Wellness entrepreneur Rebecca Thomas says walking outdoors during work hours is not only good exercise, but can help us unlock problem-solving powers. And science backs her up.

The Boston Beer Company partnered with Van Wagner, a sports production company, to create a virtual corporate event that captured their employees’ attention more than their in-person annual meeting. 

Two separate studies reveal that online events held during the pandemic resulted in increased participation among women as both as attendees and speakers, compared to their in-person, pre-pandemic versions.

In Convene’s latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard Survey, we asked planners and suppliers to share how two-plus years of working during the uncertainties of the pandemic has affected their wellbeing.

In our recent Recovery Dashboard, we asked planners and suppliers about workplace culture, the need for flexibility, social connection, and other issues facing organizations. They had a lot to say.

Convene’s latest COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard responses indicate that planners are organizing more in-person-only and hybrid events in the coming months than in our previous survey, but they are finding it more difficult than ever to estimate attendance and to budget for them with escalating costs.

Wunderman Thompson’s recent trend report, “The Future 100: 2022,” identifies 100 trends across industries. Three of those — rewilding spaces, foraged cocktails, and metawork — already are evident in the events landscape but could become even bigger influences in the future.

The pause on face-to-face events caused by the pandemic has given venues a chance to think about welcoming returning visitors through a lens of inclusivity. The Overland Park Convention Center now accommodates individuals with sensory needs, such as those with autism, anxiety, dementia, and PTSD.

Our upcoming May-June issue cover/CMP Series story will focus on mental health in the workplace. Here’s an example of how the pandemic shifted one professional’s priorities to help others focus on wellness.

In the wake of the pandemic’s disruptions, convention centers are going all in on human-centered needs — plus broadcast capabilities, nature, and outdoor spaces — to bring back groups.

Events held in conjunction with GMID on April 7 — now under the U.S. Travel Association banner — offer more choices and greater reach with digital, in-person, and hybrid formats.

What considerations do planners need to take in order to provide attendees with accurate and accessible transcripts of online events? A recent conversation on Catalyst discusses the details.