Luxatia International specialises in bringing people together through outstanding strategic business conferences & summits, professional training and b2b congresses. We maintain the highest standards of quality in research and market analysis, finding the right issues and then producing high-profile events.
Showing posts with label Business Professionals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Business Professionals. Show all posts
Recent events have increased the demand for virtual access to industry knowledge, interactive sessions led by industry experts and networking opportunities with peers. Although some countries have begun to lift their own restrictions, there are still many affected by lockdowns and travel bans.
For those who cannot attend physical summits or those who choose not to, we are pleased to offer the option of an online pass, which allows you to take full advantage of the benefits of a physical event virtually.
Let’s explore the benefits of attending online events:
Accessibility — Gain valuable knowledge from thought leaders while never leaving the comfort of your home. View the conference presentations directly on your PC, phone or tablet. Online events allow you to attend from anywhere, paving the way for a larger, more diverse audience.
Cost Saving — Online events eliminate travel costs, hotel accommodations, food expenses, etc. so you are only responsible for the registration fee. This not only saves you money but also time since you do not have to worry about scheduling anything aside from time for the summit itself.
Hear Real Experiences — Working remotely can make you feel that you are handling any issues that arise alone but through the experiences shared during virtual events, you can see how other organisations are handling current situations and discover solutions to push your business forward.
Networking — Networking is a benefit of any event but it is more important than ever during this time of social distancing. These opportunities to exchange insights and establish valuable business connection can’t be beaten. The benefits compared to traditional events is no time crunch to meet everyone you’d like to in between sessions and it’s easier to collect information from the people you meet online. Aside from the business aspect, it is good to have that human connection and sense of community during troubling times on a personal level.
Alternative Learning — Online events provide alternative learning options such as workshops, interactive sessions and group discussions that couple nicely with different speaker presentations. Opportunities like these allow you to leave with new knowledge or a new skill set, which is super beneficial on its own.
Self-Investment — You no longer have to be in a huge venue full of thousands of people to achieve self-growth. Online access to our events lets you invest in yourself in a less committal way. Invest in yourself, your business and your employees without having to break out your business attire. Get inspired by others and revive your motivation by feeding off the energy of your peers during these virtual sessions.
For these reasons and many more, we are thrilled we can continue to provide a platform for global brands and industry experts to come together to network, share knowledge and discuss the latest innovations helping organisations be successful through the pandemic and beyond.
Traditional online webinar platforms are outdated but recent innovations are closing the gap between physical and online events. New technologies allow real-time, personal discussions, just as you would have at a physical event. The latest innovations bring virtual access to life so these summits offer much more than just absorbing information from a screen.
We have several events coming up with the option to attend in person or through online access. This allows you to choose which option is best for you and does not limit anyone from taking part in these important discussions.
Learn more about our upcoming events and register today to join us for an exclusive virtual experience!
As some countries begin to release restrictions around the Coronavirus (COVID-19), what does this mean for Luxatia International events?
Well, our goal is still to provide the safest possible platform for event speakers, sponsors and attendees to gather, share knowledge and discuss innovations of the future.
Safety Precautions
To ensure your safety, we are continuing to closely monitor the guidance and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and local authorities in locations where our events are held.
As the situation in those countries changes, we will update our event attendees accordingly. This is why it is extremely important to register early so you are informed of any updates.
Measures To Guarantee Your Safety
The safety of everyone attending our events has always been our top priority. That is no different now; the only difference is how we are responding to this new threat. To guarantee your safety, the following terms will be implemented during summits:
A limited number of event participants
Seating will be set up to keep all participants socially distanced
Extra sanitization measures will be in effect during the event such as the availability of plenty of anti-bacterial disinfectants throughout the event venue
Networking will be encouraged through digital devices and platforms instead of handing out physical business cards
Registration Reassurance
The situation around COVID-19 is constantly changing but we have hope the disease will be contained and we can move forward with in-person activities soon. If you are looking to attend one of our events, you can register without fear.
If Luxatia International must reschedule an event in which you are registered, your registration will remain valid for the new event dates and venue or for the virtual edition. We will inform you of the need to reschedule and the new event details as soon as it is confirmed.
If Luxatia International is not able to organize the event within 18 months of the original date, you will receive a full refund.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us:
The rapid COVID-19 outbreak impacted our spring plans and daily operations greatly, as it did and continues to do too many of you. Many of our summits had to be transitioned into webinars.
One of those events was the World FUTURE Ports Webinar, that was held last week. Attendees of the webinar got to experience two days of knowledge sharing around the latest technology and recent events that have impacted the maritime industry.
The event was chaired by Mare Straetmans with Van Oord. He moderated us through discussion with executives from the Port of Barcelona, Maersk and more.
Topics discussed the first day included future port scenarios, sustainability and digitization challenges plus much more. It was a very insightful day.
Mare Straetmans returned on our second day of the World FUTURE Ports Webinar to lead us through discussions with experts from Nokia, the Port of Hamburg and others.
Discussions on day two included examples of digital twin projects and the technology driving the automation of container terminals and ports.
Of course, we also examined the impact COVID-19 is having on the shipping industry and the solutions needed to overcome this unprecedented situation.
It was refreshing to see and hear from others interested in the future of ports during this time of isolation. We are so happy that during this difficult period people are still sharing knowledge and supporting innovation.
It’s important during this time of uncertainty to stay connected to your community and we are proud to provide an avenue for you to do that.
If you missed your opportunity to join this webinar event, visit our website to learn about opportunities to connect with speakers and attendees from the event.
We also have several other webinars coming up. Check out our blog post discussing our decision to transition some summits into webinars for more information.
Luxatia International was founded to provide a platform for industry experts to come together to connect, share ideas and debate about trending topics across several industries. We conduct thorough market research to host summits that will facilitate meaningful discussions around global tech that will empower us today and in the future. We fully believe these discussions are still very important and should not be put on pause because of the circumstances but we are aware of the seriousness of COVID-19 and understand our responsibility to adapt to how these events are held.
After many in-depth discussions internally and with our sponsors, speakers, partners and delegates, we’ve all concluded it is in the benefit of everyone to transition a few summits into webinars until the effects of COVID-19 start to diminish. Travel advisories and restrictions rapidly increased and we don’t want anyone to miss out on the opportunity to share in these discussions.
Being a small, independent business, this decision did not come lightly but we are confident we are doing the right thing, as the health and safety of not only our staff but of the venue employees and all attendees are our utmost concern.
For the webinar, a full agenda will be available on the set dates of the event and both days will contain experiences, projects and insights from global brands. You can request a free brochure at any time before the summit to see the full line up of speakers. Everyone who registers for a webinar will have access to view pre-recorded sessions on demand.
We feel like this is a better alternative than a live stream as everyone’s schedules have been disrupted by working from home, children being out of school, etc. The pre-recorded sessions allow you to start and stop the recordings as you need to.
HERE ARE THE SUMMITS THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AS WEBINARS:
We understand the main concern with switching to webinars is the lack of in-person networking. We don’t believe it would beneficial to try and group people into video chats for networking opportunities so instead, we have a LinkedIn group set up for each of our summits. Each person that registers receives a link to join that group. We encourage you to use this resource as a networking tool.
You can post in the group for everyone, maybe telling a bit about yourself and discussing any projects you are working on or challenges you are facing or you can scan through the members of the group and see if there is anyone specific you’d like to connect with. Reach out to them through LinkedIn and set up some video chats from there.
Most of us are in isolation so these chats are welcomed!
You can also engage with others viewing the webinar through the event hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and even Instagram!
We are working hard to provide our amazing network with the same quality discussions, connections and experience sharing they have come to expect from Luxatia International events.
We are encouraged that these webinars will help us stay connected within our communities and stay up to date on changes within our industries. Although the coronavirus outbreak has been severe and very concerning, we are determined not to let ithinder the valuable progress technology can have on our world.
Thank you all for understanding and your continued support. We will all get through this together. We look forward to connecting with you online until we can meet up again. We eagerly await the summits later in the year when we can interact face-to-face again.
We wish you and your loved ones the best during these trying times!
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Some people love networking sessions while others loathe them but no matter your thoughts on networking sessions, they are designed with a purpose in mind. Most people think the purpose is to get attendees of the event comfortable with each other to lay the foundation for conversational growth.
While this is true, there can be other goals of networking sessions. At Luxatia International, we want to set the stage for dynamic discussions throughout the event but we also want you to have the opportunity to leave with new business partnerships.
Achieving this can be stressful, especially for the introverts in the room, but we have gathered several tips to help you accomplish this goal!
Prepare Business Cards
Preparing business cards with valuable information should be something you think about a week or so before the conference to give yourself enough time to create and print new ones if needed.
First off, make sure everything is up to date — your picture, job title, company branding, etc. Then decide, what is the most valuable information you want people to have about you? Do you want them to follow up on LinkedIn, your personal website or just your company email?
Do not overload your business card with information but make it appealing enough to stand out against the other business cards people will collect during business events such as a summit or conference.
You may think business cards are not as important anymore in the digital age but during these events, you are meeting many people and it can be overwhelming trying to remember everyone’s name. If you introduce yourself to someone and then hand him or her a business card so they can read your name, it helps them retain it in their memory.
If your business card has a photo or brand image, even better. A photo of yourself will help them easily remember you or even a brand image can help new acquaintance’s place a company with your name.
Download the LinkedIn App
The next step you should take before a conference is to download the LinkedIn app. You may have completed this already. If not, we highly suggest doing so as soon as possible, as there are many features the LinkedIn app can offer to you as a business professional.
Once you have the LinkedIn app downloaded, you will be connected to your LinkedIn groups. If you have not joined the LinkedIn group for the summit you are attending before downloading the app, do it now!
Our LinkedIn Summit groups are created months before the actual summit, giving you plenty of time to join and connect with other attendees or just like-minded professionals. Gear up for the conference by joining in dynamic conversations around the latest trends, challenges and technology influencing your industry.
Once you are at the conference or summit, you can use LinkedIn’s Nearby feature to get even more connections. The appeal of the feature is in its name. This tool allows you to find connections around your physical location using your device’s Bluetooth.
Aside from business cards, brochures can also be a great physical object to hand out at conferences or summit. Again, this will help by creating a lasting memory in the mind of the people you are meeting or by giving them something to reference and remember you by later on.
If you are representing a smaller business, outline your company’s values and goals. For larger businesses that people may already be familiar with, design a brochure that highlights a new product or service.
Not only will this help establish a personal connection but if the person you are meeting needs the product or service you are offering, then it builds a valuable business connection as well.
Research Attending Businesses
As we mentioned earlier, networking sessions can be overwhelming when you are surrounded by tons of strangers and are unsure what to talk about. By researching attending businesses beforehand, you can find out about recent projects they have worked on or the new technology they are using.
This will help you pinpoint areas or people of interest so you can make the most of your networking time. We always list a few speakers and the companies they represent on each summit page or you can request a free brochure for the full line up.
Brochures can be requested for every summit through upcoming events > the individual summit event page > request a brochure.
To read even more networking tips, check out our full blog here.
Business trips can be exciting, stressful, insightful, and hectic or any combination of feelings. We have gathered the top tips for business travelers to hopefully minimize any discomfort while travelling and create a smooth and efficient trip.
Stick With A Single Company
When possible, try to book your airline, hotel and rental car (if needed) through the same company. Bundling usually saves you money and you will collect reward points quicker to use on future travel needs.
Traveling with the same company each time will also reduce the stress of adapting to different rules, prices, etc.
Research The Area You Are Traveling To
A quick research session can provide you with so much information about your trip and make it much more enjoyable. Do not waste your time attempting to navigate a new city while you are on a tight schedule.
If you are attending a conference hosted at a hotel, look into staying at the same location or very close by. If you must travel to a separate location or client, research the safety of the area for potential spots to avoid.
If you are unable to stay at the same location as your event, think about how you will be getting around the city.
Look for public transportation first as it is usually the cheapest option. Some public transportation is very easy to navigate while other cities have a more complex system so you will have to decide how confident you are with navigating that particular system. Looking at a map of the city’s public transportation online before you arrive will help you make that decision.
If you prefer not to use public transportation, decide if you will need a rental car or not. If you only need transportation to a couple of locations (to and from the airport, for example) then an uber or car-sharing service is a cheaper option but make sure it is offered in the city you are traveling to.
Keep Bags Light And With You
Packing light is essential on any trip but sometimes not possible when you are traveling with kids or family members. Solo business trips are ideal for packing as light as possible.
Even though you want to pack as light as possible do not forget valuable items. Here are a few things you should think about when packing:
Leisure Clothing — even on a business trip, you will want at least one pair to help you relax after a busy day.
Weather-Related Clothing — is it significantly colder/hotter where you are traveling? Will it rain while you are there?
Your Preference — if you know you get cold easily, bring a light jacket, even in the summer, for times you might get cold inside.
Really analyze what you will be doing during the trip and only pack the essentials. If you can wear a pair of dress pants or a blazer more than once, do it!
You do not want to overpack and end up with a heavy bag to lug around or worse, be forced to check your bag.
This is the ultimate business travel tip, NEVER CHECK YOUR BAG.
Besides additional travel time to check your bag and then retrieve it from baggage claim, you are risking a travellers worst nightmare — a lost bag!
If for some reason you do have to check your bag, keep a carry on with all of your essential items:
Toiletries
A Change Of Clothes
Chargers & Electronics
Business Documents
Identification & Money
Invest In A Good Backpack
This goes right along with the last tip but a high-quality backpack and some professional packing skills can replace a carry-on bag altogether. Improve your travel experience by easily being able to carry everything without having to roll it through crowded streets or escalators.
Find a quality backpack made for business travellers. Make sure it has a padded pocket for laptops or tablets. Extra pockets are also good so you can easily organize your travel necessities.
The only downside is having to carry a heavy bag around instead of being able to set it down and roll it. Pack smart and light, and this will not be an issue.
Have Money And ID Options
It is likely you will be traveling to another country for our conferences so make sure you have your passport and another form of identification just in case. We also recommend making a physical copy of your passport so you can have a form of identification on you without having to carry your passport through the city and risk damaging or losing it. Most hotels have a safe you can lock your passport in once you arrive.
Most of your travel payments will be electronic and made beforehand but you always want to have some cash on you for those few transactions that require it. Some places might not accept a debit/credit card and you will want to avoid searching for an ATM in an unfamiliar city, plus paying transaction fees for withdrawing cash.
Have some of your cash in smaller bills to use for tipping as well.
You will also need to check if the country you are traveling to accepts your home currency or if you will need to exchange it. If you need to exchange it, look up the change fees and reputable exchange locations before arriving.
Storing a backup credit card in a separate bag is also a great idea just in case you lose your purse or wallet. Do not have all of your valuables in one spot. Utilise the safe in your hotel room as mentioned above. Separate credit cards throughout your wallet, purse, carry-on or other travel bags.
Bring Quality Travel Tech & Chargers
Any experienced traveller knows the importance of a good set of headphones. If you do not have some already, invest in a nice pair of noise-canceling headphones to drown out airplane and passenger noise.
Have a backup pair of headphones in case your original pair break or run out of juice. The backup pair does not need to be as nice as your first pair. Save money and packing space by having a small pair of earbuds you can roll-up.
It can be overwhelming trying to keep all of your devices charged and gathering each charger you will need. See if you can charge multiple devices with the same type of charger. If not, look at investing in a charger with multiple device options.
Also, look for a portable charging device to easily keep your devices running while you are on the go.
Traveling internationally, you will most likely need an adapter as well unless your devices are USB chargeable. Make sure you choose the right connection for the country you are visiting. There are adapters for multiple countries as well if your business takes you to several different locations.
Download Apps and Content Ahead Of Time
You do not want to have to rely on a Wi-Fi connection or risk using up your data trying to download content on the go. Download any movies, podcasts or playlists that you will want while traveling before you leave your house.
Also, make sure you have any apps needed to stay connected with your family. This is not only for you, make sure your family members have the app or software set up on their devices as well. Have every family member download the app you are planning to use and do a test call before you set off on your trip.
Stay Organised
Staying organised will help you in every aspect of business traveling. Make sure you have all of your flight, hotel and event information in one location. There are apps to help you manage this and integrate it with your calendar but if you have a physical area to write them down as well, we recommend it. If you lose your phone or the battery dies, you will still have all of this information written down.
Business trips are usually very busy so it can be hard to keep up with expense reports but this is extremely important so you do not end up footing the cost instead of your company.
Dedicate time during or immediately after your business trip to managing your expense reports. Taking photos of your receipts is a smart way to keep track of your expenses.
Read our full blog to get even more travel tips, here.
