Smart Meetings

This thorough list of the best of the best in 42 categories has you covered on land, in the air and at sea—yep, we asked about cruise lines, too. You will want to bookmark this list and refer to it all year long so when anyone asks, “Where should we go next?” you will be the smartest one in the room.

The temporary world in an expo hall represents hundreds of thousands of dollars of investment on the part of the organizer and the sponsors. But is it working? Nick Borelli, marketing director of Zenus.ai, a company specializing in ethical AI facial analysis, attended Smart Meetings Innovation Experience in Atlantic City and explained that the answer to the ultimate return on event questions are rooted in data, not guesswork.

At Smart Meetings Innovation Experience in Atlantic City—a destination of firsts, from the first computer conference to the first female African-American millionaire—top meeting professionals met to explore what is possible in the future of events.

Smart Meetings spoke with Scott Frankel, president of Animatic Media, to unpack what planners need to know about AV contracts before locking in a deal.

Seattle Convention Center’s first female CEO, Jennifer LeMaster. We chatted with her about her journey after a panel at Northwest Events Show.

With a few tips in your back pocket to build strong vendor relationships, you can go above and beyond to make sure that vendors appreciate you and jump at the chance to work with you every time.