Rotary Convention Moves From Honolulu to Dubai to Barcelona
Rotary’s three-city pivot highlights a shifting landscape for global events, where geopolitical instability and venue uncertainty are growing challenges.
Andrea has been covering meetings, events, and trade shows for more than three decades. She is the proud recipient of many journalism awards, the most recent of which was a story featuring Ron Walden, Reed Exhibitions USA’s first Global Executive Sponsor for Race. She received a B.A. from New York University, majoring in English and journalism. She kicks off every summer by participating in the Spring Lake Five Mile run and spends many weekends “down the shore” enjoying Asbury Park’s dynamic music scene.
Barbie Backlash Reveals Fragility of Event Brand Partnerships
The Mattel-sanctioned Barbie fan fest is issuing refunds after attendees described an underwhelming experience. It’s the latest in a growing wave of fan events undone by overhyped promises and underdelivered execution.
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.
Deepfake Scams Are Coming for Events
AI-powered impersonation is outpacing most organizations’ safeguards. For the events industry, where large payments, compressed timelines, and digital communication intersect, deepfake scams are an operational risk.
When a Headliner Becomes a Liability: Lessons From Kanye West and Wireless Festival’s Cancellation
A single headline act can sell an event, or sink it. Wireless Festival’s cancellation underscores the risk of tying success to one polarizing figure.
Visit Baltimore’s New CEO Shares Convention Strategy
Baltimore risks losing major meetings to cities with newer convention infrastructure. New Visit Baltimore CEO Kireem Swinton is making modernization of the city’s convention center a top priority, alongside short-term incentives to keep business flowing.
Nearly 2,000 Mathematicians Threaten Boycott of Major U.S. Conference
A boycott threat against one of the world’s most important scientific meetings underscores a broader challenge: geopolitical tensions and cross-border travel barriers are increasingly determining where global events can, and can’t, take place.
Nth Degree Acquires INVNT as Private Equity Bets on Experiential Consolidation
Global companies increasingly want event partners that can own the entire process, from storytelling and design to production and execution, and private equity is fueling the scale to make that happen.
Las Vegas Secures Second Super Bowl in Five Years
With declining leisure demand, mega-events and conventions have become more important to the city’s tourism mix.
As Destination Marketing Evolves, Women Are Taking the Lead
Destination marketing has become more political and community-driven, reshaping what leadership looks like. Increasingly, that leader is a woman.