conference

The latest dessert to get the gourmet treatment: Rice Krispie treats. Treat House offers as many as 26 different offbeat flavors of crisped rice treats such as dark chocolate chili, yuzu lemon, and bubble gum (the latter is topped with a wrapped piece of Bazooka). The kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free treats start from $2.25 each; also available for catered events are custom crisped rice treat flavors, as well as TreatPops, ice cream bars, breakfast bars, and flavored marshmallows.

Caterer Mary Giuliani has partnered with chef Mario Batali to launch MARIO by Mary, a custom catering package featuring Batali-developed dishes executed for private events by Giuliani and her team. The menu of seasonal canapés includes more than 40 small-bite versions of Italian dishes popular at Batali's restaurants. Italian Pigs in a Blanket with broccoli rabe sausage wrapped in Parmesan phyllo, mini grilled cheese sandwiches drizzled with artisanal black truffle honey, and Sicilian chickpea fritters topped with Romesco sauce are just a few of the available options.

Recently launched by seasoned event producers Allen Dalton and Marc Berman along with photographer Jamie Watts, Motorbooth is a professional photo studio on wheels. As many as 10 guests at a time can climb into the truck’s cargo bay, press a button, and strike a pose—the Web-connected booth prints 4- by 6-inch photos, which can also be instantly shared via social media and email. Branded prints and custom green-screen backdrops are an option; even the exterior of the all-white truck can be covered in graphics and logos. Rental fees start from $5,000 per day.

Have you ever ran out of wine during an event? Now there’s a quick and easy solution: Booze Carriage can deliver top-shelf liquor, beer, and wine in under 60 minutes anywhere in Manhattan (as well as in some parts of Brooklyn and Queens) for free—the company will even include bags of ice. The minimum order is $20, and there is no limit on the quantity that can be delivered (within reason, of course).

Take advantage of still-warm weather with an outdoor bash catered by Pizza Luca. The mobile pizza company added a second wood-burning-oven-equipped 1952 Chevy flatbed truck to its fleet in July. It features mahogany and marble trim; windows that hinge on hydraulic pistons for the support of canopies; and a full-service kitchen with a refrigerated prep table, freezer, sink, and dough mixer. Available for events in the tristate area, the simple menu of authentic Neapolitan pies is made using all-natural, non-processed ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, garlic, mozzarella di bufala, basil, and Sicilian sea salt. Catering starts from $995 for a two-hour event.

In an effort to cut down on printed event materials, the Eventi Hotel has launched its P.S.A.V. Mobile Meeting Manager, a customizable mobile app that turns any conference guest’s smartphone or tablet into an interactive resource, hosting information such as the agenda, speaker lists, attendee lists, a map of the hotel, amenities, social media platforms, and more.

Now available for events in the tristate area through Classic Party Rentals is Zak Events designer Zak Kunish’s line of tables, bars, and lounge seating. The Zak Collection includes four design suites: Library (traditional oak), Chester (tufted leather), Mirror (beveled mirror panels), and Parsons (sleek dark wood).

Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr continues his New York takeover: His event and catering division is now the in-house food and beverage provider at the New York Botanical Gardens, overseeing events and expanding the number of visitor dining locations to include seasonal carts and kiosks serving items like cider doughnuts and hand-held fruit pies. This fall, Starr’s team will also become the exclusive caterer at Carnegie Hall.

Instead of a traditional panel format, organizers created a replica of the set from the game show Hollywood Squares to house two sessions: one featuring nine of the conference’s keynote speakers and another with instructors from the Content Marketing University as game participants. Tim Washer, creative director for Cisco and a comedy writer, served as host, asking participants questions related to content marketing.

Attendees could schedule "brain dates," one-on-one conversations on topics both sides wanted to discuss. They could schedule the conversations before the conference started using the event's Klik platform, or on site with the help of a concierge. The area featured a rainbow cloud-style backdrop. "Brain dates" were created by E180.

The GSV90 videos played on large screens in the Town Square between streams of the general session.

Attendees gathered at the festival stage for panel conversations and fitness sessions.

The raw venue was transformed with colorful, modern furniture that created common space for guests to interact, relax, and get work done. Bright pink wrapping was used to separate the different areas of the event, and T-Mobile offered a spot for charging phones.

A social-media wall aggregated conversations with the conference hashtag #QBConnect.