This episode features Tommy Goodwin, Vice President, Government Affairs for the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance (ECA) The conversation focuses on how ECA advocates for the industry. Here are a few of the topics we cover: Fully welcoming international exhibitors and attendees back to the U.S. Sustainability and climate change Promoting government involvement in developing the industry’s future workforce Bring back communicable disease coverage to event cancelation insurance ..read more

This episode features Tim Flors, chief customer officer at Groups 360 and Oral Muir, vice president partnership development and global distribution at Hilton.  The conversation focuses on how group bookings are evolving and how the integration and partnership between Groups360 and Hilton is leading the way. Here are a few of the topics we cover: An high-level overview of how global distribution works from hotel perspective Explore the power of discovery, filtering and instant booking online How to tackle RFP and lead spam and why conversion is what really matters All group and small meet ..read more

This episode features Kai Hattendorf, CEO of UFI. The conversation focuses on global trends for the exhibition industry in 2023. Here are a few of the topics we cover: The importance of data in making a business case for trade shows The recovery and reopening of China Adopting a year-round customer approach to Moving the needle on sustainability A thought-provoking vision for the future of trade shows ..read more

This episode features Ken Holsinger, senior vice president of strategy at Freeman. The conversation focuses on attendee research. Here are a few of the topics we cover: Asking questions to large number of people live is very powerful Why it’s important to matching sentiment data and behavior data  Overall attendance is now tracking at 84% across sectors, was 65% in the Spring Business and personal is overlapping - important new reality Continue to learn from your audience, consume information in all places, and accept that things will keep shifting ..read more

This episode features Ken Holsinger, senior vice president of strategy at Freeman. The conversation focuses on attendee research. Here are a few of the topics we cover: Asking questions to large number of people live is very powerful Why it’s important to matching sentiment data and behavior data  Overall attendance is now tracking at 84% across sectors, was 65% in the Spring Business and personal is overlapping - important new reality Continue to learn from your audience, consume information in all places, and accept that things will keep shifting ..read more

This episode features Tim Flors, chief customer officer at Groups 360 and Oral Muir, vice president partnership development and global distribution at Hilton.  The conversation focuses on how group bookings are evolving and how the integration and partnership between Groups360 and Hilton is leading the way. Here are a few of the topics we cover: An high-level overview of how global distribution works from hotel perspective Explore the power of discovery, filtering and instant booking online How to tackle RFP and lead spam and why conversion is what really matters All group and small meet ..read more

This episode features Merijn van Buuren, CEO at Event Mender. The conversation focuses on how virtual events have evolved, including how audience expectations have changed and how event technology has advanced in the last few year. Here are a few of the topics we cover: The evolution of virtual events from reluctant pivoting to high level online productions How audiences have evolved and expect much more from virtual events today Why personalization is key to really impressing participants Why listening closely to event professionals is so important to developing successful event tech product ..read more

This episode features Clemi Hardie, head of pencils (CEO) at Noodle Live. Here are a few of the topics we cover: How RFID technology captured her attention and imagination, kickstarting Noodle Live Why they chose note to pivot to developing a virtual event platform during the pandemic and instead focused on reinventing their product and processes. The importance of ensuring a work/life balance for yourself and your team, what this means in practice and what it looks like at Noodle Live Why stepping back can be beneficial for your work and personal life and how Clemi achieves this ..read more

This episode features Marta Gomes, ICCA President and Deputy Executive Director Sales Division at VIPARIS. Here are a few of the topics we cover: The convention model for VIPARIS and Paris' position as a global business city Creating real partnerships with associations & the clients of ICCA members The need for the meetings industry to build back better and what this might mean for the ICCA model Why engagement is the best measure of an association’s success Why it's important to be part of an industry where impactful things happen ..read more

This episode features Al Hutchinson, CEO and president of Visit Baltimore and chair of Destinations International. The conversation focuses on the obstacles facing the industry and how important it is to come together to contribute to long-term solutions. Here are a few of the topics we cover: How the role of destination management companies has changed. Dealing with systemic racism in the industry and how diversity, inclusion and equity, and that it must be an ongoing initiative.  Gun violence and the role a destination marketing organization can take.  How do we train, motivate, a ..read more