Skift Meetings Podcast

On this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the events industry while emphasizing the enduring importance of human connection. This episode — recorded live at Event Tech Live London — features Colja Dams, Co-CEO of VOK DAMS, in conversation with Miguel Neves, Editor-in-Chief of Skift Meetings. As CEO of VOK DAMS, Dams brings...

What happens when AI meets authenticity in the meetings world? As we unpack 2024's most significant shifts - from game-changing acquisitions to unprecedented cost pressures - the Skift Meetings editorial team reveals how these developments are catalyzing a fundamental reimagining of events for 2025. Drawing from our comprehensive Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report, we explore how today's challe...

This episode of the Skift Meetings podcast tackles a pressing question: As much as our industry has become consumed with promoting wellness at events, are meetings actually integrating these practices? Skift Meetings editor Barbara Scofidio and executive editor Andrea Doyle are joined by Kelly Bishop, founder of Wellevate Experiences, to explore the gap between wellness ideals and real-world appli...

Join us for an in-depth look at IMEX America 2024, the latest edition of the largest trade show dedicated to meetings, events and incentive travel professionals. With over 15,500 attendees and 86,000 meetings, this year’s IMEX celebrated the global meetings and events sector. We discuss the buzz on the floor, the unique activations, and how Las Vegas’ iconic landscape—amid F1 construction and city...

The nonalcoholic beverage industry is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by consumer demand for healthier and more sophisticated options. Zero Proofed is one company that is promoting this movement to redefine mocktails and promote mindful drinking.  Challenges include the high sugar content in traditional mocktails, limited menu visibility, and higher costs of premium nonalcoholic sp...

In today’s episode, we’re gearing up for one of the biggest events in the meetings and events industry—IMEX America 2024. Join Miguel Neves, Andrea Doyle, and Barbara Scofidio as they discuss their personal experiences, offer valuable tips for navigating the show floor, and share strategies for maximizing your time at IMEX. Whether you’re a seasoned attendee or a first-timer, this episode will gui...

In this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we take a closer look at the Skift Meetings Forum, a one-of-a-kind event that brought together senior meeting planners, thought leaders, and industry experts in the heart of New York. From Seth Godin’s thought-provoking keynote to groundbreaking discussions on diversity, peer-to-peer learning, and the unique venue experience at the Glass House, this e...

The highly anticipated Skift Meetings Forum is an event tailored for senior meeting planners that promises a full day of thought-provoking and industry-shaping discussions. Hosted in the inspiring Glasshouse in New York City, this forum is more than just a conference—it’s a space for candid, high-level conversations about the most pressing topics in the meetings industry. From diversity and inclus...

Planners need to rethink every aspect of their events—marketing, hotel and destination choices, room setups, F&B, wellness, gifting and more—with their younger attendees in mind—a candid conversation with one of the top names in event design. Connect with Skift Meetings LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/skift-meetings X: https://twitter.com/SkiftMeetings Facebook: https://facebook.com/skiftme...

Skift Meetings editors discuss the potential implications the U.S. presidential election and the many other elections happening worldwide in 2024 could have on the meetings industry. There's plenty to consider based on previous administrations' policies on some of the most contentious topics on the political agenda.  Connect with Skift Meetings LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/skift-meetings...

Brian Quinn, Skift’s vice president of Editorial Events, shares his insights on how the Skift Global Forum brings together industry leaders for thought-provoking conversations, all within a carefully curated, single-stage experience designed to push the boundaries of travel and inspire the future. Connect with Skift Meetings LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/skift-meetings X: https://twitter....

Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief Miguel Neves interviews Shawna McKinley, Principal at Clear Current Consulting, discussing the impact of climate change on events and how the industry must adapt to increasing extreme weather disruptions. Ethical responsibility, institutional change, and regulatory influence are factors at play as the event industry seeks to adapt to the challenges posed by climate c...

Two experts, Carrie Davenport and Jaki Baskow, share their tips for planning holiday parties on this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, including: Date Selection: Avoid major holidays; the first two weeks of December or the last week of November are ideal. Venue and Theme: Choose the venue and a theme like winter wonderland or ugly sweater parties. Food and Beverage: Custom menus, grazing tabl...

There’s been a growing backlash against DEI programs in recent years. But for meetings and events, diversity, equity, and inclusion is still important.  For planners, the goal is to expose attendees to a wide range of viewpoints, and for everyone to feel connected – regardless of the political environment.  “We've made DEI this big scary thing,” said Dr. Brandi Baldwin, an organizational and leade...

Shawn Cheng, founder and lead strategist of Curious Bear Management, believes the jury is still out on whether AI has peaked in usefulness for meetings-related tasks. "It's too early to tell," Cheng said. "We're really just in some way taking a break." Cheng is an experienced events industry professional who has worked with many emerging technologies. He experiments with AI tools like ChatGPT and...

Gerrit Jessen, Director for Germany of the Event Design Collective, shared his experience as part of a pro bono mission in Uganda, where he applied his hotel management expertise to improve the operational standards of a small hotel. Despite unforeseeable challenges and dealing with manual processes, Jessen focused on making the best of his time there to leave a lasting impact. Jessen is an experi...

As the senior director of events for Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Melinda Burdette oversees the association’s annual meetings. MPI's main events include the World Education Congress and the European Events and Meetings Conference. Planning experiences for thousands of meeting professionals can seem like a daunting task, but Burdette is well-equipped for the job. She is a Certified Me...

Robyn Duda is the co-founder and CEO of RacquetX. From organizing high school parties to launching IBM’s Watson worldwide, Duda has had her fair share of experience in events and trade shows, spending a significant part of her career at UBM, now part of Informa. She took the shift from consulting for brands like Visa and Coca-Cola to taking the entrepreneurial leap to leading RacquetX in her strid...

In this episode of the Skiff Meetings Podcast, we speak with Andrea Cadotto, director of sales at Visit Detroit. Cadotto sheds light on Detroit's dynamic evolution and promising future in large-scale events and urban development. Legacy and Reputation Visit Detroit, established in 1896, was the first-ever convention and visitors bureau. Detroit features many historical firsts, including the first...

In the latest episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we take a deep dive into event tech based on the findings of the Skift Meetings Event Tech Almanac 2024. We explore the significant transformations the event tech sector has undergone and discuss the evolving demands on event tech and the latest solutions on offer. Major Industry Shifts The pivot to virtual event platforms during the pandemic ma...

Ronny Coombs, a graduate of George Mason University, is exhibits manager for the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Her main focus is Kidney Week, a medical conference that attracts 14,000 attendees and, on average, 170 to 200 exhibitors annually. Pandemic Pivot During the Covid shutdown, the ASN didn't cancel its events, just the in-person component. “Doctors still need their education and res...

In this special bonus episode of The Skift Meetings Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali is joined by Skift Meetings Executive Editor Andrea Doyle and Head of Events Programming Brian Quinn to discuss the current state of conferences.  Prompted by Ali’s LinkedIn post critiquing the lack of thoughtful programming, attendee experience, and speaker support at conferences, the panel explores the importance of...

Helen Bassett is senior vice president of Live and Events for Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal. Working hand-in-hand with the Wall Street Journal’s newsroom helps Bassett and her team identify what, and who, are making the biggest waves regarding how we live, work, and play.  We discussed the upcoming the sixth iteration of the Future of Everything Festival, an event where industries, innovat...

Timothy Glanzer, CMP, is the founder and CEO of Elevated Meeting Solutions. A former banker, he spent three decades working in various MGM Resorts International properties in Las Vegas before founding his company. A full-service meetings and events company, Elevated helps with sourcing and planning gatherings for as few as 25 to around 180,000 who gather in Las Vegas for CES, the world’s largest t...

Bonnie Grant is the executive director of PHL Life Sciences, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB). She is proud of her work in helping Philadelphia generate economic impact and employment opportunities. Her role involves sales and supporting associations in planning their meetings, including site visits and media strategies. She is passionate about connecting the...