Hosting an event in the Windy City in the near future? If you are currently contracted with a downtown hotel or near McCormick Place, you should have been notified about […]

Whether you are a frequent IMEXer or a first-timer, there is always something new to discover at the largest hosted-buyer event of the year for the meetings industry. This year, hosted buyers will have to reorient themselves to a new location for the meetings lounge, as education will be moving completely into the Inspiration Hub on the show floor to make room for the biggest conference yet.

For many people, me included, New Zealand is best known as the backdrop for films such as King Kong, The Piano and Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. But New Zealand is far more than the setting for someone else’s story. It is a destination that invites attendees to step inside one of their own.

In 2020, Covid upended many things: events, businesses, personal lives and educational dreams. As events made a successful return, hospitality education was left to navigate its own rebuilding process.

Art has long played a role in hospitality design, but some properties are taking the relationship a step further. From mentorship programs and artist residencies to immersive galleries and locally inspired collections, these hotels are creating meaningful opportunities for artists while offering guests a deeper connection to the destinations they visit.

Smart Woman Summit was designed to foster meaningful conversations. From the kick off at a sponsor-speaker salon to Provocateur Circles based on Soundings’ Career Archetypes surveys, participants left knowing themselves, their goals and what they need to do to get there.

ASAE Annual 2026 at Indiana Convention Center this week was the largest gathering by almost any measure, with 5,300 registered and 500 volunteers, all taking place on the largest trade show floors. It was also one of the most impactful.