by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Measuring what matters Tangible measures such as financial return can never properly calculate the total benefit you get from attending a well organised meetings industry event. This thought was already in my mind as I tried to assess the positive impact for me and, crucially, for those… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Fairmont Copley Plaza Amidst a full on, intense day of education and networking at FICP yesterday I managed to revisit the recently renovated Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel. A legacy property dating from 1912 with the perfect downtown location, the Fairmont offers a rare combination of understated, refined… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC It’s all about the music Music seems to define many milestones in my life and the past couple of weeks has been dominated by the rather plaintive sounds of Dave Loggins’ “Please Come to Boston” from way back in 1974 (well done Alison!). This, of course, was… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC and Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI Distant Love For over 20 years I’ve had an arms length relationship with her. From afar, like a courtly lover, I could appreciate her unique appeal – petite and svelte, friendly and smart – but I couldn’t quite find the time,… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI Nasty attack of FOMO At a certain point yesterday that dreaded FOMO syndrome took hold and I embarked on a mad dash around the various stages and pitching areas in a frenzy of fear. Maybe this is what looters feel like. There was simply too much good… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC and Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI After 4 intense days of full-on immersion in meetings industry matters, IMEX13 has finally drawn to a conclusion. Reporting a 27% increase on IMEX12, the exhibition has certainly come of age taking an undisputed primary position in the global meetings and… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Early AM on The Strip Early morning is a good time in Las Vegas. The relentless ebb and flow of people along the Strip abates completely and you’re left with cleaners, early morning construction workers, a flurry of joggers, the odd staggering drunk and maybe a hard… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI In a recent post I recalled, with some nostalgia, the halycon days of IT&ME a.k.a. The Motivation Show when the entire meetings and events industry decamped to Chicago every year in September or October. Sometimes we froze and sometimes we were roasted to a crisp depending on… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President, Ovation Global DMC Rocky Mountain High With height and shape, colour and texture, mountains have always intrigued me more than other natural resources like oceans or beaches. Mountains have personalities and can be friendly and inviting, moody and foreboding, awe inspiring and remote. They are strongly symbolic, offering rich metaphors… Read more »
by Padraic Gilligan, Vice President Ovation Global DMC and Vice President, Industry Relations, MCI Guerilla Marketing The past weekend in Europe was dominated by Sweden’s spectacular hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest and Denmark’s victory with Emmelie De Forest’s captivating performance of “Only Teardrops”. Already, apparently, both Herning and capital Copenhagen have signaled their desire to host… Read more »