How Location Affects Event Success

"Who planned this event?" That was the question — delivered by an attendee making his way down the hall in his wheelchair, clearly frustrated. "I did, sir. How can I help?" And in that moment, I knew. We had let this guy down. We had chosen a beautiful, historic venue — the Lumber Exchange Building, a stunning 1885 skyscraper full of vintage charm. It is the oldest high-rise building standing in Minneapolis and the oldest building outside of New York City, with 12 or more floors. It was unique, visually striking, and exactly what the client wanted: something outside of the typical hotel ballroom IN the city that their Foundation represented. But a beautiful venue doesn’t always mean an easy experience for every guest. I had navigated the parking ramp, the pathways with stairs, and even the tricky old elevators myself on my site visit. But what I hadn’t done was fully consider the end-to-end experience of our mobility-challenged guests. While there was ADA parking, we could have done a much better job communicating how best to get from the ADA parking to the event space. Or, better yet, we could have arranged for a greeter to meet this guest and assist with the elevator that was hard to turn a wheelchair around in. While 150 other guests had a great experience, one didn’t, and that matters. With every event, you learn something. And this was a hard lesson that I still think about today. I never want anyone to have a less-than-stellar experience at one of my events. It was a powerful reminder that great events aren’t just about stunning venues or perfect logistics. You must ensure every single guest has a seamless experience. 🔎 What to Consider When Choosing a Venue: 1️⃣ Accessibility Matters – Can all guests navigate the space easily? Are elevators, ramps, and parking clearly marked? Can a wheelchair or scooter easily turn around in the elevator to access the buttons?  2️⃣ Location & Logistics – Is it convenient? Are there transportation and parking options? 3️⃣ Clear Communication – Have you provided detailed instructions on parking, entrances, and mobility options, as well as the easiest route to the event space? 4️⃣ On-Site Support – Would a greeter or dedicated staff member help ease challenges for certain guests? Are you asking the right questions to find out who might need assistance in the Registration platform? 5️⃣ Match the Event’s Purpose – The space should enhance the event’s goals, not just look great in photos. Great events create lasting memories — for the right reasons. If you need help sourcing a venue that works for everyone, we’ve got you covered. Let’s talk! Link to book an appointment in the comments. 📩 #EventPlanning #AccessibilityMatters #WendyPorterEvents #IgniteEventMagic

How do you choose which city to host a dope event in? Selecting the right city for your next networking event is key to creating an atmosphere that drives both connections and business growth. The location sets the stage for building community, turning casual conversations (or awkward small talk) into opportunities and lasting partnerships that can fuel success long after the event ends. Here’s how to make sure you pick a spot that aligns perfectly with your goals: 💡 Find Your Audience: Where the heck are your users? Run a report on your total marketable database, and compare it to where your highest total active users are. Let this determine your top 20 target cities you know you can host in with a higher turnout. You might be surprised! 💡 Create a Tiered City list: Identify your top 5-6 cities that you know you’ll be successful in based on the above information. Then cascade down from there on cities you can “test out” in Tier 2, and Tier 3 brackets. 💡 Work w/ Sales: Focus in on the neighborhoods where the bulk of your customer’s or prospects major headquarters are (or if they work from home, which neighborhood is most populated with their employees). You might think downtown Houston is perfect, but what if more of their employees work from home and live in the Woodlands? Now that you’ve created your target city list. How do you make sure the turn out is a success? 📌 Accessibility Matters: Is it easy for your attendees to get there? A neighborhood that’s well-connected by public transportation ensures a smooth arrival and departure, keeping everyone focused on the event, not the travel hassles. And if all else fails - offer Uber/Lyft vouchers. 📌 Local Culture: Choose a venue that adds a little spice to your event. Whether it’s historic charm, artsy vibes, or a killer food scene, the location should make your event feel like a destination, not just another business event. 📌 Smart Budgeting: Don’t sleep on smaller cities or off the cuff neighborhoods! They can offer amazing venues at a fraction of the cost. Remember, your attendees are local.... 📌 Wrapper Events: Take advantage of a tradeshow or conference happening in the same week and host your event on a non-competing night to capture the additional foot traffic already in the city during that time. 📌 Build a Community: If the event rocks, consider making it a quarterly or annual thing. It’s great when you have people show up, but give them a reason to join again so you can double your attendance over time. Remember, the city you choose should do more than just host your event—it should enhance the entire experience. By taking these factors into account, you’ll create a corporate networking event that’s not only productive but heckin' unforgettable. But that's just my take - where do you think Apollo.io should host their next event?? I've dropped a link to a quick survey in the comments, if you want to share your two cents 😊

It’s easy to forget most B2B events. But the ones people can’t stop talking about do a few things differently. I spent a ton of time on the road in 2024 for events. I saw exactly what separates the best events from the ones you forget about right after you throw your event badge out. Here’s what stood out to me last year: 1. The destination is the hook Location isn’t just a backdrop. It’s part of the experience. Burlington, VT for Drive leaned into Lake Champlain, maple syrup in your coffee, and peak leaf-peeping season. The whole town felt like it was part of the event. Goldenhour in Brooklyn went the other way with five-star everything and production quality that felt like we were on a movie set. Both used their location to create something so memorable that attendees wouldn’t stop talking about it (or organically posting about it on LinkedIn). 2. Smaller crowds create bigger connections It’s not about how many people attend. It’s about who’s in the room. Klue’s Compete Week in Vancouver and Navattic’s NYC user event kept things intimate. Customers openly shared real challenges, ideas, and use cases in ways no marketing team can make happen on their own (no matter how hard they try). Smaller, curated gatherings allow people to be themselves and open up without worrying about saying the “wrong” thing. That kind of environment doesn’t happen in a room with hundreds (or thousands) of strangers. 3. Balance education, fun, and community Nobody remembers the slide deck or the pictures of presentations people take on their phones and never look at ever again. They remember the vibe. And Wynter’s Spryng event in Austin nailed it. Brewery setting, food trucks, an open bar that kicked off surprisingly early, and roundtables that felt natural, not forced. The best conversations happened outside in the sun, too. People don’t just show up to learn at events. They want to connect with their peers, unwind, and actually enjoy themselves. We’re taking these lessons to heart in 2025. Fewer sponsorships, creating unique experiences, and something special brewing with UserEvidence in Jackson, WY, later this year. Stay tuned. It’s going to be epic.