Nov 17, 2022
While the events industry is bouncing back, the residual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing challenges event professionals are facing continue to take a toll on their mental health and well-being. To lend a helping hand to those in need, Event Relief 2022, an 11-hour virtual event, will take place on Nov. 29 to raise essential funds for three event industry charities: EventWell, Make It Blue and Meeting Needs.
Founded and led by event professional Dan Assor, creator of The Dan Assor Podcast, the event aims to address one of the biggest obstacles event professionals are… more
Nov 14, 2022
Understanding how to design events that are welcoming and inclusive for attendees with disabilities has become essential for today’s event planners. According to Forbes Magazine, the disability community is larger than the size of China, with 1.85 billion people, and if you add in their friends, family and caregivers, that adds up to an additional 3.4 billion people.
But creating in-person or virtual experiences that are inviting and accessible for everyone can be a challenge for many event organizers, planners and producers, who may lack the knowledge, tools and strategies to do so. … more
Nov 10, 2022
Visit Orlando and Orlando Economic Partnership, the economic and community development organization for the region, have teamed up to create a campaign targeting the meetings and conventions market.
“With Visit Orlando and Orlando Economic Partnership collaborating, we can connect with all our target audiences through a consistent brand message,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “'Unbelievably Real' combines what is both fantastical and authentic about our unique destination to tell a holistic story to leisure visitors. meeting planners and site selectors.”
The… more
Nov 07, 2022
IACC, the global association representing the top 1% of small to mid-sized conference and meeting venues, has unveiled new details of its strategic partnership with MPI, the meeting and event industry’s largest global association.
Using shared knowledge and connected intelligence, the two organizations will work together to advance the global events community under this formalized alliance, which will also involve IACC engaging with MPI’s diverse and extensive network of more than 95,000 meeting and event professionals across 70 chapters to promote the world’s best-in-class meeting venues… more
Nov 04, 2022
Event professionals expect in-person events and budgets to increase in 2023, according to the 12th annual Global Meetings & Events Forecast, produced by American Express Meetings & Events, a division of American Express Global Business Travel (Amex GBT).
The 2023 Global Meetings & Events Forecast is based on a survey of 580 meeting and event (M&E) professionals across the value chain in 23 countries, as well as interviews with industry leaders. Key findings from the report include:
77% of respondents are optimistic about the health of the industry heading into 2023, rating… more
Nov 01, 2022
According to new analysis released on Oct. 6 by U.S. Travel Association economists, the U.S. Department of State’s low prioritization of visitor visa processing is severely hindering the U.S. economic recovery, preventing an estimated 6.6 million potential visitors from traveling to the U.S. in 2023 at a loss of $11.6 billion in projected spending.
Wait times for visitor visa interviews now exceed 400 days for first-time applicants from top source markets, a huge deterrent that is sending millions of potential visitors – including business event delegates—and billions in traveler spending to… more
Oct 31, 2022
These days, with mainstream media overflowing with negative news, it’s refreshing to focus on the positive—in this case, how the corporate events industry is giving back and lending a helping hand to the vulnerable and less fortunate. Read on to learn how the meetings industry’s biggest association and a leading venue management company are making a positive difference in the lives of those who need it most.
MPI
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the world’s largest meeting and event industry association, was recently recognized by The Code (aka, The Code of Conduct for the… more
Oct 28, 2022
Destinations International Unveils Booking Agreement to Protect Destinations and Event Professionals
Destinations International, the world’s largest resource for destination marketing organizations (DMOs) and convention and visitors bureaus (CVBs), announced a Destination Booking Agreement (DBA) that includes a toolkit to establish mutually agreeable terms to protect both the destination and the business event professional.
The announcement was made at the recent IMEX America show in Las Vegas, where Don Welsh, president and CEO of Destinations International, and three representatives from Destinations International’s Large Market Roundtable were on hand to discuss the DBA’s importance to… more
Oct 25, 2022
When it comes to achieving diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), the global events industry has a lot of work to do, according to the Events Industry Council’s (EIC) 2022 Equity Benchmarking Study. Released on Oct. 11 in partnership with EIC’s global Equity Task Force, created in 2020 to address systemic racism and all forms of discrimination in the business events and hospitality industry, the study signifies the critical first phase of EIC’s Equity Acceleration Plan.
While there is an ever-growing awareness and commitment toward equity in the industry, survey scores reveal widespread DEI… more
Oct 21, 2022
The soaring inflation rates that have plagued the U.S., let alone some other countries around the world, may not be subsiding any time soon. The Labor Department reported that the September consumer price index (CPI) rose 8.2% over the prior 12 months, which is higher than what experts had predicted.
Increasing costs have taken a heavy toll on the business events industry, with inflation’s impact seen in the price of transportation, hotels, venues, food and beverage, guest speakers and several other aspects of events.
We checked in with four event professionals to find out how inflation… 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