow our pages on social too to get snips of great content on anything from mental health in events to women in leadership to sustainability and so much more!

Throughout the holiday season, companies are taking the opportunity to reflect on the impact of giving, both inside and beyond their organizations. Recognizing your team with meaningful gifts, donating to a charitable cause, and hands-on involvement in community efforts — the impact goes well beyond a simple tradition. Thoughtful gifting creates rich, lasting connections within your team. At the same time, strong CSR works to reinforce your company’s core values. Here’s why thoughtful gifting matters: 🎁Fostering team appreciation. A thoughtful gift is more than just a fun gesture. Gifting is a great way to make your team feel seen and valued. Creativity and a clear connection to the people behind your org are the keys that delight and dazzle. 🎁CSR with impact. Giving doesn’t have to stop at the office doors. Donation drives and group volunteering are great ways to create team-building initiatives and strengthen community connections. 🎁Engraining CSR into events. Instead of another time slot on the agenda, CSR is now being engrained throughout the entirety of corporate events. When companies add gifting and generosity to their culture as a norm, their teams quickly follow. While the holidays offer a prime chance to celebrate giving, their true value lies in what they say about your organization’s core values. When you create ample opportunities to give, you build trust, strengthen relationships, and inspire others. Giving goes beyond the gifts. The thought, connection, and purpose behind giving goes much deeper. How is your organization celebrating the season of giving? 🎄 Tune into episode 8! Link in bio! #EventPlannerConfessions #EventPlanning #CorporateGiving #CSR

🎙️ New Episode Alert! 🎁 This week on Event Planner Confessions, we’re exploring how giving back through events can make a lasting impact. From thoughtful gifting that fosters team appreciation to CSR initiatives that build stronger communities, this episode unpacks why generosity goes beyond the holiday season. Here’s what we’re talking about: 🎁 Creative gifting ideas that go beyond the ordinary 🌍 CSR initiatives that reflect your company’s values ✨ How to seamlessly incorporate giving into your event strategy Whether you’re planning year-end celebrations or looking to inspire your team, this episode is packed with actionable ideas to elevate your events with purpose and connection. 🎧 Tune in tomorrow and join the conversation! Link in bio. #EventPlannerConfessions #CSRDMC #SeasonOfGiving #EventStrategy #PurposefulEvents

From assembling a Sustainability Council to researching more planet-friendly vendors, going green doesn’t need to be a hassle. Look at it as an opportunity to explore, discover, and bring your clients’ events to life in a way that supports their values. #eventplannerconfessions #SustainableEvents #EventPlanning #CSIDMC

The future of event planning is green ♻️ Sustainability is more than a trend. An increasing number of clients are choosing sustainable centerpieces — opting out of flower arrangements — and making more planet-conscious transportation choices. This may feel like a bit of a shake-up across the event coordination industry, but with the increase of these sensibilities also comes a great opportunity for: ✅ Innovative transportation methods (gamified walks, anyone?) ✅ Vendor variety and relationship building (upfront conversations) ✅ Experimentation and increased client satisfaction (bespoke service!) Going green also tackles the age-old issue of what to do with leftover catering by introducing establishments like The Food Recovery Network, which distributes excess resources to local shelters and food banks. From assembling a Sustainability Council to researching more planet-friendly vendors, going green doesn’t need to be a hassle. Look at it as an opportunity to explore, discover, and bring your clients’ events to life in a way that supports their values. What could be better than that? To hear more about sustainability in the event space, how to integrate sustainability into your events, and more, listen to Cara Pratt, CMP, DMCP and Ashley Currin conversation on Episode 7 of Event Planner Confessions. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. #eventplannerconfessions #industrytips #SustainableEvents #EventPlanning

Being intentional about taking time to pause, evaluate, and adapt your habits to best suit your needs is what will keep the event industry’s stress ranking low. 👍 To hear more about mental health in the event space, how to effectively manage workloads in high-stress areas, and more, listen to Cara Pratt, CMP, DMCP and Ashley Currin conversation on Episode 6 of Event Planner Confessions. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player.

The days of white-knuckling our weeks are over — there’s a better way. 🙌 In 2023, event planning was the third most stressful job in the world. Today, we're seeing it slip down the ranks. There are a few main reasons for this change, and it mostly revolves around stronger industry standards. As event planners have stepped more into spaces where executive decisions happen, the less hectic event coordination has become. Of course, there are always going to be hair-raising aspects when organizing large groups of people — but we can choose to implement best practices that minimize the negative impacts on our mental health. These practices could include: ➡️ Not being afraid to set boundaries around your time ➡️ Using your vacation time however you want ➡️ Implementing stress-reducing rituals If you have vacation time, use it — for day trips, staycations, or even just to catch up on laundry. There are no set parameters for using the time off you’ve earned whichever way feeds your soul most. Even something as simple as a breathing exercise in high-stress environments can improve mental health in the day-to-day. Being intentional about taking time to pause, evaluate, and adapt your habits to best suit your needs is what will keep the event industry’s stress ranking low. To hear more about mental health in the event space, how to effectively manage workloads in high-stress areas, and more, listen to Cara and Ashley’s conversation on Episode 6 of Event Planner Confessions. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. #eventplannerconfessions

No one wants to be caught off guard when bringing a group together to make memories, learn, and enjoy. Local experts reduce the unknowns — don’t be afraid to lean into local knowledge. That’s why Destination Management Companies (DMCs) are so important. #eventplannerconfessions

Memorable, destination-specific experiences don’t happen by accident. 🫣 At least not when you truly need them to. You can’t depend on luck or happy coincidences to plan a successful event in an area you’re not familiar with. That’s why Destination Management Companies (DMCs) are so important. Bringing in a local expert can mean the difference between a flop and a thriving event that caters to a location's unique attributes without falling into tourist traps or unnecessary costs. Local knowledge helps: ➡️Identify destination specific entertainment ➡️Manage expectations around venue capacity ➡️Hunt down the perfect venue and negotiate Having boots on the ground who know every bump and crack in the road is an incredible advantage to creating memorable events. No one wants to be caught off guard when bringing a group together to make memories, learn, and enjoy. Local experts reduce the unknowns — don’t be afraid to lean into local knowledge. To hear more about leveraging local experts, the consequences of not using local knowledge, and more, listen to Cara and Ashley’s conversation on Episode 5 of Event Planner Confessions. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. #eventplannerconfessions #csidmc #eventplanning #corporateevents #industrytips

“In the middle of my event, the decor vendor closed their doors!” What would you do in this situation? Find the whole story on episode 4 of the event planner confessions “From Booths to Buzz: Navigating the IMEX Experience." #eventplannerconfessions #eventindustry