2023

article thumbnail

How Hot is the Meetings Market, and Where is It Hottest?

MeetingsNet

Knowland’s report on year-over-year events growth says Nashville’s meetings scene jumped more than 30 percent in September. Here are the other high-percentage growth cities, and the industries driving it. Knowland, a data-as-a-service provider for the hospitality industry, has some of the answers. Its meeting-volume report for September was released October 5, and it shows growth for the events industry is strong.

article thumbnail

Satisfying wants and needs at conferences

Conferences that Work

I use the phrase “wants and needs” a lot when talking about participant-driven and participation-rich conferences. It even appears in the title of my third book ! Satisfying wants and what Abraham Maslow called growth needs are core goals of any event. But whose wants and needs are we talking about ? Whom is your event for? Conference organizers have, of course, every right to create an event that satisfies their wants and needs.

MICE professionals

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Lessons Learned from MPI WEC in Mexico

Smart Meetings

What to consider when planning an event at an all-inclusive resort Meeting Professionals International (MPI) CEO Paul VanDeventer likes to say that when planning the association’s World Education Congress (WEC), MPI takes chances so members don’t have to take on the risk. “Some things work better than others,” he said in a call, reflecting on lessons learned from last week’s gathering of 1,400 meeting professionals at Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in the Mexican Caribbean.

Logistics 314
article thumbnail

Europe’s tourism displays a strong rebound, but remains uneven across the regions

ETC Corporate

Following a summer of strong tourism demand, international tourist arrivals to Europe are only 3.2% below 2019 levels, and nights are down by 1.3% for the January-September period. The rebound is being driven by resilient intra-European travel and the influx of US tourists benefitting from favourable exchange rates.

Tourism 294
article thumbnail

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

article thumbnail

Six Event Trends We’re Watching in 2024

Convene by PCMA

The Promise of AI for Events Large language models like ChatGPT continue to dominate the discussion about artificial intelligence because generative AI — which can generate new content, including text, images, and music — is a relatively new tech development. But AI has been behind event-tech tool innovation for much longer. Shawn Cheng The companies participating in the Tech Playground at Convening Leaders 2024 in January are introducing creative solutions for event organizers powered by AI.

Trends 130
article thumbnail

US Passport Processing Times Extended Again Amid ‘Unprecedented Demand’

Travel Pulse

The processing time for US passport applications and renewals has increased again, as State Department employees scramble to keep up with an unprecedented number of submissions.

Travel 132

More Trending

article thumbnail

Tourism in Switzerland: A successful summer 2023 for the Industry

EHL Insights

The latest figures released by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) have put even more spring in Swiss tourism’s step. Night stays in Switzerland for the months of June and July 2023 were recently published. And the news is good! Night stays (or hotel stays) were 8.6% higher in June 2023 versus June 2023. This confirms an earlier report indicating that in the first half of 2023, night stays increased 13.8% year on year.

Tourism 116
article thumbnail

VisitBritain hosts first ‘Ambassador Reception’

Travel Daily Media

The post VisitBritain hosts first ‘Ambassador Reception’ appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media. VisitBritain has been putting the importance of the business events sector in the spotlight, hosting its first ‘Ambassador Reception’ to recognise city sector and academic ambassadors who continue to secure new international business events in Britain.

Panel 115
article thumbnail

How to Make Money From Events

Eventbrite

In these belt-tightened times, savvy event organizers are looking for new ways to boost their revenue. Here are 5 proven ways to bring in additional income from your event.

Events 119
article thumbnail

How To Use AI Content Tools like ChatGPT To Plan and Market Your Event

Bizzaboo

After rapidly pivoting to virtual events during the pandemic and refocusing on in-person engagements last year, event professionals today are doing more with less while nursing whiplash. Luckily, we live in an age where there’s an abundance of technological solutions for doing more every day. In this article, we’re looking at ChatGPT for event organizers.

Marketing 116
article thumbnail

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.

article thumbnail

Why Meeting Planners Should—and Shouldn’t—Worry About Airline Strikes

MeetingsNet

Pilots are walking the picket line, but odds are that planes will keep flying. Here’s why. Recent news that pilots at American, Southwest, and United airlines are threatening to strike might be fraying the nerves of meeting professionals concerned about their upcoming events. Here’s a wrap-up of the latest news on airline pilot contracts, and some perspective on the possibility of a strike.

Airlines 122
article thumbnail

Fake women event speakers? We need to think bigger!

Conferences that Work

For heaven’s sake! Fake women event speakers? Fake articles by fake writers in Sports Illustrated? Meeting professionals: this is a golden opportunity! We need to think bigger! Yes, friends, it’s now obvious that what our industry needs is… fake events! Think about it for a moment. Fake speakers Creating fake women speakers is just one tiny step in the right direction.

Speakers 142
article thumbnail

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Hotels Launch Fundraising Initiatives

Smart Meetings

Meet to make a positive impact this October October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From Oct. 1 through 31 each year, the international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities aims to increase awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for research into its cause, prevention and treatment. This year, a number of hotels around the United States host events and initiatives to raise money for charities that work to increase awareness of breast cancer and to fund research and pa

Booking 290
article thumbnail

Press Release: MeetingPackage raises $4.6 million in Series A funding to boost European growth and forge into the North American market

Meeting Package

Helsinki, Finland - 2nd of October 2023 MeetingPackage, a leading all-in-one sales automation software specializing in venue and group bookings, has secured a $4.6 million Series A round led by Scale Capital. While MeetingPackage is already cash-flow positive and profitable, this additional funding will accelerate growth in Europe and facilitate expansion into the North American market.

article thumbnail

How Event Professionals Are Feeling About Their Jobs

Convene by PCMA

The responses event professionals wrote to open-ended questions in our 30th Meetings Market Survey, conducted in late summer, illuminate what they have on their minds in a different way than their answers to multiple-choice questions. Here is a collection of their responses as reflected on their roles earlier this year. Stay tuned for the full results of the survey in the November issue of Convene and soon online.

article thumbnail

US Tourist Fined for Driving Across Florence’s Famed Medieval Bridge

Travel Pulse

An American man endangered pedestrians and centuries-old architecture by driving a rental car over Italy’s iconic Ponte Vecchio, claiming he was looking for parking.

Travel 116
article thumbnail

How to Navigate a Successful Site Visit

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: As hoteliers and venue operators struggle to conduct quality post-pandemic site visits, planners are having to expend more time and effort to ensure successful site selection.

article thumbnail

Luxury hospitality: Trends, challenges, and best practices

EHL Insights

Luxury is the new black. Post the pandemic, the global luxury industry recorded sales of €1.15 trillion in 2021, and continued its growth in 2022 by 19%-21% (Bain & Company, 2023). Luxury hospitality, luxury cars, and personal luxury goods represent over 80% of the total market. In this article, we zoom into the world of luxury hospitality to examine the trends that shape this industry, the challenges that are associated with the trends, and the best practices that illustrate how firms are m

article thumbnail

The Time Is Now: MICE and business travel are on the rise

Travel Daily Media

The post The Time Is Now: MICE and business travel are on the rise appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily. Over the past few decades, business travel has experienced a significant rise as companies expand their operations globally and seek to tap into new markets. In parallel, the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry has also grown in importance, providing a platform for businesses to connect, network, and promote their products and services to a wid

Travel 117
article thumbnail

How Attribute-Based Shopping Will Change Hotel Booking

AltexSoft Travel

Written in conjunction with Hudson Crossing partners Max Rayner and Brian Clark Nobody likes paying for things they don’t need. If something is included in the price but the buyer hasn’t asked for it, it’s a questionable benefit and possibly a detriment. When searching for hotel rooms, parents with young children may very much prefer to not have a fireplace or a high floor view, while honeymooners may be willing to pay to have both a fireplace and a view.

Booking 111
article thumbnail

EMEC: 5 things to know about incentive travel in a post-pandemic world

MPI

Pádraic Gilligan, chief marketing officer for SITE, will walk attendees through the latest trends in incentive travel and its “awesome, transformational power” at MPI’s EMEC Brighton, 26-28 March.

article thumbnail

10 Ways to Make Meetings and Events Neuro-Inclusive

MeetingsNet

April is Autism Awareness Month, the perfect time for meeting professionals to commit to learning more about how a few simple changes can improve the meeting experience for neurodiverse attendees. As the growing interest in workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion expands, meeting professionals are considering how events can be more inclusive for neurodiverse attendees, including those with autism.

Meeting 122
article thumbnail

My contract with myself

Conferences that Work

Long ago, I participated in and later staffed a series of workshops that profoundly affected my life. They led me to create a contract with myself that is still important to me. Creating a contract with oneself is a common way to motivate yourself toward achieving desired goals. There are plenty of resources available for writing such contracts. ( Here’s one that’s slanted toward event professionals. ) The workshop where I created my contract for myself took a deeper perspective.

Contracts 141
article thumbnail

Marriott Full Price Displays Go into Effect May 15

Smart Meetings

Display Changes Will Not Apply to Group Rates What you see on your Bonvoy app is what you will get—including resort, destination and other fees—at the registration desk after May 15 if a promised shift in how prices are displayed goes through as required in a November, 2021 settlement with the State of Pennsylvania. The full room price will be displayed on all the company’s U.S. channels, including Marriott.com, the mobile app and voice reservations.

article thumbnail

12 Event Debrief Questions You Must Ask After an Event

Bizzaboo

Ask 10 team members about the top goals they hope to achieve after hosting an event, and you’ll get 10 different answers. Although some folks are most interested in growing sales pipelines, others care more about discovering new opportunities, increasing registrations, and driving brand awareness. With so many competing priorities, it can be difficult to assess whether an event is truly a success for the company.

article thumbnail

‘What to Say to Get Your Way’

Convene by PCMA

In a recent webinar, author and marketing professor Jonah Berger shared pointers on how people can make their communications more effective. It’s not that I care that much about getting my way that prompted me to attend Adweek ’s “What to Say to Get Your Way” webinar this week. It’s more that I’m a big fan of bestselling author, Jonah Berger, Ph.D., who gave webinar participants a whirlwind tour of his latest book, Magic Words (same subtitle as the webinar).

article thumbnail

Why Melbourne? A Testament to Business Events in Melbourne

AIME

Why Melbourne? A Testament to Business Events in Melbourne Melbourne : Often heralded as Australia’s cultural epicentre, this city is more than just a point on the map; it’s a journey in itself. When determining the backdrop for the Asia … The post Why Melbourne? A Testament to Business Events in Melbourne appeared first on AIME.

Events 105
article thumbnail

Instant Booking Ushers in New Era of Transparency for Group Rates

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: In today’s pressure-cooker environment, planners want the same immediacy and variety as in their online grocery shopping. GroupSync’s instant booking gives them the faster, smarter decision-making capabilities they crave.

Booking 120
article thumbnail

US Travel Industry Seeks Federal Action to Boost International Visitation, Spending

Travel Pulse

US Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman said 'the latest trade data is a wake-up call for immediate federal action to boost this essential industry and increase travel exports to benefit the entire US economy.

Travel 109
article thumbnail

Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan to have the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives

Travel Daily Media

The post Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan to have the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Brand TD. With less than 500 days to go, the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition is thrilled to announce the commencement of advance ticket sales for Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, has started from Thursday, November 30 th , 2023.

Retreat 110
article thumbnail

Healthcare Industry: Employee happiness is key to patient happiness

EHL Insights

Human interaction is more important than ever as society recovers from COVID-induced social changes and welcomes the arrival of ubiquitous artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT. Human experience based on interactions is not only critical to the traditional hospitality industries but also other industries, such as healthcare and retail. As part of the Hospitality Vibes interview series, I interviewed Claudio Garbellini, Deputy General Director of SOL Group, Italy’s leading home care provider.

article thumbnail

Want to Unlock Your Events’ Full Potential? Use Your Data

Special Events

An event-data scientist makes the case for moving away from self-reported post-event surveys and towards analysis of audience behaviors.

Audience 105
article thumbnail

Major Events Firm Pushes Hard on Sustainability Certification

MeetingsNet

After one big effort in August, nearly six times as many Maritz Global Events employees are certified in event sustainability. In 2022, the Events Industry Council launched the Sustainable Event Professional Certificate online course, aimed at meeting planners and suppliers interested in improving the sustainability and social-impact efforts of their organizations and the business events they organize.

article thumbnail

48 years together — so far, so good

Conferences that Work

48 years ago this week I met Celia at the wedding of mutual friends in the heart of the English New Forest. I moved in with her ten days later and we’ve been together ever since. We married in 1977… …and moved to the U.S. the same year. We have been through so much together. Wonderful times and hard times. Along the way our family grew; we now have three (adult) children and three grandkids.

article thumbnail

What One Thing? Curing the Busy Brain with Dr. Romie Mushtaq

Smart Meetings

On this episode of What One Thing? podcast Smart Meetings Vice President and Content Director JT Long chats with Dr. Romila “Romie” Mushtaq on what constitutes a Busy Brain and best practices to cure a Busy Brain. Find out more about Dr. Romie here: Brain Health Keynote Speaker | Dr. Romie (drromie.com) Curious if you have a Busy Brain? Take the Busy Brain quiz here: Busy Brain Test – Dr.

Speakers 279