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Every Month Matters
Giving back to the community has always been part of UV’s culture; however, in 2008, we formalized things a little, gave it a name, and created, “Every Month Matters”, our internal CSR program.
This year, we celebrate 25 years of business, and 10 years of “Every Month Matters.” The gratitude we have in our hearts for our clients and our city is immense, and we love any opportunity to give back… even when the weather isn’t exactly perfect! This September, the UV team braved a rainstorm in support of Ovarian Cancer research. (Check out our recent blog about the UV team braving a rainstorm in support of Ovarian Cancer research.)
Please enjoy our final newsletter of the year. We hope it brings a smile to your face and some news you can use!
Warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving,
What’s Trending: The Ultimate Event and Meeting Ideas for 2019
2019 is quickly approaching, and with the New Year, comes new trends for the meetings and events industry. Our Creative team is always on the lookout for what’s on the horizon in the events industry. We wanted to share a few of the ideas from a recent article, “100 Event Trends for 2019” by Event MB, and how we are incorporating some of these trends to create extraordinary experiences for our clients.
Caption: A professional tour guide gave the guests a closer look at the JFK landmarks in Dallas.Humanizing your Destination
Today, attendees are looking for an authentic interaction with the destination that they are visiting. The days of flying in just for an event are becoming less common, and now guests want to break away from the routine of business travel and get to know the city they are staying in firsthand.
We like to immerse guests in our destination by:
- Creating opportunities to serve the community through a CSR activity, such as 5K run for a cause or serving in the local homeless shelters.
- Commissioning a local artist to create an original piece for décor used at the event.
- Taking the group to tour a local museum with an expert guide on a subject of interest.
Caption: Unique Linens and Succulents brought the Under the Texas Sunset Theme to life.Capture Imagination
What makes UV stand out from the rest? Our team’s creativity and ability to turn wild dreams into reality! We know planners are looking beyond the status quo and are ready for something distinctly different.
Work with your DMC to think outside of the box for a one-of-a-kind experience through décor by:
- Use engaging furniture such as swing seating or lower to the ground tables with large floor pillows for a cocktail party.
- Not letting the limitations of tangible décor hold you back, instead using virtual reality to make the unheard of happen!
- Engage the senses by using textiles, textures, and lighting.
The VW Photo Bus was a statement piece at the client’s networking event and provided an opportunity for the guests to get up close and personal.Facilitate Networking
Workshops, meetings, conferences, and even dinner parties are all opportunities for networking. Part of our job is to make sure the environment allows for this relationship building to be natural and effortless.
Strategic planning leads to event success by:
- Turning a room into a statement piece of décor from floor to ceiling to enable attendees to interact with the space and enjoy unique photo opportunities.
- Using candles to create an intimate ambiance that helps people feel comfortable, allowing them to communicate more freely.
- Realizing small is MORE! Large tables can prevent dialogue between colleagues while smaller tables can create an open flow of conversation.
Each year the meetings and event industry innovates with new ideas and experiences. Guests want to be engaged in every facet of their meeting, and with our team’s expert knowledge and resources, we’ll help you make it happen. Let’s dive into the New Year together!
Forever Texas – Dallas Update
This year’s VisitDallas annual meeting was packed full of great information, great food, and unexpectedly great music. As a surprise, Dallas’ own Jason and Michael Castro of American Idol fame premiered their brand new music video as they performed their Dallas-inspired song, “Forever Texas.” From Gilley’s to Klyde Warren Park to the great State Fair of Texas, the song brought a tear to our eyes as it highlighted many of our favorite local spots. Take a look and you can feel the love we have for our hometown!
Other VisitDallas meeting highlights include:
- Record-breaking year with 27.2 million people visiting Dallas
- Love Field Airport was ranked #2 among Large Airports in the J.D. Powers 2018 North America Satisfaction survey
- DFW Airport was named the Best Large Airport in North America 2017 for customer satisfaction by the Airports Council International
- 40 new direct flights were added to Dallas last year
- Dallas named #6 on Cvent’s list of Top 10 Cities in the U.S. in 2018
- Dallas ranked #6 for Top 10 Destinations for Corporate Meetings in North America by CWT’s 2019 Meetings & Events Future Trends report
- A historic year – 2018 marked the 40th Anniversary of the TV show Dallas!
- Ultimate Margarita bucket list – thanks to the new Margarita Mile app, it’s easy to find the best and brightest margaritas in the city
- Expansion of Klyde Warren Park announced, including a new 20,000 square foot pavilion housing the VisitDallas Experience Center (completed as early as 2022)
- 4 major new parks coming to downtown Dallas including a smart park in the West End
If you haven’t been to Dallas lately, we invite you to come and experience it for yourself. We promise, you will be amazed with all of the new/updated hotels, award-winning airports, first-class venues, top restaurants, and captivating activities. 2019 is a great time to visit Dallas!
Let us Reintroduce you to Joanna!
Ultimate Venture’s newest Account Manager is a familiar face! Joanna moved to Texas in March and joined our team as an Operations Manager. For the past 7 months she has been getting acquainted with the Dallas-Fort Worth area while operating some of our largest events and transportation programs. Prior to moving to Dallas, Joanna was a corporate meeting planner arranging a variety of high level executive meetings and retreats across the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean.
From pulling together fabulous events to strategizing complex transportation logistics, Joanna knows what she’s talking about because she’s most likely experienced it herself. Her unique background in planning and executing flawless meetings and events make her a trusted partner to our clients. Clients especially appreciate her positive attitude and her commitment to help them succeed. We are thrilled for her transition to her role as an Account Manager and are confident you will love working with her!
Ultimate Ventures in the News…
HOSPITALITY CHAMPION AWARD NOMINATION
Three cheers for our Director of Operations, Debbie Bastian, DMCP, who was nominated for Southwest Airlines’ Hospitality Champion Award. The award recognized individuals who represent the best of Dallas Hospitality. We agree – Debbie is among the best of the best when it comes to providing exceptional Texas hospitality!
TOP 500 PEOPLE IN EVENTS
President, Laurie Sprouse, CITE, CMP, DMCP, made it on Biz Bash’s list of “Top 500 People in Events” list recognizing the people who represent the best of the meeting and event industry across North America.
Read MoreA LOOK AT CREATIVE THINKING
Senior Creative Design Manager, Casee Safford, was included in Meeting Magazine’s article Creative Thinking: The Ins and Outs of Planning a Meeting with a Theme. Check out what she had to say about how she comes up with her innovative ideas.
Read MoreMeet our International DMC Network Partners
We are proud to announce that DMC Network has partnered with the following International DMCs:
- Costa Rica DMC, Preferred Partner
- Custom Ireland DMC, Affiliate Partner
- Terra Events Italy (formerly +39 Italy DMC), Affiliate Partner
- Terra Events Spain (formerly +34 Spain DMC), Affiliate Partner
- Terra Events Portugal (formerly +351 Portugal DMC), Affiliate Partner
- InspireME Monte-Carlo, Affiliate Partner
One Response to “The Ultimate Update Newsletter – Fall”
Leave a Reply
November 06, 2018 at 10:32 am, Sharon L. Schenk, CMP said:
Congratulations to Debbie and Laurie on your much deserved recognition of exceptional customer service! We love working with you and your team!