Destination California — Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event — enables attendees to experience first-hand the most desirable destinations, hotels and activities for successful meetings, while making invaluable business connections. This unique event is hosted by Northstar Meetings Group’s leading brands — Successful Meetings, Meetings & Conventions, and Incentive magazine.
Northstar’s destination-specific hosted-buyer event brings together the most highly-qualified meeting and incentive buyers with top destinations, hotels/resorts, cruise lines, attractions, DMCs, DMOs, technology and merchandise providers, and tourism offices from the Southeastern states. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance has put out a call for industry action to oppose proposed US legislation that would have a significant negative impact on the business events sector. OMB wants to make wholesale changes to the rules that govern more than $1 trillion in grants made by the federal government annually…
‘Influence Architecture: The 15 Laws of How Washington Actually Works: A Field Guide for the Leaders Who Pay for Outcomes.’ ECA’s Tommy Goodwin strongly recommends this new book written by Austin O’Boyle as an essential guide for anyone in the Business Events sector whose organisation is planning or participating in a US advocacy campaign.
UChicago Medicine demonstrates how universities can utilise their participation at major events to showcase the excellence of their researchers, labs and departments, whilst highlighting how their academic work creates important value and impact for wider society. The 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting provides a clear example of how this can be achieved.
Developed by USTA’s Group Travel Network, MMTM is a unified industry platform and resource kit aimed at shaping how business executives understand when and why meeting in person is worthwhile. These resources are designed to be adapted and distributed to marketing and sales teams to incorporate into client campaigns, sales conversations and content channels.
On 29 May 2026, ECA, UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, and MAD Event Management hosted the inaugural Global Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. This invitation-only forum brought together leaders from across the global business and professional events industry for a focused dialogue on key cross-border policy issues shaping the industry’s future.
The Events Industry Council (EIC), in collaboration with the Joint Meetings Industry Council (JMIC), today announced the next phase of its targeted refinement of the Sustainable Event Standards (SES), marking a significant step forward in strengthening alignment, usability and real-world application across the global business events sustainability landscape.
226 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates travelled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the ECA’s annual Legislative Action Day to meet with members of Congress with a unified message: our industry is a proven engine of economic resilience and growth, that requires a policy environment to match.
Meetings Capitalized is a fresh approach shaped by research and focus groups, which identifies experiential design as a defining priority for meeting planners. DDC’s updated approach makes it easy for planners to lead with experiences and outcomes, with Washington, DC’s institutions and offerings becoming integral to the meeting experience itself. From Exhibitor…
Effective advocacy requires access to accurate information and this inaugural report, “Strength Beneath the Surface,” was designed with a primary goal: To provide a loud and clearer voice for group travel, one that cuts through the noise and misperceptions, especially after a challenging 2025. In short: there is much evidence of resilience and optimism.
The Academy of Management is pulling its 2027 annual conference out of the U.S. through 2031, relocating meetings to Europe and Canada after members raised alarm over U.S. immigration enforcement and the political environment facing international scholars. The 2026 conference will be the last on U.S. soil for at least five years. From Skift…
Following the recent deal around UK-based exhibition organiser Closer Still, M&A activity in the business events sector is heating up. Apollo-managed funds agreed to acquire Emerald Holding Inc. and Questex LLC in separate transactions, with plans to combine the two companies into a privately owned North American business-to-business events and media platform. From Eventsful…
Northstar’s premier hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings brings together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
Destination East is the premier hosted-buyer event for qualified meetings and incentive professionals sourcing programs in the East. The event will include destinations, hotels, DMCs, technology and merchandise providers, and Eastern US’s other services. Learn from our guest speakers, who will provide targeted education specific to your needs as a meeting and incentive planner.
Northstar’s premiere hosted-buyer event designed specifically for small and boutique-sized meetings, bringing together highly-qualified meeting buyers with destinations, hotels, DMCs and other suppliers ready to welcome smaller events. Attendees participate in one-on-one pre-scheduled appointments, gain industry insights from our guest speakers and network with this exclusive group.
The 10th Edition of the EsportsTravel Summit is the world’s largest gathering of esports tournament and video-game event organizers—and the only event dedicated to the travel side of the esports industry. Launched in conjunction with the TEAMS Conference & Expo in 2017, the EsportsTravel Summit quickly established itself as the industry’s leading platform.
ECA has registered its opposition to potential new tariffs under consideration by the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), which could lead to new tariffs on imports from 60+ countries across a wide range of product categories. The scope is unusually broad, which increases the likelihood of increased costs and potential supply chain disruptions.
US Travel Association has published a helpful fact-sheet which not only provides key facts and figures related to travel and immigration, but outlines policy proposals (e.g. for visitors to provide social media histories) that would have a negative impact on visitor flows and the advocacy steps US Travel is taking to oppose them.
ASAE has released a free-to-download snapshot report on how associations are navigating a rapidly changing environment, drawing on a series of “pulse polls” conducted throughout the last year, and including trends in their meetings and international participation, helping association leaders connect data to strategy and identify where to focus for greater impact and resilience.
ECA announces a new era of advocacy, engagement and growth with a range of new tools, services and activities, and names Tommy Goodwin as President and CEO. Building on ECA’s success over the past five years, ECA 2.0 represents the next phase of growth as ECA deepens its advocacy work, and introduces new opportunities…
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