SFEA Summer Seminar - Chamblee, GA

Join us in Chamblee, GA, for a one day in-person seminar!

Aligning Events with Organizational Goals
Great events should do more than fill a calendar. They should support the bigger picture. This session will explore how events can be intentionally tied to tourism, economic development, placemaking, community engagement, fundraising and organizational priorities. Attendees will walk away with ideas for evaluating whether their events are truly serving their mission and how to better communicate that value to leadership, sponsors, partners and stakeholders.

Fail Forward: The Events That Finally Got It Right
Not every successful event started that way. This session will feature real stories from event professionals about events that struggled, shifted or completely missed the mark before eventually finding success. Speakers will share what went wrong, what had to change and what lessons other event planners can take with them. This session is designed to be honest, practical and encouraging for anyone who has ever had to rethink an event after things did not go as planned.

Lunch Session: The Guest Experience Blueprint
Wedding planners are experts at managing timelines, emotions, vendors, expectations and the tiny details guests may never notice, but definitely feel. In this 30-minute lunch session, attendees will hear how lessons from the wedding industry can translate to festivals, community events, conferences and destination experiences. From creating smoother arrivals to thinking through flow, signage, hospitality, vendor communication and memorable guest moments, this session will focus on simple ways event planners can make their events feel more intentional, organized and welcoming.

After the Final Whistle: Lessons Learned from the Summer of Soccer
The summer of soccer brought major energy, attention and opportunity to Metro Atlanta and surrounding communities. This session will explore how cities, destinations, hotels, venues and event organizers responded to that momentum. Did communities create watch parties or related programming? Did hotels see an impact? How did destinations try to drive visitors beyond downtown Atlanta? What worked, what missed the mark and what opportunities were left on the table?

Chamblee Tour
End the day with a chance to experience the City of Chamblee firsthand. This tour could highlight Downtown Chamblee, public spaces, redevelopment areas and unique community assets that show how the city is using events, placemaking and destination development to bring people into the area.