News & Trends

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

Virtual Events: 4 Ways to Raise the Bar

In the second half of 2020, many virtual conferences grew attendance, attracting global and non-member participants. Part of this growth — which improves reach and brand for organizers — can be attributed to significantly reduced registration pricing. 

BY Dave Lutz, CMP November 12, 2020

Why You Need a ‘Fake Commute’

Mental health and workplace experts say that while the lack of commute may feel like the silver lining to enforced working from home during the pandemic, our trips to and from the office have served an important role in our workday that we should try to replicate.

BY Michelle Russell November 12, 2020

Do You Need a Ring Light? Maybe, and Other Tips From a TV Producer

To create a successful, engaging digital event, it helps to understand that they have as much in common with television broadcasts as in-person events.

BY Barbara Palmer November 11, 2020

How DMOS are Slowly but Steadily Rebuilding for a Different Future

Destination marketing organizations are reinventing themselves in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, becoming disseminators of information, hybrid meeting experts, and stewards of the destination.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst November 9, 2020

What to Do About the Virtual Exhibit Hall

The American Society of Anesthesiologists decided to deemphasize the exhibit hall portion of its online annual meeting and create “engagement packages” for sponsors instead.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst November 6, 2020

3 Ways Speakers Can Connect Better With Virtual Audiences

Presenting to a virtual audience can be challenging for even the most experienced public speaker. But by recreating more of a back-and-forth experience, speakers can overcome their anxiety and make their presentations more engaging.

BY Curt Wagner November 5, 2020

Event Organizers’ Big Leap Forward

More than half of the meeting planners who responded to the most-recent COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard plan to launch entirely new digital events — not based on any previous face-to-face event — with goals ranging from reaching new audiences to marketing new products.

BY Barbara Palmer November 4, 2020

PCMA Survey on Event-Cancellation Insurance Shows Gaps

Nearly one-quarter of respondents to a recent survey said they did not have event-cancellation insurance policies for their event in 2020 and only 20 percent have secured coverage for their future face-to-face events.

BY Michelle Russell November 2, 2020

4 Opportunities Hybrid Events Offer

Hybrid events are here to stay, and although there is no one-size-fits-all solution to incorporating integrated models, some best practices can help event planners deliver more holistic, omni-channel engagement — and new revenue streams.

BY Jacquelyn Wells October 30, 2020

When Can You Invoke Force Majeure for 2021 Meetings?

Many organizations moved their events to 2021 when the pandemic hit. But can they invoke the force majeure clause in 2021? Members of the PCMA Catalyst community discussed the topic in a recent thread.

BY Convene Editors October 30, 2020

The Downside of Positive Thinking During a Pandemic

There are three cognitive biases most of us share — including the “optimism bias” — that could be contributing to the spread of COVID-19, a recent study reveals. Appealing to one particular emotion can counter those biases to get us to follow public health guidelines and prevent further infection.

BY Michelle Russell October 29, 2020

In the Age of Zoom, Why a Phone Call May Be a Better Option

The demands of being online can translate into drops in our performance, research shows. Picking up the phone sometimes might be a better choice.

BY Barbara Palmer October 29, 2020

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