A Spin on the Same Old Engagement

August 15, 2014

Lisa Apolinski

Lisa Apolinski is a professional speaker, blogger, and digital strategist. With her company, 3DogWrite.com, she works with event managers to get their message to attendees, particularly through digital channels, on and off the show floor.

I recently was at the Women In Travel conference,  which had a focus on networking and connecting in order to promote and learn. 

Since the focus of the conference was around the idea of connecting, I was very happily surprised with the spin it took on the traditional way of engaging.

Networking across industry and title, boundaries:  This particular organization wanted to reach anyone who works in travel, regardless of whether they are a travel agent, or work with a corporation.  The other unique point was that everyone was networking together. There were no boundaries when it came to job title or level of position – everyone had access to everyone else.  Tomorrow’s leaders are today’s front line employees (we all have to start somewhere), and each person at the conference was treated as important and impactful.  Take away: Having groups or segments can sometimes take away from noteworthy engagement.

Leaving the business card at home:  At the event, new technology was used in the way of interactive name badges from SCANTrivia, part of the SCANVenger Hunt suite.  Instead of simply exchanging business cards, attendees scanned one another and then had time to ask questions and learn more about the other person.  By using mobile technology, it drove engagement in a unique and high-tech way that moved away from traditional methods of networking.  Take away: There are a lot of options when it comes to using mobile technology for networking and it pays to investigate.

Getting personal:  One more way this conference broke the mold was having trivia questions as part of the SCANTrivia interactive name badges.  This was a fun way to ‘break the ice’ and learn something about the other attendee.  The attendees also had a great time deciding on the question.  It can be difficult to strike up a conversation at a conference – this was an easy way to get the conversation started. Take away: Help make the engagement genuine and easier by injecting some personality and unique topics into the dialogue.

Take a fresh look at how you engage your attendees, and see where you can add in a new spin.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Here at Mandalay Bay, venues are inviting and innovative. As one of the most iconic names on the Las Vegas Strip, the Mandalay Bay Convention Center has recently undergone an exciting upgrade. This renowned venue now offers everything your business needs, with a refreshed convention space designed to inspire productivity and creativity, as well as an impressive selection of world-class restaurants and amenities. If you're searching for a venue that is both inviting and innovative, Mandalay Bay is the place to be. Mandalay Bay is committed to investing in a new wave of enhancements, not only in the convention space but also throughout the entire resort. With new restaurant openings and remodels, spectacular entertainment, and updated rooms, Mandalay Bay promises to deliver new and exciting experiences to its guests until 2024. To create a truly effective conference venue, Mandalay Bay has carefully considered what businesses require. The right technology, capacity, and inspiration are essential to take ideas to the next level. The refreshed Mandalay Bay Convention Center has been designed with your business in mind. Every room is equipped with newly-upgraded technology, enhancing our ability to support bandwidth demand and overall data capabilities. Additionally, the addition of 10 new digital walls provides bigger and more dynamic ways to display customized content messages. Mandalay Bay offers world-class conference space and service. The venue options range from ballrooms to ample pre-function spaces, catering to teams of any size while accommodating multiple large groups simultaneously. Our certified planners work collaboratively with you to understand your specific event requirements, anticipating your business needs and offering the best-fit solutions. In addition to providing exceptional conference facilities, Mandalay Bay is also dedicated to sustainability. We strive to give our guests an unforgettable experience while minimizing our impact on the environment. As part of our sustainable energy efforts, you'll find refillable water stations throughout the property, eliminating the need for single-use plastic bottles and reducing unnecessary plastic usage. Mandalay Bay is proud to offer an upgraded and enhanced experience for businesses seeking a venue that combines innovation, convenience, and sustainability. Whether you're hosting a conference, meeting, or other business event, Mandalay Bay's refreshed convention space, world-class service, and commitment to sustainability make it the ideal choice. Come and discover the new wave of experiences awaiting you at Mandalay Bay on the Las Vegas Strip. Wherever your organization is going, getting there starts with being here.