Fan Expo: The world of fantasy

The heart of Toronto made room for one of the largest events of its kind in the world. The 17th edition of the Fan Expo. This incredible event took place from August 25th until August 28th in the Metro Toronto Convention Center. With 700 exhibits on over 400,000 square feet it was believed to attract more than 75.000 fans.

Even on my way to the event, the streets were full of people dressed into their favourite character. It made people turn their heads.

The event is paradise for the lovers of Anime, Comic, Sci Fi, Horror and Gaming. With celebrity guests, autograph signings, Q&A sessions, seminars and workshops, one could not take the time to stand still. Add up to this the countless comics, books, toys, trading cards, posters and more and you have one incredibly successful event. The event was surprisingly not only for the obvious. Many parents also came with their children for a fun day off.

3D flatscreen tv’s hooked up on Xbox360 and Playstation 3 were immensely popular. Music and (fashion) shows were provided by horror punk bands, fashion brands from Japan and an army of Star Wars fighters. And the celebrity guests keep on getting better.

The most recognizable celebrities of this year were:

Sam Trammell – Sam Merlotte – True Blood
Tom Felton: Draco Malfoy – Harry Potter
Robert Englund – A Nightmare on Elmstreet, V, Supernatural, Babylon 5
Hayden Panettiere: Claire Bennet – Heroes
William Shatner: Captain James T. Kirk – Star Trek
Kevin Sorbo: Hercules – Hercules: The Legendary Journey
Eliza Dushku: Echo, Faith – DollHouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Michael Shanks – Dr. Daniel Jackson – Stargate SG-1
Malcolm McDowell – Dr. Tolian Soran – Star Trek: Generations
Nichelle Nichols – Uhura – Star Trek
Marina Sirtis – Deanne Troi – Star Trek: The Next Generation
Ethan Phillips – Neelix – Star Trek: Voyager

A wide selection of devoted fans and countless of things to do made this a memorable day for all.

For more information go to: www.fanexpocanada.com
For more pictures go to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto

Incentiveworks: The whole world in Toronto!

August 23rd and 24th at Incentiveworks was something I hope you didn’t miss. The Metro Toronto Convention Center was full of event planners, professionals and travel enthusiasts. The perfect fit for companies looking to take their meetings to new places and cultures and allow themselves to be immersed into a world of dreams, entertainment and much more!

While walking though the different aisles we all had a sense that we were travelling the world without having to leave Toronto.

The first thing to do after we enter the hall was enjoy a huge amount of international food samples, like home made nachos from Central America, cheese from France, sushi from Asia, tiramisu from Italy, soufflés and other fruits, cupcakes and candies. Of course, you need to match this food with a drink: wine, beer and special martinis were provided in some both that you got to discover for your own interest and pleasure.

Finally after a good dinner what is better to do than discover the wonders around you. Travelling across the provinces of Canada, the states of America, to Eastern Europe then of to the Pacific and Atlantic Islands.
Of course you could stop in at the best hotels here, and finish your journey with a special massage offered by one of their masseuse.
What else would you need?

Travel all around the world and enjoy the best places for free?
IncentiveWorks was the place to be last week!!!

Best burgers in Toronto located in the core of Liberty Village

The perfect place for a mix and mingle on a sunny summer evening, hidden away from the bustling traffic is right in the heart of Liberty Village. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen (MTK) was the host for our fourth Liberty Social Hour and what an amazing evening it turned out to be. The atmosphere was perfect, very relaxed and casual with just the hint of sophistication. Walking into MTK you are greeted with a smile and escorted to the social hour! The room was filled with people from around the neighbourhood: industry professionals, local businesses and residents. With so many people to talk to, the social hour extended its hours to accommodate the growing buzz in the room.

The food at MTK was AMAZING! We all agreed that the burgers are rightfully voted the best in Toronto. Eating just one left me wanting more! They were also showcasing their signature Mojitos and their Riesling wine, both of which would quench any ones thirst!  Smooth and refreshing and the perfect pairing for your burger!

It was yet again a great Social Hour in the heart of Liberty Village!

http://www.templekitchen.com/

For more pictures go to: Link

Make your event a success in 3 steps

1. Be attractive to guests:
* Offer them specials, something they can’t have somewhere else.
* Choose a well-known venue based on users reviews.
* Give personalised and original goody bags

2. Communication as a priority:
* Mobilize all your social networks.
* Don’t forget the influence of Facebook.
* Use social media for better coordination.
* Let them know everything about what is happening and who is coming.

3. Make your event special:
* Insist on the first and the last impression.
* Energy, Surprise, Spontaneity, Emotion.
* Discussion and contact between people is a priority.

Toronto Blogging Festival is All About Inclusiveness

It’s ironic that blogging conferences are not the best places to share your experiences. For one, newcomers are often too intimidated to start conversations with established bloggers. And even if you are an established blogger, strict conference schedules can make it hard to stick with interesting people.

Word11 wants to get rid of the stigma that blogging conferences are exclusive events. This Toronto festival takes place over 24 hours, meaning there are many chances for bloggers to talk amongst themselves.

That’s not to say that Word11 is only about meeting people. 13 high-profile speakers will be attending the event to share their thoughts on all aspects of blogging.

If you’re on the fence, here’s how Word11 stands apart from other conferences:

1. You’ll have 24 hours to meet interesting people
Conferences usually have after-parties, but they can fizzle out quickly and suffer from spotty attendance. Word11 will continue once the guest speakers are done. In fact, it’ll continue overnight in an environment they’re calling “an outdoor campground for bloggers.” With several hours to chat with others, Word11 could be your most productive all-nighter ever.

2. Presentation streams
Word11 has divided the event into 3 distinct “streams.” The streams deal with: 1) evolving the casual user, 2) entrepreneurship, and 3) hardcore development.

Streams make it easier to find people with similar backgrounds and interests. In the end, this will make starting conversations less awkward. Guest speakers may offer great insight, but hearing from someone dealing with your exact problems can be even more illuminating.

3. Sheer convenience
– The festival is located in downtown Toronto, and is accessible by public transit or car (lots of parking areas).

– People with hectic schedules will find something going on at all times.

– The kind of people going there are savvy with social media. You can bet there will be a trending topic on Twitter to share the conference’s latest developments.

With over 37 000 bloggers in Toronto, Word11 is set to be a hub for fruitful discussions. Novice bloggers are particularly welcome, and will have a hard time finding a more inclusive blogging event.

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