News & Trends

What’s happening — or coming up next — in the meetings and events world and beyond.

A New Way of Thinking

One key connection between DEI and sustainability is a shared commitment to challenging the status quo. While technology can help us solve some issues, it alone isn’t enough. We need to think and act in new ways.

BY Sherrif Karamat October 18, 2024

Salary Survey 2024: It’s Not You, It’s the Company Culture

What’s the difference between planner respondents to this year’s Salary Survey who are happy in their jobs and those who are not? It doesn’t seem to be how they feel about the intrinsic nature of the role — which, even the most satisfied planners said, is challenging and demanding. It’s the organizations they work for.

BY Magdalina Atanassova and Michelle Russell October 17, 2024

Using the Pull Method — and Post-its — to Combat Work Overload

Here’s how a team of IT professionals used a spare office wall and sticky notes to prevent individual team members from getting overloaded — and to move projects along or kill them off. Also: how you could do the same.

BY Michelle Russell October 17, 2024

Speaker Registration Fees and AI Policies at Events

Two questions from members of the PCMA Catalyst Community: Do speakers pay a registration fee for the events where they are speaking, and what is your AI policy for a medical conference.

BY Convene Editors October 16, 2024

‘Networking Is a Verb’

We take a deeper dive into Freeman’s latest Event Organizer Trends Report to explore the gaps between what planners think attendees are looking for when it comes to networking and what eventgoers actually say they care about — plus, share some examples of how innovative organizers are giving them more of what they want.

BY Michelle Russell October 16, 2024

Is It Time to Revamp Your Social Media Strategy?

Younger attendees are using social platforms as search engines and, in the process, discovering brands. Here are four tips to help event brands drive engagement and boost attendance numbers in this new era of social media.

BY Sara Fellows October 13, 2024

Including and Honoring Indigenous People

A growing number of meeting organizers and destinations have expanded their efforts to recognize and include Indigenous people, and their knowledge and culture, in their events.

BY Convene Editors October 13, 2024

Beyond the Old Boys’ Club: How Women Are Networking Their Way

Research shows traditional networking methods don’t work for women. A growing number of female-only events and spaces are trying to get it right.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst October 11, 2024

Architects of Connection

Planners share how they are being more intentional about helping their event participants make more meaningful connections.

BY Convene Editors October 11, 2024

Building Authentic Connections: The Human-Centric Vision of C2 Montréal

Since it launched in 2012, the C2 Montréal conference — conceived by creative agency Sid Lee in partnership with Cirque du Soleil — has set a high bar for daringly different session formats, environments, and approaches to connecting diverse participants. How has that evolved?

BY Michelle Russell October 11, 2024

Advanced Networking in the Curriculum at Higher Ed Event

From its session for first-time attendees to constituent roundtables and Connect and Collaborate sessions, the National Association of College and University Business Officers Annual Meeting focuses on helping its 2,000 attendees find — and connect with — their peers.

BY Michelle Russell October 10, 2024

Event Attendees ‘Don’t Want to Waste Their Time Anymore’

The creator of Braindate, a platform that links event participants with shared interests, on what attendees are looking for now.

BY Barbara Palmer October 10, 2024

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