A post-event debriefing means different things to different people. For me, a debriefing is not a singular meeting. It is a phase that begins at the initial event strategy session and ends with a series of meetings and reports after the event has concluded.

While everything has changed for everyone, one thing has remained the same: event planners are still expected to deliver outcomes that meet – or exceed – pre-pandemic event goals.

It’s quintessential “do more with less.”

The successful execution of multi-day, multi-venue events for thousands of people is incredibly complex and incredibly challenging. It’s also what my team is designed to do, seemingly effortlessly.

But we are operating in a vastly different environment that adds complication from many sources: a pandemic, inflation, supply chain, staffing and changed attendee behaviors/perceptions, to name just a few.

It’s a never-ending cycle: buyer’s market, seller’s market, back to buyer’s market, and swing back to seller’s market. We are in a seller’s market right now as demand for venues is sky-high after 2 years of virtual events and event postponements/cancellations.

What is the biggest challenge you face in planning effective hybrid events?

When we are in our routines and doing the things we always do, it can sometimes be difficult to think about how or why to do things differently.

Moving from 15% to 25% of maximum occupancy! Last week, PA Governor Tom Wolf announced that big changes are coming on Sunday, April 4.

Pennsylvania has announced increased capacity for indoor and outdoor events, as well as the elimination of out-of-state travel restrictions. Per the Governor’s announcement earlier this week:

There are some constants in event planning and management, even with an ongoing, unprecedented pandemic. One of those constants is risk assessment and management, and 2020 added many new things to consider in risk management planning. From new health/safety protocols for events and planning for social distancing for the foreseeable future, to higher priorities being placed on contingency plans and virtual elements of events also sticking around for a while, there is a lot more to consider when planning.

After months of being on the ground, I finally saw the inside of an airport and an airplane again last month when I had the opportunity to travel to an industry conference about how to make events safer.

There was a lot that was the same: the decision to wait until the last minute to pack, the thrill of anticipation as I walked into the airport, the joy that traveling inspires in me, the excitement of being able to reconnect with industry peers.

There was a lot that was different too.