Anna Abdelnoor, CEO and Founder of isla, observes that too many travel and event sector association leaders are underplaying the turmoil in geopolitics and international business systems that we are currently experiencing and don’t understand that their members would welcome clear-eyed leadership statements on the changed reality of the environment they’re operating in. From AMI…
Meeting design guru Mike van der Vijver calls for the adoption of organisational and evaluation frameworks that highlight the good that meetings deliver (for delegates, event owners, host destinations and society at large), rather than those designed to simply minimise the negative carbon impact of holding the event. From AMI…
From Exempla: Exempla Management & Consulting, based in Brussels, Belgium, and Meet4Impact, based in Montreal, Canada are excited to announce a strategic partnership, creating new consultancy services designed to enhance the impact of mission-driven international associations. This collaboration brings together the complementary strengths of both teams to offer a unique, integrated value proposition.
2025 marked a major shift for the events industry, and Freeman’s End-of-Year Trends Recap examines what was most impactful. One of the significant opportunities, and challenges, coming in 2026 is how the industry must prioritise stronger retention strategies. Attendee retirement is outpacing attendee retention, creating a significant workforce challenge over the next three years.
The world’s first international professional body to support the professional development and recognition of everyone working across the global events industry. The Centre for Events & Festivals (CEF) is an international Not-for-Profit providing resources to all event and festival sectors – from sports, business and private events to public, arts, and cultural festivals. We do…
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The biggest common denominator among this season’s PCMA Convene podcast guests: Put your audience at the center of your design strategy and event execution, even if it means taking a different and unknown course. From AI and sponsorship reinvention to values-based design and measuring joy, the topics covered help shape the future of business events.
The objective of the annual recognition day is to raise awareness and appreciation for the important role of destination organization professionals, celebrate them and highlight the varied and exciting career tracks the sector offers as a means of attracting future generations of destination leaders. Find out how you can participate / download DI’s Toolkit here…
In December 2024, Skift Meetings published its annual Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report, outlining the forces expected to shape business events in the year ahead. One year later, the results are mixed. Several trends materialized decisively. Others showed early promise but stalled amid operational, financial, or regulatory realities. Here’s how each prediction played out…
From TSNN: The global exhibitions industry is entering 2026 with a burst of momentum, as leading organizers push into new regions, sectors and formats through a mix of high‑profile launches and strategic acquisitions. From safety and energy to tourism and design, established players are widening their footprints and accelerating growth plans to meet rising demand…
A cooling labor market is compounding a long-simmering problem. Event professionals are being asked to do more with fewer resources, less institutional support, and, often, less pay. Simultaneously, seasoned professionals are exiting the industry at an accelerating pace. In many cases, they are replaced by less experienced workers, or not replaced at all.
The events industry rarely lacks opinions. There are countless conversations, articles, and posts, about the purpose, priorities, and mechanics of successful business events. There are prophets and preachers, pundits and partners – all promoting what they claim (or seek to sell) as the truth or the best way forward. Yet there are just as many…
Skift’s latest report highlights persistent uncertainty, talent gaps, condensed timeframes and rising costs, along with the impact of AI, political polarisation and the increasing prevalence of “micro events”. Lots of strategic issues are covered in this thought-provoking report, with clear insights on how to deal with the forces defining the year ahead.
The German Convention Bureau is looking to recruit 40 “research fellows” to participate in the first study in a series of research projects exploring the future evolution of business events, and is especially interested to hear from international meeting owners and organisers. Deadline for sign up is 28 February 2026. More details here…
From Skift Meetings: A flurry of late-year dealmaking shows growing confidence in the events sector, even as geopolitical and economic uncertainty lingers. Investors see a fragmented industry ripe for consolidation. The events industry rarely sees a day like this. Five major deals were announced in a 24-hour window – activity that signals renewed confidence across…
Kai Hattendorf observes that much has been written and discussed in trends, outlooks, and on stages around the breakdown of the traditional business flow: For decades, the rhythm of the exhibition industry was rigid: Venues booked five years out, marketing campaigns launched twelve months out. That era is over, so how do we adapt?
Gathering Point’s David Adler argues that the more artificial the world becomes, the more essential real gatherings are to our collective survival. What we once called “events” has grown into something much bigger: the Gathering Economy: You can sense this maturity most clearly in the way audiences behave. The dependable six-month registration curve is gone…
Gary Grimmer argues that developing a value proposition around event impacts is the most strategic issue facing both destination promoters and events organisers. If we measure and report impacts effectively using multi-dimensional KPIs that communicate the industry’s full economic, social and environmental value, we’re going to be part of a more successful and sustainable industry.
Stay informed with the latest association insights and trends by subscribing to regular updates from Boardroom, the global reference point both for the world of associations and within the meetings industry, with articles written by the sector’s most-experienced professionals and a magazine endorsed and supported by the members of its Association Advisory Board.
Destinations International’s Jane Cunningham and MMGY NextFactor’s Managing Director Cassandra Gilbertson discuss the ways in which DI’s latest biennial study will shape the policy priorities and primary challenges facing destination organisations worldwide over the coming years. A huge shift in business models and strategic responsibilities has been taking place over the last decade, moving from…
ICCA and Destination Canada have unveiled The State of Sustainability in Associations Report, revealing that while global associations increasingly value sustainability, many still struggle to turn commitment into measurable action. According to the study, 66% of international associations rate sustainability as very or extremely important, up from 60% in 2023, but consistent implementation remains elusive.
Recent deals and debuts show how specialization and regional diversification are fuelling the next wave of events trade shows and other commercial business events. Global organizers are accelerating growth through bold new launches and strategic acquisitions, reshaping the trade show landscape across multiple sectors. From TSNN…
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