Articles tagged “meetings”

The masses of attendees boarding flights and using cars is a big reason why events have such a negative environmental impact. Transportation needs to be a central focus for planners looking for greener events.

Getting rid of plastic straws is nice, but the biggest positive impact will come from cutting back on plane trips and the use of gas-powered cars. At first, these changes may seem overly inconvenient, but that feeling will lessen once attendee expectations start to shift.

Many planners treat Wi-Fi as an afterthought, when really it's become a central part of the event experience, just like food or beverage.

A lot of the same issues that plagued conference Wi-Fi 10 years ago are still around today, even as good internet becomes more and more of a necessity.

As meeting planners worldwide look for unique venues and programming that will wow attendees, Thailand is stepping up its meetings and incentives efforts. Big investments in infrastructure, hotels, venues, and transportation networks — not to mention top-flight food and gorgeous beaches — are already paying multi-million dollar dividends.

Event tech companies have to deal with the reality that events are very personal, often making it hard to gather and analyze data on attendees. An all-in-one software platform might help.

Events are held for a reason: Companies know that face-to-face interactions and in-person experiences are vital for business. The only problem is that those things are notoriously hard to measure.

The low base fares promoted by some budget and mid-level cruise lines rarely indicate what the actual cost of a sailing will be. Travel advisors are stepping in to advise clients about onboard charges and, in some cases, showing that a higher-end cruise with all-inclusive pricing is actually a better value.

Identifying the risks is only the first step. Coming up with a plan that keeps attendees safe while respecting their privacy is much harder.

A widespread tech upgrade is just what the industry needs, and it might be right around the corner.