News & Trends

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

How a Racially Charged Incident Led to a Digital Event for Black Birders

A University of Georgia grad student was motivated to launch a weeklong digital event for Black birders after a video altercation went viral.

BY Michelle Russell June 3, 2020

During Social Unrest, Why We Should Aim to Be ‘Good-ish’ People

Author and business professor Dolly Chugh on how thinking of ourselves as ‘good’ people can hold us back from growth, and why we need both light and heat in social movements.

BY Michelle Russell June 3, 2020

National Coalition of Black Meeting Professionals Chairman: ‘Our Nation Is at Odds’

Jason Dunn used the current historic moment of social unrest to spotlight how the economic fallout from COVID-19 has pushed off to the side the industry’s diversity efforts.

BY Michelle Russell June 2, 2020

Digital Events Press Pause During Period of Unrest

Cisco, Sony, and Electronic Arts are some of the companies that have decided to put digital conferences and product launches on hold to show support for the movement to fight racism.

BY David McMillin June 2, 2020

Budgeting for a Virtual Event

How can planners account for new costs associated with virtual meetings? Members of the PCMA Catalyst community discussed the issue of budget in a recent thread.

BY Convene Editors June 1, 2020

Convene Salary Survey 2020: Before COVID-19

The picture of a vibrant, healthy business events industry portrayed by more than 600 respondents to this year’s survey before COVID-19 stands in stark relief to the uncertain reality many currently face. The results serve as a kind of optimistic benchmark: a level to return to as the industry resets and recovers.

BY Michelle Russell June 1, 2020

Embracing the Digital Opportunity

As the pandemic pushes record numbers of business event planners toward digital platforms and new ways of connecting online, it may ultimately strengthen the ability of meeting professionals to serve their audiences and to reach their business goals.

BY Barbara Palmer Convene Editors June 1, 2020

Keep Calm and Be Inclusive at Digital Events

The pandemic may have made it feel like the world is upside down, but that doesn’t mean conferences should go backwards in terms of equity and inclusion.

BY Barbara Palmer May 31, 2020

Connecting With the Great Beyond at the Afterlife Awareness Conference

The Afterlife Awareness Conference serves as a gathering place for people seeking evidence of life after death, connecting participants not only with each other, but also to those who have passed on.

BY Casey Gale May 31, 2020

Your Sensory Experience Is in the Mail

One way to enhance the experience of digital events comes from an old-school channel — mail some surprises to your attendees ahead of time.

BY Barbara Palmer David McMillin May 31, 2020

Solving for Digital Event Pricing and Exhibitions

The question of revenue generation is a sticking point for an industry used to exhibit sales and healthy registration fees at in-person events.

BY Barbara Palmer May 31, 2020

Students Getting ‘a Crash Course’ in Virtual Events

A George Washington University professor has found the pandemic-caused abundance of online events a boon for her students learning about event design.

BY Casey Gale May 31, 2020

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