Articles tagged “meetings”

Collaboration between IMEX Group and C2 International shows the value, and power, of creativity in the meetings and events space. The more lessons planners from around the world can learn from these educational sessions, the better.

Safety should be a priority for events, whether taking place at a local hotel or a convention center in a gateway city. Unfortunately, event planners don't always have the resources they need to prepare for complicated security situations.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.