7 Ways to Next Gen-Proof Your Events
The first step in appealing to younger generations is understanding their need for authenticity, personalization, and community.
All Topics
Accessibility & Inclusion
10 Things Planners Get Wrong About Designing Events for Younger Generations
Gen Z and Millennials are projected to make up 75% of the workforce by 2030 — and we still have little clue as to how to engage them.
Service Dogs at Meetings: 6 Important Questions Answered
When it comes to service animals, planners need to know what questions to ask both the attendee and and their suppliers to avoid any issues.
Announcements
Skift Meetings Forum Isn’t for Everyone. That’s the Point.
As meetings face more scrutiny, the value of peer-level conversation has become significantly higher.
5 Forces Reshaping the Business of Events in 2026
Geopolitics, AI, and economic challenges are forcing event leaders to rethink where events happen and how they prove their value.
What Makes a Meetings & Events Idea Worthy of an IDEA Award in 2026
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.
Budgeting & Cost Savings
33 Cost-Cutting Tips from the Pros
Planners are searching for solutions to combat rising costs on F&B, transportation, labor, and other aspects of their events.
15 F&B Hacks Planners Can Use to Cut Costs
We went straight to the source, our meeting planner audience, for ways to shrink your F&B budget.
5 Ways to Cut Incentive Travel Costs Without Winners Knowing
Cost increases as a result of tariffs are hitting event budgets hard at a time when planners have already been navigating rising costs due to inflation. What can incentive planners do?
Careers & Personal Development
25 Must-Know Meeting Planning Terms
CSM, CVB, DMC. Beginner planners face an alphabet soup of acronyms. These 25 terms will get you off to a strong start — and there are hundreds more where they came from.
The Event Job Market's New Rules
If you feel like your resume keeps going into a black hole, here’s why — and what you can do about it.
10 Networking Strategies for Beginners
One of the most effective ways to build your career is by making connections — but it’s not always easy to meet new people at networking events. These 10 tips will help.
Contracts & Duty of Care
15 Questions to Ask Hotels About Their Human Trafficking Policies
If you want to know how a potential hotel partner deals with human trafficking, start with these questions.
6 Things Planners Need to Know About Incentives and Taxes
Recipients are required to pay taxes on incentive merchandise, trips, and even gift cards — not just on cash bonuses.
Meeting Planners’ Favorite Contract Clauses for Avoiding Surprise Costs
Contracts are a planner’s first line of defense against extra costs on everything from rates to F&B — and those annoying hidden fees.
Coronavirus
Planners Beware, Covid Cases on the Rise
A new Covid variant is sweeping across the United States. One industry professional raises the alarm after contracting the virus at a recent convention.
What E3’s Cancellation Means for the Meetings Industry
65,000 attendees, 4,000 jobs, and $88 million in revenue won't be coming to Los Angeles in June, with leading video-game-industry trade show E3 canceled for 2023. It was meant to be the first in-person show since 2019. However, major exhibitors were unwilling to commit. Will other events follow suit?
China Shutters Major Event 9 Hours Before Opening Due to Covid Outbreak
TCT Asia, a major trade show, was shut down by Shenzhen authorities nine hours before it was set to open due to Covid numbers in the city creeping up to 24. Navigating policies and enforcements like this is a challenge for show and event planners, but it’s a reality that’s here to stay.
Destinations
London & Partners Faces Cuts, Lands $9.4M Anti-Disinformation Campaign
The Mayor of London is investing millions to try and change how the city is perceived online. London & Partners will run the campaign despite being impacted by funding cuts that curtail its work in attracting business events.
U.S. News & World Report’s Inaugural Meeting Destination Rankings: Here’s How Cities Stacked Up
U.S. News & World Report has taken a stab at rating meeting destinations — and landed a few surprises.
Why Executive Retreats Are Moving Beyond the Usual Big Cities
Move over, New York, D.C., and San Francisco. Meeting planners tasked with bringing together VIP groups are shifting their focus to unexpected destinations like Louisville.
Diversity and Inclusion
Helping Build the Events Industry's Next Generation
The Annabelle Project isn't the events industry's first mentorship program, but it may be the first one paying deliberate attention to who the industry has been overlooking.
Gendered Ageism: The Events Industry’s Chronic Issue
Women event professionals report being stereotyped, harassed, unable to balance work and family, paid less than men, and then as the ultimate insult, forced out of their jobs at the late stage of their careers. And that’s in an industry made up mostly of women.
Women’s Conferences Just Keep Evolving
Olympic athletes and former U.S. presidents on stage. Private invites to an AI discussion at Gloria Steinem's brownstone. Intimate opportunities to meet investors. These women's conferences keep raising the bar.
Event Design
As Europe Swelters, Event Organizers Face a New Reality: Heat Emergency Planning
Europe's heatwave is forcing organizers to cancel events and rethink attendee safety in real-time. The question is no longer whether extreme heat will disrupt the events calendar; it's whether the industry has built the protocols to respond when it does.
Sales Incentive Programs: Why Luxury Resorts Aren’t Enough
Corporate incentive travel has historically relied on luxury. But today’s top earners are demanding something far more valuable: meaning.
What’s Behind Forrester’s Pivot to Smaller Events
The research firm is betting big on shorter, more intimate forums to reverse a 57% decline in event revenue over three years.
Event Logistics & Operations
5 Things You Should Know About Medical Meetings
Compliance issues and transparency demands make medical and pharma meetings among the most complicated and challenging types of events to plan.
10 Things Planners Get Wrong When Hiring Entertainers
While planners put the most effort into education and programming, it’s the entertainers — from musicians to mentalists — who often leave a lasting impression.
6 Ways to Make Using Temps Less Stressful
Temps can make or break an event, yet recruiting and training gig workers is often an afterthought.
Event Management
What’s Keeping Attendees Away?
The biggest growth opportunity for events is not your current attendees. It’s those fence-sitters who keep deciding that your event isn't worth their time or money.
There's a New Way to Add Production to Your SMMP
As strategic meetings management expands beyond hotel and air spend to take on things like AV and event production, there’s growing potential for increased savings.
How Planners Are Extending Impact to Justify Event Spend
As costs rise, meetings that keep attendees engaged beyond the opening and closing sessions are the ones most likely to win executive buy-in.
Event Marketing & Promotion
How to Build an Event Audience
Get the right people in the room and everything — content, sponsors, buzz — comes together. Miss that, and even the best-run event lands flat.
6 Ways Planners Can Get Started on TikTok
TikTok is the social media platform of choice for showcasing events using video. But plan to spend some time familiarizing yourself with the site before jumping in, or users might pass right by.
5 Strategies for Marketing Events to a Younger Audience
Planners spend a lot of time and effort tailoring meeting content and delivery to younger attendees. Make sure your marketing efforts get the same level of attention.
Event Technology
10 Instagram Strategies to Build Buzz Around Your Event
With some planning and creativity, planners can turn Instagram into a powerful marketing tool for events of all kinds.
5 Tech Tools Making Planners’ Lives Easier
There might be an initial learning curve, but planners say once they are up to speed, these technologies are not only improving their meetings but lightening their load.
7 Ways Next-Gen Attendees are Reshaping Event Tech
Planners need to rethink how they use technology in every aspect of their meetings, or they risk losing the attention of the biggest percentage of their attendees — Millennials and Gen Zers.
Ideas & Inspiration
10 Alternatives to Serving Sweets at Events
As attendees strive to eat healthier, here are 10 ideas for replacing decadent desserts and sweet treats as room gifts.
8 Places to Find Inspiration for Your Events
Creativity is rarely a straight line — it’s an exploration. This is where planners get fresh ideas for their events.
10 Ways to Add Art to Your Events
Whether you choose to bring in a live painter or take attendees out of their comfort zones with a plein air painting class, you’ll leave a lasting impression.
Incentive Travel
Five Key Insights From Next-Gen Incentive Travel Winners
New research sheds light on old assumptions about what actually motivates the different generations.
Amway Takes 12,000 Attendees to Bangkok
When Amway China comes to town with its Annual Leadership Seminar, it’s always a phenomenon. For this year’s convention, Bangkok pulled out all the stops.
Is Golf at Business Events Still a Thing?
Though the sport of golf is on the rise, is that the case with meetings and incentives?
Industry News
Julie Coker Is Leaving NYC Tourism + Conventions as City Funding Push Continues
Julie Coker lobbied publicly for $11.9 million in additional city funding, then announced she's leaving for Visit California. Whether New York answers that ask, or doesn’t, is now a question the next CEO inherits.
First JW Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Reflects Growing Trend Toward Luxury
For VIP groups, luxury all-inclusive resorts are emerging that are on par with many top-tier properties in their destination.
Life Science Connect Expands Events Business With Biopharma Acquisition
A three-year-old events startup just found a buyer — and the speed of that exit says something about how quickly niche professional communities have become acquisition targets.
Inspiration
Your Skift Meetings Holiday Gift: The Complete Collection of 2025 Reports and Webinars
Skift Meetings’ collection of 2025 reports and webinars tackles the industry’s real pressure points — from costs, talent gaps, and geopolitics to AI, incentives, and experience design
Skift Meetings’ 2026 Meetings Industry Events Calendar
Stay ahead of industry trends, connect with peers, and discover new opportunities at the meetings industry’s top events.
Experiential Event Marketing on a Budget: Creative Wins that Work
Experiential marketing is often associated with jaw-dropping installations, celebrity appearances, and multimillion-dollar budgets. But what if you’re a mid-sized brand, a destination marketing team, or an independent event producer with a fraction of that funding?
Meetings Innovators
Kyle Jordan Uses Innovation to Strengthen Human Connection
For Kyle Jordan, innovation isn’t about dazzling attendees with the latest technology. It’s about removing friction to build a stronger sense of belonging and connection.
Sina Bünte Applies Olympic-Level Thinking to Event Innovation
For Sina Bünte, innovation isn’t about disruption; it’s about execution. Drawing on lessons from the Olympic Games and Cirque du Soleil, she focuses on continuous experimentation, smarter use of AI, and designing events that match how audiences engage and learn.
Ally Masi is Proving the Power of Micro-Innovation
For Ally Masi, innovation is consistent, intentional change. At Salesforce, she’s proving that small shifts in planning, alignment, and design can fundamentally reshape how events deliver value.
On The Road
Is High-End Luggage Worth It?
There’s a wide price gap between the luggage you will find at your favorite discount retailer and the top-rated names. What makes some brands so much more expensive — and are they worth it?
17 Must-Have Gadgets for Planners on the Go
These gadgets will make your travel to your meeting easier, and ensure that once you are on site, you’re ready for whatever comes up.
Expert Advice for Surviving Long-Haul Travel
The goal for meeting planners flying long-haul is to arrive fresh and ready to work. Who better to ask for advice on how to do that than fellow travelers and flight attendants?
People
How Meetings & Incentives Worldwide Thinks Big While Maintaining a Boutique Spirit
Meetings & Incentives Worldwide is proving innovation doesn’t have to come at the expense of personalization. The agency is embedding its proprietary processes into scalable tech, strengthening its global execution, and focusing on its data rigor, all without losing its boutique, partnership mindset.
Why Bishop-McCann Links Employee Belonging to Client Innovation
Bishop-McCann is betting that employee belonging is more than an HR initiative — it’s a business strategy. By investing in retention and trust, the agency builds long-term client relationships with team members who understand the ins and outs of each client’s business, creating more collaborative and ambitious meetings and events powered by next-generation technology.
Why M-Plus Global Events Approaches Programs With an Always-Say-Yes Mindset
M-Plus Global Events mixes big-agency muscle with a hands-on, say-yes culture. By pairing smart tech with old-school service, the team designs meetings and incentives that feel personal while delivering real engagement and revenue impact.
Profiles
How Unbridled Is Expanding Into Europe and Building Deeper Strategic Partnerships
With its recent acquisition of London-based OrangeDoor, Unbridled signaled ambitious plans for global expansion. Beyond growing its international footprint, the company is investing in more sophisticated content and production capabilities to empower clients.
Skift Meetings’ Meetings Innovators Have One Thing in Common: Fearlessness
Innovation in meetings has moved from a “nice to have” to a “must have.” These innovators, chosen by our editors, share how the key is not being afraid to fail.
Women Leaders Share Their Journeys of Self-Awareness and Empathy
Among Skift Meetings’ Women Leaders in Meetings, one thing stands out more than anything else: Each is focused not on her own success, but on elevating everyone around her.
Skift Meetings Podcast
AI and the Human Touch
On this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the events industry while emphasizing the enduring importance of human connection.
Has Wellness Reached a Tipping Point?
With all the talk in the industry about integrating wellness into events, have meetings really become healthier?
IMEX America 2024 in Review: From Baseball to Pickleball, the Industry Is All-In on Personalized Experiences
In this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we recap the record-breaking IMEX America 2024, diving into industry trends and the innovations shaping the future of events.
Sustainability
As Sustainability Scrutiny Grows, Maritz Turns to Academia for Answers
Sustainability claims aren’t enough anymore. Maritz’s work with the University of Texas reflects a growing push to identify and quantify where conferences can reduce their carbon footprint.
New Online Tool Showcases Vetted CSR Experiences
The nonprofit Tourism Cares is looking to take the hassle out of finding socially conscious activities, if planners are willing to search beyond their usual channels.
Inside Caesars Entertainment’s Push for Smarter, Greener Events
Many meeting professionals struggle to plan more sustainable events. Caesars Entertainment’s company-wide waste reduction initiatives, along with its comprehensive event tracking tools, help planners address these challenges and build effective sustainability strategies for greener meetings.
Technology
Don't Buy AI, Buy the Outcome
Event tech’s real differentiator isn't AI, it's whether the technology saves time, improves attendee experiences, or drives measurable business results.
AI Stand-Ins Are Reshaping the Economics of Virtual Events
Not all attendees at virtual meetings are human. AI note-taking bots are proliferating, and although they may assist attendees with note-taking and summaries, they are posing challenges for planners.
Rooming Lists Get an AI Makeover
Managing rooming lists is the "most hated job in hotels" because much of the manual workflow involved hasn't meaningfully changed in years. Hivr and Radisson are using AI to go after a problem most others have ignored.
Toolkit
10 Ways to Use Music to Set the Mood
The right tunes will have people tapping their feet at their seats, while the wrong ones can completely destroy the vibe.
6 Things You Won’t Find on a Site Inspection Checklist
Some of the most important considerations when you visit a property are more subtle than specs.
10 Meeting Planning Surprises and How Planners Handled Them
Just when these planners thought they had seen it all, this happened.
Trends & Insights
The Key Incentive Industry Statistics That Matter
Data, facts, and figures from across the incentive industry reflect the impact of rising costs and geopolitical uncertainty on spending.
Meeting Planning’s Executive Ceiling Problem
Senior planners often say they feel trapped in their roles, with no upward mobility. The good news is that there is opportunity beyond the meeting department.
7 Ways Conference Centers are Adjusting to Changing Attendees
Conference centers used to be known as no-nonsense, even vanilla. Not any more.
Venues
How Meetings Are Being Redefined Around Intentional Moments
More planners are focused on what can happen between sessions and venues. Austin’s past year of hosting more than 1,100 meetings without a convention center offers a blueprint for building better experiences around those moments.
Convene Bets on Story-Driven Spaces With New SoHo Venue
As planners move beyond generic ballrooms, Convene’s latest opening signals growing demand for venues with character, neighborhood identity, and built-in storytelling.
ICC Sydney Launches Content Studio as Convention Centers Expand Into Media Production
Sydney’s convention center has created an in-house content studio to help clients expand the reach of their events, turning them into multi-platform content engines. This is part of a broader industry shift as venues compete on storytelling, not just space.
Wellness
The ROI of Wellness: Caesars Entertainment’s Playbook for More Engaging Meetings
Putting wellness at the center of an event strategy does more than enhance how attendees feel. Caesars Entertainment’s experience across its 50-plus properties shows that wellness can meaningfully reshape the event environment, boosting engagement, strengthening retention, and fostering deeper connections among participants.
There’s a Need For Mental Health Training for Planners. Some Companies are Stepping Up.
Employers are getting proactive about the stress that event planners face in their daily jobs, and providing mental health training. Will industry associations be next?
Keeping Cool and Connected: Attendee Wellbeing Strategies for Summer Outdoor Events
Ensure attendee wellbeing at summer outdoor events with tips on heat, hydration, accessibility, and real-time engagement.
Women Leaders in Meetings
Clare Melton: Great Leaders Create Successful Employees
For this long-time leader, the highlight of her career hasn't been the events she's led, but the people she's helped succeed.
Betsy Gonzalez: There’s No “I” in Team
A well-known industry veteran, FM’s Betsy Gonzalez is a true believer that it takes a team to make things happen.
Ada Maria Allende: Lead With Empathy
Strong leaders create space for others to contribute and ask good questions, but still must be able to make the tough decisions, says this Skift Meetings Woman Leader in Meetings.