Just in time for its 70th anniversary, Fontainebleau Miami Beach celebrated the grand opening of its Coastal Convention Center, a new five-story luxury event venue boasting 45,000 square feet of meeting and convention space.  

The corporate event industry is set to soar, with a projected market value of $1.17 trillion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.5%, according to a new report by Allied Market Research.

As we close out 2024, we want to take a moment to reflect on and showcase the news and thought leadership articles that captured our readers’ attention throughout the year. Providing insightful analyses of the industry’s biggest events, trends, economic developments, and most importantly, the human talent shaping the business landscape, our most-read articles offer a glimpse into the topics that resonated the most with corporate event professionals. Here are our most popular stories from 2024: 

When it comes to holiday party planning, companies are still feeling the ripple effects of the pandemic. From return-to-office mandates to fully remote workforces, corporate gatherings are a bit like choosing your own adventure. One size does not fit all.   

But there are some common trends that industry pros are noticing this year including smaller gatherings and retro themes. Here’s a rundown of the top corporate holiday party trends of 2024:  

Corporate event planners are struggling to implement sustainable practices and next-gen technology while maintaining traditional event planning priorities, according to the latest ICERESEARCH Annual Benchmarking Report, which details the greatest challenges and emerging trends currently impacting event planning within the corporate event sector in the UK, North America, and Europe. 

Since joining Maritz in 2011, President and CEO David Peckinpaugh has led the company through significant growth. 2024 has been another banner year for the St. Louis-based private company, which provides registration, housing, sourcing, contracting, event management, and exhibitor services for some of the largest U.S. trade shows and business events around the globe. In July, Maritz acquired Convention Data Services (CDS) from Freeman, creating one of the largest registration providers in the U.S.  

ConferenceDirect took its annual tentpole client event, the CD+Forum, to the happiest place on earth—Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts in Orlando, Fla. From Nov. 13-16, 190 of the California-based meeting and event planning firm’s customers networked and acquired new skills while nestled between Walt Disney World’s Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme parks (talk about a hub of creativity and innovation!). 

As a meeting professional, knowing the average pay for colleagues in the industry is invaluable when you find yourself in the market for a new job or when it comes time to ask for a raise.  

During this season of giving, the Javits Center in New York City continues to shine as a beacon of sustainability and community support with one of its most dazzling donations to date: a 15-foot, 1,100-pound crystal chandelier.

Originally designed by Baskervill and manufactured by Bluebird Lighting, the $18,000 masterpiece was showcased at Boutique Design New York (BDNY), a trade show for boutique hospitality brands and designers held Nov. 10-11 at the Manhattan facility.

The Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC), which generated more than $500 million in economic impact for Toronto and the Province of Ontario during its 2023/24 fiscal year, appointed Kathy Haley as its new president and CEO, effective November 26.