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: Terrie Rickard
Company Name: ADI Meetings & Incentives
Job Title: Vice President of Operations
Years of Experience: 35
How were you able to adapt during COVID-19 when the meeting and events industry got disrupted?
On a macro-scale - Hesitancy to commit and fear of the unknown by both clients and attendee/participants were the prime impacts. We can try to create an optimistic future and positive spin on reasons to meet, but we have been impacted. This is reflected in how we have altered contract terms, plan for contingencies and risk mitigation, and proceed with caution in commitments and obligations. On a micro-scale, it has impacted many careers. Professionally, for me, due to downsized staff, I was taking on more diverse responsibilities within our company. Portions of those were temporary though, and we experienced recent new hiring. And client bookings and interest for 2022 is heightening. So 2 wins!
As a planner, what was the number one thing you learned over the past year?
Flexibility is key in live events, but it took on a whole new meaning this past year.
Is there anything you are changing in your planning process moving forward as a result of the pandemic?
In the short term, destinations we are sourcing for incentive trips are US domestic rather than International. There are shifts in the obvious, meal planning and room set-ups. We are definitely putting new detail into risk management contingencies concerning Covid-19.
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.