Meetings Today Podcast

   Christoph Trappe asked Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile Executive Frank Sanchez to identify the things meeting planners should ask their executive chef or catering team about when planning an event. His responses cover the areas of sustainability, food labeling, local sourcing and menu customization. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podca...

Destination DC President and CEO Elliott Ferguson talks with Jeff Heilman about the sector-driven Connected Capital strategy for meetings, the real D.C. for visitors and groups, and his new role as national chair of the U.S. Travel Association. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!  

News that PCMA CEO Sherrif Karamat, a Canadian citizen, has yet to obtain a post-hiring EB-2 Green Card, and that PCMA has posted his position on its job board, has led to a great deal of confusion at the association and in the industry. PCMA Chair of the Board of Directors Greg O'Dell fills in Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson on the situation and Karamat's status at the association. Also: Learn mo...

Tyler Davidson sits down with Tonya Almond, vice president of knowledge and experience with PCMA, to find out how meeting planners can incorporate the successes of PCMA EduCon 2019 into their meetings. EduCon is like a meetings laboratory, so listen to its key facilitator to discover the new trends and formats that may supercharge your programs.  Enjoying this episode?  View more episode...

Tyler Davidson talks with Kim Condon and Lauren Bachynski, from furniture—and research!—company Steelcase about its new " 5,000 People, 5,000 Personal Journeys " study with PCMA about meeting attendee psychology that will help guide planners in producing more-relevant meetings. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson talks with podcasting veteran Mike McAllen, of Podcasting4Associations , on how and why organizations should jump into the exploding podcasting scene to drive engagement and secure sponsorship revenue. It's basically free to begin, so don't be left out of the podcasting game! Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Meetings Today's Danielle LeBreck chatted with Chief Content Officer Christoph Trappe about the Las Vegas Convention Center after he attended the annual American Institute of Architects (AIA) conference there in 2019. While Trappe has attended a lot of Las Vegas meetings, it was his first time meeting at the Las Vegas Convention Center. He shares his thoughts on current state of the event space, t...

Tyler Davidson sits down with counterterrorism and security professional David Lau and risk management educator Alan Kleinfeld at MPI WEC 2019 to discuss what meeting and event planners as well as facility operators need to know to identify a possible active shooter, what security concerns to include in the RFP and site selection process, and how to react onsite if the unthinkable happens. [Relate...

Meetings Today editors Tyler Davidson and Danielle LeBreck just returned from a content-producing frenzy at MPI WEC Toronto. Check out our coverage— all in one place! —on the Meetings Today website. And probably the biggest news of the week, meetings industry fixture Michael Dominguez is leaving MGM Resorts  to take the top job at ALHI. A big congrats from all of here at Meetings Today, Mike!...

Tyler Davidson sat down with MPI CEO Paul Van Deventer at MPI WEC 2019 in Toronto following the association’s press conference. Van Deventer provided an update on what’s new with the organization and discussed its latest initiatives, including its work to fight against human trafficking.  Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

At MPI's World Education Congress (WEC) in Toronto, Danielle LeBreck sat down with Sheriff Karamat, president and CEO of PCMA, to chat about the new data intelligence service BEAM and how meeting professionals can use it to create memorable experiences. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

The main theme of MPI's World Education Congress 2019 and many of its educational sessions is designing event experiences. For venues, this means taking a completely new approach to meeting space design. Adam Wueller, director of creative product innovation at Hilton , discusses with Danielle LeBreck the hotel brand's new innovative approach to the design of its meeting spaces. Enjoying this episo...

Tyler Davidson talks with representatives of MPAHT (Meeting Planners Against Human Trafficking) at MPI WEC 2019 about how planners and facilities can join the fight against a terrible scourge that often involves the sexual exploitation of children. [Related Content: MPAHT Signs 'The Code' to Protect Children ] Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

What new tech will save you money and make your job planning meetings and events easier? Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson joins up with Dahlia El Gazzar, from Dahlia+ , to explore the event tech offerings at MPI WEC's Tech Pavilion. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson talks with Michael Cerbelli, ringleader of Michael Cerbelli's The Hot List™, about the hottest new event products and performance trends, and how planners can incorporate them into their events. Check out more of Michael Cerbelli's Favorite Finds as showcased in The Hot List ™ newsletter from Meetings Today! Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of th...

IACC CEO Mark Cooper details findings from the 2019 Meeting Room of the Future Report , and explains how meetings and events will be transformed in the near future. This episode was recorded live at MPI WEC 2019. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

In this edition of Meetings Today's The Weekly Wrap, Tyler Davidson details stories on meetings tech giant Cvent's acquisition of DoubleDutch, Joan Eisenstodt's series on end-of-life event planners, a comprehensive guide to planning for people with disabilities and our upcoming F&B trends webinar with Caesars Entertainment's Michele Polci. Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! An...

From hosting the first-ever World Pride in the U.S. this June to major openings in all five boroughs, New York City is having a “monumental” 2019. Chris Heywood, SVP of Global Communications for NYC & Company, shares the highlights with Brooklyn-based Senior Contributor Jeff Heilman.  Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!    

Rampaging horses! Fallen doves! Banquet cheese that is not cheese at all! Check out our Meetings Horror Stories story on Meetings Today--you'll have to read it to believe it! Also: MGM layoffs , mini-toiletry bottle bans , a Rubik's Cube artist for your events and Aventri's top U.S. meeting and event venues . Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! And also make sure to keep circling b...

Keynote speaker. Meeting planner. Hotel sales professional. Deborah Gardner has done it all, and shares her nearly 30 years of meetings industry knowledge and trends predictions with Meetings Today Vice President & Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson. Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

  Vice President and Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson discusses some of the top developments in the meetings industry on MeetingsToday.com, including our June cover story about stellar rooftop event venues and MGM International's scuttling of plans for a $2.6 billion resort casino in the Boston suburb of Everett, Massachusetts. Get your week’s news in early with the Weekly Wrap! Enjoying...

Meetings Today Contributor Jennifer Juergens sits down with Craig Schoninger, director of marketing at northeast Florida’s Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club , to discuss the fascinating history of the property and why its status as an independent, family-owned hotel translates into high levels of service and the flexibility to offer 10 percent commissions for meeting planners. En...

In our newly rebranded weekly podcast covering some of the top stories from Meetings Today, editor Tyler Davidson highlights an article on what could be severe meetings industry financial ramifications resulting from states' restrictive anti-abortion laws , along with a piece on laws governing service animals at facilities and coverage of  the buying power of the LGBT MPA . Get your week’s ne...

Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming, talks about major expansion in South Florida, hitting the right chord with groups and brand values with Meetings Today senior contributor Jeff Heilman. [Related Content: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City Electrifies Groups ] Enjoying this episode?  View more episodes of the Meetings Today Podcast!

The Military Reunion Network's Sharon Danitschek explains how her company and its military veteran attendees accommodate service animals at their meetings. She also shares information about how her meeting planner colleagues and facilities can comply with federal law regarding service animals. [Related Content: Laws Governing Service Animals at Meetings ] Enjoying this episode?  View more epi...