YouTube is the number 2 searched or visited site on the planet right now.  I always say that it happens to be right behind Google as the case is, and it must be rough having the first two slots of visited Internet sites, being that Google bought and owns YouTube.  YouTube is a great way to broadcast a message, provide information and a great social media tool for use in your trade show or convention.  I recently spoke at the IAEE event in Miami last year and met Dana Doody of The Expo Group and explained the use of a Flip Camera as a way to take video of your event or trade show and Dana went right out and started using it.  You can see a sample of what Dana is doing in London! Great job Dana.

Tags: YouTube, Google, Social Media, IAEE, The Expo Group, Miami, Dana Doody

While I was in Austin recently I was fortunate to have some great BBQ and some wonderful company.  I had a chance to sit down also and talk with some new friends about social media and the meeting industry. 

Stephen Nold, an organizer for the recent MTO Summit in Washington DC paid for my brisket and root beer and also gave me some points to ponder as it relates to the meeting industry. We discussed the future of meetings, the past of events, and what the industry is doing and how it is fairing in the current economy.

I want to interview Stephen here and hopefully will get a chance.  Not only is he an influential in the business of meetings and events, but he also happens to be a blogger at Trade Show Week.  Stephen, next time I get to buy the BBQ and you get to win the argument!  Perhaps it will be at your event in London and we can discuss things over a pint and some bangers and mash!

Tags: Trade Shows, Meetings, Events, Social Media, London, Austin, MTO Summit, Washington DC, Stephen Nold

In keeping up with discussing other venues besides those located in the United States to hold your trade show or conference I headed across the Atlantic to London, England.  One the convention centers I found in my search note was ExCeL London.  This facility has won many awards and is recognized as one of the best conference or meeting venues in the world.  It is obvious as they state:

9 of London’s top ten trade shows are held at ExCeL London – World Travel market, Professional Beauty, Salon International, IFE, Hotelympia, London International Wine & Spirits Fair, London Book fair.

That’s pretty impressive to say the least.  One of the more impressive things in my eyes and as a way to use a social media tool that I haven’t seen yet in my travels around the Internet looking at convention centers is their use of Facebook.  As a part of their Facebook page they have a contest to win tickets to the upcoming British International Motor Show.  This is a great example of a company that is taking advantage of a very explosive tool in the online world.  Great job for the folks at ExCeL London!