Meetings Blog Feb 01, 2019
“Elementary, my dear Watson.” This commonly quoted reply from the great English detective Sherlock Holmes to his trusty assistant Dr. John H. Watson may not have been used in the books of Conan Doyle, but captures the essence of the great man perfectly. As we quickly learned, Holmes was already ahead of everyone else in the investigation, he was the genius of the operation, after all.
However, the perfect balance between the two men was what made them so successful, and with thoughts of the new movie Holmes and Watson, featuring protagonists Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, we look at how planners in the meeting and events industry could learn a thing or two from them. And how better to do so than with our own planning mysteries to solve…
Finding a venue for the upcoming meeting shouldn’t be too difficult. But then again, it has to be somewhere that ticks all the boxes: close to transit points; suitable sized rooms; an abundance of facilities, and the rest. Sherlock is straight onto this one. His meticulous mind works through all the possible options, narrowing them down with his unparalleled deductive reasoning until the decision is obvious. Watson, however, is by his side the whole way. As his esteemed colleague disappears onto the next item, the doctor holds back and digs a little further into the human aspect of the venue organizer, for example, how the attendees’ experience will flow through the day. Getting both parts right sees the legend uncovered.
Putting together a very satisfactory meeting or event is one thing; blowing the minds of the attendees is another. And not everyone can unearth that often-elusive missing ingredient. Sherlock would certainly use his honed observation skills to tap into the latest fads: cutting edge technology, inspiring décor ideas, and foodie bites to die for. Watson, on the other hand, would be coming at the ‘case’ from his own angle, considering sustainable products, mindfulness activities, and the most stimulating speaker for the occasion. No magnifying glass required to solve this mystery.
Holmes and Watson have shown themselves to be a more than adequate duo, fighting for truth, justice, and for our purposes, successful events. What they also know, however, is that even they cannot do it alone. Their skills are impressive, but they cannot generate more than 24 hours in a given day. For this reason they appreciate the value of collaborating with the wider security team, in their case the police, and the one man said to be smarter than Sherlock, his brother Mycroft. Event planning can throw all sorts of challenges your way and using the collective group, including the expertise of your venue provider, can make the seemingly illogical logical.
The magnifying glass was arguably Sherlock Holmes’ most iconic piece of kit, although interestingly this is not something that he would necessarily carry around with him. Instead, Holmes would ensure that he always had a number of key items to perform the basic functions of his expertise, including something to write with and on, a light source, a knife and a pocket tool set. With that in mind, a well-organized planner must also consider the tasks that lie ahead for their specific event, and source the appropriately innovative tools for success. A customized website; interactive flipcharts; industry platforms; 3D Meeting Planner Virtual Planner®; high-tech sound and lighting options… Just like Holmes, ensure you are ready for the quest in front of you.
As we’ve seen, a genius mind is not the only aspect required for either detective work or event planning: a steady, social aspect is also vital for success. By tapping into both attributes of yourself, or using the skills of those around you, including an experienced event partner such as NH Hotel Group, you can be sure to unlock all the mysteries in your path. And you won’t even need that famed magnifying glass!
