September/October 2021

Cover illustration by Jon Krause

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Providing Attendees with Transcripts for Online Events

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.

BY Convene Editors March 24, 2022

The Peaks and Valleys of Events Industry Recovery

The business events industry’s recovery may not be following the straight path that we had hoped, but it is taking shape in other ways.

BY Michelle Russell October 8, 2021

Uncovering the Hidden World of Fantastic Fungi

This virtual mycelium meeting is expected to draw mycophiles of all kinds to explore topics like health and wellness, authentic indigenous use of mushrooms, fungi food demos, and environment solutions.

BY Casey Gale October 8, 2021

DMOs Take on an Expanded Role

The pandemic has given CVBs a fresh opportunity to partner with economic development agencies to benefit their destinations in the short- and long-term.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst October 8, 2021

New Roles, New Platforms in the New Workplace

The pandemic has remade the workforce experience, ushering in new roles, responsibilities, and tech solutions to meet hybrid workplace demands.

BY Michelle Russell October 7, 2021

How Convention Centers Are Incubating Events Industry Recovery

Convention centers around the world have repurposed their facilities to meet the needs of hybrid and virtual events — and the Palais des congrès de Montréal is tapping into the future of events in a different way.

BY Barbara Palmer October 7, 2021

The Lines Are Blurring Between Event Production and ‘Other Worlds’

Google’s global events account manager, Megan Henshall, talks about how a new initiative at Google is exploring opportunities for events in the metaverse — and what that means for the business events industry.

BY Michelle Russell October 7, 2021

Digital and Hybrid a ‘Great Change’ for the Industry

Much like many of her peers, event organizer Mia Monroe was thrust into producing digital events during the pandemic. She spoke with Convene about her new skillset and how her experience in the industry helped guide her new role.

BY Casey Gale October 7, 2021

Redefining ‘Live’ Events in COVID Times

The pandemic changed the meaning of “must-attend” events, says Freeman CEO Bob Priest-Heck, because hybrid events are now “bigger than a physical location or moment in time.”

BY Bob Priest-Heck October 7, 2021

Focus on Collaboration Helps Event Company Through Pandemic Times

AIM Group’s vice president shares how, as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, the multinational event company rethought its internal workings, got creative, and offered new innovative solutions to its clients.

BY Michelle Russell October 4, 2021

The Hybrid Event Format Is Here to Stay, Survey Suggests

Ninety percent of respondents to an Encore Planner Pulse Survey said they will or expect to use a digital-event strategy once in-person meetings recover.

BY Cathy Schlosberg September 27, 2021

Business Events Recovery: It’s a Roller-Coaster Ride of Emotions

Our COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard Survey has been tracking the emotions of planners and suppliers for nearly a year. Here we plot out what that looks like.

BY Michelle Russell September 27, 2021

Telling the Stories of Underrepresented Communities

Melissa Cherry has made a career out of telling destinations’ often overlooked stories of diverse communities. In her new role with Miles Partnership, she’s using her 25 years of tourism experience to help organizations make DEI part of every conversation.

BY Casey Gale September 27, 2021

The Future of Events is Phygital and Omnichannel

Juliano Lissoni, MCI Group managing director, Canada, on how the pandemic has accelerated the use of AI, machine learning, and blockchain technologies to boost engagement and experiences in the metaverse — “a fully realized digital world that exists beyond the analog one in which we live.”

BY Juliano Lissoni September 21, 2021

How the Great Resignation is Impacting Business Events

Workers are quitting their jobs in droves. A recent SHRM survey finds that more than two out of five U.S. workers are actively searching for a new job or plan to soon. We’ve mined Convene’s latest Recovery Dashboard results for insights about the Great Resignation and the business events industry.

BY Michelle Russell September 20, 2021

Michelle Mason Comes Full Circle

After stumbling into association management, Mason turned barriers into opportunities and used her platform to elevate others who are underrepresented. She now leads ASAE as president and CEO.

BY Curt Wagner September 20, 2021

Neurodiversity in the Workplace — and at Events

Lawrence Fung, M.D., Ph.D., spoke with Convene about how the Stanford Neurodiversity Project is helping to make workplace experiences more accessible for neurodiverse individuals, and how meetings can do the same. 

BY Casey Gale September 17, 2021

How Diversity and Inclusion Changed Microsoft for the Better

Since 2015, Microsoft has hired more than 150 neurodiverse individuals to work full-time at the technology corporation.

BY Casey Gale September 16, 2021

Another Twist in the Road Back to In-Person Events?

A June conversation among PCMA Catalyst Community participants about a shift back to virtual events rather than an expected return to in-person meetings underscores fundamental changes in the business events industry.

BY Convene Editors September 15, 2021

In a Brand-New Role, Sonya Bradley Looks to ‘Make a Bit of a Mark’

As Visit Sacramento’s chief of diversity, equity, and inclusion, Sonya Bradley is applying her marketing and communications background at the bureau she has served for 19 years to social justice issues — locally and more broadly.

BY Michelle Russell September 15, 2021

12 Takeaways From HIMSS’ Successful, Fully Vaxxed Conference

Expert advice, scenario planning, and clear communication played vital roles in HIMSS’ ability to safely host close to 20,000 health-tech professionals in Las Vegas in August.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst September 13, 2021

Meetings and Your Brain: Human Connection Under the Microscope

Jacques W. Martiquet, aka “The Party Scientist,” says he has “hacked the code” of bringing excitement and joy to digital events.

BY Barbara Palmer September 10, 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

Don’t Skimp on Images in Your Event Marketing During COVID Times

During the pandemic, the strategic use of images can do everything from conveying your event’s welcoming-to-all culture to quelling participants’ concerns over health and safety — as long as you follow through on those messages.

BY Kimberly Hardcastle-Geddes September 9, 2021

4 Strategies to Win Back International In-Person Attendees

Want to ensure a steady return of international participants at your in-person events in 2022? Start now by doing these four things, advises an international event marketer.

BY Anjia Nicolaidis August 16, 2021

How to Plan and Host a Profitable Event With Certainty in Uncertain Times

Five strategies to follow — and four questions to ask — to put your events on a forward track.

BY Don Neal August 16, 2021

Event Planners’ Duty of Care During the Pandemic

As we return to in-person meetings, questions and best practices are evolving for hosting large gatherings.

BY Dave Lutz, CMP August 13, 2021

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