🏆 2024 Skift Meetings Awards Winners Announced

Meet the meetings industry's most respected and innovative suppliers

The Stand-Up August 20, 2024 by Miguel Neves View in browser Hi there,   Now in its second year, Skift Meetings Awards celebrate the industry's most respected suppliers, setting the standard for excellence in business events.   Following a scoring review by our independent judging panel, the 2024 Skift Meetings Awards winners have been confirmed.   Congratulations to all the winners! Best Hotel Chain (U.S.): Marriott International Best Hotel Chain (Outside the U.S.): Marriott International Best All-Inclusive Hotel Chain (Global): Playa Hotels & Resorts Best Hotel (U.S.): Conrad Los Angeles Best Hotel (Outside the U.S.): Conrad Punta de Mita Best Hotel Event Space (U.S.): Marriott Marquis Houston Best Hotel Event Space (Outside the U.S.): JW Marriott Bengaluru Prestige Golfshire Resort & Spa Best Destination Marketing Organization (U.S.): Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Best Destination Marketing Organization (Outside the U.S.): Destination Toronto Best Convention Center (U.S.): The Miami Beach Convention Center Best Convention Center (Outside the U.S.): ICC Sydney Best Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International Best Event Management Platform: Swoogo Best Site-Sourcing Solution: Nowadays Most Innovative Event Technology Product: Snapsight by Gevme Learn more about each of the winners on Skift Meetings The 'New' Outsourcing for Meetings: On-Demand and Task-Specific Companies are leaning heavily on "just-in-time" talent, hired for tasks like sourcing or registration, or to spend a couple of weeks doing site inspections or hotel contracting. Reimagining Luxury Venues for Meetings and Events Created collaboratively with The Grand America Hotel  While luxury may mean something different to every attendee, attention to detail and customer service distinguish top-tier venues. Orlando Set for Entertainment and Hotel Upgrade Universal is opening a fourth theme park, Disney's Magic Kingdom is expanding, and a new sports and entertainment district is being built in Orlando. Skift Meetings Forum We're gathering the meetings industry's brightest minds for our flagship event. Don't miss our one-day exclusive learning experience on September 17 in New York City.   Tickets are $695; complimentary VIP tickets are available for invited senior planners. Get your ticket now! How Snoop Dogg's Role at the 2024 Paris Olympics Can Inspire Event Planners From beach volleyball and gymnastics to tennis and dressage, hip-hop star Snoop Dogg was in the crowd cheering during the 2024 Paris Olympics. His involvement underscores how an unconventional celebrity can amplify an event's impact and broaden its appeal.   Inside C2: How its Creative Director Is Transforming the Conference Experience C2 has always been high on the list of the world's most creative events, often resembling a conference meets carnival. We checked in with C2's creative director to find out what worked this year and how the event has evolved since the pandemic. Spend Thousands to Take the Staff on Corporate Retreats? These Companies Say it Pays Off Travel groups that specialize in corporate retreats are reporting plenty of demand, but convincing some customers of the ROI can be tough.   Extreme Weather Impacting Events As climate change accelerates, the events industry faces an urgent wake-up call. Shawna McKinley reveals how planners and destinations must evolve or risk being caught off guard by increasingly unpredictable weather—it's no longer business as usual. Listen now! Cautious Optimism for Meetings In the first half of 2024, 21 of the top 25 hotel markets saw increased group demand, though overall levels remain below 2019 when adjusted for inflation. Conferences and trade shows are key drivers of this growth, with significant recovery in regions like Asia Pacific and North America. Lessons fro Event Planners from the Paris Olympics: Take Risks, But Have a Plan B The Olympics opening ceremony in Paris unfolded under an unexpected veil of rain, adding an unplanned layer of drama. But this was just the beginning. Deal-Making Heats up in the Events Industry Informa is in the process of buying Ascential, the owner of Money 20/20 and Cannes Lions conferences. Hyve Group is purchasing the Possible conference. What do these deals mean to the meetings and events industry? CALENDAR   IBTM Americas opens tomorrow in Mexico City, Mexico. The two-day trade show is complemented by five conference programs focused on event design, pharma meetings, the romance sector, sports and sustainability. August 21-22 IBTM Americas in Mexico City, Mexico September 10-12: UFI Americas Conference in Monterrey, Mexico September 13 -15: IACC Europe Knowledge Festival in Surrey, UK Explore our full calendar here. More From Skift Meetings Hotel Strikes Threaten Events: Are You Ready? Informa Offers $1.6 Billion to Buy Ascential, Looking to Grow Lions and Money20/20 Brands The Biggest Stressors – and Must-Haves – for Senior Incentive Planner To ensure there are no pauses in our communication, please add our email address to your contacts: meetings@skift.com. Skift, 35 W 31st St., Frnt 1, New York, NY 10001, USA, (516) 399-0304 Manage preferences