Inspiration Hub

If Gen Zers — aged 25 and under — could change something about the business event(s) they’ve been to in the past, what would it be? If you said better entertainment or better speakers, you’re partially right. But the vast majority — 69%— of 560 survey participants to a recent PCMA survey, conducted by JUV Consulting and sponsored by the PCMA Foundation, would like to see more engaging activities. And that’s followed by more inclusive events, chosen by 39% of survey participants.

A veteran planner sees six key themes for the future of meetings and events; purposeful, sustainable, digital, experience-based, data-driven and interactive.  

Meetings, convention and trade show media heard from Las Vegas leaders of the industry and got their first look at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s $989 million, 1.4 million-square-foot West Hall expansion on Global Meetings Industry Day.

Positive Impact Events is empowering its 1,400 strong community of Ambassadors to raise funds that will support the creation of a science-based carbon target and reduction framework, a requirement to ensure future generations can still attend events. Centered around Earth Day (22nd April ’21), the Ambassadors will be asking fellow event professionals, marketing their sustainability initiatives, to do so in a way that will make a difference for the future of the event sector.

On Thursday, April 8, meeting professionals as well as leaders in business, travel and government will gather — both virtually and in-person — to celebrate Global Meetings Industry Day. More than a year since the Covid-19 pandemic set off unprecedented disruption and damage throughout the world, this year's celebration of the importance of business events will take on a greater significance. Organized by the Meetings Mean Business coalition, this international day of advocacy will be marked by a series of events held around the world — all aimed at showcasing the value of business meetings, trade shows, incentive travel and more.  

The pandemic has significantly changed the way attendees engage with content, and while eventprofs are waiting with bated breath for the large-scale resumption of in-person events, there has been an undeniable shift in the industry that will continue to affect event programs moving forward.

As restrictions ease over the summer, I’m certainly eager to get back into live events and networking. This past year, however, many events managers learned a valuable lesson: for some people virtual is the best - or only - option

As Covid-19 vaccinations lay the groundwork for recovery, here’s what's happening now in Las Vegas and what's in store for the future.

With One World Rental as headline sponsor, the ninth edition of the Event Technology Awards opens for submissions on Thursday 1 April with five new categories. Best Hybrid Event Platform, Best Live Streaming and Video Production, Best Digital Event Production Company and Best Visual Event Platform highlight technology’s truly pivotal role over the last 12 months while the fifth, Event Tech’s Rising Star, recognises next generation initiative and acumen.

In October, Hilton tested its hybrid platform, dubbed EventReady, by hosting a meeting of its own. From event hubs in London, England, and McLean, Va., each with small in-person audiences, the hotel company’s executives broadcast to top customers gathered for “viewing parties” at 25 properties around the world as well as 4,200 virtual attendees.

On Friday, Nev. Gov. Steve Sisolak announced he is further loosening restrictions on large gatherings, including meetings and conventions, entertainment venues and large group gatherings by increasing capacity to 50 percent March 15.

The trade show industry has done everything it could to find its way back. While we can all expect new precautions, rules, and safety limits to create an unfamiliar aspect at trade shows compared to how we once knew them, there are numerous things that we can expect to remain the same. Here are 5 things that haven’t gone anywhere when it comes to trade shows as we know them!

Meeting venues and show companies have been busy redesigning event spaces for the post-pandemic landscape ever since in-person meetings went on hiatus in March 2020.

Wider aisles, a mix of open and segmented booths, and video-augmented encounters are some of the elements that will be used throughout 2021 and possibly longer.

Following nearly a year of canceled trade shows, Go LIVE Together is working closely with major convention and exhibitions-oriented cities around the United States to help promote safe reopening plans and accelerate recovery for the business events industry’s nearly 7 million employees, as well as the markets they support.

Story and Venue Search London’s survey of over 150 corporate event buyers gives a real insight into the current thinking around the timing of returning to live, the ongoing use of virtual and hybrid events together with plans for the all-important 2021 Christmas party season.

In May 2020, the Events Industry Council formed its APEX Covid-19 Business Recovery Task Force to provide guidance to support the industry’s recovery. Since its first report last summer on designing safe events, working groups have delivered a series of accepted-practices guides focused on hotels, workforce issues, travel, destinations, and more. The latest report provides resources and best practices to b-to-b and b-to-c exhibition and trade-show organizers.

As planners prepare to return to live events, they will likely encounter some attendees or vendors who have reservations about the experience. This article identifies a few ways event professionals can assuage these fears.

Securing great speakers is a challenge for all planners. Be they professional speakers or subject matter experts, they all deserve to have a good speaker experience. But how many of us design the speakers’ journey at our virtual events?