Miller Tanner Associates Team, Author at Miller Tanner Associates QC

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#MeetMTA: Carrie Sharp, Director of Global Business Innovation

The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars that brings our corporate meetings and events to life for our clients.

Today, we introduce you to Carrie Sharp, Director of Global Business Innovation. Carrie sees to it that Miller Tanner Associates is at the forefront of technology and innovation all while maintaining the highest level of security for our clients’ intellectual property. Continue reading “#MeetMTA: Carrie Sharp, Director of Global Business Innovation”

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Miller Tanner Associates Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary!

Celebrating 20 Years of Service

Today is a special day at Miller Tanner Associates as it’s our 20th Anniversary in business. We are excited to share with you this momentous milestone!

We couldn’t celebrate this day without extending our appreciation to those who have supported us along the way. We thank our clients, vendors, and the Miller Tanner Global Team, both past and present, for helping us achieve 20 years in business.

To our clients, we are so grateful to have the opportunity to be of service to your company while planning your worldwide events and meetings. To our vendors, we appreciate your partnerships that have helped us to provide excellence in event services across the globe. And to our Miller Tanner Global Team, we thank you for your keen customer focus, emphasis on quality and results-oriented solutions that have gotten our company to where we are today.

Continue reading “Miller Tanner Associates Celebrates Its 20th Anniversary!”

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The Miller Tanner Difference

What’s the Miller Tanner difference?

Here are a few important reasons to work with the Miller Tanner Team when planning your next event:

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#MeetMTA: Global Service Director Kate Sheelen, CMP

The Miller Tanner difference is our people. That’s why we want to introduce you to our team of superstars who brings our corporate meetings and events to life for you, our clients.

Today, we introduce you to Global Service Director Kate Sheelen, CMP. Kate is one of our European-based team members. She is a master at turning ideas into completed projects. By garnering a Certified Meeting Professional credential, recognized globally as a “badge of excellence” in the meeting, convention and event industry, Kate has dedicated herself to providing only the best for our clients and their event needs.

Meet Kate Sheelen, CMP

Tell us about your current role with Miller Tanner Associates (MTA) – what do you do as Global Service Director? What are your primary responsibilities?

As Global Service Director (GSD), I have the opportunity to work alongside an amazing group of talented Global Event Directors (GED) and Global Event Specialists (GES) who are the heart of executing MTA’s successful events. Daily duties include supporting and providing leadership to a team of four GEDs, for whom I have the pleasure of learning from just as much as I am there to support them, working directly with clients to plan events, and teaming with the other GSDs to develop and lead the events team.

How long have you been with Miller Tanner Associates?

October 2017 will mark 5 years with Miller Tanner. It has been a dream and an unbelievable opportunity to be part of Miller Tanner. I became the lucky one when joining the team.

You are a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP). When did you receive this certification? Why is it important to the work that you do with Miller Tanner?

Professional development, certification, and involvement in my profession are very important to me. I have been continuously supported throughout my career and want to pay it forward by supporting the industry and next generation of meeting professionals.

I received the CMP certification in August 2014. The CMP designation indicates an investment in the industry and level of achievement. It is a proud moment to share with our clients that Miller Tanner Associates has invested in the individuals leading and executing their events. The CMP process includes industry experience (at least 3 years), continuing education (at least 25 hours), and time invested in learning more about the global meeting profession industry (3 recommended books to study). An exam is required to receive the designation and is something not taken lightly. As most have noted, it’s very rewarding to pass the test but not an exam that anyone would like to take again.

What did you do before joining MTA?

I worked for two nonprofit associations in Florida and focused on membership relations for 12 years before joining MTA. It was very rewarding being part of industry organizations to support the dedication and passion of the volunteers.

What’s the best part of your job?

The people! MTA has a culture of finding talented, warm, endearing, successful people with the common goal of working together to create memorable events for our clients.

What’s been your favorite event destination as an event planning professional?

Traveling to Melbourne, Australia was a childhood dream, and I was so fortunate to have the opportunity to travel there for an MTA program. The people are so nice, the culture very laid back, and it has the most beautiful coastline! I would love to go back to Australia to explore more. I tend to joke with my family that my next ticket to Australia may be one-way only!

What’s been your most memorable event to date and why?

Each event seems to have its own special memory because of a unique situation that occurred on site, kind words received from a client or an unexpected achievement. A special program for me took place in Budapest and involved the on-site team. During dinner on the last night, we spent the time together sharing stories, laughing so much our faces hurt and connecting with people I may not have had the opportunity to meet without MTA. Our team that night was from Italy, Hungary, Ukraine, Denmark and the USA but each person shared experiences that were relatable no matter where we grew up. As noted earlier, the people are the best part of the MTA experience.

Do you have a few great travel tips that you could share?

One item I always pack when traveling (no matter the distance), is my little survival kit. It has all the essentials to quickly refresh and survive a long-haul flight, unexpected long layover or when luggage decides to stay in Florida while I have landed in Spain. Included is toothbrush/toothpaste, deodorant, make-up essentials (concealer, blush, mascara), safety pin, Starbucks Via, Kind Bar, Band-Aids, tissues, Advil, ear plugs, mini body splash/perfume, hand sanitizer and hair brush. Did I mention it’s small enough to fit inside a small purse too!

What do you do for fun?

While currently living in Europe, traveling and exploring keeps me busy. The fun part is looking on a map to discover which cities can be reached by train or on a day trip. Travel, along with exploring parks with my husband and little Jack Russel Terrier are at the top of the list. I also enjoy time with family & friends, cooking, baking cookies and taking pictures.

You are originally from Florida, but you are currently living in London? What are some of the best-kept secrets of London? What do you enjoy most about living there?

I am originally from Florida, born and raised, moved to central Europe in 2014 and to London in 2016. Life outside of Florida is quite different but very enjoyable. I do miss the ability to wear sandals in the Florida winters (sunny and 75!). London is amazing and the perfect place to live. It provides enough amenities of home (America) along with the connection to the European life (plus travel to almost anywhere). London is so huge, full of history and diversity. Each day you discover something new to explore. The ability to name your own adventure daily is the best-kept secret.

What makes Miller Tanner stand out as an event planning company? What’s your favorite aspect about MTA?

Leadership and teamwork are incorporated into each part of the meeting planning process at MTA. Clients will find a very well-supported, knowledgeable and seamless team working globally to create their memorable event.

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How MTA’s Technology Services Will Improve Your Events

When I think about what separates Miller Tanner Associates from others in the events management industry, I believe it’s our relentless drive to provide a memorable experience – one that is highly personalized and supported by expert execution. This drive and commitment to excellence have allowed Miller Tanner to become a trusted partner to many through the years.

Exceptional execution of complex events depends on strong teams at every stage of an event. Our team, the Technology Services Group, primarily works behind the scenes. In addition to keeping all of our technology running and secure, we get the opportunity to design and build new applications that impact our company and many of our clients.

I want to share what the Technology Services Team is developing to prepare for the future of service.

Mobile Focus: We have adopted a mobile-focused attitude where nothing gets developed without a mobile strategy. To that end, we’ve completely re-designed our On-Demand Trainer / Learning Management System (ODT/LMS) for full functionality within a mobile browser. I’m super excited about this update and can’t wait for you to see it!

Intuitive Design: It isn’t just mobile getting all the attention, though. We’re refreshing everything. You’ll notice the look and feel, starting with our ODT/LMS product, which will be incorporated across the company and our other service offerings. Beyond simple consistency, we’re focused on designing services that look great and are easy to use.

Efficiency: In addition to new designs, we’re currently under development with a product that will literally change how we do business. Our Event Planner product is built to integrate the many moving parts (think everything from transportation to meal preference) that are required to make an event successful. In addition to this core functionality, we’re exploring ways to make everything from event pricing to expense reimbursements more efficient. It’s going to be huge – and we’re on track to deliver later this year.

Finally, a promise. It’s easy to get excited about everything ‘new’, but what’s gotten MTA to this point isn’t just technology. It’s the people that deliver excellent service. While we have all sorts of great ideas on how to make things better, we’ll never lose sight of what’s most important and how we got to where we are today – thanks to YOU, our valued clients and your trust in our company.

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Travel News Roundup

We’ve got some of the latest travel news for you on the blog today in our Travel Roundup from around the world.

Airport Security to Stop Accepting Driver’s Licenses as ID in 9 States

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be enforcing states to comply with the Real ID Act. Find out how this could impact your travel in 9 states. Read more.

PreCheck Program

TSA is making some changes to its PreCheck program. To keep PreCheck lines short, the TSA is getting strict about who can use them. Find out what you need to know to take advantage of this program. Read more.

MTA’s Emergency Backup

In pre-planning for MTA events, our team puts in place our traditional emergency backup plans to address security, weather and any unforeseen event that might occur. Unfortunately, a weather emergency occurred at a recent event leaving a number of meeting participants stranded, resulting in a three-hour drive for the meeting participants. Fortunately, because we had our emergency weather plan in place, we were able to easily transfer all meeting participants without further delay or worry. Read more.

Argentina Refunds Value Added Tax

In an effort to attract more visitors to Argentina, an executive order has been put in place to reimburse foreign tourists on all value-added tax paid on hotel services. This is another great reason to consider Argentina for your next meeting or event. Read more.

Australia Airports Eliminate Passports

Facial, iris and/or fingerprint recognition technologies will soon replace passports, making paper travel documents a thing of the past for Australia airports. Read more.

U.S. Travelers May Soon Need a Visa for European Travel

U. S. Travelers may soon need a visa to visit France, Italy, Spain, or any of the 28 European Union countries. Read more.

Incentive Travel is on the Rise

With incentive travel being a top motivator for the workforce, it’s quickly making a comeback. Read more.

Business Travel Tips

And be sure you check out our business travel tips from our Miller Tanner travel experts.

https://www.millertanner.com/25-top-travel-tips-stress-free-business-trip/

News Sources:

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How to Secure the Best Venue Option for Your Event

One of the first steps in booking your event is finding the perfect venue. Whether you are looking for 5-star accommodations for your company’s incentive trip, a conference room large enough to host hundreds of attendees for a global sales meeting, or a venue in the heart of a bustling, desirable European city, in some cases the right venue can make or break your event.

We understand that venue decisions often rely upon the approval process of multiple players, but sometimes the delay in the decisions can really hurt the selection process. Continue reading “How to Secure the Best Venue Option for Your Event”

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Top Global Event Destinations The GXT Loves

As event planners, we’ve orchestrated hundreds of events on 6 continents. From the beaches of Goa, India to the temple ruins in Athens, we’ve seen the world. We know some of the best event destination hotspots around the globe. What’s most important to us as event planners is the quality of the event attendees’ experience. We’ve transported attendees via gondola down winding canals in Venice and experienced the rich history of some of the oldest cities and remarkable ruins in the world. We’ve captured the essence of a city’s culture by engaging the attendees’ senses through the vibrant music, renowned sights, and culinary experiences that create memories for a lifetime. This is our job as global event planners. And we love it!

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10 Security Tips to Keep Your Data Safe

security tips data safe millertanner.com

Computer viruses, cyber attacks, hackers…Are the unknowns, lurking around in cyberspace, keeping you up at night? By implementing these top 10 security tips from Daniel Conroy, Miller Tanner’s Director of Technology Services, you can rest assured that you are taking proactive measures to safeguard your data against security susceptibilities. Perhaps you’ll sleep better at night too.

10 Security Tips For Data Protection

1. Check For Software Updates

Software updates aren’t always new features. Many times, these updates are to correct a flaw in the software that could put you, and your data, at risk. It is also important to remember that once the software company releases a fix, they are also releasing the vulnerability. This doesn’t mean you have to be first to install every patch released, but it does pay to be timely.

Software companies haven’t quite made software updates mandatory yet, but they are a whole lot more automatic than they used to be. Google’s Chrome browser, for example, will automatically update the software and tell you when it is time to reboot. Microsoft’s Windows 10 has moved in the same direction. Even though more companies are moving to this model it never hurts to be sure. Checking for software updates for all your devices on a monthly basis is a good starting point.

2. Enable the Firewall

A firewall, as the name implies, creates a boundary between your computer and the Internet. This software doesn’t make your computer impervious to attack, but it’s certainly better than nothing at all. Both Windows and Mac OS X come with built-in firewall software. Make sure it’s enabled.

3. Use a Password Manager

Passwords are hard to remember and good passwords even more so. The fact is, unless you have an eidetic memory, remembering more than a few passwords is probably a challenge. This is why there are so many weak and reused passwords for accounts. Weak passwords are bad, but password reuse might be worse. How many of you use the same “good” password (you know the one with the letters, numbers, AND symbols) for multiple services say Gmail, Facebook, and Instagram. Imagine for a moment that Instagram suffers a breach and your account information is now compromised. They likely have your email address (which is probably the aforementioned Gmail account) and since you use the same password to access Gmail and Facebook, those accounts are now compromised too. Things just went from bad to worse.

But there is a better way.

Imagine having a different, complex password for each service you use. Not only is each password more complicated, in the scenario where Instagram was to suffer a breach, you only have to change one password. Interested? By using a password manager such as 1Password or LastPass you are only required to remember one good password and the software does the rest for you.

Speaking of ‘good’ passwords the key is entropy. XKCD.com is a fun and really great explanation of how all that works.

4. Encryption

Nowadays you can encrypt almost anything from your hard drive, your mobile phone and even your communications like email and text. To use encryption, follow this simple rule – when given the option to encrypt, do so.

5. Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication can be summed up by a simple tenet of something you have and something you know – like getting money at an ATM. You must HAVE your bank card and must KNOW your password. The point is you need more than just one factor (like a password) in order to access the service. Facebook, Gmail, and others offer this feature and you should enable whenever possible. It may make the login process a wee bit slower but the control it provides over your account is well worth it.

6. Bolster Browser Privacy

There is SO much information passed via your browser nowadays, it’s scary. Ever notice how you search for something on Google or Amazon and ads for that VERY same thing show up on other websites later? That level of tracking is just the tip of the iceberg. Do what you can to control your privacy and block those trackers with tools like PrivacyBadger or Ghostery. Looking to take things to the next level? Check out an internet search tool that doesn’t track you, DuckDuckGo.com

7. Malwarebytes

Today you need more than just standard antivirus software. The folks over at Malwarebytes make a solid protection that will help you clean all the little nasties that may be lurking on your PC or Mac.

8. Check App Permissions

If you’re like most people you’ve downloaded more apps on your phone than you actually use and very few of us actually remove apps we aren’t using. Not only are those dormant apps taking up space on your phone but they could be draining your battery too. Not to mention, some of them could be keeping tabs on your location. Do a routine sweep of what’s there and remove the junk!

9. Be Vigilant

Many times we can be our own worst enemies when it comes to data security and privacy. If a request for information doesn’t seem right, trust your gut! You can always call your bank and follow up on an email rather than provide the information requested in some emails.

And when it comes to social media think about what you’re posting and when. For example, is it better to tell everyone on Facebook that your house will be empty for the next two weeks or better to share what a great time you had once you’re safely back from your trip?

10. Use A Webcam Cover

These have become somewhat trendy over the past year with reports that hackers are gaining access to laptops and secretly turning them on to spy on the user. While these covers do little to protect your machine from outside attackers, they do, at least, give you control over when you’re on camera and when you aren’t. The bottom line is they can’t hurt and are easier to work with than tape.

Nothing is one hundred percent secure and even if it could be proven secure today that might change tomorrow; however, by following these 10 easy steps, you can certainly decrease your chances of security vulnerability.

We know that the security of your meeting data is of utmost importance to you. That’s why cybersecurity is a top priority for Miller Tanner at every event. Call us today to learn more about how we keep your information secure at every event.

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How To Boost Your Brand Internally With 3 Events

It’s a new year! And that means it’s the perfect time to set new company goals for your internal teams – whether it’s to launch new products, energize your employees, or generate brand awareness within various departments.

From an events industry perspective with over 19 years of event planning experience, Miller Tanner offers three innovative ways to boost your company’s brand internally. Get the new year started in the right direction and accomplish those 2017 goals by implementing a strategy that includes one of these types of corporate events:

3 Events That Can Boost Your Brand Internally

Global Sales Meetings
Product Launch
President’s Club/Incentive Travel

Global Sales Meetings

What is it? A Global Sales Meeting is an excellent opportunity for a corporation to gather their business development teams from across the world in one location to kick off the year.

Benefits: This type of meeting provides the opportunity to share updates from the executives, discuss overall strategy and team goals, participate in training, create bonds over team building activities, inspire through guest speakers, and give recognition through awards ceremonies. The possibilities and benefits are endless, and these meetings provide a great platform for a team’s success.

How an event planner can help: MTA’s Global Events Team can be involved in every step of the way and in every detail starting with selecting the location, creating a theme, choosing specialty gifts, and managing all registration, transportation, accommodations, and special activities. Or we can provide an “à la carte” option tailoring our expertise where it’s most needed. One of the many benefits of hiring a corporate event planner – aside from our vast expertise, we are flexible and can customize our involvement for each client and event to create the best partnership.

Product Launch

What is it? A Product Launch can vary across the board on the type of event and the type of attendees – some might be a celebration and exposure for new customers, while others might be an educational/training launch for sales teams to begin to sell the company’s new product. A product launch provides a great opportunity for your company to educate, strategize and create the best theme and brand representation.

Benefits: Your employees are one of your best assets when it comes to promoting your product. “Each and every one of your employees is a brand ambassador,” according to Burton Goldfield, President, and CEO of TriNet. When you create an emotional connection with your product or brand internally among your employees, they are far more likely to extend that brand enthusiasm and connection outside of your company to your clients and customers. Selling the brand internally can lead to a more successful public product launch.

How an event planner can help: Every detail can make a big impact and an event of this magnitude should be left to the professional planners to make sure it is seamless. MTA loves to have a seat at the table to use our creativity and connections to contribute to the strategy, planning and success.

President’s Club/Incentive Travel

What is it? A President’s Club event rewards top performers within an organization the opportunity to take part in a trip of a lifetime. These incentive trips bring the wow factor! Sometimes this is a trip strictly to celebrate and relax, other times this is an opportunity for winners to talk strategy and best practices with the executives of their organization.

Benefits: Are you wanting to engage and motivate your employees? Do you desire to attract and retain staff? Is your goal to recognize your top performers? Then incentive travel or a President’s Club might just be your ticket. Even studies suggest that incentive travel proves to be an effective way to engage employees. By investing in your top employees, they are happier, more productive, and loyal to your company. In fact, in reference to a recent article by SmartCEO.com, studies not only support increased productivity and sales, brand recognition and larger profits but also team bonding and company loyalty.

How an event planner can help: Depending upon your goals, budget, and desires for the incentive trip, MTA’s proposals team sources the most unique locations and properties for a memorable trip for your team all within your budget. A President’s Club event is a perfect example of where we at MTA can sweat the small stuff so our client can put their focus where needed.

Investing in your internal team can yield a greater ROI for your company. Contact us today to find out how you can increase your brand awareness and brand loyalty among your internal team whether through incentive travel, a global sales meeting, a product launch or any other types of events.