Raquel Cool’s Post

About this week... It was INTENSE but so WORTH IT! My week in a snapshot with main events: Monday - Canadian Meetings + Events Expo (CMEE) - Booth Set Up and Reveal Opening Party Tuesday - MPI Toronto Chapter Breakfast, Day 1 of CMEE, Dinner Date with Event Friends Wednesday - Day 2 of CMEE, Pack Up, After Hour Drinks with Quest Audio Visual Inc Team Thursday - Early morning meeting at Client's Downtown office, Email and Lead review, and AVIXA Women's Council at Panasonic Connect Toronto Office. Friday - TeamMeeting, Post Event ROI Recaps, Lead Follow-Ups. Between social networking and exhibition events, I am a strategic engager, creating and writing content to share on social media, reviewing emails, resolving issues that may arise, and sending personal messages to industry friends and contacts. SOCIAL NETWORKING is an ART. Yes, it IS! ⚖ There is a delicate act of balancing your energy to be present at events (especially for Introverts) 🤝 It requires you to understand the purpose of an event and how your engagement will add or gain value from these experiences ⏳ It requires a commitment to your time, energy and focus on engaging in meaningful conversations 💘 There is an expected inspired impression at the end of a social networking event. The most crucial element of a social networking event is the opportunity to feel connected and gain your sense of belonging in a community you have chosen to be part of. Much energy was invested this week to reconnect and be present. I thank all my industry colleagues, friends, and new connections for making this week great! I look forward to unplugging this weekend to recharge my energy, and I most look forward to the following week of scheduling more meaningful conversations to find ways to collaborate and support each other's future successes. Have a great weekend, everyone! #networking #engagementstrategy #socialnetworking #balanceenergy #introvert #intenseweek

Is meeting face-to-face more effective than online? My latest piece on Black Enterprise delves into why in-person meetings often outshine virtual ones. From the power of a handshake to building lasting trust, find out how real-world interactions can make a significant impact in professional settings. Curious about how to make your meetings more meaningful? Check out the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gqg3F7wB. I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences – do you prefer in-person or virtual meetings? Share your insights below!

In a hybrid meeting, you get the energy of the in-person event with the reach of a virtual event. A powerful combo indeed!

I feel like I just got back from four weeks of back-to-event events. But that actually happened back in October - Four hotel rooms across four countries in four weeks. I gave six presentations, listened to twenty-something, and met dozens of smart and talented customers. Am I tired? Ask the indent on my mattress. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Working from home made me forget how invigorating it is to be around like-minded professionals. And as a marketer, those interactions with customers were not only fun; they were wellsprings of new ideas. While I love the flexibility working from home has created, there are elements of face-to-face interactions and work that can never be replaced (nor should they be). Events are one of those special things that bring people together around a common purpose and mission — where we experience those unique benefits of in-person relationships that remote work can’t replicate. As I sip on my third cup of coffee today, I’m already anticipating next year’s Cultivate conference. (And it has me thinking about how often we should be in the office moving forward.) Which event are you most excited about in 2024? #CMO #marketing #womenintech #leadership

Excited for the Kisaco Research Beauty Connect Series in Los Angeles. I arrived in time for happy hour last night. Phew! It reminded me that nothing can replace the human connection when you're in the same room. 🫱🏼🫲🏻 But don't take my word for it... 📍85% of people say they build stronger, more meaningful business relationships during in-person meetings and conferences. (Forbes Insights) 📍95% of people say face-to-face meetings are a key factor in successfully building and maintaining long-term business relationships. (Harvard Business Review) 📍63% of people say they are more productive in in-person meetings than in virtual meetings. (Gartner) 📍58% of people say they are more likely to trust someone they have met in person than someone they have only met online. (Pew Research Center) 📍54% of people say they are more likely to collaborate with someone they have met in person. (Stanford University) 📍52% of people say they are more likely to share their ideas in in-person meetings than in virtual meetings. (Cisco) 📍47% of people say they are more likely to feel engaged in in-person meetings than in virtual meetings. (Gartner) As always, thank you to the team at Kisaco for organizing such a terrific industry event in #Beauty: Amy Connolly, Christian Egglishaw, Alica Parkes, Hannah White, James Harris, Emma Richardson, Rhian Collinson & Emma Forrest. 3 days, 12 hrs of networking, 50+ speakers & 500+ attendees. #BCLA #BeautyConnect #BeautyConnectSeries #BeautyConnectLA #AlwaysLearning

How Do You Choose the Right Conference System? Read on!

Learn more about the benefits and the challenges of a hybrid event, and why it's a good idea to rely on the expertise of an event planner to manage it. https://bit.ly/3LGdkod

🌐 Companies are increasingly embracing the power of virtual press conferences, recognising the immense benefits they bring: flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to reach a wider audience. Discover how to plan a successful virtual press conference: https://lnkd.in/e4QQUfGX #VirtualEvents #CorporateCommunication #ExternalCommunication #CompanyWebcast

Are you joining us on Thursday at our Workplace Technology Conference? Here's a breakdown of our action-packed schedule to help you make the most of it: ✨ 10:00am - Doors Open: Enjoy tea, coffee and pastries on arrival ✨ All Day - Exhibition Open: Explore, connect, and get inspired ✨ 10:30am - Conference Program Begins: Join us as we kick off our conference program, featuring expert panels, engaging presentations, and discussions on workplace technology ✨ 12:30pm - Lunch: Recharge and refuel with a delicious buffet lunch, pastries, cakes, and hot and cold beverages. ✨ 5:00pm - 'Happy Hour' Networking and Bustler Market: It's time to unwind and connect at our lively happy hour networking session. ✨ 7:00pm - Pub Quiz: Put your knowledge to the test and compete in the pub quiz. For the full agenda, scroll through our carousel to discover when the panels and presentations will be taking place. Don't miss a moment of this incredible day filled with insights, networking, and fun! Book your FREE spot now and join us at the Workplace Technology Conference 2023: https://bit.ly/46c0JUX   #WorkplaceTechnologyConference #TechnologyTalks #DerbyNetworking   *Schedule subject to change

Too often, we treat remote event attendees like second-class citizens. We don't mean to. It's not intentional or malicious. But we've all been there—watching a live stream on our couch, knowing we'd be able to hear better, engage with other attendees more, and take advantage of the free goodie bags if we'd only gone to the in-person event. In short, it leaves us feeling forgotten. It's exactly the kind of situation Sonova Group wanted to avoid when they planned their summer conference. While they knew they'd have about 100 attendees joining in-person, they also wanted to reach hundreds more at their offices around the country. And they wanted those folks to feel celebrated, included, and just as involved as those who attended in the flesh. That's why they hired the Mainstream team: to create an event experience that catered to both in-person and remote audiences, driving excitement, engagement, and action from employees across the country. Curious to hear more of their story? Stay tuned 👀 #corporateevent #corporateeventplanner #firesidechat #virtualevent #hybridevents #livestreaming #livestream