Iceland has experienced more than 2,000 mini-earthquakes with a volcano close to erupting on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Meetings and conferences in the country have yet to be impacted. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Since joining Maritz Global Events in 2017, Jill Blood has tackled everything from international privacy laws to the legality of renting blimps. Blood's artful navigation of the legal middle ground is as thrilling as it is crucial. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Hospitals, vaccination sites, now overflow shelter sites. That is a possibility for some convention centers as cities struggle to provide housing for incoming migrants and asylum seekers. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Bleisure travel is here to stay, so why not build meeting agendas with a balance of business and pleasure baked right in? We look to Budapest for four great ways to infuse an event schedule with cultural experiences of all kinds. -Budapest Convention Bureau | Continue reading
Two-thirds of meeting attendees do not like panel discussions, yet 95 percent of conferences and conventions include them. We've all had to sit through Most conferences include panels even though they are boring and a waste of time. What can be done to liven them up? | Continue reading
Sometimes, there’s no better way to get a firm grasp on industry best practices than to learn from case studies. Here are two Danish congresses that reveal the best ways to approach event legacies from beginning to end. -MeetDenmark | Continue reading
This year, more anti-LGBTQ bills are brewing in the U.S. than ever before. While boycotting may seem morally logical, new LGBTQ+ meetings and hospitality association Global Diversity Alliance, encourages planners to seek other alternatives. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
U.S. Travel Association is restructuring and, in its wake, has created a new position to increase group travel to the United States. Ishma Haider, director of convention marketing at Visit Orlando, will assume this new role. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Marsha Flanagan is the new president and CEO of the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) as of December 1, 2023. She replaces Cathy | Continue reading
RingCentral's savvy acquisition of Hopin's main assets could prove a shrewd investment. With a new pricing structure, fresh approach to customer data and some handy AI enhancements, RingCentral Events is now ready for the spotlight. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Convention centers may already be the top venue choice for many events, but they can be so much more than just the practical default option. Discover three ways to leverage your venue partnership for an unforgettable event experience. -Tourism Calgary | Continue reading
Don’t be fooled by generic concessions and terms offered by hotels. Having the right negotiating strategy will save time and money. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
Eventgroove CEO Lance Trebesch believes in building great client relations through clear and fair pricing. He sees future events as sustainable, tech-augmented gatherings. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
MGM, Caesars and Wynn have all reached tentative deals with the unions. The deal comes days before the city welcomes hundreds of thousands of Formula One fans. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Visa processing delays have prevented some international attendees from participating in trade shows and conferences. There is an effort underway to help, but what will a looming government shutdown mean to visa issues? -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Discover the definitive handbook to unlocking your full leadership potential and carving out a successful career in the thrilling world of events. -Skift Meetings Studio Team | Continue reading
Cvent CEO Reggie Aggarwal shared leadership lessons and highlighted the importance of listening to customers during the opening session of Cvent Connect Europe 2023. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Acapulco is picking up the pieces after Hurricane Otis, a surprise Category 5 hurricane with 165 mph winds, devastated this Mexican resort town, and the meeting planning industry is helping. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Could a room block marketplace be the solution to wiping out attrition charges? Three Florida-based entrepreneurs are betting on it. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
A new report from Cvent says that despite rising costs two-thirds of planners across Europe have increased event budgets compared to 2022. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
Legends, a stadium operations corporation, is acquiring ASM Global, a venue-management company to create a premium live events company. This merger will help in the battle against Oak View Group, which has taken the industry by storm. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
A closer look at the international associations that have received industry funding in recognition of the positive impact and social legacy created by their meetings -Miguel Neves and Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
Data, paired with insights, is at the core of successful event marketing decisions and is more critical than ever. It helps meeting professionals design events that appeal to the audience they are hoping to attract. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Despite the decline in numbers compared to the pre-Covid era, a recent study on the value of the exhibitions industry in the UK presents encouraging figures for 2022, suggesting a complete recovery is not far out. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Gary LaBranche, the CEO of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, shares what it was like to have to cancel the last day of its conference where close to 10,000 were gathered due to a nearby shooting. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Encore showcased how intentional event design and high-level production can create inclusive experiences that help give attendees a sense of belonging. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
Australia's significant investment in infrastructural growth during the Covid pandemic is paying off. New hotels and venues await business event attendees keen to experience Aussie hospitality. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
“If not us, then who?” Al Hutchinson, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore, asks when discussing the issue of gun violence. The number of incidents is Gun violence is impacting all aspects of life, meetings and conventions included. | Continue reading
The new Southwest Business Meetings platform made a splash at this year's IMEX America. Now, the airline is considering expanding the platform's capabilities beyond group air travel booking. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Business Events are booming in Sydney, according to BESydney’s latest financial report that reflects the destination’s strength as an incentive market. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
This nonprofit provides a socially conscious alternative to destination boycotts when local laws are not aligned with a group’s values. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
For 15 years, this convention-organizing company has produced its own conferences alongside the core business of managing association events. CEO Ori Lahav projects these events will become Kenes' main revenue stream in just two years. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Meeting Professionals International (MPI) recently announced the acquisition of “the Event,” one of Eastern Canada’s largest education and networking Meeting Professionals International (MPI) has further expanded its global presence and authority as a leader in the events industr … | Continue reading
Hubilo's rise from a niche virtual platform to a serious player in the virtual event space appears to have dramatically ended. In a twist of faith, in-person events may come to the rescue via badging specialists Fielddrive, a company it acquired in February. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Web Summit is eagerly anticipating the arrival of 70,000 attendees in Lisbon in just two weeks. With a fresh CEO at the helm, it is determined to reclaim its position as the epicenter of the tech world, for all the right reasons. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Destination organizations are constantly evolving. Destinations International is helping them thrive by helping them keep track of new trends and develop strategies to address challenges and opportunities. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
My Health, My Data is a game-changing new consumer privacy law focused on health data that should be on the radar of every meeting professional. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Virginie De Visscher is now officially the top representative of Canada in the business events sector. Her leadership, and special focus on sustainability, are setting the tone for attracting business to the country. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Google Xi’s CoLaboratory on the IMEX America show floor was an area that encouraged play, exploration, and experimentation. But this was just the beginning. There were additional Google Xi experiences sprinkled throughout the show. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
Discussing boycotting destinations over discriminatory legislation may cause flashbacks, and bleisure travelers are so 2020. But these macro trends are reemerging, and industry leaders are looking to find ways to deal with them. -Rayna Katz | Continue reading
After Skift Meetings published an article about a wheelchair venue tour, accessibility advocates strongly objected to disability simulation exercises. Now, we are revisiting the topic to provide a platform for the concerns that were raised. -Angela Tupper | Continue reading
Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing the world. Not only is it crucial to understand the nuances of this fast-moving technology revolution, but also its possible legal ramifications. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
A new report points to the recovery of 13 of the top 25 U.S. markets for hotel group business compared to 2019. -Miguel Neves and Refugio Garcia | Continue reading
The UNBROKEN Emergency Summit is a call to mobilize mission-based associations whose members can contribute to the construction of Lviv's rehabilitation center and the recovery of Ukraine. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Breaking all records, this IMEX America was a very positive sign for an industry now looking beyond recovery and on to sustainable growth. In this video review, we share 11 highlights from our time at the show. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading
Jaimé Bennett leads PCMA's ambitious growth strategy in Europe with her distinctive style of transparent and genuine leadership. She is dedicated to organizing impactful events that foster safe and inclusive environments, fearlessly addressing significant industry challenges such … | Continue reading
Record attendance and buyer numbers are positive signs for an industry looking beyond recovery and towards sustained growth. -Miguel Neves and Andrea Doyle | Continue reading
A proliferation of internal meetings and customer advisory boards will help the meetings industry continue to grow next year. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading