The Outlook Gets Pricier for Event Planners

Evidence keeps piling up that meeting and event planners are going to face a tough time sourcing affordable venues in the future.

A new report from Carlson Wagonlit Travel delves into the global rise in costs for event planners. Even as new hotels are coming online, demand is outpacing supply. With no relief in sight, planners are going to have to get creative to cope even as event budgets are growing. One has to wonder if more planners are going to turn to alternative venues if hotels continue to become more expensive.

We also have my in-depth look at what Eventbrite’s IPO means for the event technology sector as a whole. It’s not a fluke that the company has had one of the most successful IPOs of the year.

Going to IMEX America next month? I’ll be there too. I’m looking to chat with a few good planners to help figure out what direction our coverage should go in the future. If you’d like to chat, let me know. Also, if you are not a meeting planner, I want to meet with you too. So email me.

If you have any feedback about the newsletter or news tips, feel free to reach out to me via email at as@skift.com or tweet me @sheivach.

— Andrew Sheivachman, Business Travel Editor

The Future of Events and Meetings

Increased Meetings Demand Continues to Drive Costs Up: More demand for meeting space has driven up prices around the world, giving upscale hotels more leverage during negotiations. Meanwhile, some planners are being left behind even as event technology catches on among more ambitious organizations.

Eventbrite’s Surging IPO Shines Light on Fragmented Event Tech Sector: Eventbrite is a different beast than most event management companies out there, since it also acts as a ticketing marketplace for consumers. This doesn’t mean that the wider event space won’t benefit from the increased awareness of event technology as a growing and profitable sector.

Turkish Airlines Plans for Growth With Business Travel at Core: Do business travelers really want one-stop service around the world? Turkish Airlines is continuing its strategy of using Istanbul as a bridge between the East and West, although a lot is riding on improvements to its business class product, whenever they emerge.

Around the Industry

Park Hyatt Tokyo Focuses on Being Egalitarian Ahead of Olympics Spotlight: Empathy. When was the last time you heard a hotel executive talk about that? General manager Hervé Mazella shares his views on service, what makes the Park Hyatt Tokyo unique, and what he has learned from the Japanese approach to hospitality.

25hours Hotels Pilots Its Own Concierge Service for Local Communities: Another day, another attempt by a hotel company to reinvent the role of the hotel concierge.

Las Vegas Opens a Marijuana Museum Built for the Social Media Era: What happens in Vegas, at least at this particular museum devoted to pot, will likely be splashed all over social media. And that’s by design.

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Skift Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman [as@skift.com] curates the Skift Meetings Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Wednesday.

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