COVID-19 and the Business Events Industry

Convene reports on how meeting professionals are navigating coronavirus. Visit PCMA's COVID-19 resources page for more information.

Lessons Learned After Hosting a 100-Person Face-to-Face Event

Georgia Society of Association Executives hosted its annual meeting last month in person with safety measures in place — and saw opportunities to do even better next time, with genius solves for recognizing masked attendees.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst September 23, 2020

At-Home Perk: How the Specialty Coffee Association Made Its Virtual Event a Sensory Experience

Two critical features of the in-person Re:co (Regarding: Coffee) symposium have been sensory experiences and serendipitous interactions. Here’s how organizers made those a priority in its digital version.

BY Michelle Russell September 23, 2020

Dutch Museum and Convention Center Partner for Drive-Through Exhibit

A Rotterdam art museum and convention center embraced the new drive-in trend for an innovative experience for art lovers during the pandemic.

BY Curt Wagner September 21, 2020

This Socially Distanced Concert Series Hits the Right Notes

Thoughtful “room” sets and precautionary measures make these outdoor concerts enjoyable and safe for participants during the pandemic.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst September 20, 2020

Racial Inequity Discussed at NCBMP’s 7th Annual State of Black Tourism Event

The National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals (NCBMP) held its State of Black Tourism event virtually on Sept. 17 in partnership with the National Press Club. In his Chairman’s Address, Jason Dunn spotlighted how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted Black hospitality workers.

BY Casey Gale September 18, 2020

It’s All About the Logistics at ALHI’s In-Person Event

In August, ALHI held a 125-attendee face-to-face event at the Omni Dallas Hotel to show planners how to safely reconvene.

BY Casey Gale September 18, 2020

‘Carve out Time to Learn — It’s Your Future’

The ability to learn — and unlearn — are key to thriving in the new world of work, says future-of-work strategist Heather McGowan.

BY Barbara Palmer September 17, 2020

Hotels and Event Venues Get Schooled

Meeting space is being repurposed to cater to the needs of schoolchildren — and their working parents — to get their work done in a safe environment outside the home.

BY Convene Editors September 16, 2020

3 Questions to Guide Your Digital Event Design

Defining your event’s purpose and the needs of participants always has been fundamental to good event design. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society asked itself three questions to make sure its digital conference took those two critical considerations into account.

BY Barbara Palmer September 16, 2020

Key Decisions the National Speakers Association Took for a Successful Virtual ‘Experience’

‘Never waste a good crisis’ was the National Speakers Association leaders’ mantra, as they sought to remake an annual national event into a virtual experience — not a ‘conference” or ‘hybrid’ — and introducing initiatives that will last into the future.

BY Michelle Russell September 11, 2020

How an Incentive Group Met Safely in Aruba This Month

The Fields Group’s client wanted to reward its sales partners with a trip this year, despite the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Here’s how they pulled it off.

BY Michelle Russell September 11, 2020

Webinar: Re-Designing for Engagement in a Virtual Environment

In the past few months, the rapid adoption of virtual events and meetings have upended the events landscape and forced event professionals to rethink how participants engage, interact and communicate through a screen. How do you re-design your virtual events to effectively break through the noise to engage a distant (and often distracted) audience?

BY Elaine Ann September 9, 2020

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