EVENTalks by Meeting Professionals International

Event professionals McNeel Keenan and Erin Bellwood share the ways they’re leveraging AI and how they see the tech impacting the industry now and in the future.

Attendee engagement takes center stage with Andrea Yates and Mark Mallchok on the latest episode of MPI’s EVENTalks podcast.

Journalists Tyler Davidson and Andrea Doyle share their experience and insight from decades of covering events, the impact of remote work and AI and what they'd like to see change in this industry.

Concluding our two-part series with Cvent’s Kelli Kopec and Maritz’ Steve O’Malley, this conversation explores event industry expectations and trends for 2026.

Event professionals from two of the biggest names in the industry—Cvent’s Kelli Kopec and Maritz’ Steve O’Malley—reflect on the year that was. 

Simone Miller and Avis Petrie on creating a convention and cultural experience they’d want to attend. This conversation with the amateur, Gen Z event planners behind DashCon 2 is a testament to the interest and skill of the youngest generation of working adults entering the industry.

Caitlin Gaborow and Emily Dietrich discuss the challenges facing next-gen eventpros and what the industry must do to attract and keep new talent.

Rachel Andrews and Michael Farrell share what they’re seeing in event design as well as the factors driving those trends.

Andrea Driessen and MaryAnne Bobrow discuss the importance of focusing on well-being and giving thanks in the meeting and event industry.

A conversation about the opportunities, challenges and excitement in event tech with Allyson Keenan from CVENT and Tammy Bradley from AV-CANADA.

Two event professionals—Tara Liaschenko and Molly Marsh—and author Maggie Jackson (“Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure”) explore the pitfalls and potential of uncertainty.

Laura Kesselman and Leanne Calderwood discuss the importance of keeping your physical, digital and mental space organized.

Planners discuss the importance of person-to-person knowledge sharing and lifelong learning, while also offering advice on establishing mentor-mentee relationships.

A heartfelt conversation with leaders from the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association on the importance of inclusivity for successful meetings and events, the detrimental impact of discriminatory mandates on event professionals and the industry at large and how we can all help craft positive change. 

Courtney Stanley and Amani Roberts reflect on the legacy of 2024 and innovations they see impacting the meeting and event industry in the year to come.

Insights to help you craft and deliver safe and secure events in 2025.

Eric Rozenberg, host of The Business of Meetings podcast, and Mike Schugt, president of Teneo Hospitality, share insight on the state of business and economic issues impacting event professionals.

Comedians and speaker bureau pros share how humor can best be leveraged at events, what planners must do to make the inclusion successful and more.

Nicole Seely, director of convention and event operations for the GBTA, discusses travel challenges, cost-saving tips, words on wellness and more.

Tahira Endean and Rachel Bandarenko in conversation about crafting optimal learning experiences at meetings and events, inclusive of the needs of the growing neurodiverse population.

Leaders in event AI share top tips for how meeting pros can best learn how to leverage the new tech across their business. This episode sponsored by IMEX Group.

MPI's Tanya Philyaw and Renee Simpson (Levy) take you behind the scenes of WEC F&B planning and chat about associated trends.

A dive into sustainable event F&B with a pair of undisputed experts: WWF’s Pete Pearson and GreenBiz Group’s Morganne Sigismonti.

Openness is key to managing the current work landscape and setting up for a successful future.

Event design, the power of diversity, bringing your true self and more, embracing inclusivity goes beyond simply ensuring attendees feel welcome.

Two mindful meeting pros share wellness trends and discuss the topic’s relationship to inclusivity, CSR and more.

Closing out the year, MPI’s EVENTalks podcast is joined by two planners—Laura Kesselman and Molly Marsh—for an informed and fun conversation, looking back at the year that was and exploring expectations and hopes for 2024. 

Exploring the intersection of events and the paranormal through four interviews.

Tracy Stuckrath and Chef Murray Hall join EVENTalks in conversation about event food and beverage  trends with a keen eye on sustainability, inclusivity and flavorful mocktails.

In light of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision (303 Creative v. Elenis), MPI members Janet Sperstad and John Ehlenfeldt discuss the immediate and growing threat posed by sanctioned discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and what this means for the future of the meeting and event industry.

The importance of planners working with DMOs early in an RFP process and expansions and new concepts for meetings and events in Palm Springs, Calif., are discussed in the latest episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by Visit Greater Palm Springs.

The current landscape of events, what to focus on for the year ahead, how to drive engagement and different approaches to sponsorship are discussed in the latest episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast. Join leaders of E-180 and Showcare for an engaging conversation sponsored by E-180.This episode is sponsored by: E-180.com

DMOs can help empower planners and support the purpose of organizations’ events, according to David Whitaker, president and CEO of the Greater Miami CVB, in this episode of MPI’s EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by the Greater Miami CVB. Whitaker also shares insight into wellness issues at events, negotiations and decision-making, attendee engagement and more!This episode is sponsored by Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. 

Women make up half the travel and tourism workforce, but less than 20 percent of C-suite positions. In this episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, we discuss unconscious bias, why the same old thinking must change and how women can better position themselves for leadership positions in an industry that lacks equal gender representation at the top.This episode is sponsored by The Myrtle Beach Convention Center. 

From its status as a tech hub leading in digital currency to its international business community with particularly strong ties to Latin America, Miami is having a moment. In this episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by the Greater Miami CVB, we chat with Carol Motley, senior vice president of convention sales and services, about why meetings and events are thriving throughout the area’s diverse locales.This episode is sponsored by the Greater Miami CVB. 

In the latest episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by Hilton, we discuss the recovery of business and group travel, the importance of managing expectations with meeting planners and the outlook for 2022 and beyond. We’re joined by Hilton executives Gerilyn Horan, VP of group sales and strategic accounts, and Jess Petitt, senior VP of commercial strategy, insights and analytics

The recovery of the meeting industry is dependent upon communicating the message that in-person events are safe. Hear Ben Erwin, president and CEO of Encore, and Paul Van Deventer, president and CEO of MPI, discuss Encore’s “We Met There” campaign, the current state of meetings and events and where we go from here. Sponsored by Encore. 

In this episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by Huntington Beach, we celebrate Global Diversity Awareness Month and discuss the state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the meeting industry with John Ehlenfeldt and Omark Holmes from Visit Huntington Beach, Surf City USA. 

In this episode of the MPI EVENTalks podcast, sponsored by Marriott International, we discuss pandemic-driven changes in learning formats, event design and engagement with Kathy Mouw, vice president of global sales, U.S. and Canada, for Marriott International, and Annette Gregg, senior vice president of experience for MPI. This episode is sponsored by Marriott International.

We discuss optimism for meetings and travel returning to destinations like Puerto Rico and industry recovery as a whole as we move through 2021. This discussion features Jessie States, MPI Academy, and Brad Dean, CEO of Discover Puerto Rico.

As event planners and marketers are starting to realize, hybrid events are an entirely new event type that requires a different planning process from fully virtual or in-person events, MPI took the challenge and reimagined their World Education Congress (WEC) as a hybrid event at the Gaylord Texan in November 2020.The podcast is sponsored by CVENT.

In a new episode of MPI’s EVENTalks podcast, we discuss moving beyond webinars to true event experiences in the virtual world with Alex Howland, co-founder and president, and Ted Laatz, VP of events, from VirBELA, which builds virtual worlds for remote work, learning and events. 

George Floyd’s unjust death It is not an isolated incident but another example of the Black community’s inequitable treatment and access, and the reaction around the globe has highlighted people’s outrage by the pace of change in the system. If meetings and events are truly agents of change – bringing people together to mobilize, collaborate and break down walls --what should our industry’s response be to the injustice facing the Black community? Join some of MPI’s prominent members for an open conversation about how to respond in the current situation, and tools and resources to move us forward.Jason Dunn, Chair, NCBMPZoe Moore, Co-Chair, MPI Diversity and Inclusion CommitteeElliott Ferguson, President & CEO, Destination DC 

In this episode, we get incredible insights into what the airlines and hotels are doing with the new standards for cleanliness and health safety. Podcast sponsored by Marriott International and American Airlines.

In episode 3 of the MPI Podcast, located on our regularly updated coronavirus resource page, Brad Dean, Discover Puerto Rico's CEO, shares how the resiliency of the people of Puerto Rico can shine a light on the path forward through a global pandemic.

How Great Event Happen podcast sat down with Paul Van Deventer, MPI’s President and CEO, to talk about how he is adapting to the new climate the events industry is now living in. He shares his experience and great positive outlook for the future. 

We address some of your most pressing questions around Force Majeure and event cancellations during these unprecedented times. This podcast is sponsored by ALHI.