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2022 s Must-Attend Christmas Events

The season for decking the halls, wrapping the gifts, and drinking the eggnog is just right around the corner. And we re ready for it!

While there is no shortage of amazeballs Christmas events right here in our own backyard, there is a truly diverse and creative set of events taking place around the globe. Here we take a look at the top eight events taking place around the world that will have event-goers and Jolly Old St. Nick alike saying ho, ho, ho this coming Christmas season.

#1 – The Twelve Pubs of Christmas

The Irish are known for their love of drink and their love of pubs, so it only seems natural that in Dublin it is customary to ring in the season of joy with a glorified pub crawl. This event has taken the Irish nation by storm over the past decade and is now a go-to for office parties, friend groups, and family reunions who aim to hit 12 pubs in one evening and have a drink in each one.

Resplendent with drunken Santa Clauses and Mrs. Clauses, there are rules in effect, including:

• No drinking with your right hand at the first pub
• No pointing at anyone in pub #2
• No talking to any one you know at the third pub

and so on and so on. Rulebreakers must chug their drink down as a penalty. Cheers

More information available at https://www.irishcentral.com/culture/craic/irish-12-pubs-of-christmas

#2 – Giant Lantern Festival

San Fernando, Philippines

Described as the biggest, brightest, and most colorful Christmas event in the Philippines , this festival is an exhibition of giant lanterns with lights and music. The festival has earned San Fernando the title of the Christmas Capital of the Philippines and has been running on an annual basis since 1904, although it evolved to its modern-day version in the 1930s after the introduction of electricity to the region.

More information available at https://giantlanterns.com

#3 – Winter Wonderland

London, England

Beginning in mid-November and running until early January, Winter Wonderland has been a staple of London s Hyde Park for almost two decades.

Winter Wonderland fun includes:

• Santaland a magical one-stop shop in the corner of Hyde Park designed to make visitors feel like they have been transported to the North Pole
• Street food galore fried chicken, fish & chips, churros, pizza, hot dogs enough to keep even Santa himself full and jolly
• Rides and games reminiscent of a fair
• An ice bar .deemed the coolest bar at Winter Wonderland
• An ice slide where visitors can catch the thrill of sliding down an ice slide on an inner tube
• Ice sculpting workshops
• and so much more

More information available at https://hydeparkwinterwonderland.com/

#4 Christmas Fair

Budapest, Hungary

Widely considered to be one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe, multiple locations around the city host fairs featuring vendor food and gift stalls, live performances, crafts, skating, and the food oh, the food. Hungarian specialties including chimney cake, mulled wine, apple strudel, potato pancakes, and cabbage rolls are available at every turn.

More information available at https://christmasmarketsineurope.com/budapest-christmas-markets/

#5 Bethlehem Christmas Tours

Bethlehem, Palestine

Given its birthplace-of-Jesus roots, it s not surprising to see Bethlehem make an appearance on the list. How do the fine folks of Bethlehem ring in the season? With a selection of Christmas tours, for starters.

These Christmas tours take visitors through the historic Bethlehem and include the tale of a candle in every window, and teachings about the star of Bethlehem. Midnight Mass is a must-do while in Bethlehem for Christmas, visitors flock to the Church of Nativity or Manger Square.

More information available at https://historicbethlehem.org/christmas/christmas-tours/

#6 – San Juan Christmas

Puerto Rico

There may be a distinct lack of snow, but that doesn t temper the San Juan Christmas experience one iota. Their 45 day Christmas period, La Navidad, kicks off after Thanksgiving Day and lasts until mid-January, with the Fiesta de la Calle San Sebastian a huge street festival where party goers dress up as characters and participate in a parade, marking the official end of the holiday season.

Parrandas, Puerto Rico s version of Christmas carolling, is another big piece of the yuletide festivities.

More information available at https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/holiday-traditions-puerto-rico

#7 Santa Claus Village

Lapland, Finland

This is where Santa kicks it year-round. And who can blame him? This picturesque village includes a huge range of ways to get your Christmas fix at any time of year. Dog sledding, snowmobiling, Northern Lights safaris, reindeer rides, shopping, and restaurants are just a few of the activities available to visitors.

More information available at https://santaclausvillage.info/

From Chocolate to Fortnite: Experiential Events Inspiration

In a time when you can ask an inanimate household object to tell you anything from the weather forecast to the lyrics from Kelis s Milkshake to the date of the initial moon landing, it shouldn t come as a surprise that events have taken on a more experiential vibe. People are engaging in more creative ways than ever before, and events need to deliver on these creative engagement opportunities if they are going to succeed. Here we look at five experiential event ideas that brought all the boys to the yard.

Van Gogh Exhibit: The Immersive Experience

Their website sums up the experiential event philosophy rather succinctly:

Have you ever dreamt of stepping into a painting? Now you can.

The Van Gogh Exhibit, which has been touring since 2017, has had more than 5 million visitors across North America, Europe, and Asia. This is especially impressive when you consider that two of their five year run was during COVID. In order to accomplish this stepping into a painting sensation, through the use of virtual reality and projections of Van Gogh s works onto large gallery spaces.

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/vincentsg/

M & M Interactive Pop-Up

What does a chocolatier do when they need help deciding on their newest flavor option? They create a pop-up experience that gives attendees the opportunity to experience what each of their three prospective flavors taste, smell, and even feel like. This 2018, New York-based event included three specialized rooms where attendees could indulge themselves in these flavors, including flavor-inspired drinks and snacks and d cor. The winner? All the attendees who got to experience this unique event. Oh, and Crunchy Mint, which beat out Crunchy Espresso and Crunchy Raspberry.

House of Vans

In honor of the release of their David Bowie trainers, Vans went to skateparks across the country with their House of Vans pop-up spaces. And House of Vans was a cool space, designed to attract a cool crowd. Elements included music, art, workshops, fashion, Skate Skool, and more. Bringing all the boys to the yard, indeed.

Credit: Vans

The Fortnight Rift Tour

Virtual events, which experienced a huge surge in 2020 2021 thanks to a little thing called COVID, are going to continue to have some staying power. So it s worth looking at one virtual event that brought the experiential-ness in spades. Coined a musical journey unlike any other, brought together fans of Ariana Grande with Fortnite gamers for a uniting of gameplay and concert. This win-win opportunity resulted in a 123{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} bump in streaming of Ariana Grande songs post-event. Check it out here.

League of Legends – Worlds Semi-Finals

Video games have an incredible way of bringing people together online, but the world of live tournaments is helping connect people from all over the world in a powerful in person experience. With teams from all over the world, including Korea, China, and Europe, the crowd was diverse and ready to watch their team win it all. As this was right up the street from us at the Madison Square Garden Hulu Theatre, we couldn t help but get tickets. From our seat in section 202, row V, we took a plunge into the world of League of Legends to experience just how insane the production levels and customer journey can be when the world comes together, and it did not disappoint!

The Budweiser Beer Garage

Beer and garages go hand in hand, and Anheuser Busch did a fantastic job of connecting those two dots with their immersive campaign at the 2016 SXSW Festival. Festivalgoers were invited to celebrate all things Bud in this creative and memorable display which included a 4-D immersive reality Budweiser brewery tour that provided a multi-sensory experience that combined sight, hearing, and smell. Cheers!

Feeling inspired to work some cool experiential elements into your next event? Let the team at Decibel Events help you bring all the boys to the yard.

All About the Rockefeller Tree Lighting

On Wednesday, November 30th, the annual tree lighting at Rockefeller Center will be taking place. For many, this is the symbolic start to the Christmas season.

Here we share the history of the tree lighting, some fun facts, and what you can expect at the 2022 tree lighting ceremony.

The History of the Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller itself dates back to 1928, when business tycoon John D. Rockefeller leased land for the future Rockefeller Center. The space leased spanned three square blocks. One of New York City s most iconic landmarks, the Rockefeller Center was originally intended for vaudeville shows before transitioning to a movie house. More than 700 films have premiered there since 1933.

Before construction was even complete on the Rockefeller Center, in 1931, Great Depression-era workers pooled their funds to purchase the first-ever Christmas tree for the Center. A 20 foot balsam fir, the tree became a symbol of hope and optimism during trying financial times. Two years later, the Rockefeller Center made the tree an annual tradition. At this first official lighting ceremony, the tree was 50 feet tall and adorned with 700 twinkling lights.

In 1936, the skating pond was added to the Rockefeller Center. Legend has it that the skating pond idea was courtesy of a skate salesman who demonstrated his skates on the ice in the Rockefeller Center fountain, and thus inspired the idea for a skating pond.

In 1952, The Today Show made it s debut at Rockefeller Center. The Tonight Show followed suit in 1962, and Saturday Night Live followed in 1975. Rockefeller Center has served as the backdrop for countless movies and shows, including Tin Fey s 30 Rock sitcom, which was modelled after the behind-the-scenes shenanigans at Saturday Night Live.

The Deets for 2022

As is customary, the tree will be lit from 6:00 am 12:00 am daily from November 30th until it comes down (this date is still to be determined).

The lighting will take place via NBC s live national broadcast of Christmas at Rockefeller Center at 8:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 30th. Public access is also typically made available.

The 90-year-old tree itself is a bit of a beast. An 82-foot tall, 50-foot wide tree, it weighs in at 14 tons (which is roughly the equivalent of the weight of two elephants and big ones at that).

For the last three decades, Erik Pauze, the Rockefeller Centers head gardener, has been tasked with selecting, nurturing, and transporting the annual Christmas tree. And Pauze takes this role seriously. As he shared in a recent Q & A, what I look for is a tree you would want in your living room, but on a grander scale. It s got that nice, perfect shape all around. And most of all, it s gotta look good for those kids who turn the corner at 30 Rock; it needs to instantly put a huge smile on their faces. It needs to evoke that feeling of happiness.

There are over 50,000 LED lights on the tree (five miles worth). The star that goes atop the tree is a three-dimensional Swarovski star that was designed in 2018, weights 900 pounds, and features seven spikes covered in 3 million crystals. Bling bling!

Fun Facts About the Rockefeller Tree Lighting

Read on for some little known tidbits about America s favorite tree-dition:

• More than 125 million people view the Rockefeller tree every year
• The tree size has grown exponentially in the past several decades originally a mere 20 footer, 1971 s tree was over three times as tall at 65 feet, 1999 s version was 100 feet tall, and nowadays 80ish feet is the height of choice
• What happens to Rockefeller Christmas trees once their 15 minutes of fame is up? They are milled into lumber which is then donated to Habitat for Humanity and used to build a home
• During World War II the tree remained unlit due to blackout regulations, and simple yet patriotic red, white, and clue decorations were used
• Once the tree is selected, a crane supports the tree while it is cut down it is then dressed in giant red bows with banners extending holiday greetings and transported to Rockefeller Center
• The tree went energy efficient in 2007 by converting to LEDs which use 1,200 fewer kilowatt hours of electricity per day
• Performers at the tree lighting ceremony over the years have featured some big names including Garth Brooks, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey, Tony Bennett, Dolly Parton, John Legend, and more!

So, mark your calendar for 8:00 pm EST on Wednesday, November 30th, pour yourself some eggnog, and start Christmas off right by taking in the Rockefeller Tree Lighting ceremony. Here are some viewing options:

• NBC site
• NCB app
• Stream on YouTube
• Peacock site
• Peacock app
• Hulu + Live TV
• fubo TV
• Sling TV

Cybersecurity Best Practices for Events

Just before the weekend, on the 28th day of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it was announced that Events D.C. was the victim of a recent cyberattack (likely a ransomware attack), one that likely compromised employee and customer data. Events D.C. has over 400 employees and owns or manages 10 major venues across the District, including the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and RFK Stadium.

This is why cybersecurity needs to be top of mind for event planners. After all, event planners are responsible for managing people, logistics, finances, and all of the data that goes along with it – all of which are potential targets for cyberattacks. Here are some of the key vulnerabilities that event managers need to be aware of.

Data, Data, and More Data

Event planners are in possession of and responsible for a lot of sensitive information. Credit card numbers, social security numbers, addresses, and other personal data are all part of the job. And if that information falls into the wrong hands, it could be used for identity theft or fraud.

Here are a few best practices to help keep your data safe:

• Use a secure server to store sensitive information;
• Don’t use easily guessed passwords (don t even remotely consider 123456, password, or Change them often and make them long and complex;
• Encrypt all data that is transmitted electronically;
• Be careful about the WiFi networks you connect to. Public networks are not secure; and
• Educate your team about cybersecurity risks and best practices.

The Virtual Event Hack

When we all moved to Zoom and Google Meets virtual meetings at the onset of the pandemic cybercriminals were quick to follow suit. In their defense (Zoom and Google, that is), these platforms simply weren t fully prepared for the rapid adoption they experienced courtesy of a virus-who-shall-not-be-named. In December 2019, Zoom had 10 million daily meeting participants; by May 2020 they were up to 200 million.

Most people who attended a virtual conference in 2020 (before these platforms were able to find ways to better keep out Internet trolls) have a Zoom-bombing story .and it s usually a pretty unpleasant one (obscene images, name-calling, and just general all-around asshole behaviour). These Zoom-bombings may not have been damaging in the same way that other cybersecurity breaches like ransomware and phishing scams are, but hurtful and disruptive nonetheless. Neither of which is something that an event planner wants.

While the world is back to in-person events, virtual events still have a presence and will continue to do so for the duration. Which means that event planners still need to ensure they are following best practices in ensuring they are doing everything possible to avoid these virtual event breeches, including the following:

• Get to know your platform settings and how to rapidly disable or evict a jerk attendee if needed;
• Use the waiting room feature in order to have further control prior to admitting attendees;
• Always set a meeting password, and be discrete about how you are sharing it with your audience;
• Lock down screen sharing controls so unwanted intruders cannot hijack the screen for their own nefarious purposes; and
• If it s not imperative for your attendees to be able to communicate with each other and with the presenter then remove the ability for them to do so.

The Conference Hack

Conferences are fertile ground for cyberattacks. They bring together large groups of people, often from different organizations with different levels of security awareness. A lot of data is exchanged at large scale conferences and trade shows. Between the numerous email entries vying for the latest tech gadget giveaway to attendee demographic information to smart floors, data is available in spades, and you can bet that this has not escaped the attention of those cybersavvy folks with ill intent.

There have been a number of high-profile attacks on conferences in recent years, including an attempt to hack into the Montreux Jazz Festival and an attack on the DefCon security conference in Las Vegas. But the threat isn’t limited to big events. Smaller conferences are also vulnerable, especially if they don’t have the resources to invest in top-notch security. And because conferences often involve high-profile speakers and attendees, they can be an attractive target for attacks that seek to disrupt or embarrass the event.

That’s why it’s important for all conference organizers to be aware of the risks and take steps to mitigate them. Here are some tips:

• Make sure your WiFi network is secure, with strong passwords and encryption enabled;
• Use event management software that includes security features, such as two-factor authentication;
• Require all speakers and attendees to use unique passwords for their accounts; and
• Educate your team and participants about the dangers of phishing scams and other common attacks.

See Yourself in Cyber

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The President of the United States and Congress declared this month in 2004 to help bring awareness to the importance of cybersecurity during a time when attacks were drastically on the rise.

The theme for 2022 is See Yourself in Cyber. This reinforces that despite all the tech lingo and complexities around cybersecurity, at the end of the day it s all about people. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency shares these four key actions that they encourage all to take:

• Think Before You Click: Recognize and Report Phishing: If a link looks a little off, think before you click. It could be an attempt to get sensitive information or install malware.
• Update Your Software: Don’t delay — If you see a software update notification, act promptly. Better yet, turn on automatic updates.
• Use Strong Passwords: Use passwords that are long, unique, and randomly generated. Use password managers to generate and remember different, complex passwords for each of your accounts. A passwords manager will encrypt passwords securing them for you!
• Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: You need more than a password to protect your online accounts, and enabling MFA makes you significantly less likely to get hacked.

Source: https://www.cisa.gov/cybersecurity-awareness-month

In honor of cybersecurity awareness month, why don t you go ahead and change all your passwords to something so ridiculous and random that it makes your head hurt. We guarantee .it will make your head hurt less than a data breach or cybersecurity attack.

October Events Around the World

Yikes, I blinked and here October is, with its shorter days and its yellow leaves and its pumpkin spiced lattes. Let s see what October has in store for us, events-wise.

But first, you may wonder why Germany s beer-fueled Oktoberfest isn t on the list? Fun fact: Oktoberfest is actually held in September due to the cold weather. Who knew? I guess Septemberfest doesn t quite pack the same punch. But anyhoo, there is no shortage of magnificent events taking place this month, as you will see!

The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival Albuquerque, New Mexico

Date: October 1 – 9

The initial 1972 festival had 13 balloons. Last year s festival had over 600 balloons and 700 pilots. As their website claims, any local will tell you that October is the most beautiful time of year in New Mexico, made so in large part by the much-anticipated sight of colorful balloons punctuating the skyline. During this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler, and the mornings crisper — almost as though the landscape has taken a deep sigh — and on the desert s warm breath sails the annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Sign me up!

More information available at https://balloonfiesta.com/

The Cirio de Nazare – Belem, Brazil

Date: October 1 – 16

The Virgin Mary (ya, that Virgin Mary) is the cause for celebration for this annual festival. The fifteen day festival wraps up on the second Sunday of October when the city welcomes a procession of more than one million pilgrims as they follow an image of the Virgin Mary throughout Belem.

More information available athttps://www.ciriodenazare.com.br/

Festival of the Dead Salem, Massachusetts

Date: October 1 31

Salem really leans into its witch trials-laden history in this month-long annual event series that explores death s macabre customs, heretical histories, and strange rituals. Highlights include The Official Salem Witches Halloween Ball, The Mourning Tea, The Dumb Supper: Dinner with the Dead, and more psychic readings that you can shake a stick (er, wand?) at.

More information available at https://www.festivalofthedead.com/

Nagasaki Kunchi Festival Nagasaki, Japan

Date: October 7 9

This festival has been going strong since 1634 and celebrates the guardian deity at Suwa Shrine. The entire city, including almost 60 neighborhood dance troupes, take part in the three-day celebration which features several performances.

More information available at https://nagasaki-kunchi.com/english

Diwali India

Date: October 22 26

It is widely believed that Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is the day when the Hindu Goddess of Prosperity travels to earth and blesses us with wealth and prosperity. To her, I say, yes please. As India Today describes it, the lights of Diwali signify a time to destroy all our dark desires and thoughts, eradicate dark shadows and evils and give us the strength and the zeal to carry on with our goodwill for the rest of the year. And let s face it, we could all use a little of that!

MassKara Festival Bacolod, Phillipines

Date: October 23

MassKara Festival dates back to 1980 when the price of sugar, which is a primary livelihood source in the Phillipines, was at an all-time low. And so, as one does when sugar prices are low, the festival was born in attempt to sweeten (ha!) the spirits of the locals. 40 years later it is still going strong with parades, decorations, masks, dancing, and a giant street party, Electric MassKara.

More information at https://guidetothephilippines.ph/articles/history-culture/masskara-festival-bacolod-guide

Halloween Village Parade New York

Date: October 31

So, obviously Halloween is a thing, something that children (and adults) around the world take part in. New York s Village Parade stands out as one of the bigger Halloween events though. Celebrating its 49th year this year, the parade annually draws more than 60,000 costumed participants and 2 million spectators. Which trumps trick or treating on your block.

More information available at https://halloween-nyc.com/

Samhain Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man

Date: October 31 November 1

This Gaelic festival marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. This festival goes all the way back, with being first mentioned in Irish literature dating back to the 9th century. This is a pagan religious festival during which Celtics of yore believed that the barriers between the physical world and the spirit world would break down.

Day of the Dead Festival, Mexico

Date: October 31 November 6

This celebration, which served as the backdrop for Disney s 2017 film Coco, is a holiday of joyful celebration and remembrance of friends and family members who have passed away more festive than somber though. Mexico City held the first Day of the Dead parade in 2016, and it has grown every year since. Skulls, flowers, skeletons, costumes, and Ofrendas (which are memorial displays in homes designed to commemorate the lives of loved ones) are all part of the festivities.

More information available at https://dayofthedead.holiday/

Naga Fireball Festival Northern Thailand

Date: Mid- to Late-October

This fascinating festival is centered around a phenomenon which occurs around the end of the Buddhist Lent period each year. People gather along a 250 km stretch of the Mekong River to witness thousands of glowing red balls fireballs shoot up into the sky. Legend has it that this phenomenon is attributed to the mythical Phaya Nak, a giant serpent that is believed to live in the river. Scientists have yet to be able to explain the reason for this dazzling spectacle.

The Queen s Funeral: A Day Decades in the Making

If there was any doubt in any minds that the British monarchy is still alive and well, despite Megxit and icky Prince Andrew, these doubts should have been laid to rest yesterday, along with Her Majesty the Queen.

Queen Elizabeth the Second passed away on September 8th, at the age of 96, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. As Britain s longest reigning monarch, and a rather beloved one at that, there was no question that her passing and her subsequent funeral would garner international attention on the highest of scales.

The Queen is Dead. Long Live the King.

As the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth, Charles became the new monarch upon the passing of his mom.

On the day of her death, known as D-Day, a notice of death was posted on the gates outside of Buckingham Palace, and remained there for 24 hours, visible to people queuing along Constitution Hill. Across the country, flags were flown at half-staff at royal residences, government buildings, and military establishments.

On September 9th King Charles had his first audience as king with the Prime Minister of Britain, Liz Truss. He later addressed the nation at 6:00 pm, stating, “we owe her the most heartfelt debt any family can owe to their mother; for her love, affection, guidance, understanding and example.” The next day he was formally proclaimed as the new sovereign at St. James Palace during a meeting of the Accession Council.

London Bridge (aka, the code name for the The Queen s passing) triggered a ten day national mourning period.

On September 11th, the Queen left Balmoral for the last time as her coffin was driven to Edinburgh.

The following day, the coffin was taken on a procession with the king and royal family members following on foot.

An Affair to Remember

The Earl Marshal is tasked with overseeing state funerals and coronations, and this role is currently held by Edward Fitzalan-Howard, the 18th Duke of Norfolk. The Earl Marshal is a hereditary position that has been held by the Marshal family since 1672. And Edward has been planning for this event for decades, and meeting with key stakeholders on an annual basis for years now to review and fine-tune the London Bridge plans.

The Queen s coffin was transported from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey in a carriage drawn by 142 sailors. Yes, sailors, not horses. Resulting from a long-standing tradition of using sailors rather than horses to draw the carriage during monarch funerals ever since horses were spooked while transporting Queen Victoria s coffin in 1901 and nearly tipping it over.

The funeral was held in the same location where the Queen had been married as well as where her coronation was held the first royal funeral to be held at Westminster Abbey since the 18th century.

The Queen s coffin itself was covered with several symbolic items of note, including:

• The Imperial State crown and it s 2,862 (!!) diamonds;
• The Sovereign Scepter (which represents the monarch s power in the secular realm);
• The Sovereign Orb (which represents the monarch s power in the Christian world);
• The Royal Standard flag;
• A wreath selected by her son Charles containing foliage of rosemary, English oak, and myrtle cut from the gardens of royal residences; and
• A handwritten note from her son Charles which read in loving and devoted memory .

These items were later removed during the committal service at St. George s Chapel, signaling the official end of the Queen s reign. Following the removal of these items, Lord Chamberlain Baron Parker broke his wand of office, and placed it on top to signify the end of the guards service to the Queen.

1,650 military personnel and over 10,000 police officers were on hand to oversee the hugely complex policing operation which was the largest in the London force s history, surpassing the 2012 London Olympics. And with good reason. The funeral was a regular who s who of global leaders and celebrities. Some of the big names that occupied the 2,000 seats at Westminster Abbey included Sandra Oh, Bear Grylls, over 100 presidents and heads of government, and more members of royalty than royal watchers can shake a stick at.

Of course, it wouldn t be a royal affair without some discussion of who was wearing what. The Guardian said it best: for the grandest, most gorgeous of occasions the dress code was resplendent solemnity, in pearls and pillbox hats, high heels, and sharp tailoring. Of particular interest was the fact that Prince Harry wasn t able to wear his military uniform for the funeral (neither was Prince Andrew), and instead wore a morning suit.

Towards the end of the service, the Queen s piper played Sleep, Dearie, Sleep . This was especially symbolic as the Queen started most days with the sound of bagpipes as her piper would play at 9:00 am for 15 minutes each day as a pseudo alarm clock to start her morning.

Finally, Queen Elizabeth was transported to King George VI Memorial Chapel in a custom-designed Jaguar and then was buried, alongside her late husband Prince Philip, in a small private family ceremony.

The Stuff of Nightmares Event Disasters Extraordinaire

Event planners like to trade war stories. Like about the time a guest arrived at the event wearing the same outfit as the hostess (and rocking it better to boot). Or the time the keynote speaker fell asleep during their presentation. Or the time someone accidentally set off the fire alarm and everyone had to vacate the property, and don t get me started on presenters forgetting dongles. Ya, not the stuff of event planning dreams. But also not quite the stuff of event disasters, as these examples demonstrate.

Fyre Festival

Five years later, Fyre Festival remains synonymous with event planning disaster . It had it all. A beautiful Bahamian backdrop. Glamorous models in bikinis. The promise of an immersive music festival two transformative weekends on the boundaries of impossible. Authentic island cuisine served by celebrity chefs. A line up of 33 artists including Blink-182, Tyga, and Disclosure.

And then in the spirit of if it sounds too good to be true it probably is, an abandoned resort development full of disaster relief tents backdrop. Angry and soaking wet festival-goers who had spent thousands of dollars on their tickets. Cheese sandwiches in foam containers. A group of local unknown musicians. And finally, eight lawsuits and several class action suits.

Fyre Festival was such an astronomical failure that it inspired, not one but two, documentaries Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened courtesy of Netflix and Hulu s Fyre Fraud.

Woodstock 1999

Woodstock is the grandaddy of music festivals. It originally hit the New York music scene in 1969, during a time when the country was divided over the Vietnam War and Woodstock provided the perfect backdrop for bringing these like-minded opponents together in a celebration of anti-establishment, sex, drugs, and rock and roll. While the original Woodstock in 1969 was not without its own drama (like the two deaths that occurred that weekend, one drug overdose and one tragic tractor accident involving a festival goer who was sleeping in a neighbouring field), it s Woodstock s 30-year-old counterpart (Woodstock 1999) that stands out as the bigger event disaster.

Famously referred to as the day the nineties died , the list of issues included:

• The venue being unprepared for the sheer number of people who showed up, leading to massive overcrowding, which created unsafe conditions and made it difficult for people to move around or even find their friends;
• A water shortage, coupled with hot tarmacs and high temperatures contributed to over 700 attendees being treated for heat exhaustion and dehydration;
• Lack of available hotel space due to the weekend coinciding with the Baseball Hall of Fame ceremony;
• Rampant allegations of sexual assaults; and
• Just some general lighting flags on fire douchiness.

DashCon 2014

DashCon 2014 was originally known as Tumbl-Con USA, a convention dedicated to Tumblr users of the popular blogging service Tumblr and was billed as “the largest gathering of Tumblr users to date”. The DashCon organizers raised funds through crowdsourcing and grassroots campaigns and created hype by promising all sorts of important guests, from established creators and actors to various Tumblr social media “celebrities”. In addition to cosplay, DashCon events included games, singers, signings, fan art, and panel sales.

Things started to go south for DashCon on its first night when the organizer s financial struggles started to come to light. Special guests were notified by the hotel upon check-in that they were responsible to pay for their own rooms, despite having been told they would be comped by the hotel organizers which resulted in many of these guests bailing on the convention. The venue then demanded payment in advance, while organizers claimed there had been a verbal agreement to pay venue costs periodically throughout the weekend.

One major takeaway from the event? An impromptu ball pit is not an acceptable alternative to a refund for canceled celebrity appearances. When the Welcome to Night Vale cast canceled on their appearance, rather than refunding ticket holders, the organizers attempted to mollify them with an extra hour in the ball pit a kiddie pool full of balls that was quickly set up in an empty concession hall. This single act quickly became a meme among attendees who felt that it nicely summed up the DashCon experience in full.

New York City Pizza Festival 2017

Dubbed the Fyre Festival of NYC Food Events , there were some mighty hungry and disappointed New Yorkers at the New York City Pizza Festival in September 2017. Attendees were promised a day long celebration of dough, cheese, tasty sauces, and delicious toppings , for $75 some serious dough for pizza. And what were attendees treated to for this serious dough? Tiny pizza portion sizes. Cold pies. A distinct lack of pizza varieties. Empty tents. In a place responsible for introducing Brooklyn-style pizza to the world, this did not go over well.

Oscars 2017

Given the prestige of the Oscars, and the tremendous global viewership of the event, it should surprise no one to know that great care and attention goes into ensuring that the correct winners are announced. The process is overseen by an accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) who then designates two balloting leaders for the Oscars two individuals who are tasked with memorizing all the winners in each category and handing the correct envelope to the presenter before they go on stage. Despite this ironclad process, things went awkwardly sideways in 2017 when La La Land was announced by presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty as winning the Best Picture, when in fact Moonlight had won the honors. Beatty has been inadvertently given the envelope for Best Actress (which did in fact go to Emma Stone for La La Land). The La La Land cast was well into their acceptance speech when the slip-up was publicly announced. Awkwardness ensued.

There are event disasters, and then there are event disasters that are no laughing matter. Anytime you have a large amount of guests you need to plan appropriately and ensure that the former doesn t become the latter. We all love to trade stories of planning challenges, but it also bears taking a look at the true tragedies, like these examples below, so we can better prepare, consider what is possible, and avoid any kind of repeat situation.

Astroworld Festival 2021

While Fyre Festival resulted in wealthy attendees being majorly inconvenienced, by comparison the Astroworld Festival on November 5, 2021 resulted in true tragedy ten deaths including one nine-year-old boy. Festival Founder Travis Scott was on the stage performing at the time of the mass trampling that led to the deaths. Scott was widely condemned for his actions in encouraging the crowd to rush the stage, and was subsequently named in dozens of civil lawsuits filed by attendees, along with Live Nation and security contractors. Scott had previously pled guilty to inciting crowds at Lollapalozza 2015, as well as a 2017 Arkansas music festival.

1985 European Cup Final

European soccer fans have a reputation for being rowdy, as this most unfortunate crowd disaster helped to reinforce. An hour before the 1985 European Cup was set to kick off at Heysel Stadium in Brussels, Belgium, a wall at the stadium that was separating heavily drinking Liverpool fans from Juventus fans collapsed, killing 39 fans and injuring 600 in the process. It turns out that the stadium had not been properly maintained in its 55 years, and parts of the facility were crumbling. Ultimately, fourteen Liverpool fans were found guilty of manslaughter, and all English football clubs were banned from Union of European Football Associations events until the 1990 1991 season.

2003 Great White Concert

Another live music concert tragedy, this one as the result of a fire caused by pyrotechnics. Of the 462 attendees at the concert at The Station in Rhode Island, almost one fifth of them died as a result of the fire, and another 230 were injured. The concert casualties included the Great White s lead guitarist, Ty Longley. The Great White s tour manager pled guilty to 100 counts of involuntary manslaughter and served less than two years in prison.

Leaving it to the Experts

Whether it is ensuring that the event marketing is accurate and on brand, whether it is ensuring that all proper safety precautions and protocols are in place, or whether it is ensuring that contractual obligations are fulfilled as promised, having a team of event production experts can save you from the stuff of event nightmares. Decibel Events can give you the confidence and the peace of mind that comes with working with the event experts.

Get Your Guests Networking Like Pros at Your Next Event

There is an old saying that states, it s not what you know, it s who you know . As far as old sayings go, this oldie rings quite true. While knowledge, education, and experience are all great assets that can set you apart from the competition, whether you are seeking a job, or a sale, there is something about knowing someone on the inside track that gives a tremendous advantage. This inside track can come in many forms – a personal recommendation from a trusted source, a pre-existing relationship, mutual shared connections, or, I don t know, say someone you used to babysit when you were a teenager and who is now a wildly successful start-up founder making more in a month than you have made in the last decade. Sigh. Sorry, anyhoo, where was I? Right we were talking about how since it s not what you know, but who you know, this is why networking is such a critical piece of business, albeit one that can be anxiety-causing for the less extroverted folks.

Event planners know that networking is a necessary element of any corporate event. They also know that for every networking pro who sashays into the room looking flawless and completely at ease in a room full of friends-they-haven t-met-yet, there are ten others who absolutely dread networking. You ll find them hanging in the dark corners of the room madly scrolling on their phone. So, the challenge lies in providing networking opportunities in an accessible and creative manner that will appeal to the less seasoned networkers on your invite list. Here we share eight creative networking ideas for your next event.

Social Curiosities. Or Instagrammable Experiences

We almost went with alcohol as our number one networking party starter, but moved it down the list. Curate a social experience or curiosity for your guests off the bat. Give them a reason to get together and mingle. Have scenic or backdrop elements that are no-brainers for guests to get their cameras clicking, or better yet, have a photographer pulling groups together for entrance shots and initial mixed mingle groups. What else works? This is one that we LOVE here at Decibel. Close up magic. This is one of the best ways to get disparate groups together- all watching in awe of some slight of hand. And it gives guests a talking point from then on, or showing playing cards with signatures, etc. This is something you only need to seed at the start of a function- for the first hour or two and will pay dividends.

Alcohol. Serve Alcohol. And booze-free spirits.

In the words of M. Night Shyamalan, what a twist! Okay, perhaps this is not an entirely revolutionary new concept, but definitely a must-do. This is the lowest of the low hanging fruit. For those who shudder at the thought of networking amongst a roomful of strangers, a bit of the ol giggle juice may be just what is needed to relax them and infuse some bravery. It s called liquid courage for a reason, after all.

With that being said, more and more guests are choosing to go booze-free at these functions and we encourage that as well. But don’t leave those guests to just club soda. Curate a booze-free cocktail menu. This will be talked about and shared by guests, and non-drinkers will have fun and different glasses and drinks to walk around with as well. We are seeing these more and more with the advent of Seedlip and other non alcoholic spirits. The sky is the limit.

While serving alcohol at corporate events is a fairly popular decision, it s not without risk so make sure to plan accordingly. This means:

• Potentially limiting the number of drinks available per person through drink tickets or ensuring the catering staff is responsible for cutting off guests;
• Consider foregoing hard liquor in favor of beer, coolers, and wine;
• Having food on hand to help slow the roll of some guests, and so they are not drinking on an empty stomach; and
• Make easy or even free arrangements for alternative transportation (like taxi or Uber vouchers) for anyone that has had any amount of alcohol.

Incorporate Gamification

Gamification has exploded in the live and virtual event space alike in recent years. When it comes to the world of events, gamification basically means that participants are somehow incentivized to play and compete against others while learning and socializing. Some examples of event gamification in action includes:

• Encouraging attendees to upload photos from the event and rewarding attendees for the most impressions or engagement in their posts;
• Awarding points to attendees for attending sessions, visiting specific booths at the show, participating in networking activities, and just for generally being active in the event community;
• Using gamification to encourage participants to ask questions; and
• Offering valuable rewards such as special speaker access for winners, product offers, and/or discount codes for ongoing attendee participation.

Intelligent Match-Making

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to break ground in the medical field. And in autonomous driving. And in speech recognition and generation. And, believe it or not, in matching up kindred spirit attendees at events.

Pheedloop is one such company that is using AI to play matchmaker with their event attendees. Their attendee matchmaking feature is available for hybrid and virtual events and involves having attendees complete a customizable matchmaking survey. Then voila, thanks to Pheedloop s algorithm madness, attendees are then given a list of their top 50 matches. All without one single stilted and awkward conversation about the weather.

Have Them Say Cheese

Between LinkedIn, Google Meets, and that dreaded my camera is off because I am working on something else that is more important while you drone on telltale photo on Teams, a nice and professional headshot has never been more necessary. So why not bring the head shot to your guests by setting up a photo station with a professional photographer, and providing them a complimentary head shot. Play some fun music and hire a photographer with attitude to up the authentic photo shoot feel. Maybe channeling their inner Heidi Klum will help break your guests out of their shell.

Speed Networking

Speed networking, based off the concept of speed dating, came to the corporate world in the early aughts. Whereas with speed dating, participants are looking to connect with a suitable prospective mate, during speed networking the goal is to encourage participants to create as many relevant connections as possible. This dynamic style of networking offers members the opportunity to quickly establish whether there is a mutual interest without the need for unnecessarily lengthy conversations. Rapid networking eliminates awkward exits due to time constraints, meaning no need to look for a way to gracefully exit a conversation, thus increasing the number of potential new encounters. This fast-networking model is often used at alumni group events, chambers of commerce groups, professional association gatherings, and university or corporate events to promote relationships among participants.

Get Your Guests Playing With Their Food

Sure, food stations might be right up there with the what a twist! ingenuity of alcohol, but it can t be understated: people love to eat. And even more, people love fun and off the wall food stations. So, skip the standard cheese and cracker platter and veggie dip fare in favor of a crepe station, or a donut wall, or a dim sum station, or a food art dessert bar, and really give your guests something to talk about.

Introduce an Ice-Breaking Game

There is no shortage of creative ice-breaking games that could be easily incorporated into an event. Here are a few suggestions:

• Name tag confusion: at registration, each attendee gets someone else s name badge, and they must then embark on a quest to find the person to return it to (and to also find their actual name badge)
• Tabletop quizzes: these work especially well for events where attendees are seated at round tables have the quiz align to the theme of the event and set a timer for the table to work together to come up with the best answers
• Human bingo: hand out bingo sheets with human characteristics (for example, find someone who has traveled to Asia, find someone who has met a celebrity, find someone who has two brothers), and the first person to get a blackout bingo card wins a prize
• Map yourself: post a large map in a central location with markers and ask guests to identify on the map where they were born, where their parents were born, and one place that they would love to travel
• Paper airplanes: have guests write an intro about themselves on a piece of paper (or you can make it even easier by having them answer a list of questions, have them fold the paper into a paper airplane and let it soar then everyone picks a plane and introduces the person who made and threw it

Networking is an invaluable and inexpensive way for event attendees to expand their connections, discover new business opportunities, meet potential partners and new clients, and access reputable resources or suppliers that can help their business. So, the onus is on event planners to deliver. If you are looking for ways to up the networking factor at your next corporate event. Decibel Events has you covered.

Events to Check out This Quarter (Q2 2022)

As we wrap up the first quarter of 2022, and head into the second quarter, one can t help but reflect on what a quarter it has been. On February 24th Russia invaded Ukraine and the world has watched in horror as this tragic and tumultuous humanitarian crisis has unfolded, while also marveling at the strength and resolve of the Ukrainian people.

On the COVID front, after a major Omnicron variant-induced spike in cases in January, case counts have dropped, vaccinations have been widely adopted, and we are (dare I say it?) slowly starting to return to a world in which traveling, family gatherings, and even large-scale events are back on the table.

Let s check out a smattering of some of the events that are back on the proverbial table in Q2 2022.

Coachella (April 15 17 and April 22 24)

Pack your fringe jacket, bandanas, neon accessories, and big ol wide brimmed hat, because it s Coachella time! The Coachella Valley in Indio, California is the backdrop for this monster festival which features the who s who of the musical world. After being cancelled in 2020 and 2021, for reasons – do I really need to say what those reasons were, c mon, you know Coachella is making up for lost time with a banging line up. Billie Eilish, Harry Styles, Ye, Swedish House Mafia, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Big Sean are just a handful of the artists who will be hitting the main stage.

Fun fact: On April 14, 2012, the coldest temperature in the festival s history was hit at 43 Fahrenheit. One week later, on April 21, 2012, the hottest temperature in the festival s history was reached at 106 Fahrenheit. Oy, how do you even begin to pack for that?

Full details available at www.coachella.com/

New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (April 29 May 8)

First Coachella and then the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Seeing a trend here? Live music is back big-time baby!! New Orleans is a city that is known for having a good time, and this festival is no exception. An annual staple of New Orleans for over fifty years now, the festival has hosted the cream of the jazz and soul crop over the years including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Patti LaBelle and so, so many more. The 2022 iteration is featuring heavy hitters like Stevie Nicks, Foo Fighters, Norah Jones, and The Black Crowes.

Fun fact: The festival has an official no carnival food policy, and has over seventy food booths with diverse offerings ranging from crawfish beignets to fried plantains to alligator sausage po boys to oyster patties. Bottom line: don t eat before you go.

Full details available at www.nojazzfest.com/

AdWorld (May 2 3)

Calling all marketers intent on getting people to buy stuff, the world s largest advertising event is taking place this quarter. While all the other events included on this list are in-person, AdWorld is bucking the return to in-person gatherings trend and remaining digital this year. And why not, when you consider that they have tracks focused on the metaverse and web 3.0, conversation optimization, and email marketing and automation, I suppose it makes sense to be virtual. A bit of practicing what you digitally preach, if you will.

Fun fact: Had a hard time tracking down a fun fact about AdWorld (if you have one to share, hit me up), so instead I ll share this fun fact about AdWorld keynote speaker Arianna Huffington. Huffington ran as an independent in the 2003 California governor recall election against Arnold Schwarzenegger. She was not successful.

Full details available at https://adworldconference.com/#/

Cinco de Mayo (May 5)

This annual celebration commemorates Mexico s victory in the 1862 Battle of Pueblo. While the day is celebrated worldwide, typically with nachos and tequila in tow, the largest Cinco de Mayo festival is Los Angeles s Fiesta Broadway. Ironically, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more broadly in the United States than it is in Mexico.

Fun fact: Almost half of all drinks ordered during Cinco de Mayo are margaritas, and tequila sales typically double in the week leading up to Cinco de Mayo. Cheers!

Full details available at www.facebook.com/Fiesta-Broadway-Los-Angeles-672116842888825/

Kentucky Derby (May 7)

Ever since popular Polish actress Helena Modjeska made an appearance at the Kentucky Derby in 1877, celebrities (and their carefully curated hats) have been a fixture at this annual horse race. Also referred to as the fastest two minutes in sports , the Kentucky Derby typically draws approximately 150,000 attendees and betting galore (including the biggest racing bet ever which was placed last year to the tune of $2.3 million).

Fun fact: Only three fillies have ever won the Derby, the rest of the winners in the race s nearly 150 history have been male horses. Regret won in 1915, Genuine Risk won in 1980, and Winning Colors won in 1988. You go girls!!

Full details available at www.kentuckyderby.com/

Cannes Film Festival (May 17 – 28)

Another quarter, another film festival. This time it s the Festival de Cannes, widely considered to be the most prestigious and glamorous global film festival. 2022 marks the 75th edition of the Cannes Festival. Artists from all over the globe are invited to take part, and 170 countries were represented at the 2019 Cannes. The festival organizers are committed to increasing their environmental actions around the festival. aAs far as 2022 goes, some of the new green initiatives being rolled out includes solely using hybrid and electric vehicles for transportation, slashing it s printed materials, and eliminating single use plastics.

Fun fact: Cannes is home to the red carpet that puts all other red carpets to shame. It is two kilometers long and is changed three times a day. To shame, I say, to shame.

Full details available at www.festival-cannes.com/en/

Haro Wine Festival (June 28 – 30)

If anyone has ever accused you of being a Spilly McSpillerson while imbibing, this is the place for you! This is an event where spilling wine is permitted, nay, encouraged. Spilly McSpillersons of the world unite in Haro, Spain every year for what can only be described as wine warfare, where everyone throws wine at each other using whatever implement they happen to have at their disposal, whether that is a jug, a bucket, or a water gun. Fun!!

Fun fact: The roots of the festival actually date back to the 13th century and some town line disputes between Haro and a neighbouring village. I suppose raucous wine flinging is one way to settle a real estate boundary dispute!

Full details available at www.harowinefight.com/

Wimbledon (June 27 July 10)

Hey, remember that hilarious Seinfeld episode where Kramer was a ball boy at a tennis match? Ya, that was comedic gold, I think of it every time I hear about tennis. Which is a nice segue into our final Q2 (and encroaching into Q3) event, Wimbledon, the world s oldest tennis tournament, held in London, England every year.

Fun fact: Speaking of ball boys, the process to become a ball boy or ball girl at Wimbledon is, well, a tad more involved than Kramer would have you believe. 250 ball boys/girls are selected every year from approximately 1000 applicants, and their average age is 15. Their shift is typically one hour on, one hour off, and they train for 2 hours per week for the five months leading up to Wimbledon.

Full details available at www.wimbledon.com/

Enjoy the event distractions this quarter, and here s hoping for a peaceful and diplomatic turn of events for Ukraine. You are in our thoughts.

So, why don t we check out a smattering of some of the events that are back on the proverbial table in Q2 2022? Coachella, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (live music is back, baby!), Cannes, and more!

The Latest and Greatest in Event Sponsorships

Fun fact: the earliest event sponsorships date back to 5th century BC in Ancient Greece. Gladiatorial combat, to be exact. Before the Coca Cola s and Nike s and Ford Motor Company s of the world began pouring millions into sponsorship agreements on an annual basis, wealthy families and citizens would finance the costs of the major events and festivities and it was considered an honor to do so.

Fast forward, uh carry the seven ugh, math, forget this. Fast forward a whole lot of years and corporate sponsorships are a staple of any major event. And thank goodness for that; corporate sponsorship is a true win-win proposition. It puts more money into the event organizational kitty, enabling event organizers to plan a superior event, which ultimately benefits attendees, participants, and sponsors alike. It gives corporations unique and personalized opportunities to connect with their existing and target markets. It delivers critical audience insights and data to inform future decision-making.

Like with all things event-related, event sponsorship has evolved tremendously. Not just from the gladiator days, but even just in the last few years (thanks a lot, COVID). In these on-demand and tech-driven times, attendees and sponsors alike are looking for more than just a logo plastered on some signage. Fortunately, the event planning community has stepped up to meet the challenge, as these sponsorship trends demonstrate.

Virtual Events are Here to Stay

With vaccinations firmly in place and in-person gathering restrictions easing up globally, many are chomping at the bit to shelf (or maybe even burn?) their pandemic pajama bottoms and get back to the face-to-face. Having said that, after nearly two years of virtual gatherings, it s safe to say that virtual and hybrid events will continue to have a meaningful place in the event space. The cost-savings, reach capabilities, and supreme convenience that come along with virtual events are three very compelling reasons for organizers to continue delivering them and for attendees to continue demanding them. Plus, let s not forget that the virtual event software industry deserves a giant shout-out in all of this, for rising to the global pandemic occasion and developing a bevy of tools and platforms that make virtual events way less painful and way more interactive than the days of yore.

All of this to say, that if hybrid and virtual events are elements of your future planning, so must be virtual event sponsorship options. And while virtual event sponsorships look a bit different than those of the in-person variety, they come ripe with ROI maximization, engagement, and data collection opportunities. Live-streamed demos, sponsored posts, gamification, digital marketplaces these are just a handful of the types of virtual event sponsorship opportunities worth considering.

At Decibel, we have helped a number of sponsors activate in a digital world. This has been as simple as brand recognition with logo placement and digital art, all the way to custom interactive initiatives that were built to support each specific event and target audience. The former can be as quick as loading a banner ad, the latter takes additional time and consulting to ensure that the activity matches both the event type and the action/outcome desired by the sponsor.

The Pursuit of Symbiotic and Long-Lasting Partnerships

The days of gold/silver/bronze type sponsorship packages and logo soup signage and t-shirts are past and the days of highly customized and mutually beneficial sponsorship offerings are here. It s a wonderful time to be a sponsor and reap the rewards of a long-lasting sponsorship relationship that delivers more.

In action: TED and Rolex have been a match made in heaven since 2007. Starting off with your standard sponsorship fare of recognition on the TED website and video advertising with select TEDTalks, this partnership continued to evolve and has since culminated in the development of Surprise Me, a popular iOS app featuring custom TEDTalks playlists. As their case study states, we created Surprise Me to meet the needs of people who have a set amount of free time but might not know what to watch. They just know their lunch break lasts 20 minutes and they want to be wowed. We take it from there.

Set amount of free time. Rolex is one of the world s leading watch manufacturers, aka time-keepers. We see what you did there. And we like it.

ESG is Top of Mind

Sustainability in event management is a best practice being widely adopted industry-wide, and this also extends to sponsorship planning. More and more, organizations are taking a strong stance on societal and ethical issues that influence the environments and economies in which they operate. And this stance influences all of their decision-making, from new product offerings to hiring practices to advertising spending. Which means that these ESG (environmental, social, governance) conscious organizations, many of whom have very deep pockets, are looking for opportunities to spend their marketing budgets in an ethically and environmentally sound manner. Is your event towing the sustainability line and does your event provide these types of sponsorship opportunities?

In action: Last year, VivoPower became the first Official Battery Technology Sponsor for the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club. In the lead-up to the first-of-its-kind sponsorship deal, Tottenham Hotspur had been ranked first by the Premier League Sustainability Table for its operational efficiencies and its climate change advocacy actions, making it an ideal partner with VivoPower, a sustainable energy solutions provider. Not an event sponsorship per se, but still an excellent example of sustainability and symbiotic partnership in action.

Category Exclusivity

You know how a bride doesn t really want to share her spotlight on her wedding day (well, maybe a bit with her new husband, but even that is done begrudgingly)? Category exclusivity is a bit like that, albeit with less bridezilla moments. Sponsors love not having to share their category spotlight. Whether they are the sole sponsor for coffee breaks, the official transportation sponsor, or the keynote speaker sponsor, not having to share the spotlight with another sponsor or seventeen, makes for a higher profile and more impactful experience.

In action: L Oreal has been the official beauty sponsor of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) for over ten years. Elements of this exclusive sponsorship have included makeup and hair services for press conferences and galas, a two-floor beauty boutique at the event so that non-celebrities can get in on the glam fun, a beauty correspondent scouting contest, the launch of a limited edition TIFF nail polish color, the roll-out of an app (ModiFace), and more.

How do your event sponsorship opportunities measure up? Are they in line with what today s sponsors are looking for or are you still catering to the sponsorship demands of bygone days? Do the sponsorship offerings actually enhance your event or merely help to finance it? The team at Decibel Events are specialists in crafting and executing on innovative and original sponsorship opportunities, and we d love to give yours a review.

Reach out today!