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In this Smart Start Radio Coffee Chat, host Eming Piansay explores the “activation afterlife,” or the moments attendees keep talking about long after the event is over. Inspired by Kate Zaliznock’s Smart Meetings story, “Marriott International’s Luxury Group: Activations That Stick,” this episode looks at how planners can design experiences that move beyond agenda-fillers and become lasting memories.

From wine blending in Santa Barbara and Broadway-style performances in New York to Eming’s recent experiences in Puerto Rico and Central Oregon, this Coffee Chat breaks down the difference between an activity attendees do and an activation they feel. Eming shares how food, culture, landscape and local storytelling can turn a destination into more than a backdrop. They can make it part of the meeting’s emotional impact.

Planner takeaways include how to design for what attendees carry home, how to let the destination do more of the work and why every activation should be aligned with the event’s larger objective.

Read the full story, “Marriott International’s Luxury Group: Activations That Stick,” on SmartMeetings.com.