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 show news.
In Case You Missed It
On BizBash recently, we unveiled our 2022 Connect x BizBash 15 Over 50, our first co-branded 15 Over 50 list that includes an impressive list of experienced corporate and association planners, incentive organizers, sales managers, event designers, marketers, and other event professionals who inspire us with their longevity and leadership. Earlier this month, we also caught up with IMEX Group CEO Carina Bauer, who shared some of her favorite venues around the world—from London to Las Vegas.
Plus, take a look at some of the most engaging trade show booths from Connect | BizBash Detroit (and some of our other favorite moments from the three-day event). This month, we also got the details on Questex and AHLA's brand-new event for the hospitality industry, and sourced five tips for navigating RFPs today.
Here are five more things you should know about this month...
1. MPI released its Summer 2022 Meetings Outlook Report.
Planners can now take a look at new findings in Meeting Professionals International (MPI)'s latest meetings outlook report, which MPI publishes quarterly to identify new trends and innovations. The association says the summer 2022 report shows signs of growth in meeting and event business projections at a sustainable pace—rather than the more jarring highs and lows it has seen since the onset of COVID-19.
“Industry professionals continue to express high levels of optimism about future business conditions and attendance despite the challenges they face—from ongoing supply chain disruption, cost increases, and inflation to worries about the economy and war to short-term bookings and decreasing availability,” said Jessie States, vice president of MPI Academy, in a press release.
Some key finds from the new report include:
- 34% of respondents are seeking new revenue opportunities as they navigate increasing costs/inflation/a possible recession.
- The majority of respondents say costs are increasing in excess of 6% for food and beverage, transportation, hotel accommodations, audiovisual, and staffing. And 41% of respondents expect F&B costs to increase more than 10% over the next year.
- 69% of respondents are experiencing difficulty filling job vacancies at their organizations.
- Planners cite restaurants (73%) and hotels (72%) as two segments in which they’re experiencing the most significant decline in service quality.
- Despite these challenges, 81% of respondents predict favorable business conditions for the year ahead.
"Costs are up for everyone, regardless of industry, sector, or marketplace role, which is leading professionals of all kinds to think creatively, focus on ROI, and be flexible," States added.
2. ELI launched a course on measuring and communicating an event’s performance to stakeholders.
It's a question planners continue to pose, especially in the wake of the pandemic: What's the best way to measure an event's ROI? And how do you convey it in a way that will make stakeholders listen? The Event Leadership Institute (ELI) hopes to help by launching a new course that will focus on measuring and communicating an event’s performance to stakeholders.
The course, Event Measurement & Analytics, will teach participants a variety of data-driven ways to measure an event’s success for different stakeholders (including attendees, hosts, exhibitors, and sponsors). They'll also learn how to calculate event ROI and use it to tell a story about the event’s performance, including how well it helps the organization achieve its goals.
“The event industry is awash in data now, but the challenge is knowing which pieces of data are most useful to evaluate ROI,” said ELI CEO Howard Givner in a press release. He added, "What are the two or three pieces of information you need to measure event success? Once you know that, the next questions are where do you get that data from, and how do you present it as a compelling narrative to your boss or client? That’s what this course is all about.”
ELI has tapped two instructors for the course: Joe Colangelo, co-founder and CEO of event data aggregation company Bear Analytics, and Vinnu Deshetty, founder of EVA, an events management platform.
Event Measurement & Analytics begins on Sept. 21 and runs for five weeks. Live office hours with the instructors and a community forum discussion are included. The tuition fee is $695, but participants can take advantage of the $395 "insider" rate by using code GOTDATA and registering by Aug. 31.
3. The Atlanta CVB debuted in the metaverse.
The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau says it's the first destination marketing organization to jump into the metaverse. Atlanta Meta World debuted with a virtual recreation of Centennial Olympic Park, located steps from Georgia World Congress Center, the College Football Hall of Fame, Georgia Aquarium, and several other of Atlanta’s top meetings and events venues.
Atlanta CVB president and CEO William Pate sees the metaverse platform as the next great marketing tool. He notes it will save planners the time, resources, and costs associated with a traditional site visit. But if it does its job properly, the metaverse platform will ultimately lead to more in-person events.
Atlanta CVB President and CEO William Pate sees the metaverse platform as the next great marketing tool and notes it will save planners the time, resources, and costs associated with a traditional site visit.Photo: Courtesy of Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau
“This will end up being an enhancement,” says Pate, who is uninterested in creating virtual events within the metaverse for meetings, conventions, and other events occurring within the city. “We’re in the face-to-face meetings business. This is definitely a marketing tool. We’re not looking for a replacement or something that could cannibalize our business.”
Andrew Wilson, the CVB’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, aims to have the World Congress Center on the metaverse by year’s end, with hopes of adding more tools for planners. The current platform does not rely upon headset technology, a decision made because the technology is not yet widely adopted. Users select an avatar and can move around the park on foot or fly above. —Written by Matt Swenson.
4. Visit Orlando joined forces with Orlando Health for a wellness partnership.
One of our subject matter experts recently relayed to us that attendees are more aware of their personal health since the onset of COVID-19. Visit Orlando seems to have taken that notion to heart: The DMO has announced a partnership with Orlando Health, a not-for-profit healthcare organization that serves the southeastern U.S.
Through the partnership, tourists and Visit Orlando member organizations can call a newly established concierge telephone number (321.265.4200) for access to visitor-specific wellness tips and individualized health resources including emergency care, urgent care, and access to a virtual visit while visiting Orlando.
For event and meeting planners, the partnership translates to customizable health solutions for their programs and attendees through an Orlando Health Virtual Care Center, which will open later this year at the Orange County Convention Center. Located in the west concourse on the first floor, medical providers will be available via virtual visit 24 hours a day. During major conventions, the clinic will be staffed by Orlando Health clinicians.
“This new partnership allows us to seamlessly connect both leisure guests and meetings groups with Orlando Health’s medical experts to make healthy travel more accessible,” said Visit Orlando president and CEO Casandra Matej in a press release.
5. ASAE's annual convention returned in person for the first time since 2019.
The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) brought together nearly 5,000 association professionals to its 2022 annual meeting and expo, which was held in Nashville this year. New developments announced during the meeting include an ASAE initiative dubbed Meeting Community Needs, which "reflects ASAE’s commitment to impact positive change in the host city for its annual meeting," according to a press release.
At the 2022 iteration, ASAE and the event's attendees worked with Hands On Nashville to deliver materials for local school teachers to use in their classrooms and food packs for local residents experiencing food insecurity. ASAE also presented Hands On Nashville with a $20,000 donation to continue their vital community work.
“After three years, it was absolutely magical to see the ASAE community reunite again at this conference,” said ASAE president and CEO Michelle Mason in a press release.
