Small Conferences LLC

SmallConferences.com helps you with cost-effective site selection & creating memorable moments – from small board meetings to annual conferences. We work differently than other planners – resulting in savings of up to 25% or more on your next event! Even if you only have one gathering a year - we can save you time, money & stress! Let us handle the hassles of planning your next board retreat, convention, or symposium so you can concentrate on your mission! Find out more - including exclusive non-profit discounts - by signing up for a complimentary 15 min consultation:?https://lnkd.in/e8YZGkCk #gatherings #events #event #partyplanner #eventplanning #party #conference #eventdesign #miami #eventmanagement #conventions #eventorganizer #conferences #corporateevents #tradeshows #meetings #meetingplanner #restaurants #restaurantbusiness #hotels #hotelsales

Billions Could be Lost on Travel Due to Tariffs U.S. Travel has estimated that the potential impact from tariffs could result in $2.1 billion in lost spending on travel, which represents a 10% decline in overall inbound visitation from Canada. Cancelled meetings & lower demand may be good for YOUR next event! Contact us to find out how we can save you up to 38%! https://lnkd.in/eJ3q9-Vt

Vegas – You either love it or hate it! I have planned a number of conventions, meetings & conferences over the years in Vegas. The largest was for the National Libertarian Party's 2012 Presidential Nominating Convention at Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa. They had 1200 attendees for an extended weekend in late June. The main reason this location was selected is because it is independently owned & non-union. Because I work with mostly budget conscious nonprofits & associations - I try to focus on independent hotels along with certain management / ownership companies that have no or less unionized properties. They also tend to pay their people well above average & offer better benefits – so employees feel like they do not need union representation. Yet, despite that, I find these non-unionized properties to be 20%+ less expensive overall - especially with F&B or A/V! Currently as of late last year - all the properties on the strip are now unionized. Thus, I try to concentrate my venue suggestions to off strip properties (mainly Station Casino properties) & properties downtown which are mostly non-union including the Golden Nugget, Binion's, & the Fremont Hotel and Casino. Here are my 5 top reasons I recommend Vegas to my association & nonprofit groups: 5) Wide range of hotels & venues at every price-point - Yes, Vegas can be an affordable option for any gathering 4) Great choices of activities both indoors & outdoors including amazing natural wonders such as Red Rocks, Grand Canyon, Valley of Fire & Death Valley 3) Amazing food options for every taste, diet & budget - with many restaurants having the ability to accommodate groups small & large 2) It's a place many want to go to - with most hotels offering amazing pools & spas for relaxation - not to mention world class shopping 1) Ease of travel - with 1,100 inbound / outbound flights per day & direct service to more than 150 U.S. & international cities mean the majority can fly there non-stop - plus easy drive from major cities in CA, AZ & UT When your ready for your next gathering please keep us in mind for Vegas or anywhere else! We will make sure it is inspiring, engaging, cost-effective & fun! Plus, if we plan it - what happens in Vegas – you’ll want to share with the world! Why do you like or hate Vegas? https://lnkd.in/eupRBZyp

Versatile Virginia - Offers Culture & Connection “Small Conferences LLC, owned by event planner Robert Kraus, specializes in creating experiences for corporate events of up to 1,000 attendees.” “We understand the vital role that events play in furthering a corporation’s mission,” says Kraus. “One of Virginia’s biggest “draws” for corporate events is ease of travel - This means you can get to Northern Virginia from practically anywhere in the U.S. without changing planes,” Kraus says. “The overall costs in Virginia, including taxes, tend to be less than many other areas known for conferences and business meetings,” Kraus says. “In particular, because it is a non-union state we find that pricing, especially for food and beverage or technology, along with room rates, can be up to 20% less than even nearby places like Washington, D.C., or Baltimore.” https://lnkd.in/ey7YBWz7

Tim Heffernan, Chief Growth and Development Officer at T3 Expo, outlines key trends shaping the future of the events industry. He emphasizes the importance of delivering engaging content, facilitating genuine face-to-face interactions, and crafting events that resonate deeply with participants. "Today’s attendees crave deeper engagement, meaningful interactions, and experiences that surpass what they can get from a screen." SmallConferences.com is here to help make sure your next event delivers! https://lnkd.in/e9XvUHhb

Robert Kraus is proud to announce that he has been certified as a VISIT FLORIDA Cruise Extension Specialist. Robert has passed an exam proving his extensive knowledge of all the activities, sites, museums, attractions and cultural experiences in and around the seven cruise ports in Florida (a couple of which may or may not be covered in snow currently)! These include: PortMiami (Miami) Port Canaveral (Orlando) Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) Port of Palm Beach (West Palm Beach) Jaxport (Jacksonville) Port Tampa Bay (Tampa) Port of Key West (Key West, Florida Keys) So, for your next meeting, conference, or pre-post cruise group travel - please be sure to reach out to us first: https://lnkd.in/ecDAUJhQ

Our friends at BizBash are out with their report on the top 2025 Food and Beverage Trends. We’ve addressed some of these before in our newsletter about Never Ever Serving “Convention Chicken” - https://lnkd.in/grdkx6za Here are some of the takeaways: Mocktails are now an expectation. One caterer suggested mocktails with seasonal ingredients paired with small bites on the rim. Should we call these mock-apps? Prioritizing local and seasonal ingredients is also a trend we mentioned in the past. At a recent event function – I was talking about moving the buffet to the table. So instead of having a long buffet line – do “family style” instead. Well, BizBash picked up on this too – apparently, it’s called “family-style catering.” Healthier food choices continue to be important – infusing “global flavors” with plant-based offerings. I’ve talked about going beyond the boring grilled portobello mushrooms. Suggestions include: tandoori-roasted eggplant, vegetable cannelloni, and a vegetable carvery station. We’re here to customize the menu for your next event & make sure it is delicious, affordable & that dried out old “Convention Chicken” comes nowhere near your guests: https://lnkd.in/eTCzX6pd Read for more ideas & trends: https://lnkd.in/eyxjSGXC

More news on the latest anticipated hotel opening for 2025 thanks to BizBash! Oh, wait you say – didn’t you post something recently? Well yes, we did – and we will keep informing you of the best openings & closings. Why, you ask? Because a new hotel doesn’t have established business so there is opportunity to create a relationship and get some terrific pricing to boot! Also – we keep track of closings - because there is usually a ton of deferred maintenance & use of temporary help – we prefer not to place our clients in those properties. Here’s our top-five favorites from the list for our clients - meaning not the 5 star properties with $1000 a night pricing – but the better 4 star ones that can do pricing suitable for groups: ·????????Universal Helios Grand Hotel Orlando ·????????Graduate by Hilton Dallas ·????????Pier Sixty-Six Resort Ft. Lauderdale ·????????The Cooper Charleston ·????????Fairmont New Orleans Please reach out to us when you're ready to plan your next event and we'll make sure there's a new hotel property in the mix while saving you money: https://lnkd.in/eTCzX6pd #gatherings #events #event #eventplanning #conference #eventdesign #miami #eventmanagement #conventions #eventorganizer #conferences #corporateevents #tradeshows #meetings #meetingplanner #liveevents #virtualevents #hotels #hotelsales #nonprofit #eventproducer https://lnkd.in/eD5RsShK

In Observance of National Human Trafficking Awareness Day we are re-sharing our recent newsletter: https://lnkd.in/eRjUtUYf

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the ongoing tragic fires near LA as we’ve had friends who have suffered personal losses. If your conference, meeting or event has been impacted by the recent fires in LA – please don’t fret – we are here to help! We are experienced event crisis managers! Example – we had to swiftly re-schedule a client's significant annual membership convention from Ashville to Charlotte NC back in October. In under 48 hours, we secured an alternative location, saving them valuable time, money, and stress. Several years ago, we also successfully rescheduled a biannual convention three times during Covid! This adjustment led to the creation of two new events, one virtual and one in-person. If you need assistance with an event, whether it's the current one that needs to be moved due to the fires - or a future gathering, please don't hesitate to reach out. You can find more information about our services here: https://lnkd.in/eA6bTyDX Thank you for considering our support. https://lnkd.in/ejN9sZgG