Are you ready to pursue the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation but don’t know where to begin? Maybe you’ve signed up to take the CAE exam, but you’re not sure how to prepare. If you are ready to earn your CAE, the Kickoff is your first step. The CAE exam covers a broad base of association…
Connect with the top hotels, CVBs, DMCs, and venues from across the Lone Star state in pre-scheduled one-on-one appointments and unique experiential networking events, while enjoying a fully hosted, two-night stay at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Dallas, TX, from December 10-12, 2018.
Not too long ago, even people in the hotel industry referred to the meeting rooms in their hotels as boxes. But all of that has changed, and in a big hurry too. Today the expectations of meetings and the venues that host them are much higher. Planners are finding that venues which engage the senses…
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. When the US Supreme Court recently upheld Trump Travel Ban III, Vancouver quickly tweeted out a welcome mat. But here’s a tale of two cities, New York and San Francisco, that insist the US is still open for business. From PCMA Convene…
Conference spending by the US federal government for fiscal year 2017 dropped by 15.7 percent, according to STR’s Market Insights team. That dip is the first decline since 2013. Three major federal agencies have also now stopped reporting conference spend, which since June 2017 has no longer been a requirement. From Meetings & Conventions…
Ground has been broken on Caesars Forum, a 550,000 square foot conference centre. The $375 million project is all on one level, and features the first 100,000 square foot outdoor meeting / event space in Las Vegas, the Forum Plaza. The venue’s two pillarless ballrooms will be the largest in the world. From Successful Meetings…
The inaugural edition of Energy Disruptors Unite in Calgary, Canada, joined together oil and gas leaders with the brightest minds of the renewable energy industry. With a diverse speaker lineup that included Sir Richard Branson, initial success indicates the event could become a driving force in solving the world’s big energy issues. From PCMA…
The European Thrombosis and Haemostasis Alliance was officially launched at the end of 2017. It’s a telling example of how international associations can expand their European and even global footprint by being more present formally in an association hub like Brussels. Thomas Reiser, Executive Director of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, explains. From Boardroom…
Recently Successful Meetings sent out a survey to its readership about their international events. While most planners responding thought the number they held in 2018 would stay the same, almost a third said it would increase, and only six percent decrease. Cost, travel time and language barrier are still the top challenges. From Successful Meetings…
Both the Global Business Travel Association and Association of Corporate Travel Executives Global have expressed strong concerns about the US Supreme Court’s upholding of the third Trump travel ban on visitors from several mostly Muslim countries. By 5 to 4 the court rejected a challenge around discrimination and exceeding authority. Photo: Joe Ravi. From Meetings & Conventions…
The Meetings Mean Business Coalition plans to reinforce the value of face-to-face meetings during the 2018 US midterm elections by highlighting how candidates themselves are using them to inform, persuade and recruit. According to a study, meetings support 5.9 million US jobs and contribute hundreds of billions of dollars to the economy. From Meetings & Conventions…
Tier 1 cities have much to offer meeting groups in terms of their connectivity and facilities. But all that bang takes a lot of buck. To make a big impact on a smaller budget, meeting planners should consider small and mid-sized cities. So how do you find big-city appeal in an affordable destination? From Successful Meetings…
In June officials ceremonially broke ground on the all-new Oklahoma City Convention Center. This is a $288 million venue, scheduled to open in 2020, that will offer acres of modern and flexible meeting space. According to Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, the building is set to become “a modern town hall”. From PCMA Convene…
The world has become a more dangerous place, and organizations that hold meetings need to be prepared to respond if an emergency arises. Reducing panic, ensuring safety, and containing liability are crucial goals of a strong crisis management plan. Crisis management plans are not one-size-fits-all. They need to be reviewed and revised regularly to incorporate…
Oklahoma City has hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking for its new convention center. Scheduled to open in 2020, the $288 million Oklahoma City Convention Center will boast 200,000 square feet of exhibition space, a 30,000 square foot ballroom and 45,000 square feet of meeting space. Oklahoma City CVB has also launched a new website. From Successful Meetings…
The Wisconsin Center District board of directors has shown expansion plans, analysis and conceptual renderings for Milwaukee’s Wisconsin Center. The plans add between 157,000 and 172,000 square feet to existing space. The cost of the project is estimated at between $247 million and $277 million. The WCD still needs to develop and approve financing. From Meetings & Conventions…
The list of cities vying to host the Democratic National Convention in 2020 has been reduced to six: Atlanta, Houston, Miami Beach, Milwaukee, New York and San Francisco. The event draws 50,000, has economic impact of more than $200 million and throws a global spotlight on the host city. Photo: Maggie Hallahan. From Meetings & Conventions…
Both the San Diego City Council and Board of Port Commissioners have voted in favor of securing the land needed to expand the San Diego Convention Center. The complex plan stipulates how the city will gain control of the site if voters approve a measure to fund the project in November. From Meetings & Conventions…
The fifth annual Exhibitions Day drew a record 125 attendees to Capitol Hill in Washington DC. The two-day event included a one-day update on legislative issues to be discussed in Congress. Those who carried the industry’s message to elected officials the following day included representatives from over twenty industry associations. From Meetings & Conventions…
When about 2,000 meeting delegates sat down for lunch at the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education Annual Conference, they were fed all plant-based food all conference long. In addition to the conference’s first-ever all-vegetarian menu, the organiser made another big move in 2017 by eliminating breakfast from the menu. From PCMA…
Meetings Professionals International’s World Education Congress has just concluded in Indianapolis, having welcomed around 2,200 attendees. Since WEC 2017 MPI had totally reimagined the event, and the 2018 running was certainly eventful, even to the extent of a Sudanese-Australian speaker being unable to attend because of a US visa waiver refusal. From Meetings & Conventions…
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