Social media is making an impact on business and altering communications within many corporate sectors. Calgary event management companies and meeting and event planners are among those that are using social media tools to plan meetings and communicate in varying ways.

Details Inc. started blogging in 2009 as an opportunity to share information online with people in the event planning industry and friends in our social network. Social media as an event organizing strategy is growing in popularity as more companies are willing to experiment in online and interactive social circles to find what works – and what doesn’t work – for their members. From user conferences and new product announcements to online registrations, meeting planners are starting to better understand and accept social media’s growing role in event organizing.

Facebook is a social networking tool that is popular with conference professionals, and can be customized for specific groups. Through professional fan pages and customized group pages, meeting industry personnel and group members can announce upcoming meetings, register for conferences, or share vital information among those who “like” their page, friends and organization members.

Twitter is often the social space of choice for event organizers to communicate with their group members and send out location, speaker and sponsor information. Members can tweet, re-tweet and post information about meeting plans and share feedback with other followers in their social network.

Social media event platforms, such as Meet Up and Tweet Up, allow planners to communicate in real time and organize gatherings with vast numbers of personnel that have chosen to identify their group affiliation within social networks.

Though there are some Canada event planning companies and conference organizations that remain cautious about implementing social media tools, associations and planners are learning how to navigate this new terrain of social media and many are finding it beneficial for their meeting, convention, and event planning strategies.

Are you or organizations you belong to using social media to promote your meetings or events?  Tell us how it is going and share your stories with us!

Our Calgary Event Management Company is thrilled to be involved with the “Best Meeting in Canada”.  Not only the Best Overall Meeting, but the Best Large Meeting as well.

The Travel Alberta Industry Conference was recently named “Best Meeting in Canada” by Meetings and Incentive Travel Magazine. We have been planning this meeting for the past 9 years and are working on year #10.

The finalists were nominated by attendees at the meetings which feels like an extra feather in our cap as it wasn’t just us thinking we did a great job on the meeting but the attendees too.

I think the  Travel Alberta Industry Conference is a fantastic event but I’ve been reflecting on WHY.  What besides the great education, fantastic networking and amazing location make it the best meeting in Canada?  (Although those three qualities are certainly very good ones and ones that we try to achieve at every event we plan).

The answer I’ve come up with is that the team works together amazingly well.  All the suppliers work together to put on the very best event year after year.  And we work together to support the goals of our client.  Having been planning this meeting for 10 years now – it’s like we’re all a family and it shows.  The family effort puts on a great show.  When we go to a planning meeting we help ourselves to coffee and put our dirty dishes into the dishwasher.  It’s not about tidying up after ourselves but a comfort level that we have with a long-term client.

I would encourage everyone to treat their meeting planner as part of the family.  Listen to what we have to say, take our advice.  Family members won’t steer you down a wrong path (okay – some family members might but we like our clients and we won’t let you go down a bad path).    And when hiring a planner (or other supplier) – make sure you hire someone who wants to become part of your family.