Looking to Enter the 2024 Skift Meetings Awards? Here’s all you Need to Know

Writing an award submission can be a daunting task, but luckily for you, I have the inside scoop on how to make sure your submission stands out from the crowd. -Adam Stacey | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 2 days ago

New Zealand Wants to Transform Delegates Into Influencers

Tourism New Zealand is taking a novel approach to leveraging the power of social media to attract more event delegates to the destination. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 2 days ago

Meeting Boom Continues as Laptop Luggers Hit the Road

It is no surprise that meetings are getting larger, but what is surprising is that they have increased 25% from an average of 116 attendees to 145, according to newly released data from Knowland and Amadeus. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 2 days ago

Orlando Unveils Plans for New Sports and Entertainment District

If you think all Orlando has to offer meeting groups are theme parks, think again. A new addition has been given final approval, an 8.5-acre downtown sports and entertainment district. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 3 days ago

Webex Pulls the Plug on Events Platform

Cisco's strategic shift away from standalone event platforms towards integrated solutions within their Webex Suite marks the end of an era for virtual event platforms. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 4 days ago

Brightline On Track to Connect Las Vegas to Southern California

Brightline West officially broke ground on the U.S.'s first high-speed rail system connecting Las Vegas to Southern California. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 4 days ago

Announcing the Return of Skift Meetings Forum in New York City This September

Returning for the second year, Skift Meetings Forum will be held in New York City on September 17th gathering top-tier meeting professionals to discuss advancing technology, evolving attendee preferences, shifting work dynamics and so much more. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 4 days ago

Eventbrite Offers Event Trends Update for 2024

From pricing strategies and event frequency to experiential offerings and sustainability practices, Eventbrite's annual event trends forecasting guide offers a glimpse into the shifting focus of organizers and attendees. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 5 days ago

Destination Brief: Phoenix Tops Rankings for Airport, Convention Center & Tech Growth

From its investment in growth sectors like semiconductors and electric vehicles to its boom in hotel development and innovative transportation, Phoenix is a city on the rise — and event organizers are taking note. This sun-drenched region values nature just as much as technology, … | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 5 days ago

ASM Global Doubles Down on Sustainability

In line with the theme of Earth Day 2024, Planet vs. Plastics, ASM Global has appointed a new chief sustainability officer. This comes shortly after it announced the phased roll-out of reusable service ware in venues throughout North America. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 5 days ago

ICCA Opens New Office in Panama

ICCA's expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean is the latest development in a continued collaboration with PROMTUR. The country's destination marketing organization is working to position Panama as an attractive hub for international associations. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 6 days ago

Joseph Rivers: Venturing Beyond Boundaries

Joseph Rivers, director of experiences and partnerships for Czarnowski Collective, advocates taking risks to create impactful experiences. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 6 days ago

A Quick Guide to Entering the Skift Meetings Awards

In the meetings and events industry, excellence stands out. With the Skift Meetings Awards now accepting entries for the 2024 program, this is your chance to celebrate your achievements. -Adam Stacey | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 8 days ago

Associations Look to the Future

Societal transformation and the future of association meetings were the themes an ICCA conference, part of Business Events Industry Week, held in the most apropos setting, ASAE's headquarters. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 9 days ago

What’s New in Meetings and Incentive Travel in 2024

It's time to reevaluate the best destinations and properties for your events. Knowing what's new around the world is sure to give you plenty of new ideas. -Skift Meetings Studio Team | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 9 days ago

Destination Brief: Why Northern Ireland is the Next Must-Visit Incentive Destination

Rich in natural beauty, a proud and vibrant cultural heritage, warm hospitality with unique and luxurious accommodations and venues; Northern Ireland should be on your radar as the next must-visit incentive travel destination. -Meet in Ireland, a brand of Tourism Ireland & Touris … | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 10 days ago

Business Events Industry Week Showcases Collaboration

Washington, D.C. was buzzing with a wide array of gatherings focused on different sectors of the meetings and events industry during Business Events Industry Week. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 10 days ago

Nicola Kastner Appointed CEO of Event Leaders Exchange

ELX, an invite-only community for global heads of events, gains new leadership as it looks to expand its member base. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 12 days ago

Events Industry Council and Oak View Group to Partner on Sustainability

OVG plans to certify more than 60 convention venues to the EIC Sustainable Event Standards in a phased approach. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 12 days ago

Visit Phoenix: Driving Economic Growth Through Storytelling

Explore how Visit Phoenix leverages meetings and events as powerful engines for economic growth and community engagement, redefining the impact of destination marketing beyond the confines of tourism. -Visit Phoenix | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 13 days ago

Hopin Acquired by Bending Spoons

Hopin's unicorn roller coaster ride comes to end, with Italian company Bending Spoons swooping in to pick up StreamYard and the two remaining product lines. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 13 days ago

The Best Shoes for Events 

Shoes can make or break one’s ensemble. Luckily, dress codes have loosened, allowing attendees to step up their sneaker game and attend comfortably. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 16 days ago

Event Tech News Roundup – March 2024

From the latest AI advancements to hosting hybrid events in movie theaters, March did not dissapoint regarding event tech news. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 16 days ago

Maritz Reveals Trade Show Registration Trends

Maritz takes a closer look at new attendee behavior and shares insights on how to optimize revenue and attendance. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 17 days ago

Destination Brief: No Sales Tax in Portland Leads To Hero Event Experiences

Event planners face the challenge of creating ever more immersive and exciting event experiences but on a tighter budget. Portland’s zero sales tax, outside-the-box thinking, thriving foodie culture, and varied event venues are helping them to answer the call. -Travel Portland | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 18 days ago

Destination Brief: No Sales Tax in Portland Leads To Hero Event Experiences

Event planners face the challenge of creating ever more immersive and exciting event experiences but on a tighter budget. Portland’s zero sales tax, outside-the-box thinking, thriving foodie culture, and varied event venues are helping them to answer the call. -Travel Portland | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 18 days ago

Exhibitors are Becoming Younger and More Inventive

The latest research from Freeman digs into the current exhibitor mindset and what they really looking for from events. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 19 days ago

In a World of Technological Chaos, Human Connection is Essential

A humanist movement is growing to counterbalance the prevalence of artificial intelligence and corporate groups are heeding the call. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 20 days ago

Rob Adams: People, Moments and Memories

From the simple yet profound mission of creating joy to savoring unique experiences and benefiting from the mindset shift of younger generations, Rob Adams, the CEO and owner of Bishop-McCann sees a bright future for the meetings industry. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 20 days ago

How Compression is Reshaping the Meetings Industry

The number of potential dates to host meetings and conferences has shrunk making it difficult for budget-conscious groups to compete for peak days. In addition, there are compression issues for space that groups must contend with. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 24 days ago

Brandlive Acquires Notified’s Virtual Events Business

Brandlive is acquiring Notified's virtual event and webinar business, but Notified is holding on the version of the tool used for sensitive investor relations calls. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 24 days ago

Keep it Simple, Speakers 

Keynote speakers and other presenters provide much of the draw for events but getting the intro wrong can potentially kill the vibe. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 24 days ago

Gianna Gaudini: The Art of Event Planning

In this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, Gianna Gaudini offers a glimpse into the methodologies that have kept her at the top of the game — from cultivating calm in the center of chaos to speaking C-suite lingo that gets the green light on ambitious projects. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 26 days ago

CEMA Gets a New Leader, Again 

Brian Mason has been named CEMA’s new vice president of strategy and operations, replacing Sandra Marcus who left the association after only nine months. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Industry Celebrates Its Purpose in April

Between the PCMA-led Business Events Industry Week and the U.S. Travel-led Global Meetings Industry Day, there is plenty of opportunity to celebrate the industry in April. -Miguel Neves and Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

New Bureau Launches to Meet High Demand for AI Speakers

Keynote speakers with expertise in artificial intelligence are in high demand as organizations embrace the new technology. One emerging speakers bureau is crafting bespoke sessions to meet client objectives. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

California Helps Make Meetings More Sustainable

California, a leader in the United States regarding sustainability, offers a wide variety of initiatives and properties focused on sustainability. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

The Sphere’s First Corporate Keynote Is Set for June

Las Vegas’ Sphere is now officially working on corporate keynote sessions. This type of events could offer a welcome additional revenue stream for this cutting edge venue. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Kinsey Fabrizio: The New Face of Consumer Technology

Kinsey Fabrizio is leading CES into the future as the Consumer Technology Association’s new president. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Bizzabo, Cvent and RainFocus Lead the Way in New Report

Three event technology companies were named leaders from a total of 13 assessed in Gartner's latest report. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

8 Fitness Hacks for Event Travel

Yes, events are busy ordeals. It’s easy to throw your hands up and acquiesce over the feeling of becoming overwhelmed, but a solid plan along with a few fitness hacks may be just what is needed. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Commercial Real Estate Company Unlocks Event Spaces

Carr Properties, a real estate company, is opening up space in six of its properties for offsite events. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

New Data Shows Growth in Event Jobs

New data suggests a return to pre-pandemic event job level is near. With two-thirds of positions being filled by event-industry newcomers, service levels may yet take some time to fully recover. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Nicola Kastner: Event Strategist with Intention

Unlike many who found the events industry by happenstance, Nicola Kastner, founder of The Event Strategist, deliberately chose to enter this field, guided by a passion for creating events with clear business objectives. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Second-Tier Cities Dominate Event Volume Growth in February

Second-tier cities experienced the greatest growth in meetings and events in February with Louisville, KY. leading the pack. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

MPI Builds Bridges in Luxembourg

MPI gathered its European community in Luxembourg, a new destination for most participants. The annual conference was an opportunity to build bridges between different groups. -Miguel Neves | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Venetian Macao Refreshes Cotai Arena to Meet Event Demand

Already the largest events operator in Macau, Sands is extending its offering with an upgraded 15,000-seat arena. -Refugio Garcia | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago

Workplace Bullying Allegations Roil Tourism Diversity Matters

The nonprofit Tourism Diversity Matters faces a scandal involving workplace bullying – its executive director has been fired, and the organization's founder and president has stepped down. -Andrea Doyle | Continue reading


@meetings.skift.com | 1 month ago