
So-called “dine arounds” are hallmarks of the Engage luxury wedding industry summits, offering opportunities for small groups to interact and to give them some intimate time with event speakers. Each speaker plays host to a table of 10 randomly selected attendees, encouraging guests to mix and mingle outside their circle of friends. And to make the experience more fun, table assignments are given in playful ways. For instance, in Las Vegas attendees selected from among personalized playing cards that all bore speaker photos and restaurant names.
Photo: Scott Clark/Readyluck

Similarly, for Engage at Palm Beach's the Breakers, custom fabric flowers indicated each attendee's designated table number.
Photo: Chellise Michael Photography for Elan Artists
Bizzabo

Bizzabo launched in June, making it one of the newest products in this arena. Co-founder Alon Alroy said Bizzabo is intended to become “the standard app for networking at events” because it aggregates information from multiple events on one mobile platform, available for free on iOS and Android. Planners add an event to the app by inputting the event’s name, address, date, hashtag, and description on the Bizzabo Web site, free of charge (they can also import information from Eventbrite). Once added, anyone using the app can find the event, unless the planner opts to make it a private community. Attendees join by connecting their LinkedIn account, and they can also connect their Twitter account and add other professional information. Then users can browse the list of attendees to find people with common interests, send messages in real time, and find future events that like-minded people will be attending.
Planners can also use the app to communicate with attendees and get real-time analytics on usage, while exhibitors can send Groupon-style offers through Bizzabo, such as providing a gift to the first 20 people who click on an offer in the app. Alroy said in the future planners will be able to use the platform to generate revenue from sponsors and exhibitors by providing them with more targeted leads.
Planners can also use the app to communicate with attendees and get real-time analytics on usage, while exhibitors can send Groupon-style offers through Bizzabo, such as providing a gift to the first 20 people who click on an offer in the app. Alroy said in the future planners will be able to use the platform to generate revenue from sponsors and exhibitors by providing them with more targeted leads.
Photo: Courtesy of Bizzabo