Social Impact

See how event organizers and others are using meetings and events to make a difference.

Honoring Indigenous Peoples in Seattle

Why Visit Seattle has become more vocal about honoring its Indigenous communities and heritage.

BY Barbara Palmer October 7, 2021

The Dark Side of Contactless Check-in

The front desk is where hotel guests may have their only exchange with an employee. But digital check-ins, a trend that has taken off during the pandemic, does away with that interpersonal aspect — and makes it easier for potential human trafficking to occur.

BY Michelle Russell September 10, 2021

More Associations Are Sounding the Climate Alarm

Solving the climate crisis used to be part of the mission statement of only those associations focused exclusively on the environment, but that’s changing. 

BY David McMillin July 9, 2021

Making an Impact at EduCon

Hospitality Helping Hands participants will put together wheelchairs to donate to the Arizona chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

BY Curt Wagner July 7, 2021

What the Absence of Events Means to Local Charities

Charitable institutions have long benefited from the community-service efforts of organizations convening in their cities. What happens to those charities when face-to-face events don’t take place for more than a year?

BY Michelle Russell June 1, 2021

Helping the Earth and Creating Community One Tree at a Time

Treedom, an online company, has created a platform that makes it easy for organizations to engage in the serious work of battling climate change while creating economic opportunity

BY Barbara Palmer May 26, 2021

5 Ways Bystanders Can Respond to Harassment

With anti-Asian American racism on the rise, Hollaback!, a nonprofit organization fighting harassment of all kinds, has seen a big uptick in requests for corporate training, and offers these tips on how to safely intervene when you witness such confrontations.

BY Barbara Palmer May 26, 2021

Avoiding Climate Doomism

Atmospheric scientist Michael Mann has written a new book on climate change, and it’s cause for some optimism — if we can pair agency with urgency, and individual with collective action.

BY Michelle Russell April 20, 2021

Hospitality Helping Hands Has Far Reach

A small group of Convening Leaders participants made a positive impact on a tiny village in Uganda while flexing their creative muscles on screen.

BY David McMillin January 13, 2021

Our Picks for the Business Event Trends of 2021

The editors of Convene looked back over 2020, asking this question: What’s one meeting and event trend on my radar in 2021?

BY Convene Editors December 21, 2020

Using Swag to Bring a ‘Physical Dimension’ to Virtual Events

During the pandemic, swag is playing a bigger role in the events space, helping organizers create tangible connections with virtual audiences — and provide ‘a bit of joy.’

BY Casey Gale Curt Wagner October 7, 2020

Three ‘Incredible Impacts’ Honored for Legacy Programs

ICCA and BestCities Global Alliance awarded three associations for events they held in 2018 and 2019 that left a lasting impact on sustainability, accessibility, ecology — and people in their host destinations.

BY Curt Wagner September 23, 2020

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