event app security

Event app data security is vital because you have to protect your own information and the personal information of your attendees. Be sure your event app vendor meets the most stringent security requirements of your IT department. Ask questions. Follow this handy checklist provided by event technology company Gather Digital, a specialist in event app security.

1. “Do you have a SOC 2 report and can you share it with us?”

A SOC 2 report covers vendor processes and safeguards. Third-party auditing and reporting are crucial and should be shared with you by your event app vendor.

Confirm: The SOC 2 report has been issued directly for your vendor, not for a related hosting provider or other related third party.
Review: SOC 2 report. Understand broadly the controls the vendor has in place across the pillars of security, privacy and availability.
Discuss: Vendor backup, monitoring and disaster plans. Confirm: Your data is accessible only to vendor employees working directly on your account.

2. “Do you have vulnerability testing performed by a third party and can you share high-level results with us?”

Your event app vendor should be engaging with security specialists to evaluate every aspect of their systems. While some details in these reports would remain private, your vendor should provide a high-level overview.

Confirm: Any reports that you review are issued specifically for your vendor’s technology and implementation, not for any third party services upon which your vendor relies.
Review: Native App report (iOS and Android). Does the security firm have a deep understanding of current security issues facing mobile apps? Review: Content Management System report. Has the website been tested thoroughly for technical vulnerabilities?
Review: Network and Server Infrastructure report. Has the server and database infrastructure been tested for penetration vulnerabilities?

3. “What tools can attendees use to control their privacy in the app?”

Confirm: Attendees can proactively display or hide their profile information
Confirm: Attendees can decide whether or not to allow messages from other attendees.

4. “How do you manage the security and privacy of our data and files?”

Confirm: All data is encrypted end-to-end—on the vendor’s server, during the transit over the internet to the app (SSL) and on the device itself.
Confirm: Presentations and attachments are stored and encrypted on the server and accessible only through expiring URLs that cannot be shared outside the app.
Confirm: Data is not bundled with the app when the app is on the app stores. Data is only downloaded to the app when the user logs in. (You don’t want your data or your attendees’ information on the app stores where any hacker could download it.)
Confirm: Your data is not sold or aggregated in any way without your direct permission.

5. “How can we control access to the app and different sets of data for our users?”

Confirm: The app offers various levels of access and password protection—public, password protected, accessible with a code or visible only to registered attendees. Individual events inside your app can each have different settings.
Confirm: You have precise control over which types of attendees see which information using participant types and other tools.
Confirm: Only data the attendee is approved to see is downloaded to the app. There is no data anywhere on the device that the user does not have rights to access.

For more information visit GatherDigital.com, a leading provider of event apps and conference technology.

finding perfect meeting match

We all know the importance of location—being in the right place at the right time with the right people. But did you know there are apps that facilitate finding those places and coordinating with those people? Here are five ways to make getting from here to there just a little easier.

Meetways

This mapping platform was created to help people meet halfway by easily finding locations that are exactly half the distance for both people. But it also makes finding a central location for a business group easier than coaching everyone on entering the code for a web conference. You enter the location of all the offices they will be coming from, the type of venue you would like to meet in—a hotel conference room, for instance—and then pick from a selection that meets your criteria and is equally convenient for everyone.

Spacebase

The German developers of this platform have done the site visits for you. They narrowed it down to the most affordable, unique and well-equipped in 32 cities all over the world. In minutes, you can search the portfolio of 10 countries, specify which amenities you need—whiteboard, high-speed internet, coffeemaker—then get a cost estimate and book online with an instant confirmation. Don’t see what you need? Spacebase is also available on chat or on the phone.

Peerspace

This San Francisco-based company focuses on connecting event planners with inspiring spaces. Looking to throw a networking event in an urban penthouse loft? Need a dignified boardroom with a kitchen for an important off-site retreat? Planning an interactive team-building experience, and only a yoga studio on the park will do? This is your source. Once you have found your perfect space, message the hosts through the app and finalize the reservation using online booking.

Waze 

Once you have picked the location, the trick is getting everyone there on time. This crowdsourced route-mapping technology allows millions of drivers to “outsmart traffic” by alerting drivers in real time when a delay or a hazard is ahead and then suggesting alternate routes if available. The event planner even be alerted with the estimated arrival time of attendees if they agree to sync before they leave the house.

CrowdCompass 

Once everyone is at the event, this mobile conference app allows you to set beacons around the site that send a message—about an upcoming breakout in a nearby room, for instance—when an attendee is in range. It also allows the attendee to find herself by including an interactive map of the conference space. Attendees can zoom in and out, tap on pins for exhibitor and session information, and find the closest restroom with a few swipes on a phone.

apple maps

Apple has expanded its Maps app to include terminal maps of eight more U.S. airports, after introducing maps at two airports earlier this year.

The new maps are part of the latest update to iOS 11, the operating system for iPhones and Apple’s other mobile devices.

Ars Technica reports that the airports that have been added to Apple Maps are Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), McCarran International (LAS) in Las Vegas, Miami International (MIA), Midway International (MDW) in Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul International (MSP), Oakland International (OAK), O’Hare International (ORD) in Chicago and Portland International (PDX) in Oregon. San Jose International (SJC) and Philadelphia International (PHL) were previously added to iOS 11.

When an airport is located on the map, indicators for each terminal appear. By tapping a particular terminal, the user can zoom in to see the floor plan, with markers designating stores, shops, gate numbers and security checkpoints. More information about shops and restaurants can be gained by tapping their markers. Users can also search airports for specific locations.

Apple has indicated that it intends to add maps of several other international and national airports—including New York City’s John F. Kennedy International (JFK) and LaGuardia (LGA) airports—but has not announced when it will be doing so.

The other U.S. airports to be included are in Denver, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York City, Newark (New Jersey), Pittsburgh, San Diego and Seattle. The international airports are in Amsterdam, Berlin, Doha (Qatar), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Geneva, Hong Kong, Toronto and Vancouver.

The maps of airport interiors currently are available only on iOS, not on macOS.

The most successful technology aims to connect people—just look at Mark Zuckerberg’s net worth. Social media benefits all users, especially since the services have become facilitators in most areas of life. So, using social media to network is a clever move, and we’re not just talking about LinkedIn. A variety of apps introduce like- minded professionals on approachable and casual platforms.

Meeting and event planners can particularly benefit from this networking-on-the-fly style. Not only does it accommodate their notoriously busy schedules: Many apps are also location based, thereby enhancing potential opportunities at every event. These are the four best apps for planners to network on.

 

Happy swiping!

1. Bizzabo

Bizzabo is an all-in-one event management program. One popular feature is its location-based networking before, during and after an event. Since it’s specifically for professionals, users are reliably helpful and relevant. Plus, it goes beyond just grouping by location; it provides personal and contact information.

2. e180

e180 is for those seeking one-on-one, in-person interactions—appointments that have been dubbed “Braindates.” Planners coordinate with the service to organize events where they host these meetings. Attendees fill out a profile about what they’re hoping to learn and what information they can offer. Subsequently, they receive a list of attendees that match their profile, to schedule Braindates. Planners also receive a post-event report, including data such as requested topics.

3. Shapr

Shapr brings professionals with common business interests together. Users offer information on their profiles, such as their job title, a short bio and relevant tags. Using this, an algorithm yields 10–15 suitable connections. At an event, planners can encourage attendees to use the hashtag so that others on-site can be paired. Much like Tinder, you swipe right if you’re interested, and left to pass.  When a mutual interest is established, messaging becomes available.

4. CityHour

CityHour streamlines initial meet-ups on a moment’s notice. When a user is available to network, the app connects professionals in a 50-mile radius who are also open to connecting at that time. This is especially useful for those who are unfamiliar with an area as it exposes them to local businesses and professionals.

Long journeys are inevitable when you are an event professional. That travel time doesn’t have to go to waste though! Here we unpack the audiobooks you need for your next trip. Whether you want to learn about a new cuisine, escape into a hotel-based novel or gain some business knowledge, these must-listens have you covered.

For When You Need the Key to Success

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

In Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person, Shonda Rhimes, (otherwise known as the brains behind Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder) highlights the transformative power of saying “yes” to experiences outside her comfort zone.

In a piece that is both memoir and self-help, Rhimes reveals the fears and tribulations that help to make her feel more like a real human than a Hollywood titan. What would happen to your events if you learned to say “yes” just a little more often?

What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings—and Life by Laura Vanderkam

It happens to the best of us—we press snooze one too many times and what unfolds is a frantic rush to get out of the house and to the office on time. Low and behold, in what seems like the blink of an eye, hours have slipped by; all we’ve done is down a cup of coffee, speed read our emails, and make small talk with our coworkers around the water cooler. Time management expert Laura Vanderkam says we may be doing mornings all wrong. They hold the key to taking control of our schedules.

From Mark Zuckerberg to Elon Musk, successful business men (and women) maintain ambitious morning regimens, starting around 5 a.m. with time to exercise, unplug, and enjoy breakfast with their families. What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast is a fun, practical guide that will inspire you to rethink your morning routine and jump-start your life before the day has even begun.

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek 

If you haven’t watched it yet, go see Simon Sinek’s TED talk (the third most popular one of all time) entitled “Start With Why.” Then take a listen to this audiobook. In 2009, Simon Sinek started a movement to help people become more inspired at work, and in turn inspire their colleagues and customers.

Sinek starts with a fundamental question: Why are some people and organizations more innovative, more influential, and more profitable than others? Why do some command greater loyalty from customers and employees alike? Even among the successful, why are so few able to repeat their success over and over? This audiobook aims to help you answer all those whys, and teach you some business savvy along the way. A must-listen for anyone who feels “stuck”.

For When You Want to Escape Reality

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

While the Hulu series features a cameo from Atwood herself, by listening to the audiobook, you can vouch for yourself if the (audio) book is better than the show. The novel explores still-timely issues relating to power, gender and politics even though it was written in 1985. Atwood’s book speaks volumes to the need for the year of women, in event planning and beyond.

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towle

A classic prince to pauper tale unfolds in this novel set entirely in an old hotel. In 1922, Count Alexander Rostov is deemed an unrepentant aristocrat by a Bolshevik tribunal, and sentenced to house arrest in the Metropol, which happens to be a grand hotel across the street from the Kremlin.Rostov has never worked a day in his life, and must now live in an attic room, while some of the most tumultuous decades in Russian history are unfolding outside his doorstep. Unexpectedly, his reduced circumstances lead him on a path of emotional rediscovery. A tumultuous tale, and a melding of hotels and history, that could make any event planner’s heart skip a beat.

For When You Need to Get Out of a Funk

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

With profound empathy and radiant generosity, Eat, Pray, Love’s Gilbert offers intellectual insights into the hard-to-pin-down basis of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity, and let go of needless creative suffering. She bravely instructs us on how to tackle love and fear, simultaneously. She discusses the attitudes, approaches and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Whether you are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic offers the keys to achieving our creative aspirations. We dare you to feel uninspired by the time you’re done listening to this.

The Geography of Genius: A Search for the World’s Most Creative Places from Ancient Athens to Silicon Valley by Eric Weiner

In The Geography of Genius, acclaimed travel writer Eric Weiner sets out on a journey to examine the connection between our surroundings and our most innovative ideas. He explores the history of places, including Vienna of 1900, Renaissance Florence, ancient Athens, Song Dynasty Hangzhou and Silicon Valley, to show how certain urban settings are conducive to ingenuity. In these places, Weiner asks, “What was in the air, and can we bottle it?” Sharp and provocative, The Geography of Genius redefines the argument about how genius came to be.

Creativity, Inc. by Amy Wallace and Ed Catmull

Who better to give you a creative push than the mind behind Pixar animation studios? Ed Catmull was a co-founder of Pixar animation, along with John Lasseter and Steve Jobs, and has had a successful business career as well. So, next time you’re feeling blocked or lacking inspiration for planning your next event, give Creativity, Inc. a listen.

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How Trustworthy are Online Reviews When Planning?

The punchline “Everyone’s a critic,” has taken on a new meaning in the age of digital reviews. Everything is reviewed. And when planning a meeting or event, these tools become particularly important. For instance, would you really book a hotel with three stars on TripAdvisor? Or, reserve a restaurant with complaints of food poising on Yelp?

Compared to 88 percent in 2014, Vendasta reports that 92 percent of consumers today are reading online reviews prior to purchase. This consumer compulsion is probably here to stay.

But you might want to think twice before taking these reviews as the absolute best advice. While these websites are designed as a public platform, you should still evaluate how information is communicated, and who is writing the reviews.

Here are the factors to assess before allowing these reviews to sway all of your event decisions.

Polarized emotions: Consumers seldom leave a review when their experience is OK. Typically, they’re either severely disappointed or highly pleased. While this yields some truth, there’s an undeniable skew.

Expense: When people spend a lot of money, they will often be more critical of their purchase.

Prior research:  Most people are reading reviews—just like you. If a consumer sees positive reviews, they’ll be making a purchase with an optimistic mindset. Let’s say the reviews are mediocre, the bar will be set low. So they could be set up for a pleasant surprise. Such preconceived notions probably explain why 78 percent of buyers who read reviews were satisfied with their final purchase, according to the review platform Software Advice.

Companies Can Intervene: In a perfect world, reviews would be unbiased and genuine. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Companies may self-report positive reviews, flag negative but true reviews or, although highly unethical, competitors can leave poor reviews. After all, websites still aren’t liable under federal law for blog posts or reports made by users.

Also, not all sites have the same review process. Check out our trust ratings.

Trip­Advisor 

On Trip-Advisor, users can review without proving they are legitimate customers. Plus, a 2014 American Economic Review study found that TripAdvisor included more negative reviews of hotels that had a competitor next door.

Expedia

Expedia reviews can only be left by those who book through the site. When submitting a review, users must agree to a lengthy list of terms and acknowledgements. Major concerns are the biases that are always involved in rating services.

Yelp

Yelp uses an algorithm to look for promotional material or overly negative reviews. A lot of reviews don’t even past this test—around 22 percent. Nonetheless, Yelp has a community of “elite” users that comprise most of the visible feedback. According to a study by Michael Luca, an assistant professor at Harvard Business School, the most influential and “recommended” write-ups are by those with special status.

Angie’s List

Since Angie’s List is a subscription-based review service, it’s a little easier to regulate. Reviewers must provide their real name and affirm that their feedback is a genuine reflection of their experience. Each year, Angie’s List even conducts an external audit to ensure that ratings are free from manipulation.

Uber

Driver testimonials are from other travelers without intervention (as far as we know). Still, there are a few things to consider. For one, drivers with a rating less than 4.6 stars, out of 5, get fired. So in a big way, it’s not really a ranking out five. This high standard might be attributed to the fact that most people are satisfied with getting from point A to B. Another thing to consider is how personal these reports can be. For example, while some may enjoy engaging in conversation with the drivers, others may find themselves irritated by the interruption.

For the Organizationally Inclined

Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

Japanese decluttering guru Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has revolutionized homes—and lives—across the world. In this audiobook, Kondo presents an illustrated guide to her acclaimed KonMari Method, complete with folding instructions. With guidance on specific categories for everything from kitchen tools and cleaning supplies to hobby goods and digital photos, this comprehensive companion is necessary for anyone searching for a simpler way of life. Warning: this is not an advised listen for any self-proclaimed hoarders.

Declutter Your Mind: How to Stop Worrying, Relieve Anxiety, and Eliminate Negative Thinking by S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport  

After decluttering your physical possessions with Marie Kondo, turn to S.J. Scott and Barrie Davenport to declutter your mind.Because, while the truth is that we all experience the occasional negative thought, if you always feel overwhelmed, then you need to closely examine how these thoughts are negatively impacting your lifestyle. This book is here to help you do just that. The solution is to practice specific mindfulness techniques that create more “space” to enjoy inner peace and happiness. By cultivating cleansing habits, you’ll have the clarity to prioritize what’s most important in your life, eliminate anything that doesn’t serve your goals, and determine exactly how you want to live.

For the Logically Minded

Payoff: The Hidden Logic that Shapes Our Motivations by Dan Ariely

Payoff investigates the true nature of motivation, our partial blindness to the way it works, and how we can bridge this gap. Ariely utilizes research-based results, and digs deep to find the root of motivation.More importantly he breaks down how motivation works, and how we can use this knowledge to approach important choices in our own lives. Along the way, he explores intriguing questions such as: Can giving employees bonuses harm productivity? Why is trust so crucial for successful motivation? What are our misconceptions about how to value our work? How does your sense of your mortality impact your motivation? Consider this your guide to all the business questions Google couldn’t answer.

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg 

In the Power of Habit, Pulitzer Prize–winning business reporter Charles Duhigg utilizes scientific discoveries to explain why habits exist and how they can be changed. Duhigg uses narratives that take us from the boardrooms of Procter & Gamble, all the way to sidelines of the NFL, and even to the front lines of the civil rights movement. Throughout this journey, and in his follow-up book Smarter Faster Better: The Transformative Power of Real Productivity, Duhigg presents an entirely new understanding of human nature and its potential. What he finds is even more eye opening: the key to exercising regularly, losing weight, being more productive, and achieving success is understanding how habits work. It sounds self-explanatory, but clearly very few of us have realized this potential yet. As Duhigg shows, by harnessing this new science, we can transform our businesses, our communities, and our lives.

Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink

We have all felt unmotivated at one point in our lives, and it inevitably slows us down in and out work. Fret no more! This audiobook from Daniel Pink discusses the truth about what motivates us, as well as how you can find satisfaction in your work again. With constant change in the event industry, burnout is a consistent problem, but it doesn’t have to be. Pink helps teach you how to reignite drive in your work, by examining your genuine motivations and helping you to uncover what truly makes you happy in your life as well as your work. Happy work, happy life.

When You Need Celeb Wisdom

Wisdom of Sundays by Oprah Winfrey

Now, for the first time, the aha moments of inspiration and soul-expanding insight that have enlightened millions on the two-time Emmy Award-winning  Super Soul Sunday are collected in one audiobook. The Wisdom of Sundays features selections from the most meaningful conversations between Oprah and some of today’s most-admired thought-leaders. Visionaries such as Tony Robbins, Arianna Huffington, and Shonda Rhimes share their secrets for finding purpose through mindfulness and intention. World renowned authors and teachers like Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hahn, Marianne Williamson and Wayne Dyer, explain our complex relationship with the ego and the healing powers of love and connection.

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant

Sometimes things don’t go exactly the way we planned. OK, a lot of times. Option B explores how people manage to overcome hardships such as illness, job loss, sexual assault, natural disasters and the violence of war. Their stories reveal the capacity of the human spirit to persevere…and to rediscover joy. Resilience comes from deep within us and from support outside us. Even after the most devastating events, it is possible to grow by finding deeper meaning and gaining greater appreciation in our lives. Option B illuminates how to help others in crisis, develop compassion for ourselves, raise strong children, and create resilient families, communities and workplaces. Many of these lessons can be applied to everyday struggles, allowing us to brave whatever lies ahead.

For Foodies

No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach by Anthony Bourdain

No Reservations is Anthony Bourdain’s fully illustrated journal of his far-flung travels. If you enjoy your meals with a side of adventure, and sarcasm, then resident bad-boy chef Bourdain (and February 2017 Smart Meetings cover subject) has you covered. This is an indispensable opportunity to learn how to order your reindeer cooked medium-well or which street corner to find the best crab ragoons; do yourself a favor and listen to this AFTER you’ve eaten.

Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal ‎ 

This novel that will warm your heart and your stomach. From the comfort and safety in the flavors of her native Minnesota our protagonist’s journey to star chef behind a legendary and secretive pop-up supper club, culminates in an opulent and emotional feast that’s a testament to spirit and resilience. Eva is a foodie heroine we can’t help but root for, from beginning to end. Remember to always thank your caterers, folks.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. 

Delayed flights, missed connections, lost luggage and malfunctioning TV screens are all part of air travel, but where do you turn when you need to air grievances?

Meeting and event planners and other flyers have increasingly looked to social media in hopes of having their questions answered quickly and effectively. Airlines, in turn, have met this surge in social media communication with varying degrees of success. Here’s a look at what we’ve learned so far.

The Study

A recent study conducted by Conversocial, a self-described “customer engagement solution,” helps shed some light on the subject. The firm’s Airline Benchmark Report 2018 examines the current state of airline carriers’ social media strategies, analyzing data for 20 U.S., European and Middle Eastern airlines. The study focuses on time taken by each airline to respond to customer queries, as well as airline response rate.

The Findings

The findings reveal that North American airlines’ average response time to public tweets is 20 minutes, while that of European and Middle Eastern airlines is a substantially tardier 1 hour, 40 minutes. JetBlue topped the poll, coming in with a 4-minute, 50-second average, while Finnair came in slowest, with an average response time exceeding 5 hours.

The findings showed a poor response rate to tweets by airlines, with Etihad being most responsive, at 50 percent, and American Airlines being the most responsive U.S. carrier with a response rate of approximately 30 percent. Of the North American airlines, Air Canada was found to be least responsive, at 10.3 percent, while in Europe and the Middle East, Lufthansa found itself in last place, at 13.4 percent.

Conclusion: 2018 is the Year of the Private Message

Fortunately, Conversocial’s internal analysis of the private messaging data of three of its airline partners yielded more promising results. The analysis concluded that Facebook Messenger messages had doubled during the six-month-long study, while Twitter’s direct messaging had risen by 50 percent. Airlines, it seems, are encouraged to promote problem resolution via private messaging, thereby avoiding all that the public nature of social media entails.

So, direct communication via Facebook Messenger, Twitter DM and SMS may be a better option for planners who want their questions answered swiftly and efficiently, rather than having another problem to add to the list. It’s something to keep in mind for when you next need to vent your woes.

Founded in San Francisco in 2008, Airbnb is one of the world’s largest accommodation platforms, with 4.5 million places to stay in 81,000 cities. Today, with an estimated value of $31 billion, the online marketplace that allows hosts to list their rental properties, is evolving. Here are the FAQs.

Q: What does “evolving” mean exactly?

Acknowledging that the Airbnb concept is not everyone’s cup of tea, the company is trying to make the brand more mainstream. Previously, guests could choose from an entire home or apartment, a private room or a shared space, but now an additional four categories have been added—vacation home, unique space, B&B and boutique. The last of these, boutique (hotels), is particularly interesting for business travelers, as it signals Airbnb’s shift from its beginnings as the go-to provider of no-frills accommodation to a resource for a broader demographic.

Q: So, all hotels can now choose to list on Airbnb?

In a word, no. The focus of the boutique category will be on smaller hotels, rather than larger corporate hotel chains. By its own admission, the brand’s relationship with “the hotel cartel” has thus far been contentious, as evidenced by the reaction of Troy Flanagan, vice president for American Hotel & Lodging Association. “Airbnb’s latest scheme,” he says, “is just further proof the company is trying to play in the hoteling space while evading industry regulations.”

Airbnb’s objective is to win away the business of online travel agents (OTAs) such as Expedia and Booking, by charging hotels 3 to 5 percent for a listing, compared to the 17 percent fee currently charged by OTAs. These savings, in turn, could result in better rates for travelers.

Q: Anything else new?

The brand is also adding two new tiers—Airbnb Plus and Beyond by Airbnb. Airbnb Plus accommodations are those that have been verified in person for quality and comfort, using a checklist of more than 100 points; Beyond by Airbnb, set to launch in the spring, promises to list some of the world’s finest homes and hospitality.

The brand has also rolled out the first phase of Airbnb Collections, offering a home for specific occasions—work, weddings, honeymoons, group getaways and dinner parties. Collections may prove an attractive option for business travelers in search of a space to entertain guests or clients.

Meetings App Usage to Rise by Almost 3% in 2019

Planners are going paperless in increasing numbers according to a new study by American Express Meetings & Events (M&E). The 2019 Global Meetings and Events Forecast found that North American planners predict an almost three percent increase in app usage in 2019. Study respondents cited the ability of apps to enable engagement and communication among attendees—particularly younger generations.

Related: 6 Helpful Travel Apps Worth Downloading

“Companies want more and more sophisticated choices with interactive technology at a meeting,” an unnamed meeting professional was quoted as saying in the report. “We take the time for every event to really think about the purpose of that technology and how we can best utilize it, rather than implementing an ‘instant-app’ or standardized interactive technology. We really tailor it to what they are trying to achieve with attendees.”

Advances in app development allow planners to perform advanced functions such as publishing real-time agendas and sending out push notifications. They can act as an attendee’s pocket-sized best friend, holding their hand from beginning to end.

“From the time an attendee leaves their doorstep to the time they return from the meeting, there are technology solutions for very specific things—nutritional information for the event menus, or aggregate ground transportation, for example,” says Milton Rivera, vice president of business development and strategy for M&E.

More: Increasing Hotel Costs and Lower Commissions Cut into Meeting Agendas

Shopping for the perfect app that best suits your meeting’s needs is getting increasingly complicated as more options present themselves. “It’s extremely fragmented and can be overwhelming for planners to have to navigate,” says Rivera.

To address this speed bump, AMEX M&E launched Meetings Marketplace. “We find the best in class, whatever the technology category might be—mobile apps, facial recognition, virtual reality, AI, robotics, online sourcing—and provide a common platform for our clients,” Linda McNairy, AMEX M&E vice president of global operations and shared services, says. “What we hear from businesses is that they are simply overwhelmed with the volume of solutions available and trying to figure out how to evaluate and partner with the right ones. We are able to remove that burden and help companies solve for their unique needs and demands using a known roster of providers.”

Beaming In

While meeting in person is beneficial and preferable, that is not always possible. Many factors, such as increasing costs, inability to travel and pre-existing commitments at home sometimes prevent people from attending in the flesh.

“Meeting planners are trying to find ways, as always, to do more with less,” Yma Sherry, AMEX M&E vice president of North America, says. “They are focusing on their attendees. Are the right people attending? Should they reduce the number of attendees? In certain cases, they’re using virtual technology for the general sessions, broadcasting the meeting to the people who were unable to attend the meeting live.”

Fathom Events is one company with a solution. In a joint venture owned by movie theater megahouses AMC, Regal and Cinemark, Fathom Events is expanding services to include corporate events. Their 967 U.S. movie theaters (2,100 worldwide) are available for trainings, town halls, product launches, educational forums and employee events. People can attend in a local theater and be connected to colleagues in another theater location, so no one has to travel far from home.