Episodes
-
AI, ROI and the Future of Events With MCI USA’s Shawn Pierce
Meeting attendance is only one measure of success. In this Meetings Today podcast, MCI USA President, Strategic Events, Meetings & Incentives Shawn Pierce explains how event planners can measure return on investment, return on experience and attendee value. Explore strategies for smaller…
more -
The Biggest Meetings Happenings in Orlando, From IMEX America 2026
Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson caught up with Visit Orlando President & CEO Casandra Matej at IMEX America 2026 to learn about what’s new in the biggest meetings destination in North America. From a half-billion-dollar expansion of Orange County Convention Center to a major meeting space…
more -
Cvent’s Mike Dietrich Explains Major New AI Research and Its Impact on Event Planners
Cvent’s Mike Dietrich details major new AI research from Forrester Consulting that is the first offering of the new Cvent Center for Event Insights, which is focused on tackling some of the biggest issues in the industry. How will AI impact your job as an event planner and how can you rise to the...
-
Celebrating 100 Years of Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business
Michigan State University’s School of Hospitality Business is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2027, having spent a century preparing students for careers in meetings and events as well as in other segments of the hospitality industry. Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson interviewed MSU alumni…
more -
How Philadelphia Executed FIFA World Cup and MLB All-Star Week Back-to-Back
Philadelphia CVB’s Brea Webster Stanko shares planning lessons for event professionals on branding, attendee journeys, security and venue logistics culled from the city’s epic run of marquee sporting events, FIFA World Cup and the MLB All-Star Game, this summer.
-
Why The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp Is Ideal for Small Executive Retreats and Incentive Groups
The Broadmoor’s Cloud Camp offers meeting and event planners a secluded Colorado Rocky Mountains setting for executive retreats, board meetings, incentive groups and small-team gatherings. In this Meetings Today podcast, Tyler Davidson speaks with Duane Zobrist, CEO of Resort Outfitters, which...
-
Rethinking the Attendee Experience: Unpacking Maritz' NextGen-Proofing Your Events Report
As attendees become more intentional about where and how they spend their time, event organizers face a critical question: Does their event offer something people can't get from a screen? In this Meetings Today Podcast, reporter Taylor Smith speaks with Emily Laufgraben, senior marketing insights...
-
Nevermind Trade Wars: Destination Canada Seeing Strong U.S. Meetings Demand for 2027–2028
Despite the recent trade tension between the American and Canadian governments, Canada is seeing strong demand from U.S.-based meeting and incentive groups for 2027 and 2028. In this brief Meetings Today podcast, Destination Canada’s Virginie De Visscher details which industry sectors are meeting...
-
From the ASAE 2026 Show Floor: The Host City’s Tourism Chief Delivers Big Updates
Leonard Hoops, the longtime president and CEO of Visit Indy, speaks to Meetings Today about the huge wave of new hospitality development in Indianapolis that is making the city a “Tier 1A” destination. With one of the most connected, walkable downtowns in the country and a new 803-room HQ hotel,...
-
An Ambitious Visit Anaheim Rebrand That Widens the Destination's Appeal
Visit Anaheim Chief Marketing Officer Scott Oklin and VP of Intermediary Strategy Virna Navia discuss the DMO's new rebrand as it embarks on a "Golden Decade," which will see massive new developments such as OCVIBE and DisneyForward as well as a new drive to attract visitors to "tentpole" events....
-
The Latest Meetings Legal Trends
From pricing and cost increases to declining attendance, nuanced security concerns and the ever-shrinking definition of what exactly constitutes force majeure, meetings industry attorney extraordinaire Joshua Grimes discusses the latest business meetings and events contract issues and strategies...
-
Courtney Stanley on Women's Empowerment in the Meetings Industry
Courtney Stanley, host of Meetings Today's Dare to Interrupt podcast, has championed women's empowerment in the meetings and events industry for more than a decade, including co-founding the #MeetingsToo movement. Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson spoke with Courtney about how she got into the...
-
New Developments and the Benefits of Off-Season Meetings in Greater Palm Springs
In this Meetings Today podcast, destinations content manager Taylor Smith sits down with Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales at Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Colleen Pace, chief sales and marketing officer at Visit Greater Palm Springs, to talk about what's new in Greater Palm Springs…
more -
See Monterey's Rob O'Keefe on Happenings in the Coastal California Destination
From the recent re-opening of a particularly scenic stretch of Highway 1 to new hotel developments, major sporting events, news from Pebble Beach and two marketing initiatives from his DMO, Meetings Today checks in with See Monterey President & CEO Rob O’Keefe to get the skinny on the latest...
-
Live From PCMA CL 26: What's New in D.C
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Elliott L. Ferguson, president and CEO of Destination DC, at PCMA Convening Leaders 2026 to discover what's new in the nation's capital in regard to meetings and conventions.
-
Live From PCMA CL 26: Orlando Keeps Growing
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Lisa Messina, chief sales officer for Visit Orlando, and Mike Tester, executive director for the Orange County Convention Center, at PCMA Convening Leaders 2026 to discuss goings-ons in the nation's most popular meetings and leisure destination.
-
Lisa Messina on the Latest Orlando Happenings
Orlando is a destination that is no stranger to superlatives. From being named the top meetings destination in North America for the 10th time to logging record visitor numbers both in the leisure and meetings segments, this Florida phenomenon is always ahead of the competition. Meetings Today’s...
-
SITE's Padraic Gilligan Talks Key Findings from the 2025 Incentive Travel Index
Following the release of the 2025 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) on Smart Monday and an insightful panel discussion in which industry leaders broke down this year's survey results, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith tapped Padraic Gilligan, SITE's head of research and consultancy, to get his quick,...
-
Meetings Industry Giants Join to Fight Human Trafficking
Human trafficking is one of those issues that is difficult to talk about yet so critical to address. Three meetings and hospitality industry giants, Maritz, Marriott and Hilton, have stepped up to the plate to form the Fight Against Human Trafficking Coalition, which will provide a wealth of...
-
Hyatt Leaders Discuss Shifting Business Travel Trends and Meetings Outlook for 2026
Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with Hyatt's Trina Camacho-London, vice president of group sales, and Christina Gambini, vice president of global sales, to talk business travel trends and how they've shifted since the first half of the year.
-
How to Combat the Most Critical Meetings Industry Legal Issues
What are the top four legal concerns impacting the meetings and events industry? Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Maritz Deputy General Counsel Jill Blood at IMEX America 2025 to find out what's keeping both planners and suppliers up at night, and strategies to overcome these…
more -
How Indianapolis' New Developments Cater to Meeting Planners
On this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, learn all about the meeting planner's guide to Indianapolis' new developments with Leonard Hoops, CEO and president of Visit Indy.
-
LinkedIn Expert Richard Bliss Talks Online Presence, Algorithms and His New Column
In this Meetings Today podcast, destinations content manager Taylor Smith sits down with Richard Bliss, CEO of BlissPoint Consulting, a LinkedIn Top Voices Influencer and a 2025 Meetings Trendsetter, to understand he helps executives master modern communication tools for strategic business...
-
Encore's Amanda Armstrong Talks Making an Impact, Igniting the Senses and the Future of Event Technology
In this Meetings Today Podcast, recorded on the IMEX America tradeshow floor, Taylor Smith sits down with Amanda Armstrong, senior vice president of communications and industry relations at Encore, to talk about how Encore made an impact at IMEX, the importance of awakening all of your attendees'...
-
All That Makes Ocean City, Maryland a Total Meetings Package
In this Meetings Today podcast episode, Content Developer Taylor Smith speaks with Kim Mueller, Director of Sales for Ocean City, Maryland’s Department of Tourism about everything that makes this East Coast destination the total package for meetings and events of all kinds. Note: This episode was...
-
IMEX’s Tahira Endean on Her New Book and the Importance of Joy at Events
On this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, our own Taylor Smith talks with Tahira Endean, head of program at IMEX, about her new book released at the end of March that invites industry professionals to see events “not merely as logistical undertakings but as powerful catalysts for happiness,...
-
Joel Zeff on the Power of “Ta-Da” and Celebrating Life’s Small Wins
National keynote speaker, MC and author Joel Zeff joins Logan Pratt on this episode of the Meetings Today podcast to talk about the necessity of a good MC at events, the power of "ta-da," celebrating life's small wins and how the power improv can change people's lives for the better. Joel Zeff is...
-
L.A. Tourism Chief Doane Liu Shares Meetings Haps in the City of Angels
Tyler Davidson sat down with Doane Liu, chief tourism officer for the City of Los Angeles, to discuss some of the global marquee events headed to the City of Angels in the next few years, along with general happenings impacting its meetings and conventions scene, including the much-anticipated...
-
A Conversation With San Diego Tourism Authority's Daniel Kuperschmid at ASAE 2025
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with new San Diego Tourism Authority President & CEO Daniel Kuperschmid at ASAE's Annual Meeting to find out what the new DMO leader's objectives are, how his 30-year career in hotels informs his new position, major meetings-related developments in what…
more -
DMO Vet Al Hutchinson Launches Consultancy In Step With the Times
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson caught up with Al Hutchinson, former president and CEO of Visit Baltimore, to explore his new venture, AVH Enterprise, and its mission to provide comprehensive leadership development, strategic planning and social impact solutions tailored specifically to DMOs.
-
Why Irving, Texas, Excels in Wellness and Hyper-Personalization
Visit Irving Executive Director Maura Gast explains how this Dallas Metroplex meetings destination is making strides in wellness and its skill at hyper-personalizing its meetings offering for planners and attendees.
-
The Latest Developments and Sustainability Resources for Planners in Greater Palm Springs
On this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sits down with Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Laruen Bruggemans, director of sustainability and community engagement, to learn how the destination is both creating...
-
Anaheim Unveils a "Golden Decade" for Meetings
With $10 billion in infrastructure investment and new dining, retail and entertainment districts such as OCVIBE, Anaheim, California, has embarked on what it has dubbed the "Golden Decade." Meetings Today caught up with Ronnie Collins, senior vice president of sales for Visit Anaheim, to learn…
more -
How Phoenix Executes Large-Scale Sporting Events
Phoenix has earned the moniker "Championship Valley" because of its extensive experience in hosting big sporting events like the Super Bowl and basketball championships. Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer, Visit Phoenix and Eric George, special events administrator, City of Phoenix, discuss what...
-
Gaylord's Massive West Coast Expansion and More, With DOSM Russ Mitchell
Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center DOSM Russ Mitchell talks about the brand's massive new $1.3 billion property near San Diego, which will be the largest hotel on the West Coast. Located in Chula Vista, California, and set for a May 15, 2025 opening, the property will offer a whopping…
more -
Tariff Talk With Voices in Advocacy's Roger Rickard
The threat by the Trump Administration to levy significant tariffs against three of the biggest trading partners of the U.S. became reality March 4, 2025, and the impact on the meeting and events industry is still unfolding. Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson engaged Voices in Advocacy’s Roger...
-
Freeman's Bob Priest-Heck on His New 'Inside Live Events' Book
Former Freeman Company CEO Bob Priest-Heck has helmed one the largest events industry companies in the world, collecting a vast reservoir of knowledge on the profession. Now, in tandem with Freeman Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons, he's put that knowledge down on paper in their new book Inside...
-
How GOCAL Is Going Big With a Massive Convention Center Expansion and More
Michael Krouse, president and CEO of the Greater Ontario, California CVB, aka GOCAL, and regional vice president convention centers for ASM Global, shares details on a massive expansion project that will double the size of the Ontario Convention Center (including a parking garage that can double…
more -
How to Host Memorable Events in Frisco, Texas
In this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, Senior Content Director Danielle LeBreck speaks with Lisa Bethea, director of destination services for Visit Frisco, about how planners can host memorable events in rapidly growing Frisco. Learn how to tap the Destination Services team at Visit…
more -
Live From PCMA CL 2025: Maritz CEO on Incentive Trends and More
Tyler Davidson checked in with David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO or global MICE giant Maritz, at PCMA's Convening Leaders event in Houston, Texas to discover findings from two major, recent Maritz surveys and what they reveal about the incentive market.
-
Live From PCMA CL 2025: What's New in Orlando
Tyler Davidson sat down with Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, and Mark Tester, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center, to discover what’s new and coming down the pike in what is perennially the most popular meetings and conventions destination in North America.
-
Trendsetter Tuesday: The Journey to Hosting Sustainable Events With Eric Zimmerman
Eric Zimmerman was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter for his innovative work at TripZero, which helps meeting planners host sustainable events at no extra cost. In this Trendsetter Tuesday episode, Zimmerman shares his personal sustainability journey and offers practical tips for greening your…
more -
Trendsetter Tuesday: The Many Hats of Mandi Graziano, and How She Balances Them All
Mandi Graziano, vice president, global accounts at HPN Global, wears many hats—a sales coach, podcast host, author, professional speaker and now, a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter. Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn about how Graziano stays…
more -
Veteran Meetings Trade Editor Maria Lenhart's Quirky New Cape Cod Guidebook
Cape Cod is a destination that has been home to or frequented by some of the most influential people in U.S. culture, from literary lions like Kurt Vonnegut to American icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and playwright Tennessee Williams. Former Meetings Today editor Maria Lenhart, who has...
-
Trendsetter Tuesday: Traci DePuy Shares Her Journey From PR Rep to CMO
Traci DePuy talks about her journey in the event marketing space, from her start as a PR representative to the Chief Marketing Officer for one of the largest associations of event professionals.
-
Trendsetter Tuesday: Monique Ruff-Bell Talks Her Industry Journey From LL Cool J to TED
Monique Ruff-Bell is the Chief Program & Strategy Officer for TED, where she oversees TED’s flagship global events and conferences, TEDx programs and initiatives, global partnership sales and key marketing verticals. But before she was helping to run one of the most well-known conferences in the...
-
Trendsetter Tuesday: F&B Vet Thomas Whelan Serves Up Engaging Experiences
A 20-year food and beverage operations veteran, Thomas Whelan, director of events – Northeast for Access DMC, has helped launch off-premise and on-premise catering companies and curated experiences for millions of people at corporate events and social gatherings. Whelan, a Meetings Today...
-
Roger Rickard Talks 2024 Election, Destination Boycotts and Advocacy
In this Meetings Today podcast, digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sits down with Roger Rickard, founder and president of Voices in Advocacy to learn about how some of the key issues in the 2024 presidential election could impact the meetings industry. Rickard also talks about the...
-
Meetings Horror Stories: A Spooky Meetings Today Podcast
On this spooky edition of a Meetings Today podcast, Meetings Today's own Taylor Smith and Logan Pratt read and react to some of the worst meetings horror stories submitted by Meetings Today readers. From firetrucks to bathrooms to palm trees, don't miss out on these hilarious horror stories this...
-
Trendsetter Tuesday: Amani Roberts on Unlocking Creativity in the Meetings Industry
On this episode of the Trendsetter Tuesday podcast, Taylor Smith sat down with Amani Roberts, Chief Musical Curator at The Amani Experience to learn more about how Roberts uses tools like music to help those in the meetings industry unleash their creative minds.