Free Idea Fridays

Making History - Again

2012-03-09T10:04:00.000-05:00

I am a big fan of venues rich in history. This weekend (March 11) marks the 83rd anniversary of the Arcadian Court and poignantly, the Hudson Bay Company, in partnership with Oliver & Bonacini Events, is undergoing a dramatic transformation of this venue that is not only rich in history but rich in tradition.

I haven’t seen any photos yet (the website still only shows artist’s renderings) but I am anxious to see how this team has merged the original Art Deco style with modern day designs. The 8,000-square-foot space will be able to accommodate 1,200 when it reopens in April this year.

For now, fellow admirers of this spectacular venue on the 8th floor of the Simpson Tower will soon get a glimpse of the newest L-shaped room which seats 400 and features floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick and striking chandeliers - all overlooking Toronto’s Old City Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. Modern conveniences include built-in screens, projectors and dimmers.

So keep these venues in mind for future events:

· March 2012 - Arcadian Loft - a new, modern conference and event facility overlooking Toronto Old City Hall.

· Spring 2012 - Arcadian Court - a landmark event space, originally launched in 1929, now being revitalized to restore the elegance of its time.

www.arcadiancourt.ca

Speaking of making history – check out this story that made it all the way to the pages of USA Today! Roy Clorey has been a bartender at the Westin Nova Scotian for 49 years, the hotel is 81. The hotel named their lobby lounge Roy’s in his honor. Nothing like a good martini to bring back memories!

http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2012/03/westin-hotel-renames-lounge-after-longtime-bartender/638909/1

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Ever Get That Sinking Feeling?

2012-02-17T10:05:00.000-05:00

We’re shaking it up this week with a contribution from one of our favourite bloggers – Denise Bradbury, Director of Sales with the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax. Denise writes regularly for the Westin Nova Scotian Blog - http://www.thewestinnovascotian.com/blog. In her most recent post, Denise explores the connection between her home city of Halifax and one of the deadliest disasters in North American Maritime history… that is right the sinking of the Titanic.

April 15, 2012 marks the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Halifax, Nova Scotia played a large role in the days following the disaster. We were the first port of call for many of the ships carrying survivors and wreckage. Halifax’s Fairview Cemetery became the final resting place for 150 of the Titanic’s victims, the largest number of victims anywhere in the world, and the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a permanent Titanic Exhibit.

To commemorate the 100^th anniversary, Classic Dinner Theatre Productions and RCR Hospitality have joined forces to bring Titanic: The Fated Voyage to the Cunard Centre. The dinner theatre will run April 3 – 26, 2012. I attended the media launch of this event and from what I’ve seen, it will be a great show.

Set in the first class lounge of the Titanic, there will be many interesting characters, both real and fictional, to entertain the audience. The show completely sold-out runs in New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island last summer. If Halifax audiences are anything like those in NB & PEI, we could see the show return in June!

Denise’s post raises an interesting discussion about commemorative events. With Halifax as the final resting place for so many lost lives of the Titanic disaster, it’s fitting that the 100^th Anniversary would inspire local event organizers and production companies to build their events around this historic theme.

But here is our question for YOU this week: In striking a balance between preserving the memory of an event this horrific while attracting and retaining an audience, can you stray from the morose?

Don’t be shy - we invite any and all comments! POST A COMMENT NOW
Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!
To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Tech Savvy Trick...

2012-02-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

Sometimes I wish I was more of a cool tech geek.

New devices, programs and apps are launched each day – how do you keep up? Becoming tech savvy won’t happen overnight and keeping on top of new products and breakthroughs is an on-going exercise. I’m hoping to share some tech tidbits with you every few weeks in an effort to stay current myself.

Here is one that will help with presentations when you just can’t meet face to face. You can create simple and straightforward video tutorials or an elaborate screencast demo on a new product you’re launching.

Check out - http://www.screenr.com/

This is not just for geeks –the demo is easy to follow which makes it so simple. Anyone can learn to use it in minutes.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

January's Best of...

2012-01-27T11:58:00.000-05:00

With several major conferences and trade shows taking place this month, January is definitely about learning for the meeting and event industry. We thought we would report on some of the best new things we saw.

FROM PCMA in San Diego

Shawna’s top picks

Favorite Speaker - Dr. John Medina is a developmental molecular biologist and research consultant. He is an affiliate Professor of Bioengineering at the University of Washington School of Medicine. He is also the Director of the Brain Center for Applied Learning Research at Seattle Pacific University http://www.brainrules.net/

Favorite Session - Menus to Maximize Learning and Engagement Brain foods include acai berries, blueberries, romaine, strawberries, tomatoes, raspberries, flax seed oil, cheese, collard greens, eggplant, pumpkin seeds, green tea, dark chocolate and wheat germ.

Try these at your next meeting:

· carrot ginger shots for an afternoon break

· poppadum + hummus, or veg in shot glass with hummus for a reception

Jimmy’s top pick

The highlight of PCMA for me was the Networking Reception in Gaslamp Quarter: Urban Convergence

A section of the Gaslamp Quarter was closed off to PCMA attendees for a block party which featured creative elements of dining, music, art and entertainment. Spanning over several blocks were 20 diverse restaurants where attendees could sample global cuisines, and browse the shops and galleries open exclusively for PCMA It was great opportunity to mix and mingle with your fellow attendees while being entertained by the unique sound of Kool & the Gang.

FROM THE SPECIAL EVENT in Tampa Florida

Rachel’s top picks

Augmented Reality Digital Signage

My favourite pick from TSE was the Forever 21 billboard from Times Square with live video footage and real-time Polaroid snaps of the street below.” Expand the concept of real time and add this interactive feature within an event space or tradeshow floor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON8jLppE9-s

(I saw this live in NYC in December and it truly does capture and engage the audience)

Color of the Year

Pantone17-1463 - tangerine tango (mix it with shades of grey or deep browns)

You can set the colors on your computer for fonts and images by changing your RGB setting as follows (R=226, G=73, B=47) I am using it throughout the blog today!

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Let it Snow Let it Snow Let it Snow…

2012-01-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

We may not be having a flurry of snow this winter, but there is certainly a flurry of winter festivals to enjoy during the season.

One of the top events on the season’s calendar is the Quebec Winter Carnival, which as it turns out, won the event of the year for the 2011 Canadian Tourism Awards.

Celebrating its 58^th anniversary, this year’s event features international snow sculptures, fireworks, dog sleds, parades and percussion bands. One of the focal points of the Carnival - the Bonhomme Ice Palace built with 9,000 tons of snow. http://www.carnaval.qc.ca/en

Not the outdoorsy type? Don’t forget about Toronto's favourite winter foodie celebration – “Winterlicious”. Restaurants offer affordable prix fixe menus for lunch and dinner at a substantially reduced rate. There are 175 different restaurants to choose from this winter. My top picks to try out – Scarpetta, Stone Grill and Factory Girl

http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/se/restaurants.nsf/Winterlicious?Openform

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

I’m a Belieber…

2012-01-13T15:05:00.001-05:00

Though I have no formal training in marketing, I have always had a great love for branding. I use “love” because "love" has become such a key ingredient in brand loyalty.

Over the years I have paid close attention to many hot brands - especially to what those brands do to warrant consumer attention.

On a recent trip through Argentina I was pleasantly surprised to see a few Canadian brands whose power reached as far as South America. MAC Cosmetics had kiosks in 3 major upscale shopping malls and we saw a McCain Truck (the Canadian potato family) on delivery in a small town outside Buenos Aires.

Those were nice to see but what surprised me most was the power of a young Canadian boy that transcends into something supernatural.

While sightseeing, we came across a group of Beliebers, clad in purple t-shirts that professed their love for the Bieb! The frenzy began when one of the young girls noticed I had a Canadian flag pin on my knapsack. The crowd increased around us. More and more tweens decked out in purple gathered closer to us with questions about Canada (Did we know Justin? Did we listen to his music? Did we know where Ontario was?) They told us how Justin Bieber had recently played 2 sold-out concerts with 160,000 plus fans. Some were wearing the Canadian flag as a mini-skirt around each of their tiny frames. Soon the cell phones and digital cameras were snapping photos of us and chants of “VIVA LA CANADA” echoed around us.

We finally escaped the gaggle of giggling girls with this odd feeling – we had been made Beliebers and we were extra proud to be Canadian that day.

So listen up all you Canadian tourism offices – better start building a museum or a theatre or a gallery or maybe even a shrine. The Beliebers are coming to Canada – no expense will be spared, no travel too long, no climate too cold – nothing can stop them in their quest to be one step closer to this Canadian Heartthrob.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Begin with the End in Mind…

2012-01-06T10:14:00.000-05:00

I believe that all good events start at the end. It’s important to start thinking of how to evaluate your event right from the planning stage. There is always room for improvements and more planning – and that's where the post-event evaluation comes in.

Here are some tips to go beyond just the “survey” results:

· Don’t wait too long to conduct an event debrief. If possible, hold the meeting the week after the event so you can have your analysis and action plan completed within the month following your event.

· Don’t shy away from the hard questions – review the good, the bad and the ugly.

· Don’t forget to survey your support team, on-site staff and volunteers (whoever helped you execute the event). The responses you get from them will clue you in to the amount of staff you need for next year and how programming was received – remember they were your eyes and ears throughout the event.

· Don’t forget about one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders. Talking to lead sponsors, major exhibitors, your speakers, your committee or board members, your venue contacts and your suppliers. These interviews will generally allow you to probe more deeply and ask more “open” questions. This technique is time consuming but worthwhile.

Finally, solutions are the key to your success. The whole evaluation process is useless if it simply remains a stagnate document. Start taking the steps necessary to improving next year’s event immediately. For every major stumbling block, brainstorm with the team and delegate someone to use the team’s input to generate a list of possible solutions. Ask that person to research the issue, review the brainstorming ideas, and develop a plan of action for the next event. Hold a follow-up meeting with the same invitees, asking each participant to present their strategies so they can be refined by the group if necessary.

The list of stumbling blocks along with their possible solutions will be a valuable resource for next year’s event.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Happy New Year and all the Best for 2012!

Dear Santa...

2011-12-23T12:14:00.000-05:00

My mom is a shining example of how Santa defines “good”. From an early age she instilled a philanthropic attitude in us and now as adults the holiday season continues to be about giving back to our community. Every holiday season I keep an eye out for interesting new approaches to give in small ways - giving doesn’t need to be about large dollar amounts or extravagant gestures.

Here is one easy idea courtesy of the National Speakers Bureau that will literally knock your socks off!

Their “Feet First: SOCKS for the Needy” campaign helps keep people a little warmer over the winter. The socks are distributed through First United Church Mission (Vancouver) and Yonge Street Mission (Toronto), both of which run foot care clinics in the core downtown areas where hundreds of people living in tough circumstances receive treatment for foot issues.

Check it out and be GOOD!

NSB Socks Donation

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

I have always loved New York

2011-12-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

I have always loved New York – the buzz of the city is like no other in the world, especially during the holiday season.

We were fortunate enough to plan an event at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) this past week. This iconic location, both historical and exciting, provides a perfect location for receptions, launches and press conferences.

With heightened Occupy Wall Street threats, the NYSE is taking no chances. As you can see by the photo, security was at high alert with street closures, barricades, hundreds of police officers, and several security check points requiring photo I.D.

Check out all the options they offer for event space rentals:

http://www.nyx.com/eventrental/event-space

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

CAAMP Mortgage Forum a Huge Success

2011-11-25T16:05:00.000-05:00

Just back from the 2011 CAAMP Mortgage Forum held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this past week and want to share some of the highlights with all of you.

Entertaining Moments

Howie Mandel performed at our Comedyfest. He liked our usher signs so much he worked it into his act. Gerry Dee opened up for Howie and they provided a very funny Canadian combo.

Golden Décor
Gold accents like these 12 ft. golden trees added elegance to our Hall of Fame Dinner.

Look Who’s Talking

Sports Broadcaster and Four-Time Super Bowl Champion Terry Bradshaw, CBC Senior Correspondent Amanda Lang and former Prime Minister RT. Honourable Joe Clark were just a few of our first class speakers.

Check out the complete line-up of speakers at www.mortgageconference.ca/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

Green Events in Green Venues….

2011-11-04T13:31:00.000-04:00

Last month while traveling back from Vancouver, I came across a fantastic article about one of my favorite “farmers” Nicolette Novak from The Good Earth. www.goodearthfoodandwine.com. You can’t get any greener than the Good Earth gang who has been hosting corporate and private groups for unforgettable culinary experiences for about a decade now and I was happy to read that Nicole was doing so well. Here in Toronto, we are so fortunate to have the bountiful green play area of the Niagara region just around the corner from us.

Curious to see what I could find in other regions, I reached out to some colleagues across the country to see what was new in Green Venues and Denise Bradbury, Director of Sales with the Westin Nova Scotian in Halifax sent me this great tidbit:

Halifax has a unique new venue on the harbourfront that has a fabulous view of the ocean, 43,000 sq. ft. of flexible space, and an environmental conscience. Directly behind the Westin Nova Scotian and next door to Pier 21 in the Seaport District is the new Seaport Farmer’s Market. It has been labeled "one of the most eco-friendly buildings in the world". The building is a state-of-the-art waterfront facility that has been completely designed with the environment in mind. The modern steel and glass interior is warmed up with the use of beautiful, exposed wood, all salvaged from trees that fell during Hurricane Juan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Juan). The building has a rain water catchment tank, geothermal wells, windmills, a living wall inside the market and a rooftop garden that cools the building. The roof is also a beautiful space for events. The garden, full of flowers attracting butterflies, was designed to make guests feel as though they are floating on the Halifax Harbour. Supporting local and sustainable initiatives is not a new concept but as we think of ways to reduce waste associated with meetings and events, holding an event in a green space is one way to give back. http://halifaxfarmersmarket.com/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

All about music today –

2011-10-28T15:57:00.000-04:00

Ever get that one song stuck in your head all day? I had breakfast
with my mom this morning and she had a Barbra Streisand cd on –
so it is going to be a long day of Babs’ greatest hits running
through my mind.

Lately I have received a few requests for different musical ideas –
the sort of cheap and cheerful addition for small meetings and
events when budgets are tight.

Here are some suggestions:

The Rio Trio - a perfect mix of Latin, Jazz and Top 40

Call 905-834-6735

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Rio-Trio/218363881529861

The MAZE - Live Music - All Kinds – Anywhere

Matt Segriff, Dave Rodenburg and the Boys are always a crowd pleaser.

http://www.themaze.ca/

Go Freddie Go - live band playing favorites from the 50's, 60's, 70's.

They are always a huge HIT!

http://www.gofreddiego.com/

Erin Ford and the Good Life

Her voice has been described as soulful, smoky, and passionate with comparisons to Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, and Bette Midler.

http://www.erinford.ca/

And ……….

Joey Scatozza (Jazzotacs) - he is are “go to guy” for cool jazzy vibes - contact scatozzaj@rogers.com

SIMPLE CELL for Retro 80's Acoustic Duo or Lotus Magnet for Indie Rock trio - contact joe@backroomrecordingstudio.com

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

The Times They Are A-Changin………..

2011-10-21T17:05:00.002-04:00

Dylan’s famous song is definitely an icon of the unrest of the 60’s but those poignant lyrics ring strong and true still today, as the “Occupy” protest continue across North America.

Last week, while organizing a meeting in Vancouver, the facility we were using went into partial “lockdown” because of the looming threat of protestors. Lockdown has fast become a buzz word that everyone uses all too casually and frequently and should definitely be added to a planner’s venue checklist.

A lockdown of a building is an emergency procedure intended to secure and protect occupants who are in the proximity of an immediate threat. This procedure is used when it may be more dangerous to evacuate a building than stay inside.

By controlling entry/exit and movement within a facility, emergency personnel are better able to contain and handle any situation that may arise.

Being familiar with all the venue’s emergency procedure, including lockdown steps will be a must for any planner. Here are some tips to help you know what to ask for and how to equip your staff and attendees through the unrest.

· Have a plan or know the plan already established by the venue

· Review emergency call numbers and procedure and have them handy in your onsite binder and on your mobile device (every venue has a different set of security measures)

· Ask questions like:

o Who will let you know about the notice that a "Lockdown" has been issued?

o How will you be notified?

o How many security guards will be added? (in case you and your client want to add more security for your meeting)

· Report any suspicious activity

o Look out for anyone hiding banners or signs under clothing or in oversized bags

o unfamiliar persons loitering around (especially in restrooms and parking lot areas)

· Follow the instructions that the building officials have planned out and never take matters into your own hands. I often get asked from clients why we should not call 911 ourselves why working in a hotel or convention center. The answer is simple in that the security personnel at the venue will know exactly how to instruct police, ambulance or fire response staff to get to the emergency quickly and safely. They will know which entrance is the best, which elevators to use and which route is the fastest and most secure.

Finally, do not panic. Panic just breeds more panic.

I have had the privilege of hearing former Mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani speak several times on the topic of Preparedness. Now this guy knows a thing or two about emergency procedures and after 9/11 went on to open his own consulting firm focusing on solving critical strategic issues within organizations.

One of my favorite quotes from his speech is “I know it’s hard to say this, but you’ve got to keep saying it, that is to relax and deal with it,”

Keep these tips handy for “when the battle outside comes rattle your walls”.

We have a great Preparedness Kit Checklist – just send me an email and I would be happy to share it.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Doing GOOD has never tasted sweeter………

2011-10-07T15:47:00.000-04:00

This week our office was filled with the sweet smell of apples, cherries and berries as we prepared for our annual “pie drive” for PWA.

Pie in the Sky is an annual Thanksgiving fundraiser in support of the vital food programs of Toronto People With AIDS Foundation (PWA). Every year we purchase pies and deliver them to our favorite clients and suppliers as a thank you for their patronage and support throughout the year.

Incredibly, the proceeds of each pie bring a meal to ten people with HIV/AIDS – maybe the only nutritious meal they get. Every 15 minutes of every day, PWA provides a healthy meal to a homebound man, woman or child whose long term survival depends on proper nutrition.

So today’s idea is don’t forget about the charitable aspect when deciding on gifts for clients and colleagues at special times of the year.

There are so many national programs that you can support, but don’t overlook the smaller local charity that is just around your corner.

It is a great feeling knowing that you have been a part of helping someone - you can have your pie and eat it too.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

Getting down to the Nitty Gritty

2011-09-23T11:56:00.002-04:00

September always brings a flood of resumes across my desk and this year what popped out at me was the use of the phrase “attention to detail”. After a little digging on-line I learned that it is one of the top 3 skills that experts advise that you add to your resume for best results.

“Attention to detail” is certainly a good planner’s greatest strength. But what exactly does “attention to detail” mean? And if considered a skill then it must be bred not born? Behavioral professionals lean towards the belief that shy people are considered better at attention to detail. Their shyness results in being better listeners and better observers. Does that put A-types at a disadvantage?

For me “attention to detail” means constant improvement. I believe everyone can improve their “attention to detail” skills.

Try these tricks –

Proof Reading:

Attention to detail goes beyond just spell check and reading things slowly, backwards and out loud.

- Double check boilerplate text, like the company letterhead. Just because it's frequently used doesn't mean it's been carefully checked.

- Make sure listed phone numbers are correct and work, do the same for listed links.

- If you are listing a deadline make sure you add the day and not just the date Friday September 23, 2011

- Do the math, do the math, and then do the math again. Somewhere between the screen and the printer 2+2 often becomes 3.

- Clarity is Key - You must learn to watch for things that your readers could misunderstand.

People Watching:

- Look at people and make a point to remember at least one thing that stands out about each person. We always like to point out delegates with special dietary needs to the wait staff and maître d’. Last night at a dinner event I took particular notice of what those delegates were wearing. Women are easier of course (a blonde lady in a turquoise sweater with silver bangle earrings). For men, try picking out the design on their tie or if they wear glasses.

Pay attention to your surroundings:

Site inspections are a breeze for me, paying attention to my surroundings is second nature. I don’t just observe the area I analyze it.

- Take photos (don’t overlook different entrances, different angles, floors, carpets and ceilings).

- Use a check list.

- Make notes on potential hazards.

- Customize your review to the specific program. If you have lots of deliveries for that program include a look at the loading dock and storage areas. If you have lots of social functions you may want to note types and colours of linens, napkins and skirting.

Perfect “To Do list”

- Too many people wait until the morning to review, or create their to-do list for the day. That’s way too late; the pressures of the day and all its little interruptions are already crashing down upon you, and you have no time to be objective.

- The list is going to change – be flexible, delegate, defer and divide and conquer when possible

- Write things down on paper, in your Outlook task list or in an app. - whatever works best for you. Once you realize you have a safety net to capture all of your important thoughts, it frees you to really get stuff done.

Complacency is definitely an easy pitfall – everyday routine tasks can trigger carelessness. Avoid this by turning lackluster assignments into a dynamic process by adding creative thinking; challenging assumptions, testing, executing, and follow up will result in continuous adjustments for improvement.

It isn't always about paying attention to details. Sometimes it is about admitting your weaknesses and/or mistakes and figuring out ways to work around them.

I don’t believe most people can be calculated and precise in everything they do but try to asking yourself this EVERYDAY -

Can I improve this process, task, system, etc. by ten percent or better today?

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

PS – I spent this past week at Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls on a client program – a big shout out to the team there. We were pleasantly surprised on the level of service and the food was really really good (you know that is a big compliment coming from me) http://www.fallsviewcasinoresort.com/

September Shout Outs

2011-09-16T10:53:00.000-04:00

September Shout Outs

September always means lots of travel for our team. We have been collecting new ideas, suppliers and venues to share with you.

Here are a few for you this week:

· Looking for a restaurant that can hold private dinners in Montreal? Try Ariel www.arielrestaurant.com

It is small, quaint and the food is delicious. Once you are on the website, go to AMBIANCE and then to the garden (a tranquil retreat). You can hold a private dinner for a max. of 26 people.

· New in our own backyard of St. Clair West – check out Baked on Lauder. I hear the cupcakes are amazing! (145 Lauder Ave, (647) 352-3995)

· Star-studded September - Since these venues are “good enough” for TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) you must keep them on your list for your next event.

o Soho House on Duncan – all the celebs have been hanging here for the Grey Goose After Parties

o South of Temperance www.southoftemperance.com hosted the Ides of March Party

o The Burroughes Building transformed into a rooftop haven for the stars this week www.theburroughes.com

· Looking for a private retreat at the ends of the earth - check out this boutique hotel in St. John’s, Newfoundland www.ryanmansion.com

· By having Water-on-Wheels mobile water refill stations at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Ride for Diabetes last week our attendees consumed 5,756 litres of tap water in place of using the equivalent of 11,512 (500ml) water bottles. Do the environment some good and try them out for your next event www.wateronwheels.ca

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

10,000 people riding for a cure

2011-09-09T14:14:00.000-04:00

Jan, Jimmy, Rachel and I are on-site today at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre helping out with the Ride for Diabetes Research. Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has been a client of ours for over 15 years.

Take a look at the photo:

· 252 stationary bikes (all brought up by the freight elevator)

· 5 rotations every hour

· 1260 riders an hour for 8 hours

· 7300 pre bagged lunches

· A team of 8 EMS

· Over 150 volunteers

· Over 10,000 fundraisers riding for Diabetes Research

· 4 aNd Logistix team members making sure it all runs smoothly

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Return to Sender – address unknown…………..

2011-08-26T14:19:00.000-04:00

Shipping is one of those awful jobs that if not done properly can give you nightmares! We do a lot of shipping and we take it seriously! Here are some tips for shipping and receiving that may help you in the upcoming busy fall season.

Package your shipment properly. Do not scrimp on proper packaging. Regardless of your mode of transportation, arriving intact is just as important as arriving on time.
Your label is key and must tell a story.

ü When we are sending large shipments we always include the content of each box which makes unloading a breeze. Different colored labels are also useful. Use a different colored label for each area of your conference (Registration/Trade-show/Office/Back-stage/General Session Room)

ü If sending for a trade show include exhibitor name, booth number, show name, contractor name, street address, and a specified arrival date and time. Ensure you know the proper target date as well as the right check-in time.

Know how to contact your carrier 24/7. Always have after hours contact phone numbers for all carriers and show site contacts.

ü Keep your FedEx/UPS/Purolator phone numbers and accounts handy in one centralized location and make sure you have them when you are traveling

ü For private van shipments, you should have the drivers cell phone number

Proper documentation – a passport for your box. Ensure that your carrier has all of the information about what they are hauling and include an itemized inventory sheet and a completed Bill of Lading

ü For tradeshows display the booth number, show name, contact person, show contractor and arrival date and time.

ü Account for not just the price of shipping, but taxes, possible duty and brokerage fees to determine so there are no surprises to your bottom line

Verify Verify Verify.

ü Shipping is not complete until you know for sure it has reached its destination. Track your package to make sure the recipient has received it or make sure you know where it will be stored if you need to find it at a hotel or convention center when you arrive.

ü For large shipments and trade show deliveries – Does the venue require a lift gate? Where is the marshaling yard located? Has early load-in been approved? Is the move-out date/time still correct? Will the packages need to be picked up in a loading dock or be magically delivered to my exhibit booth?

Leave time at the end of your program for packing. There are always items to return to your office. Put Packing-Up right on your task lists.

ü Try to pack up things that are no longer needed at the end of each day. Make sure you have all your shipping material for returning items. Have labels ready so you know what is in each box making the sorting process much easier when you return to the office.

ü Be sure to mark boxes/packaging that you want to save for return shipping as “DO NOT THROW OUT – BELONGS TO,..” . Even better, pack “Do Not Throw Out” labels into your shipment.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

PS - A post script tribute to a Canadian Champion

I have never been much of a political keener; however I was very pleased to hear the news that Jack Layton was to receive a state funeral (a rare honor and a break from protocol as state funerals are only reserved for heads of government, cabinet leaders and governor generals). I make my home in Leslieville where Mr. Layton, Leader of the Opposition served as my Member of Parliament for close to 10 years. My neighbors are single moms, married gay couples, older adults, movie mogul money makers from the film district and new immigrants – and smiling Jack was the champion of us all. He helped make our little part of the world a better place - a vibrant, eclectic, tolerant neighborhood in the heart of the city. So thank you Jack. I hope your “new neighborhood” treats you well.

Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder

2011-08-12T14:45:00.000-04:00

Mid-August temperatures always means fewer phone calls, less emails and for me = time to brainstorm new ideas for the fall season. It is also a perfect time to STEP AWAY from your blackberry – go for a walk – take a lunch break or try a blackberry-less Friday.

The cartoon speaks volumes but all kidding aside - people often ask me what I think about the presence of the blackberry around a boardroom table. Now, I hope RIM stock doesn’t take a plunge but I really think that your mobile email devices should remain stored if you are having a meeting. It is not only professional but also respectful to give everyone the courtesy of your full attention. If you are conducting a meeting that is over 1 hour long, you should also schedule breaks to allow everyone to check emails for anything urgent.

Here are some other dos and don’ts I recommend:

1. Attend the entire meeting (being late or leaving early causes disruption and delays the process as late comers always need to be brought up to speed)

2. Set a time limit for the meeting and end on time

3. Prepare an agenda and assign time limits to discussion points. Put any tangential conversations aside and reassign them at the end of the meeting

4. Summarize decision made or progress made at the end of each discussion point and re-state action items for that section

5. Distribute minutes within 2 business days and follow up after the meeting with a reminder of action items, assignments and open items yet to be resolved.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Coffee, Tea or……….?

2011-08-05T13:54:00.000-04:00

On a recent flight to the US, I witnessed a passenger getting very upset because the flight attendant had run out of tea bags after serving only half of the aircraft. I later heard the flight attendant saying that it always happens on flights from Canada. Do Canadians drink more tea? Was the passenger not able to drink juice or coffee because of an allergy? After multiple occurrences would they not know to add more tea bags to those particular flights? Should the airlines even need to go to that effort for a food/beverage preference?

Coincidently later on that day, I met with a colleague who provides training on the various types of food allergies, conditions, dietary restrictions and preferences that are out there, and can help you design healthy menus for your events or venues. Tracy Stuckrath is a fellow CSEP (Certified Special Event Professional) based in Atlanta. She herself lives healthy with a yeast-free diet (no yeast, sugar, nor vinegar, dairy, white flour, peanuts, and mushrooms).

Despite what one would think is a limited diet choice, Tracy is passionate about food: “Our lives revolve around food. We see it on TV. We read about it. We write about it. We fight about where it should come from and how it should be made. We create, bake and cook it - not just for ourselves, but for our customers, our friends and our loved ones. And, most importantly, we eat it”. Something that we take for granted each and every day. But we can’t take it for granted as planners.

Tracy went on to remind me that “US Congress made it law when they passed the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008. Eating and other bodily functions are now considered by law, major life activities. That may not seem like a big deal to most, but for the more than 12 million Americans with food allergies or the one in every 133 or roughly three million Americans with celiac disease, it is. It means that when they eat in the company cafeteria, attend a public meeting or event or go to a restaurant, they have a right to get a meal prepared for them that not only meets their dietary needs, but is also of the same quality as the others being served”.

Tracy recognized right away that this also meant that the hospitality industry - caterers, hotels, chefs, meeting & event planners would need to learn how to prepare and safely serve guests with special dietary needs. “It's not easy at first, especially if you have multiple guests with varying allergies or needs, but it can be done successfully, tastefully, flavorfully and without an excessive amount of cost. It just takes a bit of creativity and forethought on the guest, the host and the chef”.

“Did you ever think about turning your vegetarian meal into a gluten free one? How about creating a quinoa salad cooked in vegetable broth and tossed with nuts, dried cranberries, vinegar, cilantro and parsley”– Tracy has!

Check out Tracy’s blog for more tips http://thrivemeetings.com/blog/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

FETE ‘TILL YOU SWEAT!!!

2011-07-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

Hot humid air lingers over the city and in dark, cool warehouses across Toronto revelers of Caribana are limbering up to Soca, Calypso and Steel Drum music in preparation for the coming festivities! Colourful costumes laden with feathers and beads are getting last minute alternations and the anticipation is mounting.

The Scotiabank Toronto Caribbean Carnival weekend (commonly known as Caribana) is here!

I have always been a strong believer in consulting the experts in uncharted waters so I am handing this week’s blog over to Charmaine and Adama from the aNd Logistix team.

Charmaine’s ritual:

Coming from St Lucia, an island famous for its sun, fun and tropical flavors, it has been my tradition to “jump-up” in a carnival band since the age of 5. Caribana is the perfect substitute to the St. Lucian’s fete: J’ouvert. Every year, I go through the same ritual. At the beginning of spring, I pick my favorite costume and the band I will be jumping with. Then I familiarize myself with the latest Soca beats and practice the newest dance moves. In preparation for marching and dancing on the Lakeshore, I jog and have salads for lunch and dinner (7 days a week!!). A week before, I do a final costume fitting to make sure to my efforts have paid off and I attend the different festivities to get into the Caribana mode. The big day, my husband and I leave the house early in the morning to join the other excited revealers at the Exhibition Place to start a weekend of partying. Caribana is the highlight of my summer. My little one is turning 5 this year and I hope she will start her own tradition.

Adama’s insight:

Moving to Toronto, I was very surprised when I found out about the festivities of Caribana. It was nice to see that the City of Toronto and Scotiabank were putting so much effort into keeping the Caribbean culture alive. For me Caribana is everyone’s fete, from ages 3 to 93 and people participate in Caribana for different reasons:

- Some like it for the music and the dancing, watch the promo video

- Some especially appreciate it for the island flavors

- Some love it to learn more about the culture and tradition

I personally enjoy Caribana the most for its 3 days of partying!!

Thanks Ladies – have a fun-filled weekend

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Free Idea for Foodies

2011-07-22T09:31:00.000-04:00

Sliders are all the rage this season - but go beyond the regular beef and try serving these creative versions of the popular bite size grub:

- scallops and cilantro lime mayo sliders

- meatball slidera or Italian veal Parmigianino sliders

- Portobello’s and walnut crusted goat cheese sliders

- pulled turkey with cranberry barbecue sliders

- lamb sliders with Tzatziki- Greek yogurt dip

- and why not try the ultimate smoked meat slider or Reuben slider

Check out Caplansky's http://www.caplanskys.com/ - a particular favorite pick of the team at aNd Logistix!

They offer live slicing stations with their famous smoked meat, and they even have a Food Truck (another big food craze for events this summer).

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Echo Beach

2011-07-15T11:59:00.000-04:00

Growing up in Toronto, Ontario Place was a favorite spot for summer fun. Faded memories of hot summer nights on the lawn of the old Forum easily flow back to the forefront of my mind – Jan & Dean with Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Air Supply, Teenage Head and the legendary Bruce Cockburn. And who could forget CFNY 102.1’s Edgefest in the early 90's. I loved the Forum and still miss it! It was my first experience of not knowing how good you have it until it’s gone.

For those too young to remember, the Forum was an outdoor concert venue that was an architectural landmark torn down to make way for the Molson Amphitheatre. It featured covered seating under a unique tent-like, metal framed, solid roof, with extra seating on the open surrounding, grassy hills. While having only half the seating capacity of the current Amphitheatre, it offered a far more intimate theatre-in-the-round experience; featuring a rotating stage which gave every seat in the house, in turn, an excellent view. It also had the benefit of being generally free with park admission. Free live music under the stars and nothing could beat that!

Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Ontario Place is bringing back the Forum – well sort of. It has opened Echo Beach, a 5,000-capacity venue featuring a real sand beach and offering guests a spectacular view of the downtown Toronto skyline. Like the old Forum, it is a general admission venue with no reserved seating and allows fans that intimate concert feel al fresco.

This summer’s free concert line-up includes Platinum Blonde on July 23, Third Eye Blind on July 28 and Sloan on August 5.

I’m holding out for Martha and the Muffins playing Echo Beach sometime soon!

Ontario Place http://www.ontarioplace.com/

Echo Beach http://www.echobeach.ca/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Summerlicious

2011-07-08T12:30:00.000-04:00

Summer in Toronto is full of adventure. If you have never tried it before – you should definitely take a look through the list of over 150 restaurants offering 3-course prix fixe menus. At $15 for lunch – you can try some of the best restaurants in the city for a fraction of their regular price! Check it out:

http://www.toronto.ca/special_events/summerlicious/2011/index.htm

If you're looking for a low-key activity for after dinner - try this great idea provided by long-time friend Enzo Flammia. Enzo is an avid cyclist and really knows how to take advantage of the summer months in the city.

Try going to an outdoor film screening. Luckily, there are films being shown in parks and venues across the city all summer long! With so many different options, it can be hard to plan out your calendar. We've rounded up as many screenings as we could find for you here:

Movies in the Park is taking place on July 24, August 14 and 21. Over the course of the three weeks Rango, Best in Show and Rear Window are being screened in Riverdale Park (East). Admission is free, but donations are encouraged. Proceeds will go towards supporting local charities.
Dancing in the Dark kicks off on July 5 in Yonge Dundas Square with a free screening of Beach Blanket Bingo. Every Tuesday until August 30, they'll be screening a different dance-themed film. Highlights include Moulin Rouge, Chicago, Saturday Night Fever and more. All films start at sundown.
Hot Spot Summer runs from July 5-August 9 at Harbourfront. Every week, they'll be screening a different film exploring different cities through the eyes of filmmakers. Screenings are free and start on the WestJet stage at dusk. Films include Annie Hall, Lost in Translation, Paris Je T'aime and more.
TIFF in the Park is a joint venture between TIFF and the Entertainment District BIA. Every Wednesday from July 6-August 31, they'll be screening classic musicals at David Pecaut Square, next to Roy Thomson Hall. Films include The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and more. All films are free and start at sunset.
Movies Under the Stars takes place every Friday at Downsview Park starting July 8. The selection includes some fun classics like Space Jam and Beauty and the Beast, but there are also screenings of Justin Bieber Never Say Never and Up if you're looking for more current flicks. Films are free and start at sunset.
Summer Afternoon at the Movies runs every Tuesday until September. A perfect solution for those rainy days, the indoor series will be taking place at the Toronto Reference Library and will feature screenings of films such as Amelie, The King's Speech, The Hound of the Baskervilles and more. Screenings take place from 2-4PM each week.
If you want something extra out of your outdoor movie-going experience, the Open Roof Festival gives you a double hit of film and music. Every Thursday, a different independent film and musical act are presented at the Amsterdam Brewery. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased online or at the door.

Don’t forget about all the wonderful water activities on Lake Ontario. We want to give a big shout out to Ken and Jetta at Heritage Coast Charters – we had a great time at our annual Company Day last week!

Heritage Coast Charters

http://www.heritagecoastcharters.com/

welcome@tbaytel.net

(647)284-8843

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

Happy Canada

2011-07-01T00:04:00.000-04:00

Happy Canada Day and Happy 4th of July!

Since our launch in January, the Free Idea Friday has become a great exchange for new ideas.

This week's idea is courtesy of one of our clients - Cara Shulman from the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals.

If you are looking for a special treat this holiday weekend, why not try the delicious ideas from www.slicepies.ca The "Pie of the Month Club" is a perfect gift for a wedding, anniversary, birthday or other special occasion. They also do mini pies served on chinese soup spoons for corporate events.

Hope my free idea makes your Friday! Enjoy the long weekend.

For more information check out www.andlogistix.com

Bollywood Fever Hits Toronto!

2011-06-24T17:56:00.000-04:00

We are onsite today at the IIFA (International Indian Film Academy) Global Business Forum.

This afternoon’s program included special appearances from some of the top stars in town for the Awards this weekend!

Free Idea Friday will be back next week with the hottest in Bollywood trends!

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Outdoor Oasis?

2011-06-17T14:53:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats dining under the starry night sky or savoring a burger cooked right on the grill or enjoying umbrella drinks poolside. Outdoor events evoke a certain oasis-like mystic.

But like any oasis, the mirage is often flawed by its outer surroundings of chaos.

Since our spring season was jammed packed with outdoor events (from corporate dinners for 200 to charity walks for 6,000), we thought we would share some checklist tips that are sure to help you tame those external elements and create the perfect outdoor event.

Outdoor Site Checklist - whether a park, golf course or on the grounds of a hotel resort, there are many factors to consider when dealing with al fresco essentials.

Of course some of these may sound familiar to you:

First Aid - A registered EMT/Paramedic is essential at large outdoor events
Main Power/water/gas control
Licensed liquor consumption areas
Trash bins – Who puts them out? Who cleans them up? How often?
Toilets – Are there adequate facilities or will you need to bring in portable toilets?

But here are a few that may not always be top of mind:

Sprinklers – does the site have sprinklers on a timer that may go off when you least want them to?
Will your signage withstand those blustery days?
Review the site for hazards – pot holes, pipes, steep hills or slippery slopes.
Stage location – Power source or will you need a generator (Where will that generator be placed? Will the noise interfere?)
Have you provided covers over electrical cables or cords that cross aisles or pathways? Cable covers should be no more than 1/2" thick so that they do not become a tripping hazard
Is there lighting? Not just at the site itself but also on the pathways leading to the site?
How will you keep your food hot or cold? Do you need refrigeration trucks or satellite kitchen set up?
How will you keep your attendees warm? Or how will you cool them down?
Parking - When there is no adequate parking near your event, you may want to consider arranging for valet parking
Access & egress routes for emergency vehicles
Fire fighting equipment (Fire Extinguishers & Hydrants)
To Tent or not to tent? (that may have to be a whole other blog post)

Don’t forget that you may also need a few additional items in your trusty onsite kit that are especially useful for battling open air challenges.

Here are some of our “must haves”

Twist ties (cable ties) are a life saver and can be used to hang signs, tie back tent walls or even hold doors open. We always pack a variety of sizes.
Sunscreen and bug spray
Pliers/wire snips (sometimes scissors just don’t cut it)
Sandbags help keep things in place

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Sorry seems to be the hardest word

2011-06-03T10:37:00.000-04:00

I have never had a hard time saying “sorry” – most people find it difficult and agonize over it for a long time. I believe it is the easiest way out in so many situations. I wake up saying sorry just to absolve myself of any wrong doing all day long.

So I will start by saying I am very sorry for being so delinquent with my blog entries and can only blame the May Madness of Meetings.

I have been stock piling creative inspirations and now I am back with loads of new ideas:

STEP AND REPEAT WALL MOVES OFF THE RED CARPET

You have all seen them on television – the star studded line up at movie premiers stopping briefly at the step and repeat wall to give the paparazzi a chance to take a shot!

But now the step and repeat is joining the realm of everyday people and is a memorable way to inject a bit of fun and flash into an event.

Think about using them at your next event. Create backdrop for photos, trade shows or media/press areas. Add a branded microphone cube cover and custom podium and your branding is all set!

HOTELS – what’s new?

A complete guest room redesign of 210 guest rooms at Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach – check it out -www.fourseasons.com/palmbeach

RESOURCES YOU CAN COUNT ON

Looking for a great décor/display company out west? Try Insite Display in Victoria, BC. http://www.insitedisplay.com/. Joanne is a true professional!

NEED A BAND?

One of the best bands to work
with is LA ALLSTARS

http://www.laallstars.com/
So much fun!

DÉCOR IDEAS AND PHOTOS

Our travels this month included crisscrossing North America. I try to take snaps of any new ideas I can share with you. Here is a sneak peek – the gold laden walking hors d’oeuvres table.

If you are interested in viewing more – let me know and I will give you access to my online photo album.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

Happy Friday!!

2011-05-06T11:38:00.001-04:00

Dana is traveling to California today for a client program.
She will be back next week with more ideas.

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

Reviewing the ROYAL Wedding

2011-04-29T12:16:00.000-04:00

Royal Wedding Fever has hit our office – we have been glued to the T.V. set in our boardroom this morning.

Here is our review of the royal festivities:

Dana’s Pick for Nicest Touch

Profits from the sales of the official Wedding Programme will go to benefit the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry – a loving tribute to their mother.

Dana’s Pick for most touching moments

Amongst all the pomp and ceremony, true sentiment still shined through.

A lip reader says Prince William cracked a joke to his father-in-law at the altar before the ceremony, saying: "We're supposed to have just a small family affair".
Prince Harry telling his brother to “Go for it” as they walked towards the alter
Prince William turning to his bride as she approached him and whispering “You look absolutely beautiful”

Dana’s Pick for Worst Planning Blunder

Blogs and tweets were buzzing with the news from London that there are no restroom facilities at the 500 year Westminster Abbey (surely a royal planner could have made arrangements for royal port-a-potty)

Shawna’s Best Royal Keepsakes

Here is a great grab bag idea for bridal showers and bachelorette parties.

No More Waity, Katie is a soft, elegant greige shade nail polish with a splash of lilac glitter for the perfect marriage to combine fashion and fun.

http://www.butterlondon.ca/drupal/lacquers/no-more-waity-katie

This plate says it all! IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME!

Hanna’s Profit Projections

The Royal Wedding is expected to generate £50million (about $80 million Canadian) in revenue, kick-starting a tourism bonanza leading to the London Olympics next year. Up to 1.1million tourists are expected to flood into the capital, spending tens of millions on refreshments, hotels, attractions, theatre tickets and souvenirs.

Jan’s Royal Breakfast at 4 am

Jan celebrated this morning with 8 of her lady friends – the menu would have been easily approved by the Queen herself and included scones with clotted cream and jam, crumpets and Kedgeree.

Adama Crunches the Numbers

With a reported budget of $70 million ($33 million for security alone) Adama was amazed at the cost. That works out to be about $36,000 a person!

Linda’s Best Green Wedding Element

The selection of large potted trees that lined the aisle of the Abbey represented the English countryside in spring. Following the ceremony, the trees will be planted at Highgrove Estate and live on. This same sustainable theme can be brought to any event through the use of potted, living plants for centrepieces and decor and either offering them as gifts to guests or donating them to local conservation groups for re-use in the community.

Charmaine’s Hat’s off to the Royal Wedding

The Mad Hatter: Business is booming again for Toronto hat makers as they are booked beyond the date of the royal wedding.

Hats have always been on the royal scene but they are soon becoming the next new “must have”!

Will the hat trend be incorporated into themes at your next fund-raiser, next girl’s night out event or stag and doe?

Charmaine’s pick for STANDOUT HAT today was the elaborate creation worn by Zara Phillips

Jimmy’s Keen Eye on Security

The security plan included snipers on roofs, divers in the Thames River, investigation of sewers and undercover police planted in the crowds. More than 5,000 police officers were on duty to deal with potential threats ranging from international Islamist militants to anarchists and stalkers.

Lyne’s Celebrity Watch

Elton David, the Beckhams, Guy Ritchie, Joss Stone and Mr. Bean were all in attendance today. The After Party hosted by party boy Prince Harry is still under wraps but we do know that he has reportedly turned three rooms at the Buckingham Palace into a nightclub for VIP guests. It was announced yesterday that Ellie Goulding will perform her version of Elton’s Your Song at the official reception. She was reportedly asked to appear by the royal bridal couple who are big fans of the 24-year-old Brit-Award-winning artist.

Rachel’s Viral Wedding

Need more proof of how important a part social media is playing in events? The Royal wedding social-network chatter surpassed the Japanese earthquake and tsunami and the people's uprising in Egypt as the top news story of the year. The world united with blogs, tweets, YouTube feeds and Facebook chatter - 911,000 wedding-related tweets were tracked in the past 30 days. The apps, websites and related content created for the wedding will also live on well after the party ends.

Want to follow? TheBritishMonarchy @BritishMonarchy United Kingdom

Our Best Wishes to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – we had fun watching

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Doing a little good this weekend

2011-04-21T21:16:00.000-04:00

Free Idea Friday is taking a break this week but we still wanted to share some news with you about 2 wonderful fundraising events that we support on an annual basis.

This is our fourth year supporting Women’s Habitat and once again this year we are lending a hand to an extraordinary young philanthropist named Jack and his Lemonade Stand for SickKids

Jack Yeilding is an 8-yr-old boy who has been a patient at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, ON for most of his short life because he used to suffer from a severe form of epilepsy. In 2010, Jack underwent a series of three brain surgeries at the hospital and had a portion of his brain removed. Since then, he has been healthy and seizure-free! His recovery is a miracle and he now gets to enjoy life like a regular kid.

Since 2007, he has been on a mission to help the other children at SickKids by selling lemonade. Through an incredible wave of community support, more than $220,000 has now been raised! Join Jack’s crusade to make sick kids better, one cup at a time!

Jack's 5th Lemonade Stand for SickKids is set for Saturday, May 28th!

Jack’s website: http://www.jackslemonade.com/

Watch Jack’s bravery video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn07Y04n4p4

Women’s Habitat serves women and their children who are fleeing violence and abuse. Since 1978, they have helped tens of thousands of women build new lives for themselves and their children, free from violence. Their 25-bed emergency shelter gives women and their children a safe, supportive place to live while they rebuild their lives. The outreach program helps women in the community who are experiencing wife assault/woman abuse. Other initiatives help women secure stable housing and find employment. They can’t do all of this alone. Women’s Habitat receives government funding but unfortunately, it is not enough. They need your help to bridge the gap between funding, and what it actually costs to keep our doors open to women in crisis.

Don't miss out on this great opportunity to spend time with the girls while helping a worthy cause. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of women and children fleeing violence. Invite your girlfriends, sisters, mothers and co-workers to this fun evening filled with psychic readings, therapeutic touch, yoga demonstrations, a silent auction, vendors with terrific merchandise and much more. Check out http://www.womens-habitat.ca/GirlsNightOut.php to see more about what's happening this year.

Here is how you can help with these events:

buy tickets to the event
supply an auction item or prize for our events

(A night stay at a hotel, tickets to a sporting event, merchandise or gift cards for the auction)

I hope you can help out with these very worthwhile causes – email me if you can dzita@andlogistix.com

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday! Have a great long weekend.

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

A royal wedding, a hero’s return, an election… and the protocol of it all

2011-04-15T09:35:00.000-04:00

A few interesting news items caught my attention this past week –

The 1900 guests invited to the April 29^th Royal Wedding received a 22-page long etiquette document this week (including such instructions as how to drink tea and just the right way to hold a tea cup)
Florists and flower enthusiasts are all trying to predict what flowers Miss Middleton will carry on her wedding day and royal revelers are also wondering if the future Princess will follow the tradition of surrendering her flower bouquet to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier after the service. (This heartfelt gesture began with the Queen Mother, who lost two brothers in World War I, and has been carried on by many royals since, including Princess Diana.)
Sadly Canada lost another soldier in Afghanistan and the motorcade along the Highway of Heroes drew hundreds of supporters. (We have a nephew serving in Afghanistan and to support his efforts my husband and I often join the gathering of mourners down at the coroner’s office to pay homage to these brave men and women. The atmosphere is serene with rows of police cars and fire trucks lined up along the final route, their officers at attention saluting – it is a solemn and majestic pageantry unlike anything I have ever seen)
The federal election has derailed the plans for Prime Minister Harper and Mrs. Harper to attend the Royal Wedding. Though not mandated by any electoral ruling, canceling the trip in the middle of an election is probably the most pragmatic move (though if I was Mrs. Harper I would be looking for lots of “make it up to me” gifts for canceling that official commitment)

All of this got me thinking about the PROTOCOL of it all. What is the difference between tradition, military customs, diplomatic precedence, or just plain common manners?

Now you don’t want to mess around with PROTOCOL and to deal with this sensitive subject matter I consulted with a leader in the industry - Barbara Sullivan, Chief of Protocol, City of Toronto.

Barb and I have been great friends for over 25 years. Those close to her often tease her with the nickname “the flag police”. She has a supernatural passionate zeal for her work – but isn’t that the point? you really can’t be lax ABOUT protocol.

Barb cautions that “many people think protocol is only about etiquette - which fork goes where, or how to fold a napkin”, but she and her team do very little of that. She goes on to explain “international protocol is a complex system of rules and conventions that govern the relationships between nations and international organizations. Most protocol is contextual - it depends on the situation, who is involved, what are the circumstances, what is the purpose, what is the expected outcome, past actions and future plans. Consideration needs to be given to issues of culture which may include religion/faith and accessibility/special needs”.

So what is the right thing to do and as meeting and event planners when do we do it? As there is no one complete resource for protocol, which often frustrates people, Barbara generously offers the following suggestions –

Protocol and Diplomacy International - Protocol Officers Association

www.protocolinternational.org

(This association is having their Education Forum here in Toronto the last week of July)

Canadian Heritage Protocol (precedence, titles, styles of address, etc.)

www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/prtcl/index-eng.cfm

Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada Government

www.international.gc.ca/protocol-protocole/index.aspx

Ceremonial and Canadian Symbols

www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/index-eng.cfm

Canadian Flag www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/ceem-cced/symbl/df1-eng.cfm

US Dept of State - Office of the Chief of Protocol

www.state.gov/s/cpr/

And if you are like Barb and I and still enjoy buying actual books - she recommends the following:

Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands
When Cultures Collide
How to be a Perfect Stranger

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Dreading Company Day?

2011-04-08T09:51:00.000-04:00

Yesterday I was walking back to my car from a downtown meeting when I was accidentally bombarded by hoards of school kids on their annual field trip to the CN Tower.

It definitely brought back memories of how great it was to get out of the classroom – a reward for a long season of studying.

Grown-up field trips are really meant to do the same thing - recognition for a season of hard work. But how can we get past the dreaded SAMENESS of company days and corporate social events?

Here are some unique twists to traditional ideas:

- Bowling

o Try this new bowling alley in Toronto http://www.allstarinteractive.ca/

o The 2 young owners have done a great job renovating the place and have turned it into a fantastic event venue.

- Theatre

o Add an exclusive back stage tour

o In New York City the Metropolitan Opera Guild Backstage Tour includes “a behind-the-scenes” look at the costume rooms and carpentry shops

- Company Picnic

o Add an a huge outdoor Drive-in Movie screen and show the latest Hollywood release

o Check out http://www.acf-film.com/

Remember that doing good makes you feel good. Here are some “do-gooder” ideas that might be just the thing your team needs to revive their energy.

- Clean up the Don River

o The Don River is home to various species of fish, different wildlife including foxes and coyotes and plenty of hiker and cyclists

o Check out this site for ways to organize a clean up day www.toronto.ca/don/

- Rebuild a Park

o Last fall ING Direct employees rebuilt a park in my neighbourhood. Hauling dirt, planting flowers and building a playground were all part of their company outing. ING DIRECT has expanded their volunteer efforts to include similar projects in Vancouver, Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal.

o Find a cause close to the hearts or your employees and find out how you can help build, fix or clean up something that matters

Is your budget too small for a costly outing? Why not bring the fun to your office to show appreciation to your team.

Here is something I call “CELEBRATING THE FRUITS OF OUR LABOUR”

- Arrange for a smoothie machine and mix up great and healthy smoothies (a magic bullet machine will do if you have a small office)

- Add gourmet muffins bursting with fruit and fruit skewers with tasty yogurt dips

- Decorate with brightly coloured linens and vases filled with lemons, limes and oranges

- Enjoy the morning with these bright additions!

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

April Fools’ Day – full of surprises

2011-04-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

My mother will tell you childhood stories of how at the innocent age of four I wanted her to read the dictionary to me at bedtime. I was fascinated with words and one of my first big vocabulary stumbles was the word “surprise”. I just could not wrap my young mind around this word that was so wonderful yet so scary.

We have all experienced those brilliant little surprises one encounters on rare occasions - my husband cleaning off my car on a snowy spring morning or finding that long forgotten $10 bill nestled deep in the pocket of your spring jacket or finally taking home that shiny trophy after being nominated three years in a row. That’s the good side of the word “surprise”.

It is when that little word creeps up from behind and bites you that things get ugly.

Here are a few of my tricks to dodge those nasty surprise situations –

AVOID AIRPORT SURPRISES. You may not be able to avoid major hubs entirely, but you can at least minimize your risks by routing yourself through a hub not likely to encounter severe winter weather. During the first part of the year, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Phoenix generally report the lowest percentages of tardy arrivals. Despite lots of snow, Denver and Salt Lake City also do pretty well -- they know their snow and how to cope with lots if it. Even though it's in the South, Atlanta doesn't do quite as well as other southern hubs. Don’t even think about Chicago/O'Hare or the New York airports. For travel to Europe, Washington/Dulles is a better winter gateway bet than airports to the north, and Los Angeles wins over San Francisco for travel to Asia as a general rule.

AVOID COST INCREASE SURPRISES. For all of you planners who are still budgeting $3- $4 for room drop charges, you may want to check current going rates. Delivering welcome bags or specialty gifts to guest rooms can be as high as $7. Check prices often – they sneak up on you. (Same goes for current gratuity rates)

AVOID THE “it doesn’t fit” SURPRISES. Our team has a best practice rule about always asking hotels for floor plans and photos to be submitted with any proposal. Let’s face it, those capacity charts on hotel and venue websites often don’t take into consideration audio visual set up, that low hanging chandelier or elbow room for that matter. More and more hotels and conventions centers are working on APEX approved floor plans. Check out the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX), an initiative of the Convention Industry Council which promotes development and implementation of industry-wide accepted practices www.conventionindustry.org/index.aspx

AVOID THE FIRE ALARM SURPRISES. Beware of Cotton Candy - cotton candy making machines emit a haze strong enough to set off certain smoke and heat detectors sounding off those fire alarms.

While we can’t anticipate all the twists and turns that the planning process can bring, with proper training and skillful maneuvering, we can manage to stay on track even if some unexpected surprises pop up along the way.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

P.S. Are you a wordsmith like me? – Check out these 10 new words changing up our vocabulary expression for better or worse. It will be interesting to see if they last through the decade.

http://portal.brasilnews.ca/servicos/dicas-de-ingles/top-10-almost-new-english-words/

shimmer and sparkle continue to shine

2011-03-25T11:14:00.001-04:00

Adama, Lyne and I ventured off to the CSEME Show yesterday in search of new inspirations. The annual trade show held in Toronto always offers a look at new products in the special event industry http://canadianspecialevents.com/.

Shine, shimmer and sparkle continue to be major themes in event décor this year.

Chandeliers have always captured the eye and now their glittering presence adds whimsy, charm, and drama to any event space

Crystal encrusted furniture adds glamour to any lounge setting
Translucent, glass and mirrored accents add sparkle to table centerpieces

Diamond broaches add a glistening touch to floral arrangements and napkin treatments

Speaking of sparkle, we are nominated in 2 categories at this evening’s Star Awards Gala (Best Conference and Best Trade Show) = keeping our fingers crossed!

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

We are starting to see GREEN again!

2011-03-18T09:59:00.000-04:00

I am not sure if it is the spirit of St. Patty’s Day or the rising double digit temperatures this week, but Toronto is finally showing some green patches and boy does GREEN ever look good after a long winter.

We strive to incorporate GREEN initiatives into all our events and meetings but is “GREEN” as commonplace as we want to think it is…….or do we have to train ourselves to think about it.

According to MeetGreen®, a three-day conference with 300 people will create waste equivalent of the mass of 33 small cars, use water resources that could fill one half of an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and create enough green house gases to fill 25,175,000 basketballs.

The meetings and event industry is making huge strides and we have a variety of documentation to support these initiatives but are they overwhelming?

Are we as planners really doing enough? Here are some small steps that can help you get started on taking those giant steps:

Eliminated bottled water from your meetings and events

There are so many alternatives now like Hydration Stations with fruit infused water

Say yes to locally sourced menus

Yes it may mean a bit more money added to your budget but it is Fresh (literally)

Provide white boards instead of flip charts in meeting rooms

and no/low odor markers

Add a section in your next hotel RFP that asks to review the venue’s sustainable achievements

Your final decision may not be based solely on their policies but it is a great way to educate yourself

Give an eco-friendly award to the greenest exhibitor

Fun and great publicity for your green policy

Ask aNd Logistix about our paperless Registration Solutions

We are ahead of the pack with our customized web-based applications that provide real-time reporting, email marketing and dynamic online conference, event and seminar registrations.

§ Reduce Administrative Costs

§ Cut Down Data Entry

§ Eliminate User Errors

§ Automate Form Validation

§ Provide Secure Transactions

§ Manage and Access Real-Time Reports Anytime

§ Process Credit Cards

§ Improve Productivity

2011 will bring increased attention to the sustainability initiatives of our industry. GREEN event practices will be standardized, formalized training will become available, and industry-sanctioned certification programs for green event managers will be a reality—don’t get left behind

Check out these NEW ideas on how to incorporate some GREEN into your spring at home, the office or at your next event:

Get Educated!

New ISO 20121 Event Management Sustainability Standards
Canadian Standards CSA Z2010 - Which was built on the work of the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC)
APEX-ASTM Environmentally Sustainable Meeting Standards

www.conventionindustry.org

www.iso.org

www.csa.ca

www.meetgreen.com

Spring Cleaning at its GREENest!

ENJO has created an innovative cleaning system using only water. ENJO is cleaning without chemicals!

http://www.enjo-canada.com/

GREEN has never been so cute!
3seams creates opportunities for people to purchase clothing for their children while at the same time supplying a child in need with an identical piece. Each piece of clothing is made in sets of two. One piece goes home with the buyer and one is donated by 3 seams to an organization that ensures a child in need will receive it. http://www.3seams.com/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com/

Do you have fans?

2011-03-11T12:25:00.000-05:00

A few years ago I read a brilliant article on customer loyalty that changed my whole way of thinking.

(from You Need Fans, Not Customers - Scott Ginsberg, sideroad.com)

Fans crave an experience.

Fans will go to the ends of the earth for you.

Fans will stick with you, even when you make a mistake.

Fans don't need to be sold.

Fans tell all their friends to become fans of yours too.

Immediately we adapted a new adage that would attract FANS not just customers. Our tag line “work with people who love what they do” gave us the momentum to change our attitude in how we wanted to service our clients. And now when we become fans of suppliers, hotels, and partners we look for that same “love”.

Today I thought I would share with you some of the partners, places and people that have me as a FAN.

I am a FAN of…

ideavation

Scott always provides fast access to new ideas and there are NO hassles when dealing with him. It’s the little things like tracking his shipments so that he tells you minute by minute when your delivery will arrive.

Experts in team learning experiences, the creative crew at on the mark has been helping our Canadian and US clients for 7 years. We continue to work with them because they consistently provide creative one of a kind experiences with a professional attitude.

www.onthemark.ca/

Massage on Wheels
Carrie and her well trained team get the true meaning of service. They are always friendly, courteous and helpful. They treat attendees like you would a guest in your home.

On the way to becoming a FAN of…

The brand spanking new Ritz Carlton Hotel Toronto

Their legendary service training principles make them outstanding leaders in the hotel industry. My brief experience at the hotel this week was delicious and delightful. My “radar is on and my antenna is up” and it is saying - the Ritz Toronto is going to earn many FANS.

Still a FAN no matter what……….

Okay here it is – I am going to put it in print for the whole world to read. I am a fan of Charlie Sheen. Two and Half Men is one of my favorite TV programs and my husband and I share a few laughs together after a busy day watching reruns a few times a week. Though Charlie has perhaps taken his outspokenness to shocking extremes – he has talent and more importantly he still makes me laugh out loud and to me that emotional response is what will hold my loyalty. And I am not alone. With 2,494 711+ twitter followers and despite the tiger blood - Charlie Sheen still has a definite fan base.

Hope my Free Idea Friday makes you a FAN!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/

I have always loved contracts

2011-03-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

Not sure if it was because I watched too many episodes of LA Law in the 80’s, but before I entered the world of events and conferences I actually wrote the LSATS ready to venture into a law career. I have always loved contracts - dissecting them is fun and challenging!

I have spent the last few weeks reviewing quite a few hotel contracts for the upcoming year and thought I would share some points with all of you that I have always found useful.

My first boss (we are talking about 25 years ago) taught me these cardinal rules for hotel contracts:

1. Don't be afraid to voice your concerns and ask questions

For example:

The term “Ancillary Charges” is a bit scary. Ask the questions

² Are these charges for meeting room rental and/or setup?

² Is it per day or for the duration?

² Is there a fee for “extensive” meeting room set-ups or room turnovers?

Get confirmed prices for what these charges are.

Surcharges and other fees that seem vague

² Are these surcharges for not using in-house vendors?

² Can this fee be waived?

If it is not clear – get the terms defined.

2. Let your wishes be known

Before I even ask for a contract, I put forth my wishes and ask for them to be included into the contract.

For example:

One complimentary room per 40 revenue-producing rooms actually utilized is a common concession, but how do you want this to benefit you?

² Spell out how you want the comps to be calculated (on a cumulative or per-night basis) Cumulative is one of my favorite words.

² Stipulate that you want them to be credited to the master account instead of assigning them to individual guests.

Let your hotel sales person know exactly what you want to be included into the contract. I treat the first contract I get as a draft.

3. Personalize your Concessions

Depending on the size of the group and the amount of revenue you are bringing to the hotel, concessions can vary so much.

Think about what the particular group really needs

² If you know you have 8 board members attending your meeting perhaps it would be better to ask for 8 upgrades instead of 3 suites.

² I always try to include a few rooms at a staff rate. Staff members tend to come in earlier and stay later and this extra discount helps your staffing budget.

² Don’t forget to state the duration of the desired concession – if you need those 8 rooms for pre and post nights - says so. Be clear on what you need.

Go beyond complimentary rooms

² If your group needs to distribute a welcome note to all attendees, you may want to add this into the contract and ask for them to be given out at the front desk when guests check in.

² Complimentary or discounted parking rates.

² Complimentary or discounted internet access both in guest rooms and in meetings.

What will help your group the most?

² Receive "best" rates on guest rooms, and have those rates applicable to the group for three days pre and post of meeting. These rates should include the stipulation that the group is guaranteed the lowest rates that the hotel will offer during that time period, and if the hotel lowers the rate, they will guarantee that the group’s rate will be reduced to remain the lowest rates.

Make sure you take the time to review and finalize any contract. Don’t take too long to get the deal done. Otherwise, you could find yourself like the NFL and the players association…………staring down a negotiation gone bad with little time to fix it. Wouldn’t I love a crack at that contract!

A note about negotiation on the “legal stuff”: the technicalities of the legalese in contract can get complex, so if there is something that you don't understand, ask about it and consider hiring a lawyer to help you.

Roll Out The Red Carpet of Ideas

2011-02-25T09:50:00.002-05:00

Whether you love the Academy Awards or you hate them, I think it's hard to deny that there's something inspiring about them – for me they evoke the need to create something wonderful!

Now we all know the latest fashion trends are going to be copied immediately after they hit the red carpet on Oscar Night – so here are

some creative inspirations I found that you can copy and use for your next event.

The Kings Speech

This movie along with the upcoming Royal Nuptials have made both British and Royal themes popular again. Update traditional tea party menus by replacing old cucumber finger sandwiches with an innovative flavor such as Radish-Chive Tea Sandwiches with Sesame and Ginger.

Single malt scotches and scotch tastings will continue in popularity. maltmadness.com provides great tips and has a liquid blog that offers tasting notes.

True Grit

Finally - a new way to make that old tired Western theme trendy again! Update your old denim and diamonds events with modern music (try the sound track from Country Strong) You can still use bandanas, straw hats, and gingham for an authentic Wild West flair but try matching white or black square plates to complete the look and add a contemporary feel to your table settings. Forego the daisies and raffia and try pansies in white burlap sacks tied with twine for a fresh new look.

The After Party
Check out the sketch of the room décor for the Governors Ball. Cheryl Cecchetto, along with her Sequoia Productions team promise to bring back the luster and glamour of the great clubs of yesteryear–

think the Tropicana, the Rainbow Room and the El Mocambo.

The highlight of the evening - a massive Swarovski crystal chandelier will descend from the ceiling

http://www.oscars.org/press/presskits/governorsball.html

Speaking of Awards and Inspiration, the CSEME show offers 3 days of event ideas plus the 14^th Annual Star Awards honouring event professionals across

Canada

Check out the line up of exhibitors and speakers at http://canadianspecialevents.com/cseme_toronto/

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit www.andlogistix.com

Fighting the February Blahs

2011-02-18T10:13:00.000-05:00

Everyone needs to take a little break at lunch time even if only to explore their favourite links. Here are just a few that I am FAN of ---

For A Quick Brainstorming Session
I am a huge fan of the ignite magazine and read it from cover to cover. But when I need a quick fix, I check out their website for Bright Ideas and Hot Rates and Dates.

Join them on Twitter http://twitter.com/IgniteConnect or check out their site http://ignitemag.ca/

Vino Virtuoso
Anything that my friend Paul Grieco talks about is seriously fun, spanking new, super satisfying & sometimes scandals (and is most of the time about wine).

Among a string of success, Paul owns and runs Terroir Wine Bar in Tribeca. Scanning their wine menu is like taking a wild and mouth-watering stumble around the globe.

Warning: Be prepared to start liking Riesling. Paul has a way of persuading even the most die-hard chardonnay lover into taking a dip or a sip into the world of Riesling.

Check out http://www.wineisterroir.com/or follow Paul on Twitter http://twitter.com/spitpaul or get hooked on Riesling by tasting the wines Paul suggests in “Riesling: A World Tour”

For Toronto-based Foodies

Check out dealicious.ca

Dealicious.ca is your source for delicious ideas and offers daily deals that focus only on food. (Not only restaurants but food boutiques and specialty stores too) I just took advantage of buying a $30 gift certificate for only $14 to use at Masellis Supermarket - a great spot on the Danforth for Italian delicacies.

Hope my “Free Idea” makes your Friday!

To learn more, please visit http://www.andlogistix.com/