The world seemed to have been spinning when the pandemic began—Multiple industries worldwide took unprecedented hits to their businesses across the board, but arguably, no one was hit more than the event planning industry. “It went from us being able to do hundreds of in-person events to not being able to gather at all,” states EMRG Media co-founder Erica Maurer. “Slowly but surely, we’re now being able to start hosting events in a more managed way.”
EMRG Media is a full-service event planning and digital marketing agency that has planned events for the likes of Google, Columbia Records, JP Morgan and Conde Nast. Maurer is a veteran event planner who was just named one of the BizBash 500, which features the best in the business nationally. She explains that event planning is about making the impossible possible. “I love creating experiences that allow people to take their thoughts into actualization. EMRG Media is able to view things from a different perspective,” Maurer explains. “We always have a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C depending on what the client wants. You have to meet them where they’re at and ensure everyone feels comfortable.”
The Event Planner Expo
While Maurer and EMRG Media are known for their amazing events, they’re also known for their unique ability to bring people from all pillars of the hospitality, marketing and event industries together through the annual Event Planner Expo, which will be held October 12 – 14th at various locations around Manhattan.
The Event Planner Expo, a three-day immersive experience that is going on its ninth year, has event planners, marketers, service providers, entrepreneurs, salespeople and more gather to build relationships as well as promote their products and services, gaining unparalleled exposure. “We’re always learning and growing, so that aspect of the Expo is very important. You never know where you could get your next cool idea. You might meet somebody new who could become a new strategic partner or even the beginning of a lifelong friendship!” Maurer states. “Our mission is to bring the industry together to inspire, educate and support one another.”
The event also includes featured speakers and panels about the events industry as a whole and the marketing techniques and strategies that make events and event planning successful. Over the course of a few days, attendees will learn from the best voices in business as they cover a wide variety of topics such as how to bring businesses to the next level, upcoming trends in event planning, and different marketing strategies. Past speakers at the Expo have included Martha Stewart, Jamie Kern Lima and Barbara Corcoran. Daymond John, founder of clothing brand FUBU as well as TV show Shark Tank, is scheduled to be a featured speaker this year. Wedding planner extraordinaire Colin Cowie is also scheduled. Learn about all of the happenings at The Event Planner Expo at theeventplannerexpo.com.
The Future of Event Planning
With the holidays right around the corner, EMRG is prepping to work just as much as they did pre-pandemic—with, of course, the appropriate safety measures intact. “We’re in a world that’s ever-changing, and if we’re not learning and growing, then we’re going to be left behind,” states Maurer. While many companies are excited to host Halloween parties in-person and online, there are many who have opted to wait until next year for the potential of larger, in-person holiday gatherings. Maurer’s top priority is to respect any clients’ wishes and levels of comfort when it comes to any event. “You have to think about events from that perspective—or at least, we at EMRG think that you should,” says Maurer. emrgmedia.com
