Your Go-To Source for Event Planning Blogs & Insights

Stay ahead in the event industry with our expert-curated blogs covering the latest trends, strategies, and innovations in event planning. From practical tips to creative inspiration, our blogs provide valuable insights to help you plan, execute, and elevate your events with confidence. Explore a wide range of topics designed to keep you informed and successful.

Event Management Best Practices: The All-Hands Meeting

Event Management Best Practices: The All-Hands Meeting

What is an All-Hands Meeting for Events? An All-Hands Meeting for Events is a pre-event gathering designed to align every key player involved in an event—from event managers and vendors to speakers and leadership. This meeting is a critical touchpoint to confirm...

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Event Contract Negotiation: Save Big, Plan Smart

Event Contract Negotiation: Save Big, Plan Smart

The 2025 Event Planning Landscape: Event Contract Negotiation Event planning in 2025 comes with unique challenges, from rising costs to labor shortages and evolving technology. To navigate these complexities, event planners must embrace strategic contract negotiations...

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Community Engagement & Highest Attendance Yet

Community Engagement & Highest Attendance Yet

The LACDA Community Meetings are hybrid events designed to bring together residents across Los Angeles County. These sessions address critical topics such as housing and infrastructure, offering both in-person and virtual formats to maximize accessibility and...

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How to Master Your Event Timeline

How to Master Your Event Timeline

When it comes to successful event planning, a well-organized timeline is your greatest asset. Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how a detailed timeline reduces stress, saves money, and ensures everything runs smoothly. By planning out key milestones in advance,...

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Boost Trade Show Success

Boost Trade Show Success

Trade shows are a cornerstone of event management, offering opportunities for networking, brand exposure, and lead generation. At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), we’ve seen how a strategic approach transforms trade shows into powerful platforms for...

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With Only 3 Months Left, We Stepped In to Save the Event

With Only 3 Months Left, We Stepped In to Save the Event

The 2024 film industry conference brought together film commissioners and entertainment professionals from around the globe. Hosted in Los Angeles, the event required strategic event management to deliver a seamless experience, all while navigating tight timelines and...

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In 2024, We Saved $51K for WIFLE Annual Conference

In 2024, We Saved $51K for WIFLE Annual Conference

The WIFLE 2024 Annual Leadership Training is a five-day event dedicated to empowering and supporting women in federal law enforcement. This impactful event featured workshops, high-profile speakers, networking opportunities, and interactive sessions aimed at fostering...

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7 Event KPIs Every Planner Should Track

7 Event KPIs Every Planner Should Track

In event planning, success isn’t just about packed rooms, high energy, or glowing feedback—it’s about measurable outcomes. Event KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) provide objective metrics that help event planners understand what worked, what didn’t, and how to...

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19% Attendance Increase Year Over Year

19% Attendance Increase Year Over Year

The NICA 2024 Annual Conference brought together healthcare professionals at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas to discuss advancements in infusion care. With over 1,000 attendees, the event featured keynote speakers, interactive sessions, and a bustling exhibit hall,...

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Why Events Are Vital in the Era of Hybrid and Remote Work

Why Events Are Vital in the Era of Hybrid and Remote Work

The rise of remote and hybrid work has fundamentally changed how we collaborate and connect. At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), we see conferences and events as the new meeting rooms—essential spaces where teams unite, ideas flow, and relationships...

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Master Time Management with Time Blocking and Pomodoro

Master Time Management with Time Blocking and Pomodoro

Managing time effectively can feel like a constant challenge, especially when juggling multiple tasks and priorities. At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), we’ve seen how mastering time management can transform not only productivity but also overall...

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10 Years of Lodging & Logistics for Over 25,000 Attendees

10 Years of Lodging & Logistics for Over 25,000 Attendees

The OC Marathon is an annual event that draws over 25,000 participants and spectators from around the world to Orange County. This multi-day event features races, an expo, and community festivities, creating an energetic and memorable experience for all involved....

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Event Apps: Boost Engagement, Cut Waste, and Go Digital

Event Apps: Boost Engagement, Cut Waste, and Go Digital

Tired of drowning in paper at events? It’s time to go digital! At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), we’ve embraced event apps as a game-changing tool that enhances attendee engagement, streamlines operations and promotes sustainability. Here’s why event...

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Your Event Partner for Accredited CE Events

Your Event Partner for Accredited CE Events

When planning events that offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs), it’s vital to work with a team that understands the complexities of accreditation. At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), our team is certified in CEU processes, ensuring we have the...

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Event Planners: The 3rd Most Stressful Job

Event Planners: The 3rd Most Stressful Job

As April marks National Stress Awareness Month, it’s the perfect time to highlight one of the most demanding—and often underappreciated—professions: event planning. Ranked as the third-most stressful job in the world for 2023 (World Scholarship Vault), event planning...

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How Internal Events Drive Employee Morale and Team Success

How Internal Events Drive Employee Morale and Team Success

Post-pandemic, we’ve seen a surge in in-person events—but one trend stands out: the growing popularity of internal events. Businesses are increasingly hosting events solely for their employees, from team-building activities to professional development workshops. These...

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3 Lessons Learned From 2023

3 Lessons Learned From 2023

As we step into the New Year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how far we’ve come and the valuable lessons we’ve learned along the way. At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), 2023 was a year of adaptation, growth, and perseverance. We’ve seen businesses...

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Stunning ‘Fire & Ice’ Spectacle on a $480K Budget

Stunning ‘Fire & Ice’ Spectacle on a $480K Budget

For the closing party of the PRSM National Conference, CTC leveraged its local Long Beach expertise to create an unforgettable “Fire & Ice” celebration. The event featured Cirque acts, fire dancers, living statues, ice bars, and a headline performance by Vanilla...

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Data-Driven Event Planning

Data-Driven Event Planning

Do you want to make your events more impactful? Incorporate data-driven insights into your event planning process.  By leveraging a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques, event professionals can plan smarter and deliver experiences that...

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CTC Named WBEC-West’s Supplier of the Year

CTC Named WBEC-West’s Supplier of the Year

Dear Friends, At Coast to Coast Conferences & Events (CTC), we are honored to announce that we have been named the 2023 WBEC-West Supplier of the Year! This prestigious women-owned business award is a reflection of our unwavering commitment to supplier diversity...

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The Power of Event Stage Design

The Power of Event Stage Design

Ever wondered why some events leave a lasting impression while others fade away? The secret often lies in a seemingly simple yet powerful element: event stage design. Stage design isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about creating an immersive, memorable experience that...

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Contingency Planning for Events

Contingency Planning for Events

Do you have an upcoming event and want to be prepared for anything that might happen? Contingency planning is key to ensuring your event runs smoothly, no matter what challenges arise. From natural disasters and technical glitches to security concerns, an effective...

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Harness Attendee Feedback: The Post-Event Survey

Harness Attendee Feedback: The Post-Event Survey

Hosting a successful event is just the beginning. The next step? Understanding its impact and gathering feedback. Post-event surveys are essential tools for capturing insights from attendees, helping you identify what worked well and pinpoint areas for improvement....

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Create Stunning Event Visuals with These 3 Branding Tips

Create Stunning Event Visuals with These 3 Branding Tips

Are you planning an upcoming event and wondering how to add that unforgettable “wow” factor? Visuals play a critical role in captivating attendees and leaving a lasting impression. Whether through dynamic presentations, cohesive decor, or innovative branding...

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Top 3 Event Planning Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

Top 3 Event Planning Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

If you’ve planned an event before, you know how even the smallest oversight can snowball into a major headache. From missed details to undefined goals, mistakes can jeopardize the success of your event. The good news? These pitfalls are avoidable. Let’s explore the...

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Go Green: Sustainable Events

Go Green: Sustainable Events

Protecting our environment is more than a trend—it’s a responsibility we all share. As the call for sustainability grows louder, we, as event planners and professionals, have a unique opportunity to lead the charge by creating eco-friendly events that make a...

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Unlocking the Benefits of a Diverse Events Industry

Unlocking the Benefits of a Diverse Events Industry

What is one aspect of the events industry  and its ever-evolving landscape that isn’t changing fast enough? Diversity. Despite the many benefits of having a diverse events industry, many industries and companies still lack this essential aspect. Let's take a look at...

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Finding the Right Keynote Speaker

Finding the Right Keynote Speaker

A strong keynote speaker has the ability to energize, captivate, and empower an audience. Their presentation has the potential to make or break an event’s success. But what exactly is a keynote speaker and how do event planners find the right one? What is a Keynote...

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Choosing Conference Swag

Choosing Conference Swag

Conference swag is an important part of successful event planning. But even though the promo marketing materials industry is booming, Millennials and Generation Z are shunning low-quality branded items out of concerns for environmental impact. This means event...

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How COVID-19 Changed the Event Industry

In 2020, the in-person event industry was brought to a halt by COVID-19. Live events, face-to-face networking, and the buzz of an exhibition were quickly erased from schedules around the globe. At CTC, Michelle Manire immediately pivoted the team to online events,...

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Utilizing Breakout Rooms for Your Event

Whether you’re planning a virtual or live event, breakout sessions offer attendees the opportunity to: Develop skills or share knowledge Discuss trending issues Brainstorm solutions Explore ideas in an informal format Break up the overall event schedule Connect with...

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Consider These 5 Things When Choosing a Hybrid Event Venue

Hybrid events offer the best of both worlds for both attendees and hosts. Attendees can choose to travel, if they’d like, or they can enjoy the event from the comfort of their home or workplace. Hosts have the flexibility to decide what they’d like to offer in an...

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Top 3 Best Practices to Host a Virtual Event

Top 3 Best Practices to Host a Virtual Event

Virtual events have become an effective way to connect with audiences around the world using live webinars, chat tools, and digital media served on a visually rich platform. As a result, companies and brands have been able to maximize their reach and achieve greater...

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6 Amazing Trade Show Booth Ideas That Fit Your Budget

6 Amazing Trade Show Booth Ideas That Fit Your Budget

Planning to set up a trade show booth? With 25 years of experience putting on events across the country, we can help you with that. The best set up for your booth will vary according to the products you want to display. Your booth should create brand awareness among...

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Top Tips to Plan and Organize Sustainable Events

Top Tips to Plan and Organize Sustainable Events

Organizing an event successfully and sustainably can be a rewarding as well as challenging task. Now talking about sustainability, what does it actually mean? In common, an event which is eco-friendly can be classified as a sustainable event. If you can manage...

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Unconventional Event Concepts that Work!

Unconventional Event Concepts that Work!

Everyone would like to make his or her event to look amazing and memorable. You will note that if your event is memorable, you are likely to get more attendees in the future. More people will look forward towards your event. However, achieving this goal is not that...

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2018’s Most Promising Corporate Event Trends are Here!

2018’s Most Promising Corporate Event Trends are Here!

Corporate events hold a bad reputation; they are boring and feel like just another party. But not anymore! Renowned corporate event management companies are of the idea that corporate events in 2018 are going to showcase some of the most promising trends of the year...

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7 Tips to Plan your Overseas Conference Successfully

7 Tips to Plan your Overseas Conference Successfully

When events go international, the planning gets a little more complicated. With borders, time zones, the difference in businesses and culture and language barriers as well, organizing an overseas conference or international meeting becomes daunting. It requires a...

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Our Fearless Leader, On-Site and Out in the Field!

Our Fearless Leader, On-Site and Out in the Field!

Boots on the Ground, Literally! Coast to Coast had the fantastic opportunity to partner with the American Student Dental Association (ASDA) for the 2018 Annual Session in Anaheim last week. ASDA needed an on-site Conference Manager to ensure the conference ran...

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What to Ask When Selecting an Event Planner – Part 7

What to Ask When Selecting an Event Planner – Part 7

Do you think that a conference or event planner is a luxury?  Think again!  Did you know that if the event planner is any good they should deliver cost savings that are enough to pay their management fee plus some?  You don’t know what you don’t know until you ask!...

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2018 Aquatic Games- Coming back to Long Beach this Summer!

2018 Aquatic Games- Coming back to Long Beach this Summer!

Azevedo Water Polo is bringing the Aquatic Games back to Long Beach this Summer! We are so thrilled to be working with Tony Azevedo,  5 time Olympian, Silver medalist, and captain of the US Water Polo team, to produce the 2nd annual Aquatic Games. The 2018 event will...

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