UW Stout/Menomonie Visit Day

Discover Event Management – Activities Landing Page
Event Management · UW–Stout · Interactive Session

Discover How Event Managers Create Experiences

This page will guide you through two quick activities used in your visit session:

  • Activity #1: Human vs. AI Table-Design Challenge
  • Activity #2: Designing the LA Global Fan Experience

Use this page on your phone or laptop while we work. You’ll evaluate details like a professional event planner and think big about global mega-events like the Olympics.

Resources to be used during activities:

The Brown, note Broadway-B

Banquet Calculator

PowerPoint Lecture Slide Deck

Hospitality & Events AI in Practice Global Thinking
Activity #1

Human vs. AI Table-Design Challenge

Time: ~7–8 minutes · Format: Individual work + quick debrief

Step 1 – Look Closely at the Table

You’re seeing a table set for a luncheon. It is a 10-top that has been incorrectly set.

Luncheon table incorrectly set.

Step 2 – Human Observation First

  1. Take a silent scan for about 30 seconds. Just look.
  2. On paper or your device, list everything that feels:
    • Incorrect or confusing
    • Crowded or uncomfortable for guests
    • Challenging for servers who need to move and serve
Hint: Pay attention to the number of place settings, spacing, guest comfort, and where staff would stand or walk.

Step 3 – Ask AI to Evaluate the Table

Now invite an AI assistant to act like a junior event planner.

  1. Open an AI tool on your device (ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Meta AI, etc.).
  2. Upload image and before hitting send, Paste this prompt:
You are the event manager guru of event management development and design. Analyze the table setting for event-planning accuracy and guest experience. Identify any errors, potential guest comfort issues, and operational challenges for servers. Then suggest specific improvements to make this table setup more functional and guest-friendly.

Step 4 – Compare Human vs. AI

  • Which issues did you and the AI both notice?
  • What did you catch that the AI ignored?
  • What did the AI mention that you hadn’t considered?
  • Which analysis feels more realistic for actual guests at this event?

Event managers use both human judgment and technology. Your job someday might be to decide when to trust each.

Activity #2

Designing the LA Global Fan Experience

Time: ~7–10 minutes · Format: Small-group brainstorming + short share-out

Scenario

Imagine the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is considering a partnership with Meta AI, Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, and Microsoft to help visitors from all over the world feel welcome, informed, and included.

Your group is an innovation team. Your challenge: design a tech-enabled fan experience that works across different languages, cultures, and abilities.

Step 1 – Choose a Visitor

Choose one main visitor type to design for (or your instructor will assign one):

  • Multigenerational family from Brazil – mixed English ability, some older relatives overwhelmed by crowds.
  • Solo fan from Japan – tech-savvy, loves stats and data, unsure about LA transportation and customs.
  • Wheelchair user from France – independent, but concerned about accessible routes and seating.
  • Local LA high school volunteer – bilingual (English + Spanish), constantly answering questions from visitors.

Step 2 – Map Their Day at the Games

As a group, list 3–5 key moments in your visitor’s day, such as:

  • Arriving at the airport or station
  • Finding transportation to the venue
  • Entering the stadium or arena
  • Finding their seat, food, restrooms, and merch
  • Understanding what’s happening during the event
  • Sharing their experience with friends or family back home
Mark which moments might be confusing, stressful, or exclusionary because of language, culture, or accessibility barriers.

Step 3 – Use Technology to Help

Now imagine the IOC is officially partnering with these companies. How could each one help your visitor?

  • Meta AI – real-time translation, recommendations, explanations of events and cultural norms.
  • Ray-Ban Meta Glasses – AR arrows and cues, captions, translations, athlete or venue info in view.
  • Microsoft – apps, cloud tools, and dashboards that support volunteers, staff, and visitor information.

Pick 2–3 specific ideas that clearly improve your visitor’s day and could realistically be implemented.

Step 4 – Sponsorship Pitch

Prepare a short pitch (about 60–90 seconds) answering:

  • How does your idea make the Games more welcoming across cultures and languages?
  • How does it use Meta AI, Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, and Microsoft in a realistic way?
  • What does the IOC gain (beyond just “looking innovative”)?
  • What do the tech companies gain as sponsors (brand image, data, stories, impact)?
  • How will you include fans who don’t own high-end devices like smart glasses?

This is exactly the kind of creative problem-solving event managers and sponsors work on when planning global experiences.