Strategy

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: The Advantages of Joining WBENC

Lifestyle & Culture Strategy

In today’s dynamic business landscape, being part of a supportive network can make all the difference in the success of a venture. For women entrepreneurs, this is particularly crucial, as they navigate various challenges and opportunities unique to their experiences. One such invaluable network is the Women’s Business Enterprise National…

Driving Innovation through Diversity: Supplier Diversity’s Vital Role to Play

At LEO Events, supplier diversity is more than a checkbox on a corporate to-do list; it’s a reflection of our commitment to fostering inclusivity and fairness in how we conduct business. We understand the importance of supplier diversity as not only a business strategy but also as a fundamental aspect…

How Meeting Services Enhances An Entire Event

Oftentimes, an event’s success is credited to the grander aspects of its production. Audiences are engaged and astounded by elaborate sets, well-crafted messaging, and exciting entertainers. As a result, these factors are typically considered to be key highlights of an event. However, the quality of the attendee experience is a…

The Solutions People

Creative Strategy

Amid the upheaval unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the ongoing uncertainty as we emerge and recover, LEO Events remained focused, with our commitment to a solutions-first approach to every challenge. This summer, we repositioned the agency to reflect and amplify that mindset. Recent events have changed all events…

5 Steps to Launching Internal DEI Initiatives

Live events are at the forefront of promoting diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging – everywhere. In our profession, we can amplify support for all cultures and backgrounds in many ways, from the first communication and continuing in themes and content to the selection of supplier-partners and onsite activations…

Virtually Flawless

Strategy Technology

When the destination is digital, LEO sets the standard. Full-service production for any virtual event. LEO STUDIO IS LIVE From sales conferences and vendor expos to press events and multi-year training programs, big brands look to LEO for digital solutions. We produce virtual events for globally-recognized organizations, including Acquia, AutoZone,…

Watch Now: LEO’s Digital Capabilities

Creative Strategy Technology

For now, the destination is digital. We approach virtual events and hybrid experiences with the same sky-high standards and lofty ideals as we do for every traditional event. In efficient collaboration with you, we will find the right blend of creativity and technology to package and deliver a deeply engaging,…

6 Strategies for Marketing Your Virtual Event

Thanks to technology, virtual meetings have paved the way for brands and organizations to hold their annual meetings, engage their audiences, and continue forward with educational and interactive sessions. From a marketing perspective, you have the opportunity to greatly expand your target audience for these events. Normally when marketing live…

3 Ways Nonprofits Can Maximize Virtual Engagement

Nonprofit organizations are not typically thought of as brands; however, that’s exactly what they are. The overall objective is to raise awareness of a particular cause, and ultimately, the brand profile and values are what supporters buy into. While advertising, social media, and content curation can go a long way…

Evolving Budgets & RFPs in a Post-Pandemic World

Why is an RFP important? A Request for Proposal (RFP) is the key method to efficiently gather information for the bidding process within the meetings and events industry. The RFP process should ultimately result in a successful and solid working relationship between the agency and client. How will agencies support…

Entertainment in a Virtual World – Why it Matters and How it’s Affordable

It’s no secret that the entertainment and event industries have drastically been impacted by COVID-19. As we’ve watched both areas (along with the entire population) pivot over the past few months, one truth has remained abundant: people need to feel connected – and that comes in many outlets. In an…

LEO’s Playbook: Solutions for Public Spaces

As we’ve seen the world take a pause over the past few months, our sole mission remains the same – to provide our clients with the best and safest solutions moving forward. We have worked with you to postpone and modify programs affected during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are…

Planning With Confidence When Your Event Goes Virtual

We’ll say it first: You can’t replace face-to-face. Yet as the coronavirus pandemic progresses, most of this year’s remaining events must shift to digital venues. For brands, agencies, and attendees fueled by experience, tradition, and the incredible impact of in-person connection, moving the magnificent symphony of an immersive physical event…

Pandemic Planning for Future Events

Organizations are preparing for the future and determining what precautions should be taken at different stages of event planning – from the alert phase through the return-to-normal phase. Many hotels and venues are beginning to release guidance on updated capacities, as well as distancing and safety guidelines for their spaces…

COVID-19: A Meeting Planner’s Perspective

In the numerous 2020 year-ahead predictions made at the start of the year for the thriving events economy, the prospect of mass event cancellations and the postponement of major sporting and music festivals never approached the scene. Fast-forward 10 weeks into the year, and the impact the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is…

Navigating the Meetings & Events Industry – A Look at the Value in Mentorship

January is National Mentoring Month, and we’re highlighting the power of mentorship through a look into the thoughts and values of event industry professionals from all age ranges and levels. As mentorship plays a key role in opening up opportunities, developing two-way relationships, and leaving the next generation with the…

How Event Pros Plan An Internal Meeting – The Roar 2019

Event pros deliver engaging events all day, every day, so how do they ensure an internal meeting is just as exciting? By incorporating the same components we would for a client program, LEO hosts an annual meeting – affectionately called The Roar – that is festive, engaging, and leaves each…

A Very Merry Meeting: How Walmart Kicks off the Season of Celebration

Reindeer games, tacky sweaters, and merchandise galore – it’s no secret that Walmart is definitely that place for the holidays! It’s the time of year when incredible sales and crazy crowds are just around the corner – and Walmart wants to ensure every celebration from Thanksgiving to the Superbowl (and…

Living Like A Local – Apply These 3 Incentive Travel Trends Now

The world of incentive travel is changing – it’s no longer just about the destination. It’s about an immersive, engaging experience. Incorporating destination-specific elements helps your attendees truly experience a destination. If you want to really get to know a destination, you’ve got to ditch the guided tour and hit…

An Event Producer’s Insights into the Emmy’s

This year is the 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards – a night of glitz, glam, and for the winners, often a turning point in their career. While the actors and actresses are the stars of the show, there is a behind-the-scenes team of unsung heroes planning every second of the show…

Meet Mempho: 3 Reasons to Attend Year 3

While there are a million reasons to attend the third annual Mempho Music Festival in Memphis, Tennessee, we’ve made it easy and narrowed it down to the top three. 1. Line-Up Headlining this year’s festival on Saturday night will be the Raconteurs, fronted by Jack White with Sunday’s headliner…

5 Things to Avoid When Engaging Millennials at Meetings

In the current meeting space, it is apparent to appeal to millennials as they now make up a sizable portion of the attendees. Here’s the thing: millennials have very peculiar characteristics. They take notice of the little things, meaning meeting planners must be strategic in creating ways to engage this…

3 Ways Speakers Influence Your Audience

Choosing a guest speaker for your event is of vital importance because it makes or breaks the success of your conference. The keynote speaker not only creates value by increasing the buzz around the event but has the power to positively advocate for your brand’s reputation. LEO Events’ approach is…

5 Tips for Negotiating a Venue

Venues are one of the most important components to successful events. However, the venue you use is most likely one of, if not the biggest, expense on your event budget. The planners at LEO Events have shared some tips to help event organizers keep their venue costs as low as possible.…

3 Ways to Incorporate Golf into Your Next Meeting

With LEO Events’ headquarters city of Memphis gearing up for the 2019 World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, it’s only natural that we have golf on the brain. The golf course can be a valuable tool in creating an interactive meeting experience. From receptions on the course to interactive golf-themed…

A Guide to the 2019 Experiential Marketing Summit

The 2019 Event Marketer Experiential Marketing Summit takes place in Las Vegas. This pinnacle conference brings together more than 1,800 marketers from around the globe. This pinnacle conference brings together more than 1,800 marketers from around the globe and includes sessions that explore emerging trends, explain best practices and highlight…

Breaking into the Events Industry

Ahhh… graduation season is upon us once again. The time of year where college seniors pace frantically awaiting final exam scores and rifle through pages of google searches in hopes of stumbling upon a job. It’s a stressful process, we get it. And breaking into the meetings and events industry…

The Power of a Mutually Beneficial Request for Proposal (RFP)

Most brands understand the challenges of searching for the right agency and the stress factors that can come along with the request for proposal (RFP) process – so do the agencies. While an RFP is the key method to efficiently gather information for the bidding process in the meetings and…

The Importance In Early Venue Booking For Incentive Trips

It’s never too early to begin securing venues for incentive trips, especially around the holidays. There are a number of reasons why booking early is an important factor in the success of an incentive trip. First and foremost, it gives you time to really put some thought into it and…

Making Your Meeting Theme Memorable

All meeting and event planners strive for outstanding programs, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is with a striking, unforgettable theme. Here are three tips that you should consider when selecting a theme that will be as engaging for your attendees as it is for you to…

5 Best Practices for Festival Digital Marketing

The rise of music festivals is at an all-time high. In 2018, more than 800 music festivals were scheduled throughout the country and over 32 million people are attending at least one U.S. festival every year. With those competitive numbers continuing to grow, how do you keep attendees returning to…

5 Ways to Boost Event Engagement

What do giveaways, interactive displays, and breakout sessions have in common? These are all highly effective hacks for boosting attendee engagement in events. 1. Gamification People love to test their luck – making contests the perfect way to get attendees engaged. Offering prizes is an even more promising way…

Event Safety & Security: 6 Tips for Minimizing Risk

In the era of routine terrorist attacks, record-breaking natural disasters and devasting cyber security breaches, ensuring event safety and security has never been more important. Yet many in the industry are rightfully asking, “How could this have been avoided” and “Where did we go wrong?” By following the six simple…

The Festivalization of Meetings & Events

Now, more than ever, brands and organizations are fiercely competing for consumer attention and engagement. According to a Nielsen report, 32 million people attend a music festival in the United States each year. So, it’s no surprise that companies are opting for this new approach to reach internal audiences at…