Introducing the Next Era for Skift Meetings Awards
Exciting news! Skift Meetings Awards will now form part of the 2025 Skift IDEA Awards, making the program bigger and better than ever. Apply early to secure the best entry rate.
All Topics
Announcements
Why You Can’t Afford to Miss Skift Meetings Forum 2024
Skift Meetings Forum is back with a bold, unfiltered look at the future of meetings. Here’s why it’s the year's must-attend event for meeting professionals.
Skift Meetings Awards 2024: Meet the Winners
The Skift Meetings Awards are once again celebrating the business events industry’s most respected and innovative suppliers. Discover the final results and meet the 2024 winners.
Careers
5 Strategies for Mentorship Success
Mentorship can be a valuable experience for both the mentor and the mentee. But it’s essential to keep the exchange on track.
With All This Free Education, Industry Associations Need to Up Their Game
Planners are presented with more opportunities for free education than ever before. So why pay to attend an industry conference?
Job Hunting? Think Twice Before Doing Free Work
Planners are being asked to do unpaid assignments as part of the interview process. Some companies then use their work without hiring them.
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.
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.
Trade Show Recovery Picks Up Pace: New Research
New data predicts a steady recovery for trade shows globally with almost all markets reaching two-thirds of 2019 revenue by the first half of 2023. Face-to-face meetings remain a priority as we overcome the direct impact of the Covid pandemic.
Destinations
Business Retreat Trades Conference Rooms for Croatian Waters
Good luck getting your finance department to approve "retreat on yacht in Croatia" as a business expense. But before they shoot down your ambitious plans, share how these executives found that trading boardrooms for ocean views delivered real ROI.
Portland’s Destination Appeal Beyond the Meeting Room
Meeting planners are often challenged to provide exceptional experiences on limited budgets. A city with ample leisure appeal, such as Portland, Oregon, can give people a compelling reason to attend. Add in sector-specific field trips and strong EDI credentials, and this “Silicon Forest” is a meeting destination on the rise.
Caesars Virginia Debuts in Danville
Caesars Virginia has officially opened in Danville, marking a turning point for the former mill town.
Diversity and Inclusion
10 Ways to Include All Ages at Your Events
To be truly inclusive, corporate events must consider age in the same way as they do gender and ethnicity. Yet it is often overlooked in DEI efforts.
Companies Take a Stand Against Ageism
As Boomers leave the workforce in record numbers, more companies are promoting the benefits of retaining mature employees. But are they walking the talk?
Beyond Eco-Friendly: Putting Sustainability at the Center of Meetings and Events
Sustainability is among the most discussed topics in meetings and events. In this report, Destination DC showcases how to turn those words into action.
Event Design
Freeman Creates Blueprint to Help Event Professionals Overcome Resistance to Change
Within the next five years, Millennials and Gen Z are projected to comprise 75% of the workforce, which means ignoring their preferences is no longer an option. How can events change to meet their needs?
In an AI World, Brené Brown Says Vulnerability Is Your Competitive Edge
In an era of remote work and AI, the renowned researcher argues that emotional awareness isn't just feel-good fluff, it's the key to making business meetings work.
How Meeting and Event Spaces Foster Employee Connection in Today’s Hybrid World
Planners can maximize interaction among office staff members by meeting in person and creating experiences outside of the office in unique venues. Learn how Convene has designed its venues to meet the demands of companies bringing together teams of remote workers.
Event Management
Why Do So Many Planners Resist Strategic Meetings Management?
Planners are leaving big bucks on the table by not adopting strategic meetings management – or at least leveraging the spend of their smaller meetings. Why is that?
Need Temp Support or Looking for Your Next Gig?
Skift Meetings evaluated 3 leaders in meeting industry recruitment – and found that each has its own unique niche.
9 Event Planner Clichés That Are No Longer True
The events industry has some seriously outdated ideas that just won’t die. We’ve all heard the same old event planner clichés — big venues, fancy galas, and planners living the glamorous life.
Exhibitions
Legislative Action Day Converges Industry Leaders on Capitol Hill
The U.S. business events industry employs 2.6 million Americans and drives $399 billion in direct spending annually. This was the message that was brought to Capitol Hill on ECA Legislative Action Day.
Exhibition Industry Expects Further Growth in 2024
The latest UFI report clearly shows that the exhibition industry has not just survived; it's thriving. But what must be done to secure sustainable growth?
Germany’s Exhibition Industry at a Crossroads: Transparency or Status Quo?
Germany's exhibition industry might be on the brink of a transformative upheaval as it grapples with calls for transparency and potential regulatory disruption.
F&B
Health-Conscious Nonalcoholic Cocktails Offer an Alternative To Sugary Mocktails
Move over alcohol and sugary mocktails, nonalcoholic cocktails with ingredients that are good for you are gaining in popularity.
Does Cannabis Belong at Business Events?
Though half the states in the U.S. have legalized cannabis, most business events are still not ready to serve sparkling THC-infused elixirs and gift attendees with boutique edibles.
Hyatt's New Customer-Centric Approach to Meetings
Together by Hyatt takes the hotel company’s commitment to care to another level, helping planners save time on planning and accomplish their goals, like creating more sustainable meetings.
Hospitality
Radisson Individuals Aims to Meet Demand for Local Character in Upper Upscale Hotels
Travelers are increasingly prioritizing authentic experiences over cookie-cutter luxury travel. Choice Hotels has relaunched Radisson Individuals to cater to this demand with accommodations that fuse local elements with upper upscale amenities.
So Many Hotel Brands, So Little Impact on Planners
The proliferation of hotel brands has made planners’ jobs more confusing – and had little influence on their final choices for meetings.
Skift Meetings Forum Video: Putting Connection At the Heart of the Attendee Experience
In this video from Skift Meetings Forum 2024, Caroline Godden, global brand leader at Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, discusses how creating experiences that maximize opportunities can create connections during meetings.
How to
The Silent Power of Seating Charts
Images from President Jimmy Carter’s funeral showed how the seating arrangement spurred some unlikely encounters. Your seating strategy has the power to do the same.
8 Ways to Protect Attendees From Norovirus This Winter
With norovirus leading the news and the continuing threat of Covid, flu and RSV, planners need to be on high alert.
From Vendor to Partner: One Company's Guide to Working With Saudi Tourism
As Saudi Arabia rapidly expands its meetings industry, Western companies are learning that success requires more than just signing contracts – it demands a thoughtful and culturally aware approach to business relationships.
Incentive Travel
From Israel to Baja: The Challenges of Relocating an Incentive Trip
Orchestrating a last-minute change of a destination requires an enormous team effort. Here’s how Creative Group made it happen for Atlantic Packaging’s annual sales incentive trip.
The New Expectations for Incentive Travel
Skift Meetings dug deep into the 2024 Incentive Travel Index findings to unearth three major shifts in the purpose, perception and location of incentive travel programs.
Aligning Incentive Travel With Next-Gen Values
A new generation of attendees will shape the incentive programs of the future driven by values like freedom, individuality and authenticity.
Industry News
Navigating the Globalization of Events: Key Takeaways from PCMA Convening Leaders
At this year’s PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston, the spotlight was on helping event planners navigate and meet the needs of increasingly international audiences.
Events Industry Rallies to Have Its Own NAICS Code
An events industry lobbying campaign hopes to add ‘Events Services’ to the NAICS small business classification system. Here's why it should matter to you.
Event Planners Unite to Support Peers Affected by California Fires
The California fires have caused unprecedented destruction. While emergency services battle the blazes, event planners are stepping in to help.
Inspiration
Planners Use Visioning to Start Off 2025
Visioning can be a powerful tool to start the year. But it’s not enough, says Tyra Dyson, who leads a workshop for planners focused on turning visions into reality.
17 Stylish Event Bar Ideas to Wow Attendees and Boost Networking
Refresh your guests, boost networking, and create a seamless transition with these stylish and creative event bar setups.
‘Tis The Season - Convene Turns Meeting Venue Into a Christmas Market
With rising demand for immersive, large-scale holiday experiences, Convene has created a ready-made corporate holiday party solution at its Sancroft, St. Paul’s location in London.
Legacy
Inspiring Change: 5 Strategies for Purpose-Centered Events
Companies looking to resonate with today’s attendees need to move beyond focusing on profits and leaving a lasting impact.
Childhood Disability Meeting Recognized for Its Impact
Association meetings can be life-changing. This year’s Incredible Impacts Award highlights another association leading the way.
Building a CSR Strategy for Success
Creating a successful CSR strategy can be tricky for planners, but staying aware of certain details can ensure a meaningful experience.
Marketing
60+ Tactics to Drive More Attendees to Exhibition Booths
Discover creative booth activation ideas, effective marketing strategies, and proven techniques to attract and engage attendees effortlessly. Boost your next event's success and turn visitors into valuable leads.
Mathias Sondermann: Creating a Target Audience of One
Dive into the AI-powered future of events with Mathias Sondermann, senior director of events at SAP, and learn from his experience in creating strategic event experiences.
Using Data To Direct Event Marketing
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.
Meetings Innovators
Meetings Innovator: Anh Nguyen
When Anh Nguyen realized the events industry's "do-it-all-yourself" culture wasn't compatible with motherhood, she built a solution: a collaborative network of senior planners. But that's just one of her many innovative approaches to working in the meetings industry.
Mary Jo Blythe: Meetings Innovator
Forever changing the lives of front-line hospitality workers – one person at a time – is Mary Jo Blythe’s mission as founder of The Above and Beyond Foundation.
Megan Henshall: Meetings Innovator
Rehumanizing corporate life is the new mission of Google Xi. Its founder, Megan Henshall, is Skift Meeting's first-ever Meetings Innovator.
People
Women Leaders in Meetings: Nicola Kastner
With a career steeped in strategic event leadership, Kastner’s focus on data-driven decision-making sets a high bar for industry leadership.
Falling Down Stairs, Talking to Strangers: How Planners Got Their Start
The more you ask planners how they got their start in the meetings industry, the more random the stories become.
San Francisco Travel Association’s New CEO Outlines Plans to Escape the City’s Doom Loop Narrative
Anna Marie Presutti is finding new ways to increase funds for the San Francisco Travel Association, which is crucial to revitalizing its meetings and events business.
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.
Politics
How Geopolitics Shape the Future of the Meetings Industry
As the world's geopolitical landscape shifts, the meetings industry finds itself again navigating uncharted territory, making it more critical than ever to speak the language of politics.
Research
Travel Barriers and Hybrid Meeting Strategies: Key Findings from UIA's Association Survey
International associations are becoming more decisive about their digital strategies, but face mounting challenges around travel logistics and revenue uncertainty.
Inside the Skift Meetings Innovation Lab: Top Challenges and Solutions for Planners
Addressing challenges from surging costs to untapped career progression, here’s how planners are future-proofing their strategies.
Top Trends for Meetings: Attendees Want Warm Weather, More Leisure
A recent Cvent webinar revealed top trends for meetings, including choosing booking patterns that allow attendees to extend over a weekend and warm-weather destinations so they can be outdoors.
Sustainability
No Trays of Bacon or Plastic Bottles: Steps to a Sustainable Event
At FICP’s Annual Conference this week, the team that is working toward getting the event certified by the EIC shared their story.
How Events Fall Short on Sustainability
Sustainability efforts in the events industry are hitting roadblocks due to inconsistent data collection and reporting practices, according to a new ESG Progress Report from GES.
11 Steps to Planning Sustainable Events and Meetings
Every event is a chance to innovate, inspire, and leave a lighter footprint on our planet. Sustainability isn’t just an afterthought; it’s the foundation of impactful meetings and events.
Technology
How to Build a Smart Event Data Strategy to Maximize ROI
Crafting successful events isn’t just an art but also a science driven by data. A smart event data strategy can help you optimize every stage to drive better engagement, smarter decisions, and higher ROI.
Event Tech Year-End News Roundup
From strategic partnerships to selective AI adoption, here's how event tech companies evolved their offerings in the second half of 2024.
RainFocus, Cvent, SpotMe, and Bizzabo Lead Forrester's All-in-One Event Management Platforms Report
Ranking all-in-one event management platforms with many variables and permutations is no easy feat. However, Forrester tries anyway, and the results are worth a look.
Tips
Seasonal Event Ideas To Wow Your Clients Year-Round
As the calendar turns, so do the creative possibilities for eventprofs. Here are the best seasonal event ideas that are timely, practical, and audience favorites.
14 Meeting Pros Share Their Best Packing Tips
Who better to ask for packing tips than meeting planners who are constantly on the road? From the 5-4-3-2-1 rule to a portable Nespresso machine, they have all the tricks.
Move Over Stilettos: Sneakers Redefine Business Attire Trends
Sneakers are taking over the convention center floor, making a statement while boosting comfort, confidence, and brand awareness. Will they be part of the new dress code for business events?
Trends
Five Predictions from Scott Galloway that Signal Change for Business Events
At PCMA’s Convening Leaders conference, NYU Stern professor, author, and entrepreneur Scott Galloway shared his insights on the trends shaping the 2025 business landscape. Many of his predictions could impact the business events industry, these five may have the biggest impact.
Venues
How Historic Destinations Can Spur Innovation Among Meeting Planners
Budapest’s rich history and modern amenities make it an ideal location for planners, particularly for large conferences. Learn how to utilize the Hungarian capital’s culture to spark innovation at your next meeting.
Independent Properties: When the Hotel Becomes the Experience
With the transformation of events into experiences, planners say that independent hotels offer distinct advantages, such as flexibility, creativity and authenticity.
Skift Meetings Forum Video: Growth of The Glasshouse
In this video from Skift Meetings Forum 2024, we hear from Gianluca Sardo, president of The Glasshouse, about how the relatively new venue in New York has built a solid reputation in a short period of time.
Video
Hyatt Addresses Hot Topics at IMEX America
Hyatt’s Senior Vice President of Events, Steve Enselein, spoke with Skift Meetings about the most interesting takeaways from IMEX America. While “doing more with less” was a consistent theme, optimism for the future of meetings and events remains strong.
Why Australia Is Attracting Global Appeal Among Meeting Planners
Australia's incredible scenery, boom in state-of-the-art meeting venues and accommodation, and commitment to sustainability have placed it top of mind for incentive trip and association meeting planners.
4 Ways to Bring the Surprise Travel Trend to Meetings
The trend for mystery trips is on the rise — but your destination doesn’t have to be a secret to be a surprise. We reveal how event planners can inject the unexpected into their next off-site meeting by seeking out classic activities with a dash of quirkiness, creativity, and place.
Wellness
Are You Prepared for a Mental Health Crisis at Your Meeting?
Organizations rarely include potential mental health crises in their risk management planning. The time to start is now.
Sound Healing Adds Calm and Creativity to Meetings and Events
In the fast-paced corporate world, meetings are often marked by stress, endless agendas, and the race to meet deadlines. But what if these high-pressure environments could be transformed into moments of calm, creativity, and focus?
Time to Chill: Planners’ Post-Meeting Rituals
It’s not always possible to take time after a meeting to get back to equilibrium, but many planners consider it a must. Ten event organizers share their relaxation rituals.
Women Leaders in Meetings
Women Leaders in Meetings: Monique Ruff-Bell
Monique Ruff-Bell exemplifies leadership at TED rooted in strategic vision, emotional intelligence, and bold thinking. She balances vision with empathy, inspiring others.
Women Leaders in Meetings: Janet Dell
For the first time in its 97-year history, Freeman is being led by a woman. Janet Dell took the helm on July 1, replacing Bob Priest-Heck who retired. Here are the keys to her success.