Smart Meetings

MAY 2, 2024

The most expensive hotel renovation ever seen marks the venue’s 25th anniversary The Venetian Resort Las Vegas is celebrating a $1.5 billion reinvestment project, said to be the most expensive redo in hospitality history, including a grand slew of property-wide renovations, new programming and fresh culinary additions. Alongside it all, the resort will celebrate its milestone 25th anniversary with special programming throughout the weekend of May 3-5.

Hospitality 275

Hospitality Entertainment Benefits Venue 275

ETC Corporate

FEBRUARY 13, 2024

Towards the end of 2023, European tourism continued its robust recovery, nearing pre-pandemic levels despite inflationary pressures. Across reporting destinations, foreign tourist arrivals stand at 1.6% below 2019 figures, with nights 0.6% below, showcasing a resilient travel demand across the continent – a trend which is expected to continue into 2024.

Tourism 282

Tourism Tourism Trends Travel 282

MeetingsNet

APRIL 8, 2024

The keynote address for HPE Discover 2024 will use the venue’s 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen as the band U2 did a few months back. When Hewlett Packard Enterprise brings its HPE Discover 2024 conference to the Venetian Convention and Expo Center in mid-June, attendees will have to walk a bit farther than usual to take in the keynote presentation from HPE President and CEO Antonio Neri—but it’s unlikely that many of them will mind the inconvenience.

Events 139

Events Entertainment Technology Technology 139

Conferences that Work

JANUARY 22, 2024

My January 15, 2024 article “ Concerns about using facial analysis at events ” generated much discussion. (See, e.g., this thread on LinkedIn which has, at the time of writing, four thousand impressions.) Five days later, Panos Moutafis , co-founder & CEO of Zenus , the “ethical facial analysis” company, responded. I find his response inadequate, and this post explains why.

Technology 137

Technology Technology Events Attendee 137

TravelBoom and sister agency, The Brandon Agency, release new consumer sentiment study on travel amidst the COVID-19 second wave

Travel

Convene by PCMA

APRIL 25, 2024

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) held its 43rd Annual Pregnancy Meeting, Feb. 6-11, at Moscone West. In March, urologist Ashley Winter took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that she wouldn’t be attending the American Urological Association’s 2024 annual meeting, May 3 – 6, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas. “My husband & I are trying for our 2nd child.

Meeting 119

Meeting Contracts Contracts Healthcare 119

Bizzaboo

MARCH 19, 2024

Bizzabo has been named a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Event Technology Platforms. In the first-ever Magic Quadrant for event technology platforms, Gartner conducted a detailed evaluation of Bizzabo and 12 other vendors against specific criteria that analyzed the company’s overall Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute, based on a comprehensive survey, executive briefing, demo video, customer interviews, and Gartner Peer Insights reviews.

Event Technology 116

Event Technology Platform Technology Technology 116

Travel Daily Media

APRIL 25, 2024

The post Iconic Basket Boat-Shaped Convention Centre opens in Vietnam appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. Vietnam has cut the ribbon on a striking multipurpose convention centre with a design inspired by the country’s ubiquitous coracle boat. Axi Plaza celebrated its grand opening at its spectacular beachfront location, overlooking Long Beach on Vietnam’s scenic Cam Ranh peninsula.

Fashion 105

Fashion Conference Tourism Tourism 105

InEvent

MARCH 20, 2024

The events industry is a vibrant, dynamic sector that continually evolves to meet the needs of audiences and clients. From the emergence of virtual events to the rise of experiential marketing, the sector continues to evolve at breakneck speed. It is driven by innovation, creativity, and the tireless efforts of professionals who strive to deliver … Post 40 Leading Women in the Events Industry You Should Follow in 2024. showed as first in InEvent Blog.

Virtual Events 111

Virtual Events Events Audience Marketing 111

Skift Meetings

MARCH 26, 2024

Skift Take: Keynote speakers with expertise in artificial intelligence are in high demand as organizations embrace the new technology. One emerging speakers bureau is crafting bespoke sessions to meet client objectives.

Speakers 103

Speakers Meeting Technology Technology 103

Special Events

JANUARY 31, 2024

Special Events talks with entertainment services company Production Resource Group (PRG)

Entertainment 119

Entertainment Events Production 119

The evolution of the DMC industry requires that it embark upon a renewed relationship with clients that is built upon transparency, trust, and understanding.

Smart Meetings

JANUARY 29, 2024

Marin Bright often told the story of how she launched the meetings and events industry’s first lifestyle magazine in 2002, a few months after the devastating attacks on 9/11 and the downturn in the travel industry. Over 22 years, through economic recessions, a global pandemic and personal health issues, as CEO of Bright Business Media, LLC and Smart Meetings , she continued to exemplify the resiliency and grit required to build the Smart Meetings community into the most engaged in the in

Publishing 306

Publishing Website Media Hospitality 306

ETC Corporate

MARCH 19, 2024

For the seventh year in a row, ETC continues its partnership with the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN), Europa Nostra and the Network of European Regions for Competitive and Sustainable Tourism (NECSTouR) to encourage the development of sustainable cultural tourism practices in European destinations.

Culture 262

Culture Sustainability Tourism Tourism 262

MeetingsNet

FEBRUARY 16, 2024

The Federal Trade Commission has finalized a rule allowing it to take scammers to court—including those who fraudulently use conference names, logos, and mailing lists—and seek financial penalties. “Advocacy works!” said Tommy Goodwin, FASAE, CAE, PMP, CMP, vice president of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance, applauding both the Federal Trade Commission for finalizing an anti-impersonation fraud rule and the many business event industry organizations that advocated for it.

Conference 126

Conference Affiliate Trade Show Government 126

Conferences that Work

FEBRUARY 19, 2024

After a four-year gap due to the COVID pandemic, we eagerly returned to Anguilla for a two-week vacation. We love this tiny Caribbean island and have taken a welcome break from Vermont winter for fifteen years. I have written many posts about lessons from Anguilla gleaned during our visits, and this trip uncovered more. The trip For the first time in many years, Celia and I stayed in Anguilla without company.

Retreat 134

Retreat Proposal Conference Entertainment 134

Convene by PCMA

APRIL 14, 2024

Showcase — presented by PCMA and Destinations International during Business Events Industry Week in Washington, D.C. — began with a discussion about “The State of Sourcing.” (EPNAC photo) The topic for panelists participating in “The State of Sourcing” discussion kicking off Showcase — presented by PCMA and Destinations International on April 10 during Business Events Industry Week in Washington, D.C. — was RFPs: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Incentives 122

Incentives Events Venue Panel 122

Bizzaboo

MARCH 18, 2024

New research demonstrates Bizzabo SmartBadge™ advantages over traditional name badges New York, NY – Bizzabo, the Event Experience Operating System (OS), today announced groundbreaking data demonstrating the impact of Klik wearable event technology on lead generation, attendee networking, and event engagement compared to traditional name badges and lead capture methods.

Event Technology 111

Event Technology Technology Technology Event Apps 111

EHL Insights

APRIL 9, 2024

The luxury industry is undergoing a change. As a result, its products are reaching more and more people. In order to avoid losing exclusivity and uniqueness, many brands are now relying on ‘experiences’. These are enabling them to strengthen their relationships with their customers, offering them a unique experience without sacrificing status or reputation.

Hospitality 105

Hospitality Meeting Production Management 105

Travel Daily Media

APRIL 30, 2024

The post “Con Ojos de Mujer”: A new Suncruise forum in Cadiz highlights women’s vision for blue tourism appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. The annual event “With Women’s Eyes. The Vision of Blue Tourism” held a new edition, in this case in the city of Cadiz, where leading professionals in the tourism and port sector met to discuss the relevance of women in these areas of great economic and social importance.

Tourism 102

Tourism Tourism Government Sustainability 102

Redfin

APRIL 30, 2024

Discover the excitement of Virginia Beach with its myriad of activities, perfect for visitors and locals alike. From sun-soaked beaches to thrilling water sports, Virginia Beach offers something for everyone, whether you’re a long-term homeowner or just moved into a Virginia Beach apartment. Explore the best things to do in Virginia Beach across its diverse neighborhoods in this Redfin article, carefully curated to unveil hidden gems and provide local perspectives on the city’s vibra

SEO 71

SEO Social Media Retreat Sports 71

Stova

APRIL 25, 2024

It’s no secret that some marketers believe that email marketing has lost its effectiveness. They believe that inboxes are simply too full, and they can’t break through the noise. If you’ve heard the same, don’t fall victim. Email marketing is just as effective as it’s always been, offering an incredible ROI of $36 for every $1 spent.

Marketing 105

Marketing Marketing Audience Social Media 105

Special Events

APRIL 25, 2024

Strategies to make the budget-talk process simple, straightforward, and stress-free

105

105

Smart Meetings

MAY 2, 2024

In this episode of Meeting of the Minds, Smart Meetings sits down with Janette Roush, Executive Vice President of Marketing and Digital for New York City Tourism & Conventions, and Sindhu Srivastava, CEO of We Crush Events and MeaningfulData, to explore the potential of AI in the events industry. From predictive models to large language models, they discuss how AI can revolutionize event planning, offer practical advice for planners looking to integrate AI into their workflow, and address im

Event Planning 264

Event Planning Meeting Tourism Tourism 264

Smart Meetings

APRIL 8, 2024

As American makes it easier to travel with pets, what will this mean for passengers? The next time you’re on an American Airlines flight, don’t be surprised if things look a little, well, furrier. American recently updated its pet policy, which could serve as encouragement to travelers—specifically, those who normally leave their small friends at home or try to pass them as support animals—to bring them along.

Airlines 278

Airlines Hospitality Management Travel 278

Smart Meetings

APRIL 19, 2024

James Barnett James Barnett, Deer Path Inn Deer Path Inn welcomes Barnett as general manager and innkeeper. He will oversee all daily operations at the inn at the monumental moment of its 95 th anniversary this year. Barnett was born in Australia and began his hospitality career at New South Wales ski resort Thredbo, before moving on to general manager roles in London and Chicago.

Hospitality 264

Hospitality Transportation Management Insurance 264

Smart Meetings

APRIL 17, 2024

Feeling classy? These New and Renovated spaces are for you. These new and renovated hotels all share one fabulous commonality: rich, luxurious spaces that transport visitors to what feels like a European castle, with jewel-toned hues, plush furnishings and ambient lighting. Whether you’re meeting in Washington’s wine country or lively New Orleans, you’ll find your event brimming with a feel of decadence and elegance.

Transportation 264

Transportation Conference Sustainability Booking 264

Smart Meetings

MARCH 7, 2024

Event tech native Nick Borelli: AI will remove the drag stuff so you can produce A+ events Nick Borelli, director of marketing for the ethical facial analytics company Zenus Inc., has good news for meeting professionals. AI is not just one more thing they have to learn to do their jobs. “It is actually a tool that will get some of that ‘drag stuff’ out of the way to focus on the things that you really want to do, the reason you got into the events industry in the first place,” he explained at Sm

Events 278

Events Technology Technology Meeting 278

Smart Meetings

MARCH 29, 2024

Meeting professionals spend months and sometimes years designing events that are engaging, inspiring and educational. But once the custom tablecloths have gone back to the rental company and the stage deck has been struck, we are often slackers when it comes to deconstructing how it all went so we can improve the next time. A recent visit to Sedona Mago Center for Well-being for a taste of Body & Brain Wellness experiences in Arizona was a reminder that as meeting professionals, we have to l

Retreat 264

Retreat Events Entertainment Communications 264

Smart Meetings

MARCH 26, 2024

The non-gaming property further develops its wellness focus Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas’ director of sales and marketing is a “spa girly.” “When I’m on vacation, it’s a big priority for me,” says Ali Murray. “It’s something I’ve always loved and I think that it’s something our city is missing a little bit. You don’t think of Vegas as a health and wellness destination typically.

Retreat 264

Retreat Planner Trends Attendee 264

Smart Meetings

MARCH 22, 2024

How planners can safeguard their attendees against hotel room breaches In 2022, at a private event in Las Vegas during “hacker summer camp,” as the Black Hat and Defcon hacker conferences have come to be known, a group of researchers found a flaw that could put millions of hotel rooms around the world at risk of being breached. Security researcher Lennert Wouters, Seats.aero flight awards search tool founder Ian Carroll and a team of researchers have just recently come out with the news of what

Planner 264

Planner Venue Preparation Attendee 264

Smart Meetings

APRIL 2, 2024

On this episode of Meeting of the Minds, Smart Meetings is joined by Jaclyn Bernstein, president and owner of Empire Force Events, and Alexis Dick, an event planner at HARDI. The two professionals discussed not only how to build networks and maintain them, but the value these relationships add to a person’s professional life and how they can evolve.

Meeting 261

Meeting Networking Planner Event Planning 261

Smart Meetings

MARCH 21, 2024

Get ready to change everything about how you think about your job! On this episode of What One Thing? JT Long, vice president and content director of Smart Meetings, has an insightful conversation with Edward Perotti, an award-winning meeting designer and principle of EP Events and Experiences. With over 27 years of experience, Perotti shares valuable insights on transitioning from being an order-taker to a strategic leader in the events industry.

Event Planning 264

Event Planning Logistics Meeting Design Events 264

Smart Meetings

MARCH 20, 2024

Where Certified Meeting Professionals gather, connection and innovation flourish From March 11-13, 2024, events industry professionals who hold the esteemed Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation gathered in Toronto at the Fairmont Royal York. Between enlightening presentations, sessions with expert panels and bustling networking receptions, the 200 CMPs in attendance—about 70% of them planners and 30% on the supplier side—left with a treasure trove of knowledge around today’s highest-

Affiliate 264

Affiliate Events Panel Education 264

Smart Meetings

MARCH 18, 2024

Women are taking the lead in GM roles Smart Meetings continues to celebrate Women’s History Month! We are highlighting women who have worked their way up and earned the position of General Manager (GM) to show our appreciation for their dedication to hospitality, their genuine passion for helping others and for standing strong in an industry where men still dominate the majority of leadership roles.

Management 264

Management Hospitality Culture Meeting 264

Smart Meetings

JANUARY 3, 2024

Smart Meetings is looking for extraordinary women to honor in the ninth annual Smart Women in Meetings Awards. As the industry’s first program to recognize and uplift female leaders, our special March issue of Smart Meetings magazine highlights incredible women in meetings and events, followed by our annual Smart Women in Meetings Awards Gala to honor the exclusive group of Smart Women in Meetings.

Meeting 277

Meeting Networking Events 277

Smart Meetings

APRIL 24, 2024

Spaces built to streamline community-building New and renovated debuts bring thoughtfully designed spaces that help to make authentic gathering easier than ever. These venues and meeting spaces are committed to being a space that facilitates community-building. All do well to also weave the special flavor of each of their destinations throughout, so your attendees walk away with both a fantastic meeting memory and an outstanding destination experience.

Panel 246

Panel Venue Production Conference 246