Andrew Sheivachman

Meeting and event planners know they need to do a better job tailoring events to their attendees and providing their sponsors with a stronger idea of how successful their partnership has been. New solutions will make it easier for them to make informed decisions moving forward.

In times of protectionism and nativism, it's important to stand up to the forces that want to close minds and borders alike. The travel industry should do more to make a case for itself, and that starts with opposing policies that create a divide with the rest of the world.

Tools are finally emerging that empower event professionals with the insights they need to better understand how attendees operate at events and the value created for sponsors. It's about time, and these tools will only become more useful over time as event planners learn more about what makes their gatherings successful.

Technology empowers travel managers to do a lot of things, but there's still a big opportunity for companies to get smarter about the real scope of their investment in business travel beyond the elements of individual trips.

Technology can empower meeting planners, but it can also lead to daunting integration problems with other aspects of corporate travel. Riding the fine line between solving problems and creating new ones remains an issue that won't be solved soon.

Germany’s biggest exhibition will test the endurance of delegates as more than 200,000 visitors flock to Hanover. The event may be too big for the host city, and many delegates will have to commute for hours each day.

The disruption in event marketing and distribution is only getting started. As more robust tools emerge that are easier to use, meeting professionals will become empowered in interesting new ways.

Meetings booked online are small in stature and short in duration, which comes as no surprise. The consumerization of the booking process for meetings is well under way.

With event technology exploding in scope and complexity in recent years, it's no wonder that organizations aren't sure which sales and marketing tools have the most positive impact. It's the right time to start figuring it out, though.

Every travel management company offers an online booking tool, but some are offering the tools travelers want to use instead of confusing or restricted user experiences.