July, 2023

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Why AI Might Mean Salvation for the Meeting Industry

Smart Meetings

AI is here. It’s not a separate technology but a discipline and you’ll find it baked into an escalating amount of new and old tools. The genie is out of the bottle and it’s only going to be more pervasive and invisible as well. What does that mean for the meetings industry? It might be our salvation. While there are books, movies and endless lectures on the potential dystopian outcomes of wholesale adoption of artificial intelligence, I like to take the optimistic viewpoint.

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The Travel Trend Resorts Need To Leverage This (And Every!) Summer

Dana Communications

If you were lucky enough to go to summer camp as a kid, you know some of the great joys in life. Ghost storytelling and s’mores making around a roaring campfire. Canoeing and swimming in murky, fish-filled lakes. Endless hiking through woodsy landscapes (before anyone even heard of forest bathing ). Finding lifelong friends and crushing on cute counselors.

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MICE professionals

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Balancing Environmental and Social Issues with Meeting Planning

Gavel International

Reading Time: 6 minutes A responsible, experienced, and skilled meeting planner will always take environmental and social issues into account when organizing corporate events. Whether the meeting is held virtually or in person, these issues are at play in some way, shape, or form. Planning a corporate event is no small feat. It requires taking care of many details, from the minute ones to the enormous ones.

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Get to Know ME with Trisha Neff

Motivation Excellence

This Get to Know ME segment features Trisha Neff from our Traverse City office. Once you read this blog you’ll know who to go to for 1. A scary movie, 2. A great book, and 3. A laugh! Thanks, Trisha, for sitting down for a recorded interview too! Between speaking Mandarin and performing in multiple choirs, it’s been really fun getting to know you! What’s your current title and how long have you been in the incentive industry?

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COVID-19 Travel Consumer Sentiment Study

TravelBoom and sister agency, The Brandon Agency, release new consumer sentiment study on travel amidst the COVID-19 second wave

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Europeans adjust travel plans due to cost worries

ETC Corporate

The number of Europeans planning to take trips from June to November 2023 decreased by 4% compared to last year but still remains high at 69%. Austrians, Swiss, and Germans stand out as the most hesitant holidaymakers, with 45%, 56%, and 62% of respondents respectively having travel plans in the next months. In contrast, the French (80%), the Belgians (79%) and the British (75%) are most eager to.

Travel 185
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Avoiding Wedding Guest List Woes: How to Handle Changes and Make Sure Everyone is Accounted For

Traveler's Q

Planning a wedding is an exciting chapter in every couple’s life. However, amidst the energy and enthusiasm that come with organizing this significant event, one of the essential components that should never go overlooked is the guest list. The guest list is a crucial aspect of any wedding ceremony and reception, as it sets the tone for the occasion’s overall experience.

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More Trending

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Send Multi-Gen Vacation Pain Points Packing

Dana Communications

One of today’s hottest travel trends is a family affair. Literally, multi-generational travel is blipping strong on the radar, with bookings approaching pre-pandemic levels. And the trend shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. It’s not uncommon to see two, three, or even four generations of extended family members packing their bags and boarding a plane to Europe, skiing in Vermont or sinking their toes in the sand on beaches up and down the East Coast.

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How OpenAI Has Misappropriated My Copyright: ChatGPT’s Land Grab

Conferences that Work

I am resigned to the fact that OpenAI ‘s Large Language Model ChatGPT has scraped every blog post I’ve written here (over 750 posts in the last 13 years—around half a million words) so it can parrot my thoughts about meeting design, facilitation, and other topics. But I felt surprised, dismayed, and angry to discover that this $10 billion company, OpenAI, has misappropriated my copyright, by digesting my copyrighted book Conferences That Work: Creating Events That People Love witho

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Motivation Excellence Awarded Best & Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation 5 Years Running!

Motivation Excellence

The team at Motivation Excellence, a performance improvement incentive company headquartered near Chicago, is thrilled to accept the 2023 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in the Nation designation! “We work diligently as a company to show respect to our employees and foster an environment of collaboration and trust. It’s always a work in progress as we continually strive to be even better,” said David Jobes, CEO and President of Motivation Excellence.

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Europe’s tourism rebound continues into 2023, driven by strong travel enthusiasm

ETC Corporate

Europe’s tourism recovery is maintaining its momentum despite economic headwinds, reaching about 95% of 2019 levels of international tourist arrivals. Though inflation and increased travel costs are squeezing consumers’ wallets, travel spending is still prioritised over other discretionary expenses. The latest data available shows that one-quarter of reporting European destinations have surpassed.

Tourism 172
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Evolution of the DMC:Renewing Business Relationships with Deeper Trust, Transparency & Understanding

The evolution of the DMC industry requires that it embark upon a renewed relationship with clients that is built upon transparency, trust, and understanding.

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News for Professionals: Career Advice and Ideas

Convene by PCMA

Looking for ways to do your job better — or for the latest trends in the world of work? Here’s a roundup of career-related stories selected by the editors of Convene. If You Were a Late Starter, Here’s How to Catch up in Your Career Forbes offers strategies to help you compensate for lost time on your career path: Take an inventory of your innate gifts and tap into your passions; prioritize embracing your unique strengths that set you apart; remain patient, build a strong network, and be open t

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Four Crucial Questions To Ask When Developing an Effective Contingency Plan for Events

Smart Meetings

If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that we must be cognizant of the health, well-being, and safety of people attending in-person events. As a global community, we all witnessed how fast a virus can spread and the devastating effect of a pandemic. As the pandemic has waned, we have taken lessons learned and applied them to contingency plans for events going forward.

Vendor 246
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Attendee Experience: 15 Ideas To Increase Event Engagement at Your Next Conference

Bizzaboo

As an event organizer, it can be disheartening when your efforts to increase event engagement fail to meet your goal or when your carefully planned conference falls short of delivering the audience experience you envisioned. The more engaging your event, the happier your attendees, and the more likely they are to sign up for your next event, share their experience on social media, and become brand evangelists.

Attendee 105
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IHG Hotels & Resorts launch ‘Meet How You Meet,’ across SE Asia, Korea, Australasia and Japan

Travel Daily Media

The post IHG Hotels & Resorts launch ‘Meet How You Meet,’ across SE Asia, Korea, Australasia and Japan appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily. IHG Hotels & Resorts has launched its newest campaign, ‘Meet How You Meet,’ designed to delight delegates and reward bookers with a suite of exclusive benefits, upgrades and experiences to choose from participating IHG Hotels & Resorts across South East Asia and Korea, as well as Australasia and Japan.

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Public Speaking: Fear Not! Expert Tips on Message & Delivery

Motivation Excellence

Public speaking. Do those two simple words together make your stomach plunge and your throat tighten? It’s one of the most commonly reported “biggest fears.” Psycom states glossophobia affects up to 75% of the population! And even that other 25% still have some trepidation, if they’re at all human. ? Nancy Pender is no stranger to being in front of an audience.

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UPS Strike Averted, But Shipping Issues Remain for Events

MeetingsNet

Freight carrier Yellow Corp. is shutting down its large operation as early as next week. Coupled with rising gas prices, this could mean notably higher shipping costs for event organizers and exhibitors. Yellow Corporation, one of the country’s largest less-than-truckload freight companies, plans to file for bankruptcy by August 1, according to CNN and other business-news outlets.

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Mixing Business With Pleasure in Long Beach

Convene by PCMA

A great meeting isn’t only about the business that gets done, it is also about relationship building and creating bonds. Events at unique, offsite venues provide a setting for connecting and elevate the attendee experience. When you’re ready to impress, Long Beach has much to offer. Here are a few of the places that will have attendees talking long after they’ve gone home. 440 Elm The historic church in the Arts District was built in 1913 by architect Elmer Grey (also lauded for his work on the

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Don’t Believe Everything You See on Twitter About a San Francisco Meeting Apocalypse

Smart Meetings

The City of Innovation has a history of resiliency and is already reinventing itself Rumors of a mass exodus from San Francisco’s ballrooms and expo floors are turning out to be premature, indeed. After a blow to international travel due to Covid, a wave of tech layoffs and some negative publicity, the city is leaning into its strengths as a diverse, business savvy and beautiful destination to reemerge stronger.

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The State of In-person B2B Conferences: New Report from Bizzabo Unveils Insights from Organizers and Attendees

Bizzaboo

We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest and most comprehensive report to date: The state of in-person B2B conferences: Analyzing organizer and attendee insights on today’s most impactful gatherings. In June 2023, we surveyed more than 4,000 event organizers and attendees to better understand the state of in-person gatherings. Our survey uncovered fascinating — and sometimes surprising — insights into the resounding importance and resurgence of in-person B2B conferences as the drivin

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Taylor Swift concerts at Accor Stadium boost hotel room bookings

Travel Daily Media

The post Taylor Swift concerts at Accor Stadium boost hotel room bookings appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily. Taylor Swift performing to a capacity crowd at Accor Stadium in 2018. The highly anticipated Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour concerts at Accor Stadium have created a frenzy among fans, not only for tickets but also for accommodation.

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Green Investments in Tourism: Unlocking Opportunities and Experiences for Sustainable Growth (World Tourism Day 2023)

Solimar International

Green Investments in Tourism: Unlocking Opportunities and Experiences for Sustainable Growth (World Tourism Day 2023) Green investments in the tourism industry are crucial as we move farther away from the pandemic, as many consumer preferences have shifted to become more eco-friendly. Environmentally friendly investments have been a hot topic of discussion in recent years, and now they get to live in the limelight thanks to World Tourism Day 2023.

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A.I.’s Latest Skill: Creating Promotional Videos from Live-Event Content

MeetingsNet

Bloggers and marketers have been using artificial intelligence to create brief videos from text, still images, and moving graphics. Now, A.I.-led video editing of speakers’ presentations can help event hosts generate robust social-media content as the meeting is happening. While a growing number of meeting planners are using ChatGPT to seek out the right topics, experts, and session titles for their next conference agenda, some A.I-focused tech companies are busy developing new capabilities for

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Where the Top Conventions Meet

Convene by PCMA

According to the recently released MINT+ 2023 Top 250 Report, the collection of the DMO industry’s largest rotating conventions in North America isn’t as large a universe “as one would think.” The report — a collaboration between Destinations International (DI) and digital marketing and data insights company Simpleview and its consulting company 2Synergize — used the following criteria to define the top 250 conventions: they must rotate destinations and require a minimum of 2,800 rooms on peak,

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The Present and Future of Event Production Trends

Smart Meetings

Following the ever-changing trends of the event production industry This summer marks the 30th year event and entertainment production company Empire has been putting on live events across six continents. Founded by J.B. Miller in New York City in 1993, the company has since produced events for corporations, associations and nonprofits, among others, such as The Webby Awards, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeepers, the New York Public Theater Gala, the TIME 100 Gala and The Tribeca

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Luxury Hospitality: Redefining Luxury in the Hotel Industry

EHL Insights

If you ask friends and colleagues who value sophistication and refinement ‘ what defines a luxury hotel? ’, you’ll likely get a range of responses from mod cons – with everything from a decent restaurant to a spa – to seamless, exceptional service and décor. All at a price justifying the offering and experience. On a recent fact-finding trip to Paris, I set out to discover what the concept of luxury hospitality means to leading hoteliers living and working in the ‘home’ of luxury.

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Northstar Travel Group launches The Meetings Show Asia Pacific in 2024

Travel Daily Media

The post Northstar Travel Group launches The Meetings Show Asia Pacific in 2024 appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily. Northstar Travel Group, the B-to-B information, events and marketing solutions company in the travel industry, announces the launch of a major hosted buyer led tradeshow for the Asia Pacific meetings industry. The Meetings Show Asia Pacific (www.themeetingsshow-apac.com), supported by Singapore Tourism Board, will take place from 17-18 April 2024 at Sands Expo a

Travel 97
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Sustainable Practices: Learning About Tunisia’s Amazigh Community 

Solimar International

Photo by Jennifer Lundt Lessons from Dahar’s Amazigh Community Aisle 16, Seat A — A window seat! — I thought to myself as I stowed my carry-on after a short layover in Frankfurt on my way back to the US from my family home in Tunisia. Like many other hyphenated US Americans, I make a trip back to visit family and keep my identity as a Tunisian alive nearly every summer.

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What Does the Cvent-Choice Hotels Agreement Mean for Planners?

MeetingsNet

Room blocks at Radisson, Cambria, Comfort Inns & Suites, Clarion, and Quality Inn properties will soon be bookable without RFPs, aiding corporate-event planners and perhaps association-convention planners. Online hotel-research and -booking engine Cvent has finalized an agreement with Choice Hotels to offer Instant Book functionality across the entire Choice portfolio, Cvent’s first such arrangement with a hotel company’s full roster of properties.

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Top 5 Reasons to Meet in Greater Palm Springs

Convene by PCMA

The beauty of Greater Palm Springs is legendary. This Southern California oasis entices visitors with mountain vistas, swaying palm trees, and more than 300 days of sunshine each year. In addition to stunning scenery, here are five more reasons to plan your next meeting in Greater Palm Springs. 1. It’s Easier Than Ever to Get Here The ever-growing air service at the stress-free Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) includes 30-plus nonstop flights and connections to more than 500 destin

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New and Renovated: Redesigning Luxury

Smart Meetings

Artistic New Hotels Open Across the Globe at the Intersection of Destination and Hospitality Picture it: a luxurious hotel in a stunning destination boasting vibrant culture, mouth-watering local cuisine and all the amenities and facilities a guest could want. Seems to have it all, right? Not quite! Meet three brand new hotels redefining what it means to authentically experience a destination and luxury hospitality together.

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A Unified Voice for Australian Business Events Industry

AIME

At AIME 2023, the leaders of the Australian business events industry held a forum to further discussions around the formation of a single, united voice to represent the industry. In May, it was announced that The Australian Business Events Association … The post A Unified Voice for Australian Business Events Industry appeared first on AIME.

Events 97
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Experience the World Culture Festival in Washington, DC

Travel Daily Media

The post Experience the World Culture Festival in Washington, DC appeared first on TD (Travel Daily Media) Travel Daily. From Sept. 29 – Oct. 1, the nation’s capital hosts the fourth edition of a one-of-a-kind global celebration of diversity, inclusivity, unity, peace and entertainment. World-renowned humanitarian Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of the Art of Living, and the Mayor Muriel Bowser bring the World Culture Festival to the National Mall this fall, a grand occasion to celebrate a

Culture 98
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Sustainable Tourism Management for National Parks

Solimar International

We humans have always had a special relationship with wildlife. Just as we’ve relied on nature for shelter, protection, and comfort in all parts of the world, these delicate ecosystems rely on us to help support and maintain them. Today, global concern for the degradation of forest ecosystems is at an all-time high, along with a growing public interest in nature and natural landscapes.

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SoCal Hotel Workers Strike Again; a Force Majeure Situation?

MeetingsNet

For planners concerned about how strikes in Los Angeles or elsewhere could affect them, here’s some advice on negotiating stronger force majeure clauses. In the Los Angeles International Airport area, several thousand hotel workers walked off the job on July 10. The workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 11, calls the action the “second wave” of a multi-hotel strike in Southern California.

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Want to Future-Proof Your Events? Delight a Gen Z Audience.

Convene by PCMA

Ken Holsinger, Freeman’s senior vice president for strategy, presents the EduCon 2023 session, “Attracting & Engaging Next-Generation Event Attendees.” (Whatever Media Group) The generation that needs more socialization and hand-holding, but is also transforming work cultures — Gen Z — now makes up fewer than one out of 10 in the labor pool, according to a recent Fast Company article.