Feb 18, 2025
Listen to the Prof G and Pivot podcasts and you’ll know what to expect from a keynote by Scott Galloway. The brass, outspoken, liberal professor and podcaster, who describes himself as a narcissist, presents at dozens of engagements annually – ranging from intimate fireside chats to global audiences of 10,000 marketers and business leaders.
During the eagerly anticipated opening keynote to kick off the 2025 PCMA Convening Leaders in January, marketing professor and serial entrepreneur Scott Galloway captivated the audience with his insights into the future of technology, finance, and… more
Feb 14, 2025
The Events Industry Council (EIC)––the global voice of the business events industry on advocacy, research, professional recognition, and standards––recently released an update to the Certified Meeting Professional International Standards (CMP-IS), the body of knowledge that forms the foundation of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) program and exam.
Typically updated every three to five years to ensure they remain relevant in the modern event landscape, the CMP-IS Standards define and categorize the skills, competencies, and abilities an individual needs to be successful in the… more
Feb 12, 2025
Looking to up your game when it comes to experiences and activations at your next event?
Recently, we attended Connect North, a regional event for association, corporate, and independent planners and organizers. Held Jan. 27-29 at the Marriott Downtown Kansas City, Connect North brought together planners and suppliers for three days of industry insights, one-on-one meetings and high-impact networking.
Here’s our curated list of 14 engaging event ideas you can adapt, test and try at your next corporate event.
1. Regiception. When registration meets reception, it creates a fun,… more
Feb 10, 2025
At Connect North in Kansas City, seasoned professional Carla Wheeler, meeting broker for Meetings Made Easy, took the main stage to share her expertise on negotiating contracts—skills she's honed over an impressive 15-year career.
Back story: Some of Wheeler’s top clients have included tech, insurance, and sports marketing firms from across the U.S., so she is familiar with negotiating tough entertainment contracts. During her career, Wheeler she has earned Top Producer awards by Marriott Hotels and Four Seasons Hotels, along with several Presidents Awards during her nine years with… more
Feb 06, 2025
Did you know Millennials (1981-1996) and Gen Z (born 1997-2012) combined comprise 75% of working professionals, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics? Younger corporate employees are influencing the evolution of meetings, events, and conferences like never before.
“From attending their first work conference to experiencing an off-site with their team, this new generation entering the workforce is more digitally savvy than ever, while still valuing connections and redefining the purpose of face-to-face interactions,” explained Hilton Vice President, Sales Engagement and… more
Feb 03, 2025
Event catering is in a constant state of innovation. As event planners strive to perfect what they serve at gatherings (and how they serve it), they also incorporate food and beverage trends to create unique culinary experiences that surprise and delight guests, raise the bar for creativity, and promote corporate social responsibility (CSR).
To understand which F&B trends will impact our industry in 2025, we gathered insights from event professionals around the globe. From high-end mocktails to ultra-luxury dining to emphasizing sustainability and dietary restrictions, these 10 trends… more
Jan 30, 2025
What do attendees want (and expect) at meetings in 2025?
At the recent Hilton Experience Showcase, a press and client event held on Jan. 22 at Lavan Midtown in New York City, insights into these very trends were shared, with new research unveiled offering fresh perspectives on shaping the future of meetings.
“A shifting workplace, as people seek greater flexibility from work or home and clear work-life boundaries, demands in-person meetings shift in new, modern ways,” according to new research by Hilton and Ipsos, a global market research and consulting firm.
Context: Conducted in… more
Jan 24, 2025
As event professionals seek new ways to connect with attendees and foster engagement, experiential gifting has emerged as a transformative approach. At PCMA Convening Leaders held Jan. 12-15 in Houston, we caught up with CI Group Experiential Gifting Division Founder Jenna Ovadia at a corporate event at the Four Seasons Houston to explore and discuss innovative gifting solutions.
Read highlights from our conversation or watch the full interview from the Texas gifting experience here.
Exploring Experiential Gifting
CI Group, a 40-year-old privately held full-service brand engagement and… more
Jan 23, 2025
Inside Live Events, a new book by co-authors Freeman Board Member Bob Priest-Heck and Freeman Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons, debuted yesterday as a comprehensive playbook for creating and producing live events, including trade shows, corporate events, and exhibits.
Back story: With a combined 78 years of event production experience, the authors drew on their decades of knowledge to publish Inside Live Events, designed to serve as a reference for events veterans while equipping newcomers with practical insights and actionable strategies.
Need to know: Offering steps to create… more
Jan 22, 2025
In the face of people’s changing perceptions toward alcohol consumption, fueled by an increasing focus on health and wellness, the growing “sober-curious” social moderation movement appears to be picking up steam as people are re-evaluating their relationship with alcohol.
Between 2016 and 2023, the share of Americans who view moderate drinking as “good for health” dropped from 19% to 10%, whereas the share who perceive it as “bad for health” increased from 26% to 39%, according to Gallup. Americans are drinking less than they used to--with the average number of drinks consumed falling… more
Partner Voices
MGM Resorts is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse culture, not just among employees and guests but also within its supply chain. The company prioritizes procuring goods and services from businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, LGBTQ individuals and those facing economic disadvantages. This commitment is integral to MGM Resorts' global procurement strategy.
Through its voluntary supplier diversity program, MGM Resorts actively identifies and connects certified diverse-owned suppliers to opportunities within its supply chain. The company is more