Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson spoke with Courtney about how she got into the meetings industry, the inspiring women she's interviewed, and how women (and men) can further female advancement and influence in an industry that is roughly 80% female but underrepresented in C-level positions.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson met up with Lisa Messina, chief sales officer for Visit Orlando, at IMEX America 2025 to discover what’s new and improved in a destination that is always top of mind with meeting and event planners.

From the first new theme park in 25 years to property announcements and its hot dining scene, Messina shares why this Central Florida standout is always earning the attention and accolades it receives.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Maritz Deputy General Counsel Jill Blood at IMEX America 2025 to find out what's keeping both planners and suppliers up at night, and strategies to overcome these vexatious legal dilemmas.

Discover how you can protect your organization.

Note: This episode was originally published October 18, 2024

Note: This episode was originally published April 9, 2025

Note: This episode was originally published April 24, 2025

Joel Zeff is the author of Make the Right Choice: Lead with Passion, Elevate Your Team, and Unleash the Fun at Work. And for nearly 30 years has been using the tools of improv and comedy to increase collaboration, productivity, passion and innovation by celebrating life's small wins, or "ta-da" moments.

This podcast was produced in partnership with Visit Greater Palm Springs.

Meetings Today caught up with Ronnie Collins, senior vice president of sales for Visit Anaheim, to learn the details, and also about mega events coming to the destination, a major property renovation project and a meetings incentive program named Meetings Momentum.

Located in Chula Vista, California, and set for a May 15, 2025 opening, the property will offer a whopping 1,600 rooms and more than 477,000 square feet of meeting space that includes the 47,000-square-foot California Ballroom, the largest in the Golden State.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson engaged Voices in Advocacy’s Roger Rickard, the leading expert on political advocacy in the meetings industry and beyond, to gauge how the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and now 20% on China—and reciprocal actions by those nations—may touch the industry.

Will meeting and event costs skyrocket? Will international attendance plummet? Will organizations from those countries take a pass on bringing their events to the U.S.?

At the time of recording the impact was far from clear, but Rickard outlines some very real scenarios as well as provides resources for how those in the meetings and events industry can reach out to their political representatives to make sure their voices are heard.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Priest-Heck to discuss why the book is such a valuable resource for meeting and event planners, as well as key industry trends and the importance of sharing our knowledge with the next generation of meeting professionals.

In this Trendsetter Tuesday episode, Zimmerman shares his personal sustainability journey and offers practical tips for greening your next event.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn about how Graziano stays motivated and inspired.

Former Meetings Today editor Maria Lenhart, who has also written and edited for some of the other top meetings industry trade publications in a career measured in decades, has co-authored Secret Cape Cod and the Islands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.

Former colleague Tyler Davidson tapped into the making of this delightful new travel tome born during the pandemic, as well as Maria's observations from her many years covering travel and meetings, and how a group of senior ladies meeting in the Cape to play cards was treated to a private performance by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, among many other decidedly quirky tales and travel tips.

Learn more about Monique's journey in the industry!

Whelan, a Meetings Today Trendsetter that was formerly the assistant GM for Levy Convention Centers at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and also an outspoken advocate for inclusion in the meetings and events industry, is a font of meetings and conventions F&B knowledge.

Whelan also sits on the board of directors for the SEARCH Foundation, is a former board member of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association and former president of the Massachusetts Live Events Coalition.

Learn the latest engaging catering and cuisine trends as well as the importance of joining industry associations and foundations.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Amy Kramer, market and product innovation leader for Maritz, to see how the global MICE giant has integrated AI into its workflow, and also tips on how meeting professionals can implement this remarkable new technology to streamline workflows and gather information.

Reed talks about his journey in the meetings industry to this point, why he is always asking questions and innovating and why he is never complacent with the status quo.

Native Los Angeleno Javier Cano wears many hats, from overseeing 10 hotels in Greater Los Angeles, including LA LIVE’s JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, to being chair of the Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District and on the executive committee of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board as well as the California Hotel & Lodging Association.

In addition, he’s on the board of directors of the California Travel Association, Hotel Association of Los Angeles and Central City Association, among others. Cano has also been recognized among the 500 most influential people in L.A., GM of the Year for Marriott and GM of the Year for Los Angeles. We also named him a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson somehow got worked into Javier's busy schedule for a podcast interview.

Discover the unique perspectives, encyclopedic knowledge and inspirational advice this 45-year Marriott veteran brings to meetings and hospitality, and by all means share it with someone who may be considering a career in this dynamic industry!

Meetings Today Vice President & Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson sat down with Blood at IMEX America 2024 to discover what legal issues are keeping planners and the organizations they work for up at night.

From data privacy and AI workstreams to increasing costs colliding with shorter meeting time frames, it seems it's never been this complicated for those in the meetings industry. Find out what needs to be on your radar.

We tapped Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer, and Jane Vukovich, director of destination services, to discover how this new division will also focus on cultural, music and other big events.

Plus, Jane Vukovich shares how the DMO can provide soup-to-nuts service to meeting planners bringing any type of event to the Valley of the Sun.

Heather Spangler, associate professor and event management certificate coordinator at the University of Iowa, educates and inspires students to become the industry's newest professionals, guaranteeing she helps set the industry up for a successful future.

In 2015, Spangler founded the University of Iowa’s Event Management Certificate, which draws 250 of the university’s best and brightest students each year. She is dedicated to providing a hands-on program focused on real-world skills and connections.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn more about the creation of the Event Management Certificate program and how Spangler makes it her mission to shape tomorrow's talent.

After signing on with Cvent in 2011, Andrews built its event program from the ground up. Fourteen years later, she leads a team of 30 managing some 1,200 events every year. She also has catapulted Cvent’s annual user conference, Cvent CONNECT, into a globally recognized industry event.

Andrews is also the co-host of Cvent’s Great Events podcast and is an MPI International Board of Directors member, sought-after speaker and respected mentor and leader.

As part of our weekly Trendsetter Tuesday podcast series, Meetings Today digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sat down with Garcia to learn why she still believes in the value of virtual site tours and how she got to be where she is in the industry today. 

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Brunson to discover his journey and learn key tips for his planner colleagues to implement in their programs to ensure their events are welcoming to all attendees.

Christina Decker, director of sales and services for Visit Frisco, explains the phenomenal growth of this Metroplex town and how the many additions and upcoming venues will dramatically increase its meetings and events clout.

Dr. Brandi Baldwin, CEO of Millennial Ventures, has made a massive effort to help companies and industry professionals thrive in their work environments.

Dr. Baldwin was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for her efforts to develop cutting edge strategies that foster equitable and thriving company cultures.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn more about what it means to make a difference.

Dami Kim is a wellness warrior who's been practicing how to effectively care for her physical, emotional and mental well-being for 26 years. Now, as director of Body & Brain Wellness, she is helping some of the most stressed professionals in the world do the same.

Kim was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for her desire to educate the industry through innovative and transformative practices fueled by her passion for helping others.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to see how she turned her own life around and found her passion for helping others do the same.

Spellos was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for his arguably unrivaled understanding of AI as it relates to the meetings industry.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with him to get his take on AI and what may lie beyond.

In this episode, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down for a conversation with Kristine Iverson, founder and president of CROW Practice, to learn about how she started her own live events wellness company, discovered the leadership techniques that work for her and what it means to her to be a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

For our first episode, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down for a conversation with Alicia Jenelle, director of experience design at The Jenelle Group, to learn more about her story in meetings and events as well as what it means to her to be a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

Surette also delves into recent and upcoming openings as well as what the hotel sales veteran sees as macro trends impacting an industry getting its stride following the dark days of the pandemic.

With a new NFL stadium and dreams of hosting a Super Bowl, in addition to phenomenal hotel and event venue growth in the last few years, Music City is hotter than a plate of Nashville Hot Chicken.

Discover what the NCVC has been up to since the retirement of former bureau chief and industry icon Butch Spyridon retired, as well as what it's like to live in the "Capital of Country Music," where you just may bump shopping carts with a low-key celebrity when out on a grocery run.

Association meetings thought-leader KiKi L'Italien, editor-in-chief of Association Chat and VP of marketing and community engagement at Big Red M, has put together what promises to be quite the party bus experience to shuttle ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo attendees from suburban D.C. to the convention in Cleveland, with conviviality and general merriment sure to ensue.

Discover how this outside-of-the-box networking road trip came together, and whether any DMOs or association-business craving properties along the way are marketing-savvy enough to provide the 2024 Association Chat Road Trip a reason for a pit stop.

L'Talien is joined by association consultancy vet Michael Butera, president and CEO of Association ActiVision, to discuss the current state of the segment, including a significant change to this year's ASAE Annual and some of the major challenges and opportunities ahead.

Are you on the bus?

Stephen Cutchins joined Cvent in 2022 as senior manager of accessibility and has spent over 15 years helping clients achieve accessibility-related goals. In prior work leading accessibility programs, he worked closely with People with Disabilities, including those who were Blind, Deaf, or had physical disabilities. Stephen has a passion as well as firsthand experience understanding how People with Disabilities use the web. As Cvent’s Senior Manager of Accessibility, Stephen works to ensure that our products are both usable and enjoyable by attendees who have disabilities.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Hernbroth about his new book as well as macro trends that are shaping both the business word and meetings industry as we adjust to work and meetings life after the pandemic.

Sponsored by Greater Ontario, California (GOCAL)

Curious about what your skill set should include in the future? Tune in now to learn more.

On day two of the event, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with MPI President and CEO Paul Van Deventer to talk WEC numbers, industry trends, the rise of AI and what's next for MPI. 

Having co-chaired MPI's Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Committee and more recently leading Event Leadership Institute’s Event DEI Strategist certification course—and also an event planner—Moore has a uniquely qualified expertise on DEI and a keen perspective on why the concept is currently under attack.

Moore shares her unfiltered thoughts on the current state of DEI, or EDI, as she prefers to refer to it, with Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson.

If you're curious about DEI (aka EDI), this podcast is for you, as it illustrates its basic concepts as well as dives deeper to provide further understanding on what has recently become a politically charged topic.

*Sponsored by Visit Phoenix

Maritz has released a groundbreaking Registration Insights Report that collected data over three years from 360,000 registrations at 30 tradeshows. Emily Laufgraben, market insight manager for the global meetings and events giant, reveals the sweet spot between fretting over late arrivals and taking their event spend to the bank.

According to a robust new survey from Maritz, late event registration translates into more ancillary meetings spend by attendees. Discover where this sweet spot between heartburn and revenue generation lies.

Now, after a little more than a year at the helm of NCBMP, Dunn reflects on his work there as well as where the meetings and events industry is in terms of diversity and inclusion, the nuanced issue of travel boycotts and advisories, and the generational challenge of persuading young people to consider a career in the meetings and hospitality industries.

Thus sanctified, Hoops later sat down with Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson to discuss the record-setting attendance and other happenings at CL—including the epic pickleball showdown—as well as the many exciting new developments happening in Indy.

As a Millennial company leader, Goetting coaches Gen Z employees on how to maximize their effectiveness at work and consults with clients aiming to inspire Gen Z. His expertise has helped him learn and develop invaluable tactics for navigating the challenges and opportunities of working with Gen Z, fostering a collaborative and productive environment that aligns with the expectations of this tech-savvy and socially conscious generation. From virtual meeting etiquette to leveraging innovative technologies, tune in now for some tips from Goetting on fostering collaborative and productive environments for incoming professionals.

Meetings Today caught up with Ferguson on the bustling floor of The District exhibitor area at PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 to discuss Destination DC's Only One D.C. marketing campaign, new hotels and meetings venues on the scene, its status as the first city in the world to achieve Platinum level LEED for Cities and Sustainability District, and his and the bureau's ongoing efforts leading DEI and supplier diversity initiatives.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Peckinpaugh at PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 to discover what the leader of one of the biggest MICE companies in the world is seeing, including whether hybrid and virtual meetings are fading post-pandemic.

What lays in store for you in 2024?

We sat down with Visit Orlando Chief Sales Officer Mike Waterman at PCMA Convening Leaders 2024 to discover what's new in a destination Cvent designates as the top meetings draw in the U.S., along with the most recent meetings numbers.

Gast also details the new Ritz-Carlton taking over for the Four Seasons as well as the most recent meeting facility news and the 50th anniversary of Las Colinas, one of the first master-planned communities of its kind that has become a foundation of the destination.

We tapped the expertise of Jill Blood, VP, deputy general counsel for global meetings and events giant Maritz, along with Sarah Kiefer, VP, Brand, to see what legal issues are expected to be top of mind in 2024.

Beth Lubotsky, head of loyalty strategy for World of Hyatt, shares how planners, as well as attendees and leisure travelers, stand to benefit via the revamped loyalty program.

In fact, the upper tiers of the hotel chain scale are experiencing room rate increases hovering around a jaw-dropping 30%.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Maritz COO Steve O'Malley, one of the most respected trends experts in the meetings and events industry, to discuss the global events giant's latest survey, timed to be released at IMEX America 2023.

O'Malley also delves into how events programs are changing due to the new generation entering the business world, as well as how a polarized U.S. political atmosphere is impacting where organizations are holding meetings.

Deborah Lahti, director of resort and hotel sales for Visit Phoenix, shares how the fifth-largest city in the U.S. is continuing to expand, with spectacular new hotels and resorts and improvements to traditional favorites transforming its meetings and events offering.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Lahti to discover more about the impressive new resorts coming online and also learn about some of the top offsite event venue options in Greater Phoenix.

Caesars Entertainment Vice President Catering and Convention Services Las Vegas Don Ross delves into the new wellness initiative as well as some of the big trends he's seeing in meetings and events food and beverage.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson spoke with Kate Walsh, Megan Henshall and Naomi Clare Crellin to discover what Hello! Destination Management, Google and Storycraft Lab are cooking up in concert with other collaborators such as Marriott and Maritz on the exhibit floor at IMEX America 2023, and how the message they are delivering resonates beyond the annual event.

Meetings industry veteran Eric Rozenberg is one of the foremost experts on international business events, having served as chair of MPI's International Board of Directors and by running his own business serving a global clientele.

Rozenberg is also an author of business books and a speaker and instructor on the topic of entrepreneurship, especially in the meetings and events industry.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with Rozenberg to talk about the state of international meetings as well as his work with Dr. Lalia Rach, who leads ALHI Strategic Consulting Services, where he helps business owners navigate their journey in starting and running businesses.

Beyond Atlanta, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) is also busy with a massive expansion to the Savannah Convention Center that will transform that storied coastal Georgia destination in terms of its conventions offering.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Jennifer LeMaster, chief administrative officer of the GWCCA, during ASAE's Annual Meeting & Exposition to discuss the new facilities and major expansions throughout the "Championship Campus" and beyond.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with event management software company EventMobi founder and CEO Bob Vaez to explore the benefits of the acquisition as face-to-face meetings have rebounded post-pandemic, as well as his take on some of the major meetings and events technology issues impacting the industry.

Hear why EventMobi is upping its hybrid meetings offering, and why you should continue to explore both standalone virtual events as well as meetings that combine virtual with in-person.

Dan Surette, chief sales officer for Omni Hotels & Resorts, explains how the privately owned hotel company is placing a premium on the customer by working with global experience transformation company Materials Plus on a $1 million project to create two signature employee training programs that focus on personalization.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with Shimo shortly after the retirement announcement to discuss her 40 years in the meetings and hospitality industry, advice for those just starting out, as well as her post-career plans.

The author of Managing the Book on YOU!, who is also executive managing director of Strategic Consulting Service, a division of ALHI, and founding dean of the NYU Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management, shares her experience being “born into” the hospitality industry, how she elevated NYU’s meeting planning certificate program into an undergraduate degree program and her work helping hospitality industry professionals via her consulting work with global luxury hotel sales powerhouse ALHI.

From bee hives to its Intentional Gatherings program, launching the Making HERstory Tea for Women's History Month, career-building efforts for local youth and DEI and food rescue efforts, the Georgia World Congress Authority excels at giving back to its community as well as the world.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson sat down with Shavannia Williams, director of strategic partnerships for Georgia World Congress Authority, to see how the organization’s “People, Planet, Performance” motto can inspire meetings and conventions.

But while DEI and sustainability have regained their status as key industry concerns as the pandemic wanes, many believe now is the time to elevate risk management back to its pre-pandemic prominence.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Gary LaBranche, CEO of Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) at ASAE's 2023 Annual Meeting & Exposition, to push the reset button on this critical topic.

Included in the conversation are tips on how you can ensure the safety of your attendees, an active-shooter situation that impacted RIMS's RISKWORLD event in Atlanta in May, as well as how RIMS is teaming with ASIS and ASAE to develop a risk management toolkit that will help planners keep their events safe.

From association talent pipeline struggles and the impact of AI to what she believes is the curious lack of a hybrid component at "The Super Bowl of Meetings," L'Italien is one of the leading, authentic voices covering the world of associations and meetings technology.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with L'Italien at ASAE's 2023 Annual Meeting in Atlanta for a frank discussion about the state of the associations segment and what she's hearing from her large audience of association professionals.

Meetings Today got to experience the concept of this musical magic firsthand when it brought in CreatiVets to facilitate the writing of songs about meeting and event planning at its Meetings Today LIVE! South event in Nashville as part of a CSR program.

In this Meetings Today Podcast, Vice President & Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson discusses the mission of CreatiVets with Brett Gillan, its program director. Discover how you can help this amazing organization help our veterans through its unique form of music therapy.

Meetings technology expert educator Jim Spellos previews his upcoming webinar, "Everything You Need to Know About AI...But Didn't Know to Ask," on this disruptive technology and the benefits and risks of its use. While the ramifications--and possible regulations--regarding generative AI are yet to truly reveal themselves, Spellos will get you up to date on where were at as the adoption curve seems primed to rapidly ascend.

How close are meeting and event planners to including these new technologies in their programs, and how are younger meeting and event attendees driving the adoption trend. Discover what's around the corner for your events, and how sustainability is still a major concern as in-person and hybrid meetings come charging back and looking much different than ever before.

Stay ahead of the curve!

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson asked Puck about his journey to become a entrepreneurial cuisine legend, the 25th anniversary of Wolfgang Puck Catering and what he believes his legacy will be. Along the way, the Austrian-born chef dishes out stories about some of the entertainment industry celebrities that frequented his legendary Spago restaurant, how he emerged from the back of the kitchen to become an F&B icon, and the continuing evolution of high-profile events catering.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Jang to get her take during this podcast discussing the state of AAPI people and cultures in the meetings and events industry as Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month comes to a close.

Meetings Today touched base with two leading DEI proponents, Greg DeShields, executive director of Tourism Diversity Matters, and Sheila Alexander-Reid, executive director diversity for PHL Diversity (a division of the Philadelphia CVB) to get their take on successes as well as the challenges ahead.

Also, information about Tourism Diversity Matters' The Collective Experience conference in October 23-24 in Philadelphia, and why the City of Brotherly Love has always been at the forefront of societal change.

How is the conference center segment currently faring? How are corporations using these facilities to gather a workforce that in many respects was scattered to the wind, or evaporated, over the last three years? Is the message of sustainability getting through as we face climate change?

Meetings Today touched base with Cooper at IACC's Americas Knowledge Exchange, its renamed annual conference that seeks to strengthen both the bonds of knowledge and integrate an influx of new leaders into the world of that thoroughbred meeting facility, conference centers.

John G. Reyes, senior vice president and chief MCI sales officer for Meet Hawai‘i, shares how Hawai'i's tourism community has come together to honor the true spirit of aloha, and communicate the responsibility for visitors to give back to a people and culture that has given so much of itself in welcoming them.

From incorporating indigenous cultural programming and activities to unique excursions and CSR that honors the native culture, Hawai'i is sharing a deeper understanding of itself with the world.

After meeting him during a familiarization trip to Columbus before PCMA Convening Leaders 2023, Meetings Today touched base with Peterson to record a podcast about why Columbus holds such a special place in his heart, as well as more details about his globetrotting derring-do.

After traveling the planet for the past decade to get up close and personal with often misunderstood animals in extreme environments, this Emmy Award-winning hunkers down in Columbus, which has become a center of innovation and entrepreneurship stemming from The Ohio State University (where Peterson is an alumni) and many Fortune 500 companies.

The sense of urgency seems to be a great deal less in North America, however. Why is this, and how can travel and meetings industry professionals join the fight against climate change via self-regulation?

Meetings Today interviewed James Rees, executive director, conference and events, ExCel London and former president of the International Congress and Convention Association, about the Net Zero Carbon Events initiative and other major sustainability efforts underway in Europe and North America.

Having a wealth of experience on the major venue side, as well as leading a major industry association and holding top sales positions for Hilton Hotels, Rees can address the subject of sustainability from a variety of vantage points.

Aside from delivering memorable event service at the Hyatt Centric French Quarter in New Orleans, Reid, you see, is a classically trained mezzo-soprano who has performed with the Gulf Coast Opera Théâtre and the Keesler Air Force Base production of Handel's Messiah in Biloxi, Mississippi. She's also a member of Women@Hyatt, Hyatt B.L.A.C.K. Diversity Business and Resource Group and Loyola University New Orleans Alumni Association.

Meetings Today checked in with Tyler Orwig, vice president of association and tradeshow sales for Visit San Antonio, to discover what's new in the meetings and events world and beyond in this always-popular Texas destination.

Always a draw because of its epic history, San Antonio will make you remember it for much more than the Alamo.

Norman relayed his incredible journey of being raised in poverty by a single mom with five brothers and sisters and serving 14 years in prison before turning his life around to become a Harvard Fellow and travel the world on a mission to help inmates and others suffering dire situations.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Norman to delve into his remarkable journey and discover how his message can move audiences to widen their beliefs on the possibilities of bettering our society by nurturing our young.

We caught up with Rachel at SITE Global Conference 2023 in New York City to get her take on what could be considered an existential threat to the travel industry, reducing its carbon footprint voluntarily before governments enforce mandates.

Learn what green initiatives Maritz Global Events is embarking on as well as tips planners of all events and incentive travel programs can tap to make their own efforts more sustainable.

Is your job safe? Depends on how fast you adapt.

Turner recently published The Power of ChatGPT: How to Put ChatGPT to Work for You, available on Amazon and via his website, www.oldclayburn.com, and also is the founder of Virtual Memorial Gatherings, which stepped in to fill the critical need for virtual funerals during the pandemic lockdown.

Discover Lancaster President & CEO Edward Harris shares some of these "secret" offerings, such as wineries, breweries, ziplining and hot-air ballooning, as well as the destination's GBAC-accredited convention center and his experience joining and then leading the DMO through the pandemic.

This podcast was produced in partnership with Reno Tahoe

From offering offsite events and experiences that include local culture that may have been previously overlooked to tapping LGBTQ+ and BIPOC vendors to provide key event services, DMOs and event service professionals are the frontline resources that can ensure inclusion in a meaningful, and equitable, way.

Did you know that Columbus is the largest city in Ohio and the 14th largest in the U.S., and is home to a diverse population that includes one of the largest LGBTQ+ populations per capita in the nation? It's also considered the fourth largest center of design in the U.S. and the headquarters city of a number of major Fortune 500 companies.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Experience Columbus President & CEO Brian Ross to get his impressions on major new developments in the destinations, Experience Columbus initiatives and what the impact of PCMA Convening Leaders will be on Ohio's capital city.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, to discover what's in store for meetings and conventions groups in 2023. 

ELI founder Howard Givner, now senior vice president of knowledge and innovation for PCMA, sits down with Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson to discuss the details of the acquisition, the mutual benefits PCMA and ELI members will receive, and what he sees as the future of education in the meetings and conventions industry.

Meetings Today caught up with Peckinpaugh at PCMA Convening Leaders in Columbus, Ohio, to get the skinny from one of the top leaders in the global MICE industry.

Meanwhile, while the U.S. meetings and events industry actively sings the praises of issues such as sustainability and the impact business events have on the environment, the message doesn't seem to be translating into actual practices and government regulations like it does across the Atlantic.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with VisitScotland's Neil Brownlee at IMEX America to explore the country's ambitious initiative, as well as meetings and events trends, facility information and the benefits of bringing meetings to Scotland. 

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson sat down with Fiona Macpherson, vice president of business development and sales for etc.venues, a 30-year-old, U.K.-based non-residential conference center operator that just opened a third location in Manhattan.

Discover what this London-based urban conference center option—which in 2019 hosted nearly 1 million delegates—brings to the U.S. market, being known for its interior design, F&B, technology and, being from England—a stellar tea selection, of course!

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson caught up with Maritz Global Events Enterprise Vice President and COO Steve O’Malley at IMEX America 2022 to see what the global meetings and events juggernaut is noticing take shape regarding key industry issues.

O’Malley and his team are seeing organizational values such as sustainability and DEI stressed in RFPs, and data privacy is once again rising to the fore. And what about attendance levels? Will we ever get back to “normal?”

You’ll have to hear what O’Malley reveals to get the answers.

Ben Erwin, president and CEO of the global event planning, creative, production and technology juggernaut, talked with Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson about its mysterious and magnificent "multi-room" environment shrouded by towering black draping in the back of the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.

But it was much more than the proverbial big show reveal at IMEX America, as Erwin said the concept can be customized for any industry or event, and that meeting planners may see their clout greatly increased as they work to create connections within organizations in a dynamic new workplace environment that has been rocked by remote work and retention and staffing challenges.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Matej at IMEX America 2022 to discuss the new initiative as well as how the destination fared during Hurricane Ian and the phenomenal response of its hotel community to help residents of Florida's hard-hit communities weather the storm.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with Karamat at IMEX America to expand on his dire diagnosis for the meetings and events industry and the planet itself, as well as his thoughts as the incoming chair of the Events Industry Council and happenings at PCMA, including the January 2023 Convening Leaders conference in Columbus, Ohio.

But cancelling or moving meetings can lead to legal and financial exposure and also impact those in the destination that rely on meetings and conventions to make a living, such as hotel, restaurant and transportation workers, among many others.

To provide an alternative to cancellation, or attendees deciding to not participate in a meeting or convention, meetings industry veterans Beth Surmont and Elena Gerstmann created SocialOffset, which allows attendees and organizations to donate to charities that counter the legislation and policies in question.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson recently talked with Surmont and Gerstmann to discover what SocialOffset, now in its pilot phase, brings to the conversation about destination boycotts, especially in the association segment.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson talked with Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs, to discover what’s new up and down the Coachella Valley, and how groups themselves can turn a meeting there into an opportunity to reconnect and reenergize.

And if exclusive resorts and luxe cruises don't do the trick, companies can even launch their high-performing incentive winners into space!

Check out all the deets of this turnkey incentive travel reward option that promises to disrupt the segment by giving award-winners more say in what travel experiences they want. It's an idea whose time has come, and one that also helps organizational recruitment and retention efforts in a time when workforces have been stretched thin and employees have more bargaining power and desire more flexibility.

Helping shepherd the process is Tahira Endean, an industry veteran and former head of events for SITE who was recently hired as IMEX Group's Head of Programme. Carrying the theme "Pathways to Clarity," IMEX America will kick off October 10 in Las Vegas with its Smart Monday educational day.

Learn more about the new educational strategy as well as what else new to expect during IMEX America 2022, the 11th edition of the show, with this Meetings Today podcast with Endean.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson talks with Cvent's Rachel Andrews, senior director, Global Meetings & Events, and Patrick Smith, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, about their experience producing the hospitality tech giant's Cvent Travel Summit, which featured specialized content for different subsets of audience and multiple event formats, as well as in-person elements in two different countries before and after the main production.

Sound complicated? Let Rachel and Patrick share how they pulled it off, because hybrid meetings are here to stay and the race is on to deliver the most engaging and relevant experience for all attendees.

Meetings Today sat down with Visit Plano’s Marisa Obando, SMERF and Government sales manager for the DMO, to discover why Plano could be a good fit for a wide range of meetings across many segments.

*Produced in collaboration with VISIT Milwaukee

This podcast was produced in partnership with MGM Resorts International.

CRN's Mike Wainwright,  vice president of  sales, Gaylord Hotels and Marriott Convention & Resort Network, and Robert Pfeffer, senior director, Convention & Resort Network, Resort Portfolio at Marriott International, delve into what the network is experiencing as far as bookings and leads, as well as how the pandemic experience will shape the post-COVID-19 landscape.

The 11th edition of the annual forecast garners planner perspectives on virtual and hybrid meetings, how they think their budgets will fare, the cost of key components and the relevance of issues such as sustainability, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) and more.

From the Foo Fighters and Bob Marley to Kiss, Jimmy Buffett, AC/DC and Aerosmith, see how key learnings from these rock legends can translate to your brand and inspire your meetings and events audiences.

Jones was a keynote speaker at Meetings Today LIVE! South, held in mid-October in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and had an audience of meeting planners on the edge of their seats as he recounted backstage stories and how these epic performers overcame adversity.

From data analytics skills to a deeper understanding of technology, the meeting planner of the future will need to have a much larger skillset and a proficiency at cross-departmental communication and collaboration, such as with marketing departments.

Does your skillset match up with the needs of the future?

*Created in partnership with Greater Ontario CVB

How can we lead with excellence during times of great uncertainty and change? Tenacious powerhouse entrepreneur Tammy Dickerson, President & Lead Planner at tbg Events, discusses how being your own biggest cheerleader, putting people first, and taking care of yourself are all important actions to implement when catalyzing professional momentum, especially during COVID-19.

*Created in partnership with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Access another Meetings Today podcast about Cvent: Cvent Execs Talk Trends and CONNECT Virtual

To learn more about the current COVID-19 situation in Australia and what inspired outdoor event ideas and under-the-radar destinations await for future incentives, we caught up with Tourism Australia’s Mary Ann McDonald in this episode of the Meetings Today podcast. 

*Created in partnership with Tourism Australia

*This podcast was created in partnership with Business Events Australia. Note: Read Australia Next, the newly launched magazine for North American planners from Business Events Australia. 

See photos and read the transcript here.

The meetings F&B environment has been disrupted flatter than a collapsed souffle, but that doesn’t mean you need to let the air out of your culinary programs.

Tracy Stuckrath, owner of thrive! meetings & events, is the foremost expert on food allergies in the meetings and conventions environment, and has extended her knowledge to operating in the COVID-19 environment. This Meetings Today Podcast with Vice President & Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson gets Stuckrath’s take on how to manage your post-shutdown culinary programs, what to ask venues and attendees, and the life-and-death matter of food allergies.

Who could’ve predicted the tumult that would enter our lives in 2020? In troubling times such as these, maintaining one’s sanity can often seem like the most important job of all.

Mindfulness speaker, trainer and author Lee Papa, a leading wellness expert on the meetings and conventions circuit and beyond, is well-versed to help us through these chaotic times.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson talked with Papa about her new book, A Year of Mindfulness for Beginners: Daily Mantras, Meditations and Prompts, and her advice for all of us who are weathering these most-stressful days.

Now, with face-to-face meetings taking baby steps to resuming, meeting and event planners need to cover their organizations and ensure the safety of attendees by including key contract clauses in an environment that lacks definition.

In this Meetings Today Podcast, Tyler Davidson check in with leading meetings industry attorney Joshua L. Grimes to see what contract clause musts planners should include going forward.

Key elements of a “COVID contract provision” could deal with cleaning protocols; the right to cancel if government-required measures make it so restrictive that your meeting can’t go forward; and indemnification. Grimes also offers one contract addendum all planners should make sure are included in their contracts.

And will we soon start seeing “COVID surcharges?” Listen to this Meetings Today Podcast to find out more.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson interviewed Steinberg about some of the statistics he’s crunched to come to his conclusions, and also how the meetings industry will be fundamentally changed by the rise of virtual and hybrid events.

Caesars Entertainment is joining the party by reopening its Caesars Palace and Flamingo properties, with more set to join them shortly.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson caught up with Michael Massari, chief sales officer for Caesars Entertainment, to get updates on the casino and entertainment giant; his team’s reaction to having the shutdown hit right before the launch of its crown jewel CAESARS FORUM conference center; what visitors to Las Vegas can expect when they arrive; and his take on how the meetings industry will fare in the next year.

The Las Vegas meetings and events landscape is always evolving. Stay up to date with what’s new on our Las Vegas destination page!

Hear what the firebrand independent hotelier told Vice President Pence and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a coronavirus hospitality industry roundtable at his Rosen Shingle Creek property.

In this Meetings Today Podcast, Tyler Davidson engaged Rosen on the deep funk coronavirus has put the meetings industry in, the state of tourism in Orlando and his Rosen Plan for getting back to business pronto.

Amanda Ma, founder and CEO of Innovate Marketing Group, dove into the virtual events pool headfirst after COVID-19 hit, and offers her expert tips on how to pull them off, from pre- and post-event preparation and follow-up to technical issues to look out for and how to put that little personal touch on them that the digital world often lacks.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson spoke with Ma, who wrote “Case Study: 5 Pandemic Safety Tips for High-Level Summits” story in late March, about her secrets to virtual meetings success.

Being on the ground—literally—at meetings, conventions and exhibitions also gives the Dallas-based company a unique perspective on what the “new normal” will look like when we start gathering again.

What will this new world look like? Will the government step in to regulate the industry? How is the conventions and exhibitions industry especially well-suited to meeting challenges such as social distancing and sanitation policies?

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson talked with Sue Sung, senior vice president of corporate strategy for Freeman, about the ambitious efforts of Go LIVE Together as well as what the brave new world of meetings, conventions and exhibitions will look like after the COVID-19 shutdown ends.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson spoke to Heather Mason, founder and CEO of Caspian Agency, to get her insights on the best strategies to implement if you’ve found yourself working in this “new normal” environment.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson talks with Stephanie Glanzer, chief sales officer and senior vice president of MGM Resorts International, about the status of meetings and events in Las Vegas and the city’s substantial inventory of MGM properties.

Are meetings and events rebooking cancelled events, and in what time frame? What questions should meeting planners ask facilities to ensure their events enjoy the standard of service they are accustomed to as currently shuttered properties quickly ramp up to resume business?

Glanzer answers these questions and details MGM’s laudable efforts to help its employees weather the coronavirus crisis.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

*Podcast was created in partnership with the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority

* This podcast was created in partnership with The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

*This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Business Events Australia

* This podcast is brought to you in partnership with Business Events Australia

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Also, Danielle LeBreck is reporting from Music City, USA—Nashville—during her press trip with Marriott's Convention & Resort Network.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Meetings Today's Danielle LeBreck sat down with Chef James Kerwin during a Marriott Convention & Resort Network press trip in Nashville, Tennessee, to discuss the restaurant's group catering options as well as the local touches it can offer attendees that are meeting or dining at the property.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: Destination DC CEO Elected to Chair U.S. Travel Association]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Listen for more information on how you can help, too.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: Las Vegas Goes Full Speed Ahead on Future-Defining Investments for Meetings and Events]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Far-fetched? Welcome to the future.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson talks with Pádraic Gilligan, chief marketing officer for the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), about the results from the joint study with the Incentive Research Foundation that tapped the insights of more than 2,500 incentives professionals.

Read our coverage of the Incentive Travel Industry Index results.

[Related Content: 10 Tips for Planning a Corporate Incentive Travel Program]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: Caesars Forum Conference Center Breaks Ground in Vegas]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: How 4 Cities Make It Easy to Go Green in 2019]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: 4 Reasons to Leverage Digital Displays at Conventions]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast.

Ever wonder what mindfulness really is and how it can truly benefit you—and your clients? Lori Tenny checked in with Lee Papa, mindfulness speaker, trainer and author, and creator of the successful Mindfulness Lounge™ to discuss mindfulness and meditation—demystifying it and focusing on key benefits and strategies for busy meeting professionals to incorporate it into their lives and event agendas.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Also Mentioned: My Lunch With Tom Sietsema, Washington Post Food Critic]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Plus: Alroy's take on trends to look out for in the near future.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! 

[Related Content: How to Use Gamification to Influence Attendee Behavior]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! 

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Don't have time to listen? Read the transcript here.

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! And also make sure to keep circling back to see what's new on the Meetings Today website.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Organizer Paula Negro shares the thinking behind the speaker ambassador program and how you can start one for your own meeting, event or conference.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Aggarwal elaborates on a couple big announcements from the event—including its new interactive floor event maps and online community offerings—and shares what’s in store for the future of the company.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

For example, the J.W. Marriott in Chicago, has kinetic treadmills and dumbbells up to 100 pounds. That will accommodate many gym rats, including NFL teams and players in town to play the Chicago Bears.

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! 

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Christoph Trappe asked Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Executive Frank Sanchez to identify the things meeting planners should ask their executive chef or catering team about when planning an event. His responses cover the areas of sustainability, food labeling, local sourcing and menu customization.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! 

PCMA Chair of the Board of Directors Greg O'Dell fills in Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson on the situation and Karamat's status at the association.

Also: Learn more about PCMA EduCon 2019 in Los Angeles and a number of research studies and initiatives PCMA is pursuing.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

EduCon is like a meetings laboratory, so listen to its key facilitator to discover the new trends and formats that may supercharge your programs.

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

While Trappe has attended a lot of Las Vegas meetings, it was his first time meeting at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

He shares his thoughts on current state of the event space, the convention center expansion, where to stay and how to get to the center.

[Related Content: 2019 Las Vegas Destination Supplement]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content:  9 Active Shooter Risk Management Tips]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! And also make sure to keep circling back to see what's new on the Meetings Today website.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Weekly Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks. 

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!
 

[Related Content: MPAHT Signs 'The Code' to Protect Children]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Check out more of Michael Cerbelli's Favorite Finds as showcased in The Hot List™ newsletter from Meetings Today!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! And also make sure to keep circling back to see what's new on the Meetings Today website.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Weekly Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks. 

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!
 

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! And also make sure to keep circling back to see what's new on the Meetings Today website.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Weekly Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks. 

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Vice President and Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson discusses some of the top developments in the meetings industry on MeetingsToday.com, including our June cover story about stellar rooftop event venues and MGM International's scuttling of plans for a $2.6 billion resort casino in the Boston suburb of Everett, Massachusetts.

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Weekly Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Weekly Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

[Related Content: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Electrifies Groups]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: Laws Governing Service Animals at Meetings]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Learn more about outdoor venues in Anaheim in our related article Planning Your Event: Outdoor Venues in Anaheim and Orange County.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

In this episode of the Meetings Today Podcast, I'm discussing the Riverwalk neighbor, Amalie Arena as well as the Tampa Convention Center and surrounding hotels.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Discover what else is new in Florida in our special destination supplement.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Discover what else is new in Florida in our special destination supplement.

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! 

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

 Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Also, some of the top Trending stories on the Meetings Today website and what’s up on our Podcast page. Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

[Related Content: 2018 Meetings Trendsetters: 20 Industry Agents of Change]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: MGM Resorts ROARS Into 2019 With New Event Offerings]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

[Related Content: Four Iconic Vegas Resorts Keep Meetings Scene Competitive]

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Also, some of the top Trending stories on the Meetings Today website and what’s up on our Podcast page. Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Plus: Learn more about Greensboro's group offerings in this related article.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Tyler Davidson details a week’s worth of some of the most interesting stories, including John and Yoko’s love nest, an amazing hospitality industry charity and Deb Gee’s spring wellness rituals  you can incorporate into your daily routine.

Also, some of the top Trending stories on the Meetings Today website and what’s up on our Podcast page. Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Meetings Today Chief Content Officer Christoph Trappe and Lead Destinations Content Strategist Danielle LeBreck discuss this recent news, what it means for your upcoming travel plans and how it may affect your next event.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Also, some of the top Trending stories on the Meetings Today website and what’s up on our Podcast page. Get your week’s news early with The Wednesday Wrap!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

This makes it much easier for those visiting the Brazil for business, pleasure or both to take part in conferences, conventions and its plentiful tourism opportunities.

Meetings Today Chief Content Officer, Christoph Trappe, has traveled to Brazil several times and shares some insights into the change. Listen below for more details. And as always, feel free to leave comments or reach out directly to Christoph with your thoughts on this  travel update.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast! And stay tuned for more Wednesday Wrap bonus episodes in coming weeks.

Tifani Jones, Kalahari Resort's corporate sales director, shares how this expansion will positively affect future events, and what makes Kalahari an ideal (and family-friendly) destination for your next meeting.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Related Meetings Today Podcast Episodes:

Government Shutdown (What Planners Need to Know)
Destination DC's Elliott Ferguson on the Government Shutdown

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Read more industry insights on the shutdown here.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Read more insights from Ferguson and others regarding the shutdown here.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Click here to view or download a PDF from Thrive! Meetings and Events containing sample food allergen protection clauses.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Tyler interviews Cindy Rosser, the second-generation leader of Flying U Rodeo Company, and Ellen Carr, a 70-year-old former competitor whose granddaughter tested her skill at Jackpot Barrel Racing at the event.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

They also talk about the importance of self-care for meeting planners, with a short meditation session thrown in for good measure.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Are you up to speed on the latest in F&B? Listen to find out!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Friedman also discusses Aventri's recent acquisition of ITN International, which broadens its current on-site technology and service offerings. The acquisition will allow the company to expand its global reach and the events it supports.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Check out this article Christine wrote for even more speaker selection advice.

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Brenda Rivers and Meetings Today also partnered to publish "The Meeting & Event Risk Management Guide: How to Develop a Customized Risk Management Playbook," which is available for purchase at: https://meetingstoday.com/books

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Enjoying this episode? View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Join Meetings Today and our chief content engagement director—and frequent traveler and speaker—Christoph Trappe as we discuss what your options are as a planner and attendee when your best-laid travel plans go awry.

Listen to the full episode of the Meetings Today Podcast in the player below. Low on time? A transcription of the conversation is available here.