News

Dec 17, 2024
As the business events industry moves into the holiday season, myriad organizations and suppliers announced good tidings in the form of leadership appointments and executive promotions in November. Here’s our roundup on corporate event moves last month.  CEN’s take on the biggest move in November: Twenty-four-year events industry veteran Russ Callahan was recently promoted from vice president of sales and operations to Chief Revenue Officer for Quest Events, where he is responsible for overseeing sales leadership, marketing strategy, strategic planning, and customer experience.  The big… more
Dec 16, 2024
When stakeholders invest the time and budget to bring people together face-to-face, they want to know they achieved their goals. It’s not enough simply to host an event; organizations need to be able to measure its impact. But measuring the impact of a networking event takes some extra effort. On a recent MeetingsNet webinar that examined the why and how of networking events, Cvent’s Carisa Bartelt, manager, industry marketing, spent some time discussing this crucial measurement question.  “Whether it’s driving leads, accelerating deals, or supporting customer retention, when it comes to… more
Dec 13, 2024
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.   Opened on December 11, the state-of-the-art facility made its debut with a ceremonial ribbon cutting, tours, and notable speakers, including Fontainebleau Development Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Soffer, who was joined by Fontainebleau Miami Beach executives, community dignitaries, local officials, and VIPs.    “When we bought Fontainebleau Miami Beach back in 2005, we… more
Dec 12, 2024
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. This surge is fueled by rising demand for experiential marketing, increased brand activation efforts, and the adoption of event technologies like hybrid and virtual formats.  4 Key Highlights From The Report  1. Event Demand Drivers  Companies are leveraging events for deeper stakeholder engagement and customer experiences.  Sustainability is becoming a central focus, with… more
Dec 10, 2024
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:    Top 10 by page views on our website:  U.S. Hotel Workers Strike Update: Employees Walk Off the… more
Dec 09, 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:   Smaller, more intimate settings are in high demand this year.  As has been the case over the last several years, companies are continuing to lean… more
Dec 06, 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.  Developed by the In-house Corporate Event (ICE) community of corporate event planners in partnership with Cvent, the 2024 benchmarking report is based on survey responses from planners across the three regions… more
Dec 05, 2024
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.   What’s trending for the company in Q4? In a recent interview, Peckinpaugh shared valuable… more
Dec 04, 2024
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!).  Sustainability and wellness as well as cost containment solutions and hotel contracting were two major themes of the latest CD+Forum, according to J.J. Wills, ConferenceDirect’s senior vice… more
Dec 03, 2024
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.   The Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) is on the job, providing the industry with its annual Convene Salary Survey. The 2024 report analyzed data from 462 event professionals, providing information on their average salaries, role, experience, job satisfaction, and more. PCMA reports meeting-industry salary averages in several ways, the most relevant being by job title and by… 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