What Makes a Meetings & Events Idea Worthy of an IDEA Award in 2026
Skift Take
As AI reshapes how we work, the value of in-person connection feels sharper than ever. The organizations enabling smarter, more human-centered meetings are setting a new standard in business events.
Behind every impactful conference, incentive trip, product launch, or executive summit is an ecosystem of suppliers, destinations, venues, and technology partners. These enablers influence everything from sourcing strategy to on-site execution to post-event reporting.
Skift IDEA Awards include a dedicated Meetings & Events category to spotlight the organizations and ideas driving that progress.
What Judges Are Looking For
An award-worthy submission shows intention and impact.
Judges want to understand the thinking behind the idea and the results it generated. That could mean:
- Improving how meeting venue/destinations are sourced or contracted
- Strengthening the commercial performance of group business
- Making data more accessible to planners and stakeholders
- Elevating the attendee experience in ways that drive measurable results
The strongest entries often reflect how business events are actually approved, budgeted, and evaluated today.
Meet the Judges
This year’s judges bring deep, enterprise-level perspective from both the corporate buyer and procurement side.
- Julie Lehnis, Global Strategic Meetings Manager, Apple Inc
- Quentin Remy, Head of Global Procurement and Strategic Sourcing, MCI
When you submit, you are presenting your work to professionals who understand sourcing complexity, stakeholder alignment, and performance accountability.
Human Impact, Backed by Systems
Differentiation, in the current AI-driven landscape, often lies in how well organizations combine human insight with operational intelligence.
If you invested in infrastructure that improved flexibility, integrated technology to simplify reporting, or redesigned processes to reduce friction across the event lifecycle, that is meaningful. If those changes helped clients demonstrate ROI with confidence, that is powerful.
Skift IDEA Awards recognition follows ideas that enhance connection while strengthening business performance.
Show the Shift
When preparing your submission, move beyond feature descriptions and focus more on explaining the transformation.
- What was different before?
- What is working better now?
- What evidence supports that progress?
A concise, case-study style narrative supported by relevant metrics will always stand out.
Why Should You Apply for Skift IDEA Awards?
Meetings and events face higher expectations from leadership, procurement, and attendees alike. Organizations that respond with clarity and innovation are gaining advantage in competitive RFPs and long-term partnerships.
Skift IDEA Awards signal that your organization is shaping the future of business events. It reinforces credibility with buyers and elevates your position within the industry.
If You Are Driving That Future
If your work enables planners to operate more effectively, helps destinations attract higher-value programs, or equips clients with sharper insight into performance, your idea belongs in the conversation.
Explore the Meetings & Events categories for 2026 Skift IDEA Awards and enter today.
Lock in the early-bird price today with our Buy Now, Submit Later process. This means you can secure your entry at the lowest rate, then take your time perfecting it.
✔ Pay now to guarantee the best price
✔ Upload and edit your entry anytime
✔ Finalize right up until the submission deadline
Why wait? Save now - polish later.
