Trending Articles

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Incentive travel is changing, but is it changing fast enough?

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pádraic Gilligan, Managing Partner, SoolNua & Chief Marketing Officer, SITE More questions than answers Last year at SITE we celebrated the 50th anniversary of our formation in 1973. One takeaway for me after a golden year of celebrating incentive travel excellence was the realisation that, in 50 years, incentive travel hasn’t really changed that.

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2nd Annual Smart Speakers: Best of the Stage 2024 Nominations

Smart Meetings

We all know the power a great speaker holds in transforming an event from good to unforgettable. Last year, you helped us spotlight those who inspire, energize, and connect us in the most profound ways. It’s that time again to raise the curtain on our 2nd annual Smart Speakers: Best of the Stage Award. This year, we’ve added exciting new categories to showcase the diverse talents that have enriched our events.

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MICE professionals

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Lessons Learned at IACC 2024

Smart Meetings

Luxury language and presentation tips IACC 2024 in Basking Ridge, New Jersey was centered around empowering attendees to be seen, heard and respected as they drive their careers forward as leaders in the meetings and events industry. Quinn Conyers was the keynote speaker to kick off the event, driving home her message of self-presentation and “luxury language to be an effective leader.

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5 Tips for Engaging with First-Timers at Annual Events

ADMEI

5 Tips for Engaging with First-Timers at Annual Events 24 April 2024 No matter what kind of yearly event you’re planning, every attendee matters. However, walking into an unfamiliar setting for the first time can be especially daunting — so engaging well with first-time attendees can set the tone for their entire relationship with you. As Destination Management Companies (DMCs) consider how to effectively engage with first-timers at annual events, it’s important to remember that although they’re

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COVID-19 Travel Consumer Sentiment Study

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

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Harnessing Big Data for Personalized Event Experiences

Traveler's Q

In our digitally driven era, the essence of connectivity is evolving, pushing the boundaries of traditional event planning into a realm where every interaction can be personalized. The catalyst behind this transformation? Big data. This powerful tool redefines how companies host conferences, turning them into a mosaic of personalized experiences that leave a lasting imprint on attendees.

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Explore Long Beach—the Ideal West Coast Convention Destination

Convene by PCMA

Long Beach is a big city on the Southern California coast with a friendly small-town feel, and its convention center is located at the heart of the downtown waterfront. Arts and culture are woven into the center’s gathering spaces, which are designed to promote socializing and make events feel like parties. Long Beach, California is an events destination worth discovering.

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DOT to U.S. Airlines: Make Flight Refunds Easier

MeetingsNet

New rules take some uncertainty out of the air-travel experience for on-the-road meeting professionals and their attendees. Here’s what’s new. Delayed and canceled flights, lost bags, wonky WiFi: You can’t police these travel hassles out of existence, but standards can be set for how airlines will deal with them when they happen. Right now, U.S. airlines set their own standards for what kind of flight problems warrant a refund, when and how refunds are issued, when baggage is considered lost, an

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A calendar of peer conferences

Conferences that Work

Since 2009 I’ve maintained an informal calendar of peer conferences (aka unconferences) on this site. It’s informal because I only list events I hear about, a minuscule fraction of the unconferences people hold every day. Even so, the calendar lists hundreds of events. Currently, I add a few peer conferences a month. For example, as I write this the May 2024 listing includes events in Vienna, Austria; Raleigh, North Carolina; and two in Nepal.

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Iconic Basket Boat-Shaped Convention Centre opens in Vietnam

Travel Daily Media

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.

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ABTS Convention Services Delivers for International Groups and Sponsors

Convene by PCMA

ABTS is the only provider of white glove travel, lodging, concierge, and compliance services for international attendees of major medical association events. ABTS Convention Services is the only provider of white glove travel, lodging, concierge, and compliance services for international attendees of major medical association events. And thanks to state-of-the-art technology and data analysis, their numbers of satisfied attendees and sponsors are growing around the world.

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Evolution of the DMC:Renewing Business Relationships with Deeper Trust, Transparency & Understanding

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

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How does AI Help in Creating Slogans for Events?

InEvent

Every business needs branding, and slogans are vital for that purpose. A successful business needs to leave a good and lasting impression on its customers—an impression that connects a customer with your brand emotionally. One way to develop a sense of this emotional connection is by using visual elements such as a unique logo and … Post How does AI Help in Creating Slogans for Events?

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How to Handle the 'Budget' Talk with Your Client

Special Events

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

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ONYX Hospitality Group spotlights incredible MICE properties in its Malaysia Portfolio

Travel Daily Media

The post ONYX Hospitality Group spotlights incredible MICE properties in its Malaysia Portfolio appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. Left to Right: Amari SPICE Penang, Amari Johor Bahru, Amari Kuala Lumpur, OZO Georgetown Penang ONYX Hospitality Group, the prominent management company in Southeast Asia specialising in hotels and resorts, serviced apartments and luxury residences, is proud to showcase its remarkable MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) properti

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Discover Why Philadelphia is the Place to be for Life Sciences

Convene by PCMA

Philadelphia is a growing and thriving metro area, and one of the top in the country for life sciences research talent. Did you know that CBRE ranks Philadelphia as one of the best life sciences cities in the U.S.? Built on innovation and connections, PHL Life Sciences division exists to help you tap into all the resources the city has to offer. Before you start planning your next meeting or convention, take a look…and unlock Philly’s DNA.

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Savvy Marketing Activation Tips From a 20,000-Person Virtual Edutainment Experience

Smart Meetings

The secret to planning a not-boring virtual event might be to pull a George Costanza. In an infamous Seinfeld episode, the character decides to do the opposite of what his gut tells him to see if his luck changes. Entrepreneur Jay Schwedelson, who started the wildly popular Guru Media Hub virtual conferences in 2021 to engage with marketers, thinks a similar approach can turn around digital events.

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Enhancing hotel guests’ well-being: Academic insights for hoteliers

EHL Insights

In recent years, the topic of well-being has become increasingly ubiquitous. A report by McKinsey (2024) finds, surprisingly, that millennials and Gen Z are spending more on health and wellness than older consumers. According to the Global Wellness Institute (2023), the wellness economy reached $5.6 trillion in 2023 and is forecast to soar to $8.5 trillion by 2027.

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Room Growth Lags for Meeting-Focused Hotels

MeetingsNet

While the pace of construction for new hotel rooms nationwide is at an all-time high, business-event planners won’t get relief from high demand and rates in the hotel segment they use the most. As of April 1, there were a whopping 703,000 guest rooms in the nation’s hotel pipeline—either under construction or in the planning stage—which represents an all-time high.

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Heading to BRED Abu Dhabi? Here is what else is happening around Yas Bay Waterfront

Travel Daily Media

The post Heading to BRED Abu Dhabi? Here is what else is happening around Yas Bay Waterfront appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. The eagerly anticipated BRED festival is finally here and we can’t hide our excitement. Whether you are heading to the concerts or just happen to be in town, you are in luck as Yas Bay Waterfront’s mix of homegrown and international restaurants are pulling out all the stops, offering incredible deals throughout the week to coincide with the neocultural

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Emociones que transforman: Implementando la inteligencia emocional desde el liderazgo hasta la organización de eventos

Convene by PCMA

Autoras: María Oriani | Gerente de Turismo de Reuniones, PROCOLOMBIA | Socia PCMA LATAM Cynthya Wagata | CEO, CW Agencia Consultora en Organización Profesional de Eventos | Socia PCMA LATAM La industria de las reuniones enfrenta desafíos constantes, desde plazos ajustados, nuevas demandas de parte de los clientes y una cultura laboral acelerada impulsada por la tecnología.

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New and Renovated: Built to Gather

Smart Meetings

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.

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How These 3 Factors Create Powerful Experiences During Incentive Trips

Gavel International

Reading Time: 3 minutes Improving employee engagement and making a favorable impression are two of the main reasons why savvy organizations offer travel incentives. Well-planned trips pay off, as evidenced by the following statistics: 96% of trip earners reported that the opportunity motivated them. 89% of people who earned travel rewards felt appreciated by their employer. 73% of trip earners reported an increased feeling of loyalty towards their employer. 77% had increased feelings of truly be

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Melanie Cook on Volunteering

MPI

One of the most significant sources of inspiration for my volunteerism is the opportunity to effect positive change. Every act of service, no matter how small, has the potential to create a meaningful and lasting impact.

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GBTA joins Net Zero Carbon Events initiative as a supporter

Travel Daily Media

The post GBTA joins Net Zero Carbon Events initiative as a supporter appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. Representative Image The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organisation and the voice of the industry, has joined Net Zero Carbon Events (NZCE), the worldwide events industry initiative to address climate change as a supporter of the campaign.

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edUcon 2024 Preview: ‘People Really Crave Connection’

Convene by PCMA

At a 2012 Ted Talk, Charlie Todd and Improv Everywhere planted a fake speaker whose PowerPoint presentation seemingly failed, with the multicolored “spinning ball of death” on screen instead of slides. IE actors among the audience stood and spun colorful umbrellas and tossed beach balls while dancers jumped on stage around the speaker, who still struggled with his tech while trying to present.

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Why Early Bird Registration Specials Don’t Work and Other Revelations from a New Maritz Study

Smart Meetings

Do you know the reasons your attendees show up at your events? And why do they wait so long to register, anyway? A new study, aptly named “ Registration Insights Report: Optimizing revenue and attendance in the face of new attendee behavior ” by Maritz revealed a changing model for getting people to fill out those increasingly long forms, sooner. Spoiler alert: It isn’t early bird discounts.

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Hotel experience: leveraging sense of place in the luxury segment

EHL Insights

In the second article in this three-part series exploring luxury hotels and how a ‘sense of place’ help differentiate a luxury hotel and build loyalty, Suzanne Godfrey, consultant and lecturer in luxury and luxury hospitality, examines how the brand’s identity can elevate the hotel experience and create a unique sense of place.

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F&B Trend: An Elevated Focus on Mocktails

MeetingsNet

To add variety to no-alcohol and low-alcohol beverage options, Loews Hotels introduces its Free Spirited program. In a nod to two trends among travelers—the desire for tasty but healthy beverages and the desire for destination-specific experiences—Loews Hotels has rolled out a new F&B program across its 26 properties in the U.S. and Canada. Known as Free Spirited by Loews Hotels, the program is designed to offer more no-alcohol and low-alcohol options than ever before, with a focus on using

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Second edition of Athar Festival to manifest the infinite possibilities of AI-powered creative expression

Travel Daily Media

The post Second edition of Athar Festival to manifest the infinite possibilities of AI-powered creative expression appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. Technology has the potential to unveil, unlock, and unleash the true power of creativity, transforming the process of creative expression like never before. To explore the game-changing impact of creativity, powered by the confluence of human and artificial intelligence, the second edition of Athar – Saudi Festival of Creativ

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Sun, Fun, and Food — Everything Within Strolling Distance of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center

Convene by PCMA

When the views are this nice, an outdoor adventure is always a good call in Long Beach. Besides the postcard-perfect setting and an always sunny disposition, one of the biggest selling points of meeting in Long Beach is all that’s available within an easy stroll of the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center. From shopping to dining to entertainment, everything an eventgoer is looking for after a long day of meetings is just outside the center’s doors.

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WEC: The business value of mental fitness

MPI

Mental wellness and group dynamics have changed over the last few years. Career strategists and coaches Vimari Roman and Rachelle Stone address some of these developments ahead of their 2024 World Education Congress (WEC) session, “Building Mental Fitness: The Path to Team Success.

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The impact of Airbnb short-term rentals on rural and urban communities

EHL Insights

In less than two decades, short-term rentals have thoroughly transformed the hospitality industry, wresting 15% market share from hotels. From a feel-good pioneer of the sharing economy to a $100bn behemoth, Airbed and Breakfast, better known as Airbnb , has revolutionized hospitality from its beginnings in 2007 — creating a whole new market in the process.

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From Cambodia to Japan: A Whistle-stop Tour of Asia’s best Incentive Experiences 

inVOYAGE

A continent brimming with vibrant colours, breath-taking landscapes, fascinating history and mouth-watering cuisine, Asia is a feast for the senses. From the lush jungles of Malaysia to the serene tea houses of Japan, each destination offers a unique canvas for event planners and a whole heap of activities for long lasting memories and impactful incentives.

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Hong Kong ups the game with new incentive playbook 

Travel Daily Media

The post Hong Kong ups the game with new incentive playbook appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) launched a new campaign, “Hong Kong Incentive Playbook: Up the Game for Your Team”, with much fanfare at The Regent Hong Kong on 24 April 2024. The campaign curates over 100 new and authentic Hong Kong ideas to inspire and reward incentive groups in response to emerging incentive travel trends.

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Moving Your Meeting Amid Rising Reproductive Rights Concerns

Convene by PCMA

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.

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WEC: Disparate generations seek common ground

MPI

In their 2024 World Education Congress (WEC) session, “The Battle Between Baby Boomers and Gen Z,” Michael Owen and Taylor Smith take us along on a journey of multigenerational awareness. In this Q&A, Smith provides some early insights on the subject and what participants can expect.