Top Trending Stories on BizBash: October 2021

Because data can be extremely telling, we thought the rest of the industry could benefit from what our editors are seeing on the back end—that is, what event pros are really staying on top of right now. Consider this monthly list your own insider pulse on the event and meeting industry.

1. 30+ Corporate Holiday Party Ideas for 2021
Whether you’re planning an intimate, small-scale event or a virtual gathering, here are plenty of creative ideas for celebrating the season.

2. Salesforce Understood the Assignment With Its Dreamforce 2021 Hybrid Experience
Robust safety protocols for the on-site event? Check. Interactive virtual component? Check. Keep reading for a closer look at the creative and technical strategies behind Salesforce's biggest annual consumer event.

3. 7 Things Event Marketers Can Learn From This Gymshark Brand Activation
To celebrate its new collaboration with fitness star Whitney Simmons, the activewear brand built a stylish, multifaceted event that was part retail pop-up, part panel discussion, part community gathering space—and all selfie heaven.

4. 20 Steal-Worthy Ideas for a “Pandemic-Proof” Experiential Brand Activation
From immersive drive-thrus to at-home experiences to tech-forward activities, here are some of our favorite ways brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Hershey's, Bumble and Veuve Clicquot have safely activated during the pandemic.

5. How Coca-Cola and Univision Pulled Off an Interactive Live Experience That Doubled as an Award Show
The Backlot Music Experience brought together 150 in-person attendees for a day of experiential brand activations, Coca-Cola and Latin food pairings, live performances and cooking demos—oh, and the filming of an award show.

6. 16 Halloween-Themed Virtual Team-Building Ideas
From virtual murder mysteries and escape rooms to horror movie trivia games and pumpkin-carving classes, there's something here for every personality type.

7. Halloween Party Inspiration: Creative Ways Brands, Venues and Event Pros Are Celebrating This Year
From themed cocktails to spooky walkthroughs to interactive scares, here's how brands like T-Mobile, Hulu and Veuve Clicquot are celebrating Halloween this year.

8. 11 Corporate Holiday Gift Ideas for 2021
From flowers to food, here are some goodies that your clients, employees and colleagues will appreciate.

9. See This Sexy, Traffic-Stopping Stunt From Rihanna’s Lingerie Brand
To celebrate the Amazon Prime Video release of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 3 special, the team created an eye-catching performance on a busy Manhattan street.

10. How to Throw a High-Profile Gala in the Era of COVID-19
This year’s San Francisco Symphony opening night gala took a more relaxed, COVID-safe approach than in previous years. But the design and logistics were anything but simple.

11. 6 Apps That Send Invitations Right From Your Phone
New and updated mobile apps allow event pros to design, send and manage invitations.

12. See Inside the Dior Beauty Pop-Up That Went Viral During NYFW
AGENC produced a floral-packed activation for the fashion house’s new perfume. Here's a closer look at the experience that took over social media feeds during New York Fashion Week.

13. See How Other Event Pros Are Tackling Corporate Holiday Parties in 2021
From socially distanced, in-person bashes to creative gifting solutions to virtual team building, here's what event pros around the world predict for this year's holiday parties.

14. 2022 Forecast: What’s Next in Florals and Event Design
Top event designers share their biggest predictions and favorite trends for the year ahead.

15. How BMW Transformed a Centuries-Old Palace Into a Futuristic Concert Venue
The brand’s presence at the IAA Mobility Summit in Germany included a first-of-its-kind concert from composer Hans Zimmer, which brought an immersive light show to the historic Brunnenhof Courtyard at the Munich Residence.