What’s Stunt-ing Your Growth? How to Bring the Attraction Back to Your Events

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It doesn’t always take high-paid professionals and special effects to give your events that wow factor and make it one to remember. Most of the time, the unique, thinking-out-of-the box approach is the most worthwhile method (and the most cost effective, too). Take the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago. Did you happen to notice the lights, camera, and literal action on their 16th Floor Terrace on September 26?

On that day, the property hosted a celebration of the Ryder Cup’s year mark to the 2012 elite Euro-U.S. golf competition, which returns to the local Medinah Country Club next year for a five-day run beginning on September 25.

For this early occasion, which resulted in $100,000 in donations to benefit the Illinois PGA Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana, U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III and European Ryder Cup Captain José María Olazábal teed off for a do-or-die golf shot from Trump’s 16th Floor Terrace.

Each captain attempted three 220-yard shots targeting a golfing green that was custom-built on a barge floating on the Chicago River, and everyone was a winner in the long run. The event garnered unparalleled press for the Ryder Cup, the city, and for the Trump International Hotel & Tower.

In another stunt of a related sports nature, San Francisco Giants pitcher Brian Wilson will team up with ON24,a leader in webcasting and virtual meeting technology, to became the first athlete in history to host a virtual event, VUE2011, to be held November 17.

The idea is to prove that meetings conducted from iPhones and PCs are a more effective way to reach large numbers of attendees without the time and expense associated with hosting an event in a physical location like a convention center or town hall.

Hosts of the summit in past years have included MC Hammer and Arianna Huffington, but ON24 specifically chose Wilson this year because they found that as the economy falls, people have lost faith in traditional corporate leaders. Furthermore, in a survey of 100,000 executives, 71% say athletes are being used frequently in corporate events, with 18% asserting that athletes are being used more frequently than ever before. VUE2011 is free of charge, simply visit the company website, for more info and to signup.

Now—how will you bring the main attraction to your next event? It’s time to tee off with your great ideas.

Selena Fragassi
Editor
Illinois Meetings + Events

For more photos from the Ryder Cup event at Trump Chicago, visit the Illinois Meetings + Events Facebook page.

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