December, 2024

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2024 Holiday Travel Towns

Advanced Travel and Tourism

Holiday travel is a growing trend with as estimated two-thirds of American’s planning to take at least one holiday trip this year *. So, we asked ourselves, what are our favorite holiday destinations and what are they doing to bring in the holiday cheer? Here’s a list of some of our favorites to bring you peace, joy, and inspiration! Destination Panama City Boat Parade of Lights – The unique and quintessential coastal holiday celebration takes to the water of St.

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New and Renovated: Resort Life, For Any Size Group

Smart Meetings

Discover Resort Getaways for Your Next Incentive, Small Meeting, or Conference Whether your meeting is large or small, these resorts are ready for you. Venture to the Blue Ridge Mountains for a VIP retreat immersed in nature. If youre planning a small to mid-sized meeting, Miami Beach is calling your name. And if youve got a large conference or trade show in the works, who says you cant resort life it, poolside in sunny Arizona?

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MICE professionals

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Rotterdam: Your top choice for hosting sustainable and high-impact events

The MICE Blog

Rotterdam has established itself as a premier destination for sustainable events, earning international recognition from Arcadis. The city’s innovative approaches to climate resilience and practical, forward-thinking solutions make it a top choice for events that aim to create lasting impact. Practical approach to sustainability and resilience I was in Rotterdam to attend Urban Future 2024 and spoke to Chantal Zeegers, Vice Mayor responsible for climate, construction, and housing.

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Planners Respond to Fatal Food Allergic Reaction at an Event

Convene by PCMA

The recent death of a participant at an event due to a food allergy led a number of event organizers to comment about event planners taking attendees health concerns seriously. The recent death of a social media influencer at a brand event after suffering an allergic reaction is sparking conversation about duty of care in the event professional community.

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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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51 Event Survey Questions You Need To Ask For the Best Insights

Bizzaboo

What do your attendees think about your event? How about sponsors? Are they likely to support your event next year? What was the experience like for in-person versus virtual attendees at your hybrid event? The best event teams are laser-focused on asking a mix of event survey questions to gather essential qualitative and quantitative data through feedback from key stakeholders.

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Balancing Personalization and Profit: A DMC’s Tightrope Walk in the MICE Industry

ADMEI

Balancing Personalization and Profit: A DMC’s Tightrope Walk in the MICE Industry 02 December 2024 Picture a tightrope walker carefully navigating a thin wire stretched between two towering skyscrapers. On one side lies the allure of creativity and personalization; on the other, the necessity of profitability. Now, layer in the juggling act of working with clients’ champagne tastes and beer budgets.

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Best of 2024: Health and Wellness

Smart Meetings

The ways in which health and wellness fit into the events industry continue to evolve. In the past few years, there has been a major shift from wellness being simply about a good spa day (though, who could say no to that?) to prioritizing the day-to-day well-being of people. The past years health and wellness stories have focused on matters of growing concern, from neurodiversity and accessibility to how people can build their sense of happiness in work as well as in life.

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Macao – Asia’s rising star for Business Events

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pádraic Gilligan, Co-founder, SoolNua & Chief Marketing Officer, SITE Macao & Las Vegas Las Vegas casinos buzz with high-fives, loud cheers, and a steady pour of free-flowing adult beverages. In contrast, Macao’s casinos exude an air of quiet intensity, where focused patrons sip water in hushed concentration. What’s high-spirited entertainment in one destination is.

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EHL Insights Report: Hospitality Trends 2025

EHL Insights

Discover key trends in the EHL Insights Report: Hospitality Trends 2025. Download for insights on AI, personalization, and sustainability!

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Event Gifting that Builds Brand Loyalty & Gives Back. Win, Win.

Achieve Incentives

The post Event Gifting that Builds Brand Loyalty & Gives Back. Win, Win. appeared first on Amazing Incentive Travel Experiences - Achieve Incentives.

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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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Trends Report 2025: Event Attendees as Consumers First

Convene by PCMA

Illustration by Julie Murphy Annual Events Industry Forecast Our usual approach to Convene ‘s Annual Industry Forecast is to cast a wide net, gathering a variety of data related to the business events industry, including travel, lodging, technology, and the workplace. This year, we took a different tack.Instead of those wide-ranging forecasts, Convene editors wrote succinct trends reports for each sector.

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Kids at Conferences — Inclusive or Impractical?

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: Allowing kids at conferences fosters inclusivity and belonging, but safety protocols, liability insurance, and background screenings are a must.

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Incentive Travel 2025: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities

Smart Meetings

Why free time, authenticity and immersion are redefining program inclusions What are the latest trends emerging for incentive travel 2025 and beyond? Smart Meetings sat down with Annette Gregg, CEO of SITE and SITE Foundation, to explore the trends among budget, program inclusion, coming challenges and destination selection for the coming year, courtesy of the Incentive Travel Index Survey Results from SITE Foundation.

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A story for (Last) Christmas from Switzerland

Pádraic Gilligan

by Pdraic Gilligan, Chief Marketing Officer, SITE & Founder, SoolNua Movies and Tourism When I worked as an Italian-speaking tour guide in Ireland in the late ’80s and early ’90s, one of my set-piece commentaries was on movies shot in Ireland. I would mention The Quiet Man (1952, starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara), Un. Read more » The post A story for (Last) Christmas from Switzerland appeared first on padraicino.

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10 Major Connecticut Industries to Consider if You’re Working in or Moving to the State

Redfin

Connecticut is known for its diverse and robust economy, with opportunities spanning multiple sectors. Major industries in Connecticut have helped the state establish a reputation as a hub for innovation, manufacturing, and finance. Whether you’re browsing homes for sale in Stamford or apartments in New Haven , you’ll find plenty of reasons to consider moving to Connecticut.

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The Allure of Winter Travel or Why Cold Is the New Hot

EHL Insights

Destinations in the North such as Iceland, Finland, Norway have become more popular in the recent years. Instead of picking tropical each getaways, some tourists prefer to travel to cold places in the winter months. What is there to it to the cold is the new hot travel tendency of some tourists? Digital communication and Marketing expert Dr. Alessandro Inversini and Lionel Saul , research assistant at EHL, and Urs Binggeli , Senior travel expert at McKinsey, weigh in on the motivations and reaso

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Boost Your Event Success With These Expert AI Hacks

Convene by PCMA

Nick Borelli made the wow factor part of his Spark demonstration at edUcon 2024. (Whatever Media Group) Nick Borelli’s LinkedIn tagline reads “Empowering Event Pros with AI,” an umbrella description of the event technologist’s multiple roles. Borelli is marketing director for Zenus, an AI-powered facial analysis startup, and the designer and instructor for the “Enhancing Events with AI” certificate course for PCMA Event Leadership Institute.

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Why Is Everyone Ghosting Each Other?

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: From dating apps to employment websites, ghosting is the new normal – and now it’s becoming standard practice between meeting planners and suppliers.

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Driving Change: How Inclusion and Accessibility Shape the Future of Events

Smart Meetings

Insights from the Destinations International Social Inclusion Summit From Oct. 28-30, Destinations International (DI) held its 2024 Social Inclusion Summit in Spokane, Washington, where they shared insights and resources around inclusion in the travel and tourism industry. During the summit, DI offered attendees resources such as the Global Accessibility Report , Workforce Diversification and Retention Industry Brief , 2024 Social Inclusion Lexicon , and Social Inclusion Resources Glossary.

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Event Lead Retrieval: Apps, Gamification, Data & Follow-Ups

Bizzaboo

Effective event lead retrieval isnt just about collecting business cards or scanning badges. Its about creating a strategy that helps you achieve your event goals and makes life easier. Ultimately, your lead retrieval process should do two things exceptionally well: maximize your return on investment by capturing quality leads and operate so seamlessly that it doesnt disrupt the event experience.

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Embrace the Season: Must-Do Winter Activities in Olympia, WA

Redfin

Winter is here, and for many of us, it brings the joy of planning all the cozy, mood boosting activities we’ve been waiting for all year. As the temperatures drop and the holiday season approaches, Olympia, WA, is transforming into a winter wonderland, offering a mix of festive events, cozy hideaways, and outdoor adventures. Whether youre looking to enjoy a scenic hike, shop for unique gifts, or relax with a hot beverage, Olympia has something for everyone.

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Beyond Service: The Role of Guest Well-Being

EHL Insights

This article was originally written by htr hotelrevue. In hospitality, guest well-being should be at the forefront of every business strategy. This is necessary for sustained success as prioritizing guest well-being results in higher satisfaction, loyalty, and a stronger brand image.

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Budget Woes Top List of Event Planners’ Biggest Challenges

Convene by PCMA

Business event planner respondents to Convene s 31st Annual Meetings Market Survey shared their biggest work challenges in open-ended responses, which fell into similar categories as the 2023 responses, but with budget woes taking the lead. Budget constraints respondents indicated frustration over budget cuts, rising costs, and the challenge of delivering high-quality events with reduced financial resources.

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Why Choosing the Right Meetings Destination Is Key to Inspiring Innovation

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: Montral pushes the boundaries to inspire innovation through its vibrant culture and unique venues, attracting industry leaders.

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Best of 2024: Podcasts

Smart Meetings

Got a few minutes to boost your career? Smart Meetings podcasts deliver powerful insights and an abundance of smiles of recognition when you need it most. In addition to some blockbuster guests on our original podcast What One Thing? , we launched our newest podcast (formerly Meetings of the Mind), Smart Start Radio. This intergenerational confluence of working meeting planners features authentic, unfiltered opinions designed to help new and evolving hospitality pros in their event journey.

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Collaboration, reusable stands and the latest in event sustainability

MPI

We asked sustainability experts in the meeting and event industry to tell us about recent trends in event sustainability. Their thoughts demonstrate the depth and breadth of industry progress, from better collaboration to effective carbon tracking to reusable trade show stands. _ As a sustainability consultant, I’m happy to say there is more budget allocated for training and initiatives.

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10 Major South Carolina Industries to Consider if You’re Working in or Moving to the State

Redfin

Considering moving to South Carolina ? The state offers a dynamic economy with opportunities across various thriving industries. Whether you’re looking at homes for sale in Charleston or apartments in Greenville , South Carolina provides plenty of choices. With its beautiful coastal cities, rich culture, and expanding job market, its an attractive destination.

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MBA in Hospitality: Developing the Most Valuable Leadership Skills

EHL Insights

You need certain skills to successfully lead a team and become a respected manager in any field. Being inspirational, having excellent technical knowledge, and being someone who could get things done used to be prerequisites, but now what it means to be a good manager is changing.

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Why Portland Is One of America’s Top Accessible Cities

Convene by PCMA

The Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland offers a wheelchair-accessible route — in fact, almost every area of the garden can be accessed by visitors using mobility devices. When potential registrants receive information for your next meeting, some of them are going to be focused on one question: Will the experience be able to accommodate my unique needs?

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UnitedHealthcare CEO Killing Has Planners Rethinking Security

Skift Meetings

Skift Take: The killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson took place outside a Midtown Manhattan hotel where he was attending the companys annual investor conference. Should meeting planners be on high alert?

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Best of 2024: Sustainability

Smart Meetings

The world of sustainable events is bigger than ever. As more planners and partners in hospitality and tourism incorporate sustainability into their business models, it becomes a need-to-have, rather than a nice-to-have. This year, Smart Meetings published a repertoire of sustainability content geared especially around how-tos and making sure everyone has access to the knowledge and resources to feel confident talking about sustainability and implementing it into their business practices.

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F1 & The Luxury Incentives Industry

inVOYAGE

discover How event planners can piggyback off formula 1 to create incredible events in cities around the world Renowned for its high stakes drama, grandiose backdrops and cutting-edge technology, the world of Formula 1 racing has always stood out in the tapestry of motorsport as the most prestigious. With that prestige comes a lucrative price tag for all involved.

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10 Major Rhode Island Industries to Consider if You’re Working in or Moving to the State

Redfin

Rhode Island is home to a diverse economy with thriving industries that attract homebuyers and renters alike. Whether you’re browsing homes for sale in Providence or apartments in Newport , you’ll find opportunities close to major employers. From healthcare to manufacturing, the state’s economy is built on innovation and tradition.

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How AI in Hospitality can Enhance Personalized Customer Experience

EHL Insights

From AI-powered room service that knows your guests favorite midnight snack to chatbots that give travel advice like a seasoned globetrotter, artificial intelligence (AI) in hospitality is like having a unicorn in your hotel garden. You can use it to attract customers, wow them with unique, personalized experiences, and learn more about your business and customers to stay ahead of the game.

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7 Research-Backed Ways to Drive Event Engagement

Convene by PCMA

This year, the event engagement experts at Swapcard conducted an anonymized study across 2,000 events with 2.5 million attendees in order to learn how attendees engage at trade shows, exhibitions, and conferences and to identify overlooked gaps and underutilized strategies for event organizers and exhibitors. Leveraging even one of the seven insights gleaned from the report can significantly boost event engagement and drive exceptional results. 1.