Meetings and Events Industry News

The meetings and events industry is still working to figure out a better approach to security. For the time being, safety should be the priority for planners as they look to stage new events, even if a destination doesn't seem particularly risky.

Downtown Phoenix is an established and spirited meetings destination due to significant infrastructure investments in recent years. Building on that, the public and private sectors are now collaborating more intentionally to connect meeting planners with the region's thought leaders in technology, healthcare, and other advanced industries.

It makes sense that the City of Fort Worth and Visit Fort Worth leveraged SXSW's cool factor and global tech audience to help reposition the destination brand around innovation and creativity. The question now is how to keep that momentum going moving forward.

Hilton following Marriott with a commission cut is no surprise, really. The writing is on the wall for a larger upheaval in meetings' distribution. The innovation of small upstarts will play an important role, as well.

Figuring out where to hold a small meeting is becoming more like booking a flight or hotel online. As more of the giant hotel chains buy into this model, there is the potential for the wider distribution marketplace for meetings space to shift significantly.

The world is witnessing a historical moment as Colombia evolves its meeting and event industry and embraces the effects of legacy.

Nearly a billion people around the world will tune in to watch someone else play a video game this year. Digital events have become ingrained into the culture of millennials and Gen Z, and the sector is rapidly learning how to combine virtual entertainment with engaging real-life experiences. Event professionals need to pay attention to this evolution.

Today’s meeting planners are reckoning with the rising expectations of attendees who “want it all,” whether that’s networking, education, entertainment, and fun. Only a select handful of event venues like The Venetian are capable of delivering on that promise.

The floodgates are now open for the larger hotel chains operating in North America to lower their commission rates for meetings alongside Marriott and Hilton. At a time when meeting space is limited and expensive, a wider shift will likely lead to a wave of consolidation for third-party meeting planners as they become less profitable.

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.