Breathing Life into your Annual Event by Angela Keller Pelc, CMP

I recently spoke on a panel before a group of Certified Meeting Professionals at their annual professional development conference.  Many of these planners are tasked with providing great meetings and experiences with an educational edge and coming in on budget.  The topic was “Breathing Life into your Annual Event” with a value perspective. 

Being a veteran event planner at a cultural institution, I had a lot to say about this!  Here are the top 5 things that I can offer about getting value out of hosting your events at a cultural institution.

1. You’re supporting the community.  Planners can be the “good guy” by taking an event to a cultural institution.  Likely this is a place that meeting attendees would want to visit when meeting in a particular city.

 

2. You might just learn something.  Museums and other cultural destinations have so much to offer.  Besides the takeaway of great information, the exhibits are great conversation starters for large networking events.  Talking to each other about the displays helps break the ice! 

3. Inspiration around every corner.  Find an organization that matches your company’s mission and you will allow your guests to be inspired, think in a new way and maybe come up with the next big thing for your business.  Give the employees an opportunity to explore and get inspired!  Launch a new product with a backdrop of a historic version, gives relevance to the product and hooks it in with a historic perspective!

MIS Press Event, Matt Kenseth.  Authentic racing artifacts serve as backdrop!

4. An experience trumps everything!  Why do companies rent yachts, take spa retreats and do varied teambuilding events?  For something TO DO, for ways to connect!  Adults learn in many different ways.  Planners who add a component of hands-on experiential learning can really add value to their meetings by giving their attendees an experience!  At The Henry Ford, guests can ride in a real Model T, take a spin on a 100 year old carousel, sit on the Rosa Parks Bus (I’ve seen planners/guests moved to tears for having the experience) or watch a factory in action…all during private events! 

President Barack Obama Sits On The Famed Rosa Parks Bus

 

 

5. Give them the real deal! Why take time and budget to re-create a beach or casino?  Go there!  Same goes for art museums, natural and/or American history.  Give the people authentic artifacts to peruse and it will make a lasting impression!

In my eight years at The Henry Ford, I have found that planners see their attendance increase when they host their event at one of our varied venues.  That’s not only a direct increase to your financials, but engages more of your organization’s community.  By utilizing the non-traditional option of a cultural institution, you too can breathe new life into your event!

BIO: As manager of Group and Convention Sales, Angela Keller Pelc, CMP introduces The Henry Ford to group and meeting planners from all over the world.  In her 8 years there, she has had the opportunity to work on creating signature experiences in the varied venues across The Henry Ford’s campus for hundreds of groups.

Prior to joining The Henry Ford, Angela completed her Masters Degree at Wayne State and went on to manage the daily operations of Detroit’s Second City Theater.

Angela has served on Michigan Society of Association Executive’s CMP Task Force since it’s inception and has been honored with Michigan MPI’s Supplier of the Year award.