Skift Take
Here's a bunch of meeting industry shifts ranging from new Wi-Fi experience design in Orlando to convention center design in Sydney.
The Skift MeetingsIQ newsletter defines the future of meetings and events with an emphasis on disruptive strategies that improve knowledge sharing.
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What You Need to Know
Icehotel Opens Friday With a Big Jump in Incentive Travel Business
Sleeping in a freezing (literally) room on a block of ice seems to be in high demand at the Icehotel, located above the Arctic Circle in Sweden. Advance bookings for corporate travel incentive programs are up 50% over last year.
For the last 26 years, the innovative igloo has always championed the combination of adventure, high-tech sustainability, creativity and local culture, which of course is now what everyone is demanding. There is nothing like Icehotel because it almost completely blurs the line between man and nature. [Skift]
[Download] Skift Versus Magazine: Meetings Expertise Vs. Meetings Experience
There’s a new meeting attendee profile emerging that’s demanding a higher deliverable than just a “memorable event,” or if anything, a distracting over-hyped experience that doesn’t offer real opportunities for professional and personal development. [Skift]
Social Quote of the Day
“[Video] Event technology trends and the meeting of the future by @PYMLive @KristiCasey https://youtu.be/tJ5BtrQhYpY via @SoMeT #eventtech”
From the video: “The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed.”
— @PYMLive on Twitter
Wi-Fi & Event Tech
Why Meetings Wi-Fi Demand Is Going to Skyrocket
The rise of mobile video consumption and the Internet of Things are going to require serious upgrades to hotel Wi-Fi. One service provider and one Orlando hotel exec explain the ongoing evolution and the future of MIMO tech. [Skift]
Coalition To Establish Wi-Fi Standards at Meeting Venues
The International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM) has formed a Wi-Fi Coalition of meetings industry stakeholders to develop standard Wi-Fi operating procedures at meeting and convention venues. [Successful Meetings]
Why Your Mobile App Must Live On Beyond the F2F Event
While the primary focus for the mobile event app has been on communicating event info, many planners expect to leverage app capabilities to boost networking experiences, as well as data/lead capture. [Cvent]
Events & Venues
Can a Convention Center Remake a City?
Yes, says architect Ken Maher, lead designer of the new ICC Sydney, who shared the plan to use the new convention center to link Sydney’s neighborhoods and create dynamic, authentic experiences for visitors and locals alike. [Convene]
Designing the Experience: The Psychology of Little Details
How a meeting or event is designed should allow for participants to generate their own knowledge and meaning from the experience. [BizBash]
Smart Cities
From Manchester To Barcelona: Europe’s Smartest Cities Put Citizens First
A smart city aims to improve the quality of life for its citizens and visitors, and should be well placed to react to urban challenges. As data opens up, we are more connected and the urban user experience improves. [LabCities]
How Meeting Cities and Venues Should Maximize Tech, Social Media
“Marketing Destinations and Venues for Conferences, Conventions and Business Events” introduces key areas of marketing for cities to compete in the expanding global business event sector. [Routledge Publishing]
Hospitality
HX: The Hotel Experience Breathes New Life Into an Old Tradition
The previously named International Hotel, Motel + Restaurant Show rebrands and repositions with a cool array of networking and tech experiences. [PCMA]
Airbnb Is About To Become the World’s Largest Hotelier. Why Should I Care?
Meeting planner Linda Nelson examines the advantages and disadvantages that the room sharing platform brings to meetings and events. [LinkedIn]
Tips & Comments
Skift MeetingsIQ is curated by meetings industry veteran Greg Oates. Send feedback to [email protected]. The newsletter is emailed every Wednesday.
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Tags: meetings, meetingsiq
Photo credit: Icehotel opens on Friday in Sweden with unique group experiences like ice sculpture classes. Icehotel