What Wowed Us At Event Planner Expo 2023

That’s a wrap on Event Planner Expo 2023! It was an awesome week filled with lots of visual notes, countless insights, a little Ja Rule, and even a new tattoo. This year, Ink Factory was both an exhibitor and visual note-taking partner, giving us a unique perspective on what’s trending in the event industry. Read on for our big learnings and favorite moments.

 

Engage all five senses

Keynote speaker and renowned event planner Marcy Blum reminded us to lean into all five senses to create truly immersive experiences. Think: Delicious food, scent activations, transformative visuals and lighting, unexpected textures, and mood-setting music.

Expo exhibitors didn’t disappoint, showcasing new-and-now ways to capture the senses. We loved NYC’s Starbright Floral Design’s always-fresh take on flowers. There’s nothing more luxe than botanical backdrop for Instagram selfies.

 

Lindsay flirts with a cotton candy unicorn at the event planner expo

 

And NPA Parties’ cotton candy artists who spun original designs right before our eyes. Yum.

 

Attendees snapping photos of the live visual notes taken at the event planner expo

 

Let’s not forget the visuals! Ink Factory knows first-hand that visualizing an event makes it easier for guests to remember all the ideas and content that was shared. Expo attendees couldn’t keep their cameras off our visual notes!

 

Ink Factory team member Teresa shows off her new tattoo from the event planner expo

 

Personalize, personalize, personalize

Personalized experiences are critical to making your event “stick” in the hearts and minds of attendees. One of our favorites was Hive Studio, which offered Expo-exclusive tattoos on-site. Our teammate Teresa Rawlings jumped in the chair for some fresh ink!

 

Live t-shirt printing at the event planner expo

 

Another fave was Printing on Main Street’s live event t-shirt printing. Attendees loved watching their custom tees come to life.

 

The Ink Factory team takes a silly photo in the photobooth at event planner expo

 

And then there’s the tried-and-true photo booth. Untouchable Events gave this guest-favorite experience a refresh with a super large photo booth that could handle your whole team as well as a stand alone selfie! They amped it up with magazine worthy lighting and fun props. We loved how this setup could be integrated into any space – large or small.

 

Lindsay from Ink Factory chats with attendees at the event planner expo

 

Keep it casual

Similar to the workplace, attendees want flexibility at events. Think more free-flowing, choice-filled agendas, and fewer mandatory sessions. Break time activities that focus on mindfulness and creativity are in demand as well.

 

 

TeamBonding kept it light and fun with their…you guessed it…team-building games. The perfect way to unwind with co-workers and fellow Expo-goers.

Attendees who stopped by the Ink Factory booth had a chance to reflect and share as part of our live-drawn engagement board.

 

 

Designed for sustainability

Creating greener, more eco-friendly events is a priority for many planners right now and Expo was full of cool solutions. We especially loved Pickytarian’s elegant and compostable tableware made from bamboo and sugarcane pulp. A colorful replacement for disposable plastic and paper products.

 

 

Searching for a fresh and creative team-building activity? Pottery With A Purpose offers sustainably designed make-your-own pottery kits. Bring co-workers together for a creative, stress-relieving pottery workshop. (Yes, please!)

Sustainability is top of mind at Ink Factory, too. Our artists use refillable markers and draw on EagleCell boards, a recyclable, paper-based substrate sourced from the Sustainable Forest Initiative, to minimize our carbon footprint.

 

 

Download our visual notes from the Event Planner Expo

If you missed Expo, catch up with our visual notes from each keynote and breakout session. Download Event Planner Expo 2023 visual notes here.

Want to bring visual note-taking to your next meeting or event? Ink Factory would love to help. Send us a message to schedule a call. We can’t wait to create something awesome together!

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