The Stand-Up (January 9, 2025)

The impact of the L.A. Wildfires, successful partnerships in Saudi Arabia, Strategic Meetings Management and a podcast about AI and the human touch.

The Stand-Up January 9, 2025 Edited by Miguel Neves View in browser Hi there,   The current scenes from Los Angeles are truly heart-wrenching, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by the wildfires. While saving lives remains the utmost priority, Andrea Doyle delved into how venues and meeting planners are navigating this challenging situation.   Amidst the flurry of new event partnerships emerging in Saudi Arabia, I had the opportunity to engage with a company that has been collaborating with the Saudi Tourism Authority since the nation started welcoming tourists in 2019. We explored the vital strategies and insights needed to form enduring partnerships within the kingdom.   Despite its success, Strategic Meetings Management still faces resistance from numerous meeting professionals, with some even unfamiliar with its core components. Barbara Scofidio spoke with experts to uncover the roots of this pushback.   Finally, for the last episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, I spoke with Colja Dams, the CEO of VOK DAMS, about the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the meetings industry, which underscored the irreplaceable value of genuine human interaction.   I hope you enjoy reading our latest content, and, as always, feel free to share your thoughts and comments with us by simply replying to this email. Top Stories How the L.A. Wildfires Are Impacting Meetings Devastating wildfires in parts of Los Angeles forced the closure of tourist attractions and meeting venues. Multiple events have been postponed, and one convention center has been converted into an evacuation center. From Vendor to Partner: One Company's Guide to Working With Saudi Tourism As Saudi Arabia rapidly expands its meetings industry, Western companies are learning that success requires more than just signing contracts – it demands a thoughtful and culturally aware approach to business relationships.  PODCAST AI and the Human Touch On this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, featuring Colja Dams, CEO of VOK DAMS, we delve into the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the events industry while emphasizing the enduring importance of human connection. Why Do So Many Planners Resist Strategic Meetings Management? Planners are leaving big bucks on the table by not adopting strategic meetings management – or at least leveraging the spend of their smaller meetings. Why is that? Continue Learning and Growing With Skift Meetings Did you know that Skift Meetings has a variety of downloadable reports available for free, on topics ranging from event tech to developing purpose-centered events? INDUSTRY EVENTS CALENDAR PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston, TX (January 12-15) BOE International (Best of Events) in Cologne, Germany (January 15-16) GO WEST in Edmonton, AB, Canada (February 2-4) Explore our full calendar of 2025 industry events here. More From Skift Meetings Job Hunting? Think Twice Before Doing Free Work What the Business Events Industry Wants From the New Administration New Orleans Rallies to Postpone Sugar Bowl and Heightens Security for Super Bowl Need Temp Support or Looking for Your Next Gig? New Passport and Real ID Rules for 2025 Megatrends vs. Reality: How Accurate Were Skift Meetings' 2024 Event Industry Predictions? Portland's Destination Appeal Beyond the Meeting Room Created collaboratively with Travel Portland 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