Why You Can’t Afford to Miss Skift Meetings Forum 2024

The highly-anticipated Skift Meetings Forum returns for its second edition, preceding the prestigious Skift Global Forum. This one-day event, held on September 17 at The Glasshouse in New York City, is where the industry’s most influential planners will converge for unparalleled learning, networking, and inspiration.

If you’re serious about staying ahead in the meetings industry, here are ten compelling reasons why Skift Meetings Forum should be on your calendar:

1. Experience Skift’s Editorial Excellence Live

Skift’s signature editorial approach is at the heart of Skift Meetings Forum. Expect hard-hitting conversations with top-level executives facilitated by seasoned editors. This is your chance to engage directly with the visionaries shaping the industry’s future, gaining actionable insights you won’t find anywhere else.

2. Engage in Deep, Peer-Led Discussions

The forum is designed to be more than just a listening experience. Our Comparing Notes sessions transform the audience from passive participants to active collaborators. Engage in dynamic roundtable discussions that dive deep into the pressing issues facing the meetings industry. These sessions allow you to learn from peers and contribute your knowledge and expertise.

3. Gain Groundbreaking Insights from Seth Godin

Marketing legend Seth Godin starts the event with a keynote promising to challenge conventional wisdom. Known for his disruptive thinking, Godin will unpack the future of meetings and marketing in a way that only he can. Prepare to leave this session with a fresh perspective and ideas that will set you apart in the industry.

4. Learn How TED and Its Leaders Inspire

Discover what it takes to create transformative experiences from the leader behind TED Conferences. Monique Ruff-Bell will share her strategies for enhancing attendee engagement and community management — insights that can elevate your events to new heights. She will also share her passion for developing future leaders and how this impacts all her work.

5. Expand Your Conceptions of Audiovisual Excellence

In a candid interview, Encore CEO Ben Erwin will share how the AV giant is set for the future after navigating a pandemic and emerging stronger. This session offers a rare look at the future of the event production business — a critical area for any meeting professional — and how innovation and employee well-being are core to success.

6. Explore the Geopolitical Forces Shaping the Industry

With the world’s eyes on the upcoming U.S. presidential election and more than 60 national elections impacting half the world’s population, the forum will tackle the complex intersection of politics and meetings. Join ALHI CEO Michael Dominguez and ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath as they analyze how these forces will impact your events, offering insights that could redefine your strategic approach.

7. Discover What’s Next for Tech Juggernaught Cvent

Cvent CEO Reggie Aggarwal has led what is by far the most significant technology company in meetings since its inception 25 years ago. Aggarwal remains focused and hungry for more. Now, under Blackstone ownership, Cvent continues to grow its core businesses and invest in innovation through acquisitions. But what’s next for Cvent, and how will it ensure another 25 years of growth?

8. Address the Tough Questions on DEI

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is undergoing profound changes that is impacting the meetings industry. Dr. Brandi Baldwin and Bea Boccalandro, two DEI experts, will lead a thought-provoking discussion on how DEI can do more harm than good. Dr. Brandi will also share what happened at Tourism Diversity Matters, the DEI industry group where she was board chair, that was rocked by workplace bullying. In addition, the two will discuss how DEI can exclude instead of include. Expect to leave with a more nuanced understanding of the critical issues impacting DEI and strategies to implement in your work.

9. Get a Fresh Perspective on Corporate Meetings

The corporate outlook on meetings and events has profound implications for the entire industry. Bishop-McCann CEO Rob Adams and ELX CEO Nicola Kastner will join us to help uncover where corporate events are headed. How does a company navigate the “sweet spot” between what business leaders want and attendees need? Their insights into the forces driving corporate meetings will help you align your strategies with the business world’s evolving needs.

10. Uncover Ways to Attract Younger Generations

With the help of Ken Holsinger, Freeman’s senior vice president of strategy, we’re diving into Freeman’s most recent data to understand the preferences of younger attendees and what planners need to do to attract them. We’re also exploring what it takes to attract the next generation of meeting professionals to the industry with IMEX CEO Carina Bauer and PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat.

Join Us at Skift Meetings Forum 2024—Where the Future of Meetings Begins

Whether you’re attending in person or can only follow our reporting online, Skift Meetings Forum offers the key insights and connections you need to stay at the forefront of the industry. Don’t miss out on the real conversations that will shape the future of meetings.