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PLANNERS YOU SHOULD KNOW - MEAGAN SWEENEY-HYDE, MAKE-A-WISH

Luke Whalin

Interviews
December 5, 2022
Reading time: 2 min
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This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip
spotlight's planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted
to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing
the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Name: Meagan Sweeney-Hyde

Company Name: Make-A-Wish

Job Title: Campaign Events Manager

Years of Experience: 10+



How did you get your start in the events industry? What made you pursue this
role?
 
An internship in college and through my sorority started my love for events.
 
How do you compare planning your first in-person event post-pandemic, to
planning meetings/events pre- Covid? What was different and unique? What was
similar?


No matter pre or post-pandemic, you always have to think strategically and have
the mindset of having to problem solve. Post-pandemic was just a new layer of
how we really need to have a handful of ‘worst case’ scenarios as a top
priority. An advantage to post-pandemic planning is that I have seen more
collaborative teamwork and communication more now than ever.
 
What was your number one challenge in hosting your first in-person event(s) and
how did you overcome it?


My first event early in my career, I remember having a difficult time with
allowing others to help me. Now that I have been in the event field for 10+
years, I have learned that there is an art to empowering your team and allowing
them to add their vision to the overall event/project.
 
What is the top learning that you uncovered from the last two years that you’re
implementing in your planning process today? (any other tips or tricks you want
to share?)
 
Since I am in the non-profit field, having the hybrid component added to events
has been huge! Not only can we reach our donors with where they are at but it
has allowed us to future engagement with our sponsors and add more marketing
benefits. It is a true win-win!
 
With hotels short-staffed, and RFP lead time shortening, what is your advice to
other planners to overcome these obstacles when requesting hotels for proposals?
 
Have other options and don’t become dead set on just one venue.
 
Are you approaching contracting with hotels differently, post-pandemic?
 
The days of in-kind sponsorship and donated/lower-cost food for non-profit
events is done, at least for the foreseeable future. In order for us to keep our
expenses low, we have had to become creative about not having events on weekend
dates or instead of a dinner host a brunch since breakfast food is less
expensive.
 
Due to the pandemic, our events community had to evolve, adapt, and grow. Many
planners started to embrace new technologies as a result of the pandemic. What
new tech are you using today in your planning process as a result?
 
In 2022 Make-A-Wish implemented Salesforce, which could not come at a more
better time to help us become more streamlined as an organization. We also use
mobile bidding providers like GiveSmart and One Cause who make the giving
seamless during our live events, for those in person or virtually.
 
Since education and relationships are two major pillars in the meetings and
events industry, any suggestions on how other planners can learn and network
with their peers across the industry?
 
Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and to use LinkedIn! I am self admittedly a
Millennial, and I cannot tell you how many great connections I have made through
LinkedIn, especially in pandemic times. Also, don’t hide behind text and email.
I truly believe that as humans we need to connect and listening is a skill is
imperative no matter what stage of your like or career.
 
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip
spotlights planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted
to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing
the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world. 

Like the post?  Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed on the latest news
and trends in the meetings and events world.
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