Hello hello there!
We’ve been feeling the LOVE in February…a love for our client work, new projects and events, and a love for other experiences too.
SAYING YES Just take two weeks ago - I said YES to a new adventure. I had so many reasons to say NO. We have deadlines, there are lots of spinning plates and an endless stream of new business enquiries. But – I said YES! And I’m so delighted I did.
Rachel, a former colleague of mine, asked me to accompany her to Abu Dhabi to the Tech Powered Luxury event at the Irish Ambassador’s private residence. Rachel and I joined a host of Irish fashion and jewellery designers, Irish media and UAE-based influencers at the event which covered a live podcast recording, a fashion show and networking. Although Rachel’s days in PR are long behind her, her PR training has stood her in good stead. From the involvement at the event to maximising the models and imagery, building her social following and personal brand, this was a one-off opportunity that Rachel maximised for her new bridal dress business, The White Era, which sits alongside Rachel’s long-established bridal boutique https://www.thewhitegalleryboutique.co.uk/
For me, I got to spend time with Rachel, meet new people and reconnect with some others, see new things and simply take two days out from our PR, deadline-driven world.
We visited the Louvre, Abu Dhabi, the amazing St Regis Hotel on Saadiyat Island (where we spotted a family photoshoot on St Valentine’s Day that was complete with a seven-strong crew), one of the largest mosques in the world - the incredible Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - and we finished off an epic trip with dinner at Hakkasan Abu Dhabi. Set within the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental… honestly, I have NEVER visited such an opulent hotel. I love a little OTT but this was on a whole other level! What a 48-hours, whistlestop trip to Abu Dhabi!
COOKING UP A STORM AT CATEX: Back on Irish soil, this February marked 60 years of CATEX - one of Europe’s longest-running trade events. Organised by the superb team at EventHaus on behalf of IFSA, we have worked alongside the EventHaus team for many years, providing the comms support for the event.
CATEX is right up there as one of our favourite events. Created for the hospitality, foodservice and catering sectors, CATEX is a feature-rich event that welcomes 12,000 visitors every two years. This year’s event was exceptional - from the standout quality of the exhibitor stands to the mix of exhibitors and programme of events.
Jill and I attended the event, which was superb. After our work (of course 😊), we nibbled our way around the show, spotted new trends in cuisine, met some seriously progressive businesses and watched the bartenders ‘in the mix’ at the Irish Cocktail Championships. We met baristas, young budding chefs and catering veterans who all shared a love for the vibrance of hospitality.
Business-to-business events are a particular favourite of RNN’s and in this digital-first world, there’s a realness that exhibitions offer. I truly believe that their value will increase and the importance of expos will be elevated as we seek to build real connections that the digital world just can’t offer. Through face-to-face opportunities, meaningful business discussions can take place, new connections are made, and there’s a chance to see and taste products in real life.
Not everyone understands how to market B-2-B but for us, this is our bread and butter. We have years of experience delivering comms for trade events, and that’s why we know our stuff, especially when it comes to how exhibitors can boost their presence at trade events.
In this month’s blog article, Jill shares some very solid advice on how exhibitors can maximise their event - for the full article, click here: https://rnncommunications.com/blog/top-tips-before-you-turn-up-to-a-trade-show/
#TRENDING I know what you’re thinking…eye-roll (me too sometimes) - but the facts are that if you can keep up to speed on what’s trending on social, what’s in vogue, what to tap into - you’ll supercharge your social with relativity the same time input. So being aware of the trends isn't just common sense but it makes financial sense. It saves time and makes your social pop.
I’m all about effectiveness and efficiency, and continually questioning what’s new, what’s trending, how our work reflects this and what are the results. Delighted to see that Tara’s blog this month is on current trends. So whether it is to expand your reach, launch new products or reach new demographics, consider incorporating Tara’s social trends in your future content – Three Social Media Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2025 & What to Watch Out For - rnn communications
And we move…. marching into March with renewed vigour, exciting client campaigns and new names in our inboxes. Onwards we go.
As always, my inbox is open for any questions. I wish you all a year of progress ahead and if we can be of help in any way, please do get in touch.
Over & out,
Riki
