CES Marketing Team to Attend Another Bridal Showcase

Thursday April 7, 2011

Director Lina Layiktez and Marketing Manager Katrina Evans will be participating in this year's A Bridal Faire here in Davis, California on Saturday April 23, 2011. Both Lina and Katrina are excited to participate in a local tradeshow that will allow them to promote the great Special Event and Wedding spaces UC Davis has to offer on campus. If you're interested in seeing the spaces yourself, feel free to view the Special Events page on our website or contact kdevans@ucdavis.edu to set up your own personal guided tour.

If you're interested in participating please view the flyer above or call (530) 757-5626 for more information.

Wedding, Wedding, Who's Having a Wedding?

Tuesday March 1

Earlier last week UC Davis Conference and Event Services staff members Katrina Evans and Adrianne Bataska had a booth at the Dream Wedding Showcase at California Expo. On that cold Sunday morning Katrina and Adrianne set out to inform brides all over the region about UC Davis's beautiful facilities and great services for their special day.

The day proved to be promising as Katrina and Adrianne were give numerous words of praise for not only their great knowledge of the wedding planning industry, but for an outstanding booth design as well.

Take a look at the recap of this year's Dream Wedding Showcase by CES Marketing Manager Katrina Evans, and remember when choosing UC Davis: Everything you need, is already here.

Adrianne and I attended the Dream Wedding Showcase at Cal Expo on Sunday, February 20. With over 1,000 attendees Adrianne and I met brides, grooms and their families all day and introduced them to the possibility of having their weddings at UC Davis. Our booth was one of the prettiest in the building! We kept our trademark black/grey/yellow theme for the wedding show and had lovely compacts and lip glosses for the brides. A special thank you goes out to Favor Warehouse (http://www.favorwarehouse.com/) and Blue Bee Printing (http://www.bluebeeprinting.com/) for assisting us with the fabulous give-away items. The CES Team had fun and enjoyed showcasing the University facilities at the bridal show.

-Marketing Manager, Katrina Evans

2011 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference

February 24, 2011

Earlier this week Conference and Event Services team members Ana Kitchen and Lina Layiktez traveled to Portland, Oregon to attend the 2011 GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference. This event provided Ana and Lina with the knowledge to come back and put some insightful idea to work at UC Davis.

This year's GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference featured a group of great speakers! The presentations by Richard Aaron from BizBash Media, Scott Hamlin from Looptworks, and Steven Ward from Doubletree Hotel Portland. These three speakers were able to hit three topics that were a must share for all our event planner out there!

Richard Aaron was able to talk about BizBash and about the trends and ideas that progressive event planners and designers are adopting in the planning of their projects. This segment was able to incorporate how decor, lighting, displays, floral and food have been renewed to fit into the green landscape. Here at UC Davis, we're always trying to make sure we're protecting the environment at our events, and after hearing Mr. Aaron's discussion on these ideas, we will be looking to implement some of the plans for decor, lighting, floral, and all the other event planning trends out there.

Scott Hamlin from Looptworks talked about how they up cycle pre-consumer excess materials into clothing and accessories for the urban/outdoor enthusiast. Mr. Hamlin focused on how being sustainable isn't just about recycling, but about reusing as well. It is important to remember that although we may not enjoy a certain product anymore, this doesn't mean that it isn't reusable. By reusing, we are able to reduce our waste significantly and spread the joy of our old materials that we no longer find useful for ourselves.

Last but not least, Ana and Lina attended the talk by Double Tree Portland Executive Chef Steven Ward. With a philosophy like F.L.O.S.S. (fresh, local, organic, seasonal, and sustainable), it was clear to see that even in the kitchen, professionals are looking for ways to help out the environment. By building relationships with local farmers, ranchers, and organic producers, Mr. Ward is able to build long last relationships in the community, and reduce waste by buying local; ultimately cutting down on carbon emissions, pesticides, and other hazardous materials found in our food.

After this great trip to Portland, OR, Ana and Lina have come back to the department with new and fresh ideas to spread to all of you great event planners out there! Being green is important to us, and we know it is important to all you readers out there as well. Keep an eye on our Blog and Facebook for more posts on great conferences we've attended and the latest tips and practices in the sustainability community. Plan Green!

Plan Green 2011: We Planned, We Attended, We Conquered

Thursday February 24, 2011

We planned, we attended, we conquered.

On Wednesday, February 16, 2011 we did it again! What did we do exactly you ask? Well once again local and regional businesses and caterers together took a step toward making our community a greener place. This year's Plan Green Conference and Vendor Showcase proved to be yet another step in a positive direction toward making UC Davis and all of its partners' businesses a greener place.

Sustainability is an issue that the world is tackling, and here in Davis, California that is no exception. Plan Green 2011 is a conference and tradeshow put on by UC Davis Conference and Event Services annually to promote the basic principles of R4 (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuy) and to promote establishing better sustainable practices for our businesses.

At this year's Plan Green Conference and Vendor Showcase we had six speakers: Molly Milner from Small Blue Planet Events and Consultanting, Tom Huetteman, Associate Director in the Waste Division of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Southwest Regional Office, Lin King, the Program Manager for the UC Davis Waste Reduction and Recycling Program under the Office of Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability, Andrew Larsen, art director for UC Davis Repro Graphics, Dean Parker, Executive Facilities Director of the Peppermill Spa Resort Casino, and last but not least, Danielle Lee, Sustainability Manager for UC Davis Dining Services. Each speaker touched on the different areas in the event planning industry that we can become more sustainable in. From facilities, recycling, printing, and more, each speaker was able to provide helpful tools for all of our great attendees to take back to their businesses and implement.

This year's tradeshow was a success once again, bringing organizations from as far as Long Beach and as locally as Downtown Davis. Vendors, caterers and attendees, chatted and snacked on some delicious food on what turned out to be rain free afternoon. The atmosphere of the tradeshow was pleasant again with all of the great vendors coming from as near as Downtown Davis to as far as Southern California. UC Davis CES would like to give a big thank you to all of our vendors and caterers this year and a special thank you to: UC Davis Repro Graphics, Ink Monkey Graphics, and Screaming Squeegee for being the 2011 Plan Green sponsors. *

Now that you all got the scoop on this year's Plan Green Conference and Vendor Showcase, we hope if you weren't able to make it this year, you make it out to the next one! And to all of those that participated this year, a big THANK YOU from CES, we couldn't make the event a success without you!

*Interested in partnering with UC Davis Conference and Event Services? Email Katrina Evans at kdevans@ucdavis.edu for more information!

Marketing, marketing, marketing

Everyone's hopping on that up and coming social media marketing bandwagon. It's an online marketing phase that figures to only expand in the coming years.

This leads us to a logical question: at what point do we stop? With "free" marketing at our finger tips through laptops, tablets and a variety of cellular devices, there surely needs to be an answer. Whether it's an event you are planning, or simply for your business, one definitely needs to ask that question. At UC Davis Conference and Events, we strive to share with you what we have to offer through various statuses, pictures and videos. We are extremely excited about the services we have to offer, and invite you to check out our promotional items as a way to get to know everything we have to offer. What have you heard about Mini G Dan?

Just a simple Friday reflection helps puts things in perspective sometimes, and what better way than a blog? As always, check out our website at http://events.ucdavis.edu/. Make sure to follow us on Facebook so you can be the first to hear about everything we do: http://www.facebook.com/ucdavisconferenceandeventservices

Plan Green: The Stretch Run

Happy Friday! Friday really should just be a holiday; talk about pleasing the masses. How nice does sleeping in, making a nice breakfast with some quality TV sound for three days a week instead of two? No point in dreaming, I suppose.

We here at Conference and Event Services do not fit the bill of these 3-day weekend desires. We are really excited to be planning what's shaping up to be a great event. On Wednesday, February 16th, join us for the annual Plan Green Showcase. With over 300 caterers and vendors planning to attend, collaborate with peers from all over and learn how to plan environmentally sustainable events. Think about if this was a New Year's resolution for 2011. How happy would Mother Nature be? More importantly, how happy would Al Gore be? Yeah, that's what we thought.

Jokes aside, the load-in times begin bright and early at 8am and the event will run until 1:30pm and take place in Freeborn Hall. If interested, make sure to check out our website and sign up before January 17th to pay our early bird fee of just $195! Be assured that there will be an extremely diverse crowd and much can be taken out of a wide scale event like this. We are ecstatic with the planning progress this far and simply tying up all the loose ends to make this showcase truly a great one.

Have a great weekend and try and stay warm through this (sad) winter weather!

UC Davis and Mickey Mouse a Good Pair in Food Expo

Friday December 17, 2010

Five UC Davis students came out on top this past week at this year's Institute of Food Technologists meeting and food expo in Chicago, Illinois. With the help of its great sponsor Disney, this year's event was able to observe some great snack ideas for children under the age of 12. The team of five UC Davis students: Chereen Leong, Joesph Alexandrouj, Anna Coroselli, Christina Ramsay, and Robert Schwarz, will have a chance to have their creation-- Mickey's Pot Pies-- sold in grocery stores around the nation. Complete with a blend of fruits and vegetables in a 100 % white whole-wheat crust, Mickey Pot Pies maybe in your local grocery stores soon-- so keep a look out!

Congratulations to the team again on a job well done! Go Ags!

Out with the Old, In with the New!

Friday September 10, 2010

If you haven't had a chance to look already, we've released our new website to the public! With a fresh new design and simpler navigation features, you should be able to explore all of our great facilities, services, and more easier and faster. Although the design has changed, we are still providing you with all of the great attributes UC Davis has to offer. Take a look at our new website at http://events.ucdavis.edu today!

Thursdays: Your Day to Share!

Thursday September 2, 2010

On Thursdays, we would like to invite all of you to share with us your great event planning experiences or tip! Whether that experience or tip is with CES as your event management team or not, we think it is important to share exciting stories or ideas in our industry. In the event planning industry, we are constantly looking for the next best thing, and the most efficient ways to run an event. Although we may be experts in our field, it is still important to have open communication with those in the community for them to share their concerns and ideas that can help us as your one stop shop solution in Northern California. So share with us today! We're interested to see what your ideas are!

Being Green While Knowing Your Limits

Tuesday August 24, 2010

The name of the game in event planning is green; however, that might not be the best way to conserve your budget. A lot of event planners are worried about making the green move, seeing that in the short run they will potentially be spending a lot of money. On the other hand, it's important to think about the long run and how you will not only be upholding your company's social responsibility, but helping the environment as well. Positive recognition is something every organization wants to hear and that's not just for services. What a lot of people want to see nowadays is an organization that not only takes care of the services they promise to their customers, but how an organization takes advantage of its position as a leader in the community to help anyway they can. Remember being green doesn't mean you jeopardize your business financially, but what it can mean is that you're doing your part and recognizing your limits. So whether you can add a composting services or keep the thermostat of your facility to an eco-friendly level, you're doing your part, and all anyone can ask is that you do all you can! Plan green, event green, be green!

Summer Time at UC Davis

Friday July 16, 2010

The sun is out, it's hot, and folks are enjoying the beautiful warm nights in Davis. Where are you thinking about your event this summer? Look no further than UC Davis! With our numerous outdoor facilities and complete list of services, UC Davis is the an excellent choice for your summer event. Choose from Putah Creek Lodge, the Arboretum, Good Life Garden, or many more excellent facilities. Call and event planner today for more information, and remember when your choose UC Davis: everything you need is already here

Happy Fourth of July!!

Friday July 2, 2010

From all of the UC Davis Conference and Event Services staff, we would like to wish everyone out there a Happy 4th of July! As we continue to go through these great summer months, we would encourage all of you out there to choose UC Davis when planning your next big event. With all of our beautiful outdoor venues, you will be able to have a professional planned event in a very relaxed environment. Remember when you choose UC Davis: everything you need is already here!

HSMAI Affordable Meetings: Long Beach

Friday June 4, 2010

In the next couple weeks three members from our marketing staff: Katrina Evans, Ana Kitchen, and Lina Layiktez, will be headed down to Long Beach to participate in HSMAI's (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International) Affordable Meetings tradeshow. In Long Beach, they will be able to participate in over 7 hours of educational sessions in which they'll be able to take part in over 20 relevant topics, access to marketing tools we'll be able to use in our department for the next year, and not to mention showcase UC Davis as one of California's premier event locations. The tradeshow will be held on the June 16-17, and if you're interested in participating as a vendor or event planner, click here for more information. If you're already planning on attending, we look forward to seeing you there! Make sure to stop by our booth and say hello!

Hyatt Place at UC Davis

Monday June 1, 2010

Did you know that there's a hotel right on campus? The Hyatt Place UC Davis was added to all of the other great facilities on campus and is now available for you to stay in! The Hyatt Place UC Davis has all of the great qualities of any Hyatt Place, and also provides you quick and easy access to any of the many meeting places you can choose from while having your event or conference here at UC Davis. With great highlights such as: complimentary hotel Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, 24-hour made-to-order menu items and pre-packaged snacks, specialty espresso drinks, complimentary newspaper, complimentary parking, and MORE. If you have any questions or would like to make a reservation, you can visit the HYATT PLACE UCDAVIS website or call and talk with an event coordinator today!

Exercise and You

Friday May 21, 2010

Health and Wellness is something very important in everyone's life. From the young to the old, it is important to exercise at least 30 minutes a day. Whether it's walking to your favorite restaurant during your lunch break, or playing a pick game of basketball with some friends at your local neighborhood park, getting in that 30 minutes of exercise can do great things for you.
The UC Davis Campus Mind Body Wellness Committee, Kaiser Permanente, and Staywell collaborated this past week to encourage folks to add 30 minutes exercise to their daily routines, so we decided to continue to carry the message out to the end of the week as a reminder. If you have any questions, take a look at the UC Davis Campus Mind Body Wellness Committee's website here for more information on how to stay up to date on events as well as health and wellness tips. Remember, exercising doesn't have to be something you hate to do, find a physical activity that you enjoy!

Davis: A Place for You and Your Bike

May 14, 2010

Did you know that Davis is one of the most bike-friendly places in the world? With its population of 65,000, Davis brings a small town atmosphere that is safe for those of all ages whom are traveling by bike . According to Virgin Vacations, Davis "was one of the first cities in the U.S. to actively start planning for and incorporating the bicycle into its transportation infrastructure." This shows not only the cities dedication to its community and the variety of ways folks transport, but also caring about the environment as well.

When choosing UC Davis for your conference or event, you will be choosing a place that will make you feel at home and comfortable. From the numerous facilities that are a walk or bike ride away, choosing UC Davis will be a worthy choice. We invite everyone to look at our website, or call an event coordinator today in order to see how you can make your event a great one at UC Davis. Happy bike riding!

E-Waste: UC Davis's R4 Department Fighting Against Electronic Waste

Friday April 30, 2010

Did you know that it is illegal to throw away batteries and cell phones? Well, now you do! UC Davis's R4 department is fighting against electronic waste, and is doing so by placing multibin all over UC Davis. There are a total of 10 multibins strategically located throughout campus that provide a convenient way for people to dispose of their old electronic products. Currently, the R4 multibins support: CD's, Inkjet cartridges, electronic devices, non-rechargeable and rechargeable batteries. Although it may seem easy to merely throw away electronic appliances or peripherals into the dumpster, it is just as easy to recycle them in the specific multibin container. So the next time you break your mp3 player, or decided you don't want an old CD anymore, make sure to find the closest multibin on campus or located in your community to handle your waste responsibly. Remember that in our fight to make the world a greener place, every little bit helps!

Event Planning on Your Mobile

Friday April 16, 2010

Have you ever thought about managing an event on your mobile phone? Well Cheryl Lawson, owner of The Perfect Date, has developed an event planning application for Google's Android smartphones. Actually bringing two key applications in one package, the Event Planning tools application is actually a meeting space calculator, as well as an event budget calculator. Both components of the Event Planning tools application are very basic and consist of a mere plug-in strategy that will yield the event planner the numbers they need to get started with their event planning and coordination. Lawson explains in her article that although these applications have been around, in this day and age, their is a great convenience in having these specific applications on your mobile phone in order to get quick on the go results. To read more about Lawson's Event Planning application tools, or more about here event management and marketing firm, visit the hyperlinks above! Keep up the great work Cheryl and all those at The Perfect Date!

We want your feedback!

Hello all! Hope you all are enjoying the beginning of what looks to be a beautiful spring! At Conference and Event Services we are always looking for ways to improve our communication with you and we would like to ask you all out there what you would like to see us talk about more? What news do you want to hear? What specifically about our department do you want to know? As our clients, we want to know the best ways and best media to connect with you on. Please email aklong@ucdavis.edu with your thoughts and comments and we'll work to make our connection with all of you out there the best it can be. Thanks!

CES Marketing Team

O'Bon LLC

Tuesday March 23, 2010

Last week, our marketing team here at UC Davis Conference and Event Services were able to sample some of the great products presented us by O'Bon, and what great green products they have to offer! We sampled some of the numerous pencil and notepads that are made up of 100% recycled material. The pencils are quite sturdy and seem to last longer and stay better protected than regular wooden pencils, and the notepads are just as great as any notepad out there; however, these notepads being green, have a little bit of a leg up for being environmentally friendly! We'd like to encourage all of those in the community to try out O'Bon products as they are a great substitute to many products that you make already have! Don't forget to use a promotional code for 15% when purchasing online, just enter freakofriends in the promotional code field. Hope you all give O'Bon