2024

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European tourism reaches new highs in 2024 as travellers’ plans diversify

ETC Corporate

Europe’s tourism industry continued its recovery in the second quarter of 2024. Foreign arrivals (+6%) and overnights (+7%) surpassed 2019 figures, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 12% and 10%, respectively. The growth is propelled by robust intra-regional travel from Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands.

Tourism 277
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A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Marin Bright

Smart Meetings

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

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Incentive travel – what we can learn from children

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pádraic Gilligan, Founder, SoolNua & Chief Marketing Officer, SITE This post explores the “Growing Up in Ireland” study, highlighting how travel is the top aspiration among 13-year-olds, especially girls and those from higher-income families. It underscores the importance of travel experiences and offers insights for incentive travel professionals on gender and socio-economic trends.

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A Planner’s Guide to Event Vendors 

Social Tables

Planning a successful event involves working with a large team of reliable, capable professionals. Planners work with venues, specialized staff, and vendors to ensure everything runs smoothly. A lot of tiny pieces must fall into place for an event to succeed, and the wrong event vendors could lead to lots of trouble later in the planning process. In this guide, we’re walking you through everything you should know about event vendors.

Vendor 158
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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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Concerns about using facial analysis at events: part three

Conferences that Work

In early 2024, I wrote two long, detailed posts ( 1 , 2 ) that explained why using “facial analysis” technology at events is ethically and legally dubious. Now I’ve learned of strong evidence that the core claim of such technology — that it can reliably measure attendee emotions at events — is seriously flawed. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett is a neuroscientist, psychologist, and the Northe astern University Distinguished Professor of Psychology.

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What Event Attendees Want Now

Convene by PCMA

There’s encouraging news in the Freeman Trends Report: 2024 Attendee Intent and Behavior , released Tuesday, Jan. 16, by the global events company: Attendance at in-person events, which has risen as the worst of the pandemic has receded, is expected to hold steady over the next 12 months. But comparisons with the past aren’t the point, said Ken Holsinger, Freeman’s senior vice president, strategy and research.

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More Trending

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SEAHIS 2024 begins today at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit

Travel Daily Media

The post SEAHIS 2024 begins today at Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media. This is the 7th edition of the South East Asia Hotel Investors’ Summit (SEAHIS) 2024 which is being held from 10-11 June, 2024 at the Hyatt Regency Bangkok Sukhumvit. SEAHIS 2023, the 6th edition of the Summit, was held in Bangkok on 26-27th June at the Westin Grande Sukhumvit.

Panel 112
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Hard Event Choices: Affordability vs. Sustainability

MeetingsNet

A major survey of planners finds that as meeting costs keep rising, sustainability slides down the list of priorities. With rising prices squeezing business-event budgets in many areas, planners are increasingly basing their venue and service-vendor choices on “value for money” while focusing less on sustainability factors. This is according to the International Planner Sentiment Report from The Power of Events, a U.K.

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Bizzabo named a Leader in 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Event Technology Platforms

Bizzaboo

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.

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Embracing and caring at Caesars Entertainment’s Global Wellness Summit

MPI

The goal of the Global Wellness Summit was for 115 meeting professionals and members of the meetings media to experience “an unparalleled preview of Caesars’ new wellness offerings through a blend of luxury, relaxation and self-discovery.

Media 105
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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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Summer 2024: More Europeans plan to travel, but taking fewer trips

ETC Corporate

The latest report from the European Travel Commission (ETC), ‘Monitoring Sentiment for Intra-European Travel – Wave 19,’ reveals a notable surge in travel interest among Europeans for June-November 2024, marking a 6% increase compared to last year. This brings the proportion of respondents planning a trip to 75%.

Travel 264
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Smart Moves in Sonoma, Cabo San Lucas and More

Smart Meetings

Edward Harris Edward Harris, Williamsburg Tourism Council Harris joins Williamsburg Tourism Council as CEO. In his most recent role as president and CEO of Discover Lancaster in Pennsylvania, he guided the DMO through transformative growth since 2020 with innovative marketing strategies and a commitment to promoting regional culture. He brings over 20 years of experience in the marketing and tourism sector, demonstrating proven success throughout, to his new role leading the DMO for Williamsburg

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40 Leading Women in the Events Industry You Should Follow in 2024.

InEvent

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.

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Thomas Reiser: The Evolution of Association Management

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: Associations are at a critical crossroads in redefining their value to members. Thomas Reiser shares his blueprint for revitalizing the relevance of medical societies in the post-pandemic era.

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Concerns about using facial analysis at events: part two

Conferences that Work

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.

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It’s Time to Harness AI for Event Success

Convene by PCMA

Netflix and other streaming services use reactive AI when they make recommendations based on a person’s viewing habits. Using this type of reactive AI at events could allow planners to track attendee sentiments in real time. Events that don’t quickly find their way onto the AI adoption curve are destined to be out-innovated by the competition.

SEO 111
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Creating a memorable guest experience with personalization & storytelling

EHL Insights

In the world of hospitality, experiences play a crucial role in creating lasting memories for guests. While everyone may talk about the ideal guest experience, it's essential to recognize that not all experiences are created equal. What truly sets a guest experience apart and makes it unforgettable? Personalization is obviously key. Tailoring each interaction to the individual guest's preferences and needs can elevate a stay from ordinary to extraordinary and as a result, be highly memorable.

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TDM successfully concludes Hotelier “Revenue beyond the Room” round table

Travel Daily Media

The post TDM successfully concludes Hotelier “Revenue beyond the Room” round table appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media. The TDM Agilysys Hotelier “Revenue beyond the room” round table was held today morning at the Hyatt Regency Sukhumvit, Bangkok, Thailand. The event was presented by Tony Marshall, VP and MD Asia Pacific Agilysys and co-supported by Bousserind Comson, BDM, APAC, HotStats.

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First Business Event in Las Vegas Sphere

MeetingsNet

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 127
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The Future of Events: Hear From Experts on Sustainability, AI, and Event Data

Bizzaboo

To help event professionals like you get a better idea of what the future of events looks like, we recently hosted a webinar, Back to the future: The status of 2024 event industry trends, that featured four expert event professionals: Emmanuel Gotsis , vice president of experiential strategy at Freeman Kayla Drake , director of field marketing at Apollo.io Tess Vismale , founder and CEO of iSocialX Matthias Gutzmann , founder of DPW Not only did this webinar feature a look at current trends, but

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A Chat With the People Behind the Biggest Holiday Events

Special Events

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

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European tourism draws close to pre-pandemic levels in 2023

ETC Corporate

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 286
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CMP Spotlight: Get to Know Beth Surmont, CMP Fellow

Smart Meetings

Beth Surmont, today a proud CMP Fellow, says that during the very first Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Women in Engineering International Leadership Conference, she witnessed the monumental impact events can have firsthand. “A young woman stood up and tearfully shared her story. She was an engineering student who was ready to quit college, but after attending our event she was inspired and planned to continue on.

Education 264
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Understanding Mortgage Interest: How It Works and What You Need to Know

Redfin

In this Redfin article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of mortgage interest, helping you understand how it works, what factors influence it, and how different types of mortgages can affect your payments. If you’re searching for a condo in New York or a home in Los Angeles , understanding mortgage interest is crucial for making informed financial decisions.

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St. Gallen: Your Complete Guide to a Top Business Event Destination

The MICE Blog

St. Gallen, located in the heart of Eastern Switzerland, is rapidly emerging as a leader of innovation and entrepreneurship. Well-known for its strategic location with direct transportation links to Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein, the city blends its rich historical background with its emerging status as a leading destination for business events on a global scale.

Seminar 273
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Lessons from Anguilla on returning after four years away

Conferences that Work

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.

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Is the RFP Process for Events Getting Easier or Harder?

Convene by PCMA

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.

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Understanding sustainability challenges in the Galapagos Islands

EHL Insights

Since 2020 , an interdisciplinary research team from EHL Hospitality Business School, the Catholic University in Quito, and the Charles Darwin Research Station at the Galapagos in Ecuador have been studying the challenges associated with tourism dynamics at the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Galapagos Islands. This article summarizes the main findings of this collaboration: the carrying capacity of the islands, the sustainability transition of tourism, and the political challenges

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Take your awards and event management to the next level, with Evessio

Travel Daily Media

The post Take your awards and event management to the next level, with Evessio appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily Media. The awards industry is fiercely competitive, with plaudits to be had in every field you can imagine – from finance to farming, tourism to technology…and everything in between. With hundreds of thousands of programs across the globe, resting on your laurels is simply not an option for any awards body that wants to be successful, stay relevant, and reap

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7 Big Ideas for Adding Wellness to Your Events

MeetingsNet

After introducing a “wellness menu” last fall, Caesars Entertainment walked the talk at its inaugural Global Wellness Summit. For organizations open to it, building wellness activities into an event agenda offers a variety of potential benefits. It can energize attendees for upcoming sessions, engage them in ways that make the event more memorable, introduce them to healthful stress-reduction practices, and build community around shared experiences.

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Klik wearable event technology drives 400% increase in exhibitor leads

Bizzaboo

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.

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Pop Girl Summer: Art Inspires Experiences

Special Events

Lean into the vibes from chart-topping musicians for new event inspiration

Events 105
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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF OMAN TOURISM

Panorama Travel

BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE & RESPONSIBLE FUTURE FOR OMAN TRAVEL & TOURISM INDUSTRY Sustainable Development of Oman Tourism, aligning with the Oman Vision 2040. The Sultanate is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050. Tourism is no longer a marginal sector or a secondary source of revenue for countries. In 2019 alone, the global revenues from tourism amounted to over 9 trillion US dollars, making it similar in size to the agricultural sector. 1.5 billion tourists around the globe spent this

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New Book Turns Hospitality Business Leaders in More Productive Direction

Smart Meetings

After a career spent in the luxury hotel business in sales and operations leadership, including stints with Westin, Fairmont and Park Lane Hotels , business coach, speaker and founder of Training for Winners Gary Hernbroth is putting his keen leadership insights into a knowledge capsule with the publication of his book, “ Twist the Familiar: Your Playbook for Success One Story at a Time ”.

Booking 261
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Must-See, Must-Do: The Ultimate El Paso, TX, Bucket List Guide

Redfin

El Paso, Texas, is a vibrant desert city that seamlessly combines a unique mix of Mexican and American influences. Nestled between the Franklin Mountains and the Rio Grande, El Paso is a treasure trove of exciting experiences waiting to be discovered. From exploring historic missions and savoring spicy Tex-Mex cuisine to hiking through scenic canyons and marveling at the city’s iconic landmarks, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had in this sun-kissed border city.

Culture 65