The new rule for event seating is that there are no rules. Everything is mix and match now,” says Tom Budas, director of marketing for AOO Events in Los Angeles, Calif. “No one wants to see only matching table rounds. Mixing in custom-made belly bar height with high-backed bar stools makes the design more interesting.” [...]

Tents fit right in with the comeback trends of holiday parties. Pre-recession style big blowout holiday parties have been an easy budget cut for corporations facing an uncertain future. According to Catersource magazine, caterers nationwide reported that December 2009 showed the biggest year-over-year drop in business of any month since the start of the recession. [...]

What’s hot for the 2011 wedding season. The 2011 event season is right around the corner, and with it comes a treasure chest of fun and whimsy with new (and some old) trends! While it is fun to bask in the trendy “eye candy,” remember that trends are great upsells, and the key to taking [...]

Creative trends in event linens—for any budget. Trends in event linens usually flow from the fashion runway, but budgets in a slow economy are driving event planners to make creative choices with tablecloths, napkins and chair decor. Barbara Ellis, marketing manager for Chicago, Ill.-based BBJ Linen, says that event planners are trying to get the [...]

The disaster relief tent market is unpredictable, but the rewards can be satisfying—professionally and personally. By Jill C. Lafferty The market for disaster relief shelters is a good news-bad news scenario. A sudden demand for relief tents usually means that in some part of the world, people are suffering. This was certainly true the first [...]

Bike, run, walk or jump—if there’s a ’thon raising money, there’s usually a need for tents. Bike-a-thons and similar sporting fundraisers have been growing in popularity for decades, and the Houston-to-Austin MS 150 is a great example. In its 26-year history, the fundraiser has evolved from 237 cyclists who raised $117,000 in 1985 to its [...]

A fun dance floor is a surefire way to get a party started. And today’s colorful, customizable options are a great choice for all kinds of tented events. Got a corporate logo? Put it on a dance floor. Have a product to highlight? Use an LED floor. Need to get guests into the action? Try [...]

The trend toward doing more with less as the world economy begins its recovery is a factor in the United Kingdom’s tent and event rental industry. “Big and ostentatious hospitality structures are out, and quality and value are in,” says Anthony Marsh, managing director of L.H. Woodhouse & Co. in Nottingham, U.K. “Businesses have been [...]

Hot trends in tented weddings. By Joanna Baymiller Trends are the weather fronts of the special events world: by the time you identify them, they’re on their way to the next town. The challenge of providing the tent type and accessories du jour can be daunting for tent and event professionals. Whether the goal is [...]

It’s time to take stock of inventory and anticipate what your clients will want in the 2010 season. InTents asked tented event pros to predict what trends will come on strong in 2010 and what will be left behind in 2009. Becky Harris, CSEP, director of sales Event Lab LLC, Minneapolis, Minn. Ring in the [...]