We're rounding up the biggest meeting, trade show, and CVB/DMO news of the month—in one convenient place. Got a tip? Get in touch! Want more content like this sent directly to your inbox? Then sign up for our brand-new BizBash Meetings & Trade Shows monthly newsletter to stay in the know on the latest meetings and trade shows news.
In Case You Missed It
On BizBash recently, we highlighted how The Creative Collective NYC, a community dedicated to curating spaces for creatives of color, kicked off its three-city tour of CultureCon in Atlanta in early May. What started as a one-day gathering in New York City in 2017 has now expanded, with events also taking place in Atlanta and Los Angeles after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. The conference brings together creative types, influencers, and entrepreneurs for panel discussions, workshops, and activations covering a mix of business, politics, entertainment, and pop culture.
Plus: Want your trade show booth to stand out on a crowded show floor? Look no further than these tips for creating an eye-catching trade show booth, courtesy of event and marketing professionals across North America. Read their advice, and get inspired by some of our favorite booth designs from brands like Facebook, LG, Polaroid, and MTV.
Here are five more things you should know about this month...
1. VidCon returns to Anaheim.
Last week, this annual convention returned as an in-person event for the first time since 2019. VidCon focuses on online videos and its stars and is known for drawing a Gen Z-heavy audience.
VidCon 2022 drew 50,000 IRL attendees to the Anaheim Convention Center June 22-25, and social media platform TikTok served as the primary sponsor. Top-billed digital creators made their VidCon debut this year, including TikTok star Charli D'Amelio and YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, aka MrBeast. Other popular creators on-site included Elyse Myers and Khaby Lame (who actually just surpassed D'Amelio as the most-followed person on TikTok). Along with TikTok, more than 150 brands participated in the event, including YouTube, Roblox, Spotify, Pinterest, Discord, and Meta.
Popular YouTubers Alex Wassabi, the Merrell Twins, and Aaron Burriss participate in a live Q&A during VidCon 2022—whose primary sponsor this year was TikTok—held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif.Photo: John Chapple/MOVI Inc.
In April, BizBash caught up with VidCon US's executive producer, Julia Maes, to discuss why sustainability was a major focus for this year's event. Read more here.
2. TED launches a new platform that allows the public to book speakers.
Event pros can now bring TED-level speakers to their meetings and events. TED announced this month that it has launched TED Speakers Bureau, which the organization describes as "an official resource for booking powerful, inspiring TED speakers" who "represent some of the world's greatest thinkers, leaders, teachers, and visionaries." The bureau is made up of influential people who have presented at past TED events and are available for keynotes, panels, corporate leadership events, and more.
"Our speakers have requested this type of support from TED for years and so have event organizers," said Theresa Brown, director of the TED Speakers Bureau, in a press release. "Millions of people look to TED for impactful ideas, so we're excited that the TED Speakers Bureau will make it easier to bring TED speakers to new audiences."
Interested event pros can browse available speakers—including climate technologist Jamie C. Beard and chef Pierre Thiam—online at speakersbureau.ted.com, or reach out via this contact form.
3. Seattle will debut a new convention center building in January 2023.
A lot of meetings-friendly developments are underway in the Emerald City, including a new convention center set to debut in 2023. The state-of-the-art, 1.5-million-square-foot Summit building will join Seattle's existing Arch building to create "a meetings compound" at the recently rebranded Seattle Convention Center. The Summit features a mostly glass edifice and a wood stair climb with areas to sit and admire the views of Pike Place Market. There will be more than 570,000 square feet of flexible event space. Sustainability features include LEED certification, a garden terrace, and salvaged wood from log booms and another building that once stood on the site.
The Seattle Convention Center's new Summit building will open January 2023. It will feature a wood stair climb (pictured) with wow-worthy views of the city.Rendering: Courtesy of LMN Architects
Other noteworthy developments in Seattle include the imminent opening of a handful of luxury hotels (see more details here) along with the debut of the International Arrivals Facility (IAF) at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The IAF replaces Sea-Tac's former 50-year-old customs processing facility, and it features views of the Pacific Northwest, more international-capable gates and passenger capacity, and enhanced technologies to expedite baggage and passport check processes.
4. U.S. Travel Association announces its next leader.
The U.S. Travel Association—which has long been a proponent of meetings and conventions and even launched the Meetings Mean Business Coalition in the wake of the pandemic—will have a new leader come Sept. 1. Geoff Freeman will take the helm as the next president and CEO, succeeding Roger Dow, who is stepping down following a 17-year tenure as leader of the organization.
Geoff FreemanPhoto: Courtesy of U.S. Travel Association
“I am eager to get to work on behalf of this incredible industry, which has long held a special place for me," Freeman said in a press release. "There are few industries more essential to the nation’s economy, more connected to consumers, and more critical to bringing Americans together than the travel industry. I believe U.S. Travel’s talented team can continue to raise the bar, and I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get started.”
Association leadership isn't new to Freeman. He is currently the president and CEO of the Consumer Brands Association. Before that, he served as the president and CEO of the American Gaming Association. He also served in a previous leadership role at U.S. Travel, with accomplishments that include leading the industry effort behind the creation of TSA PreCheck.
“We are proud to welcome Geoff Freeman back to lead the U.S. Travel Association," said Christine Duffy, national chair of the U.S. Travel Association and president of Carnival Cruise Line, in the release. "Geoff is highly regarded in Washington and well known across our industry for his strategic work to conceive campaigns and programs that opened new pathways for growth in the travel economy."
5. MPI WEC 2022 brings event pros to San Francisco.
Meeting Professionals International (MPI), the largest meeting and event planner industry association, recently wrapped the 2022 edition of its signature event, World Education Congress (WEC)—this time bringing association members and industry professionals alike to San Francisco. The conference drew nearly 2,000 attendees, with close to 1,700 in-person at the Moscone Center and almost 300 virtual.
In 2022, MPI is celebrating its 50th year. To commemorate the milestone in San Fran, WEC attendees could explore a devoted "walk of fame" on each floor of Moscone West celebrating three categories of "MPI50" honorees: Most Influential, Up & Comers, and Legacy Contributors. This year's conference also featured the MPI50 Museum, offering artifacts on display and an interactive timeline that documented the accomplishments and history of MPI. The MPI50 celebration—which kicked off in November 2021 at IMEX America—will come to a close at IMEX America in October 2022.
