Married at IMEX: A Love Story

Long-time partners in business and in life chose IMEX America as the site of their wedding and MPI Rendezvous as their reception. 

The Stand-Up November 12, 2024 Edited by Andrea Doyle  View in browser Hi there,     IMEX America 2024 drew a record-breaking 15,500 attendees, including 5,500 buyers who held an impressive 86,000 meetings over three packed days. There was no shortage of memorable moments — countless networking events, receptions, dinners, and even a wedding. Yes, you read that right: a wedding.   Long-time partners in business and life, Ashley Baptiste and Gus Calabrese, chose IMEX America as the backdrop for their special day. From the exhibit floor at Mandalay Bay to the iconic Little White Wedding Chapel, they said "I do" with MPI Rendezvous as their reception.   Click here to follow their journey and see how they turned a professional event into a personal celebration.   Have you ever combined a meeting or conference with a momentous event? We would love to hear about it. Reply to this email to share. Top Stories How Events Fall Short on Sustainability Sustainability efforts in the events industry are hitting roadblocks due to inconsistent data collection and reporting practices, according to a new ESG Progress Report from GES. Married at IMEX: A Love Story Long-time partners in business and in life chose IMEX America as the site of their wedding and MPI Rendezvous as their reception.  Critical Accessibility Gaps Exist in Business Events Joint research assesses the current state of inclusion in travel and business events. It reveals there is much work to be done. Inspiring Change: 5 Strategies for Purpose-Centered Events Created collaboratively with Business Events Sydney (BESydney), and International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) For event organizers, securing the loyalty of the new generation of participants relies on distinguishing a meeting as something more — a program built to create meaningful change that will live on long after the closing session wraps up. That starts with where the program happens.    In this report, we examine what the increasing shift to a purpose-driven mindset means for designing and executing conventions, meetings, trade shows, and events. DOWNLOAD REPORT 11 Steps to Planning Sustainable Events and Meetings  Every event is a chance to innovate, inspire, and leave a lighter footprint on our planet. Sustainability isn't just an afterthought; it's the foundation of impactful meetings and events. Events Costs Are Still Surging – Here Are 5 Ways to Save The newly released 2025 CWT-GBTA Global Business Travel Forecast puts the average daily cost per attendee at $169 in 2025 – a massive jump from $88 in 2021. What Does a Trump Presidency Mean for Meetings? Based on his previous administration's policies, here are a few ways planners could be impacted by Trump's win. Meetings Innovator: Megan Henshall Meetings Innovators is sponsored by Stova Google Xi's new mission is to rehumanize corporate life. Its founder, Megan Henshall, is Skift Meeting's first-ever Meetings Innovator. Top Trends for Meetings: Attendees Want Warm Weather, More Leisure A recent Cvent webinar revealed top trends for meetings, including choosing booking patterns that allow attendees to extend over a weekend and warm-weather destinations so they can be outdoors. Was Your Event Lame? 10 Questions For Brutally Honest Feedback  If your post-event surveys always result in generic responses, the first place to start is with the questions. Why not ask attendees how the event really made them feel? Canada Attracts Global Conferences with a Convention Fund  Destination Canada is reaping the benefits of its $50 million investment fund focused on attracting international associations.  VIRTUAL SUMMIT Best Business Events of the Year - 2024 Sponsored by Stova and Tourism Whistler Get a front-row seat to uncover the best ideas, innovative strategies, and standout successes from this year's top business events. Join us for an exclusive virtual event designed for the discerning planner. We'll dive deep into six business events that pushed boundaries, sparked connections, and set new standards. REGISTER NOW Independent Properties: When the Hotel Becomes the Experience With the transformation of events into experiences, planners say that independent hotels offer distinct advantages, such as flexibility, creativity and authenticity. Laid Off: One Planner's Story of Finding a New Job Fifteen minutes on a Thursday. That's all it took for Rebecca Carmody's life to change when she was laid off from her event marketing job. One year later, she's still looking for her next gig.  Clarion Events Expands Energy Portfolio with Acquisition of Infocast With a focus on the energy sector, Clarion Events has acquired a company that organizes events focused on renewable energy. INDUSTRY EVENTS CALENDAR: IBTM World (Nov.19-21 in Barcelona, Spain ) Event Tech Live London / Event Sustainability Live (Nov. 20-21, in London, UK) IAEE Expo! Expo! (Dec. 16-19 in Los Angeles, CA) Explore our full calendar of industry events here. The Meetings Industry Has an Alcohol Problem. Now It's Trying to Sober Up. The meetings industry has always been one where the booze flows freely. But a new generation of non-drinkers is paving an alcohol-free path forward. Excel London Acquires Business Design Centre ADNEC just bought one of London's most iconic event venues, changing the game for anyone planning events in the UK. Caesars is Selling Linq Promenade in Las Vegas Caesars is selling Linq Promenade for $275 million to help pay down the casino operator's debt. More From Skift Meetings Event Industry Buying Streak Continues as Hyve Group Acquires HLTH MLB Pitches Ballparks to Planners Falling Down Stairs, Talking to Strangers: How Planners Got Their Start 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