⌨️ Microsoft Developer Conference Moving Away From Seattle

Microsoft's decision to move its flagship developer event out of Seattle marks a significant shift for the company and the city's events economy.

View in browser Unsubscribe Thursday July 03, 2025 Top Stories   Miguel Neves Editor-in-Chief Industry News Business Travel Forecasts for the Rest of the Year a Mix of Optimism and Shifting Priorities Business travel predictions for the third and fourth quarter vary widely, with the travelers sometimes appearing more optimistic than their companies. - Barbara Scofidio   Industry News Microsoft Build Joins Wave of Tech Conferences Leaving Longtime Host Cities Microsoft's decision to move its flagship developer event out of Seattle marks a significant shift for the company and the city's events economy. The new location for Build 2026 has yet to be announced. - Andrea Doyle   Event Management Why is it So Hard for Planners to Donate Food? Despite laws that protect food donors and apps that simplify the process, planners keep hitting roadblocks with hotels unwilling or unable to donate food. - Barbara Scofidio   Industry News UK Events Industry Pushes for EU Deal to Ease Post-Brexit Barriers As Brexit fallout continues to hamper international attendance, UK event leaders are calling for targeted agreements with the EU to restore cross-border mobility and recover international business lost to red tape and rising costs. - Andrea Doyle   Technology Event Tech News Roundup: June 2025 As AI sweeps across the event tech landscape, June's developments show a sector racing to redefine value through smarter tools, deeper data, and strategic consolidation. The real winners? Planners who can keep pace with the change. - Miguel Neves More Stories   Event Tech Almanac 2025       Your Guide to Event Tech in 2025 Inside you will find: Insider knowledge on 85 event tech tools, 40 event management platforms compared and contrasted, insights on the current event tech landscape, real use cases for AI, and guidance on event tech buying decisions from independent experts. Download Now "We're seeing strong demand for business travel this summer." - Rich Liu, CEO of Navan in Business Travel Forecasts for the Rest of the Year a Mix of Optimism and Shifting Priorities Editor's Picks | Popular on Skift Meetings • Bezos-Sánchez Wedding: A Case-Study in Complex Event Planning • Events Industry Recovery Hits Geopolitical Headwinds • Planner Left Stranded After Hotel Changes Hands • CEO Turnover Hits Record High – That Means More Corporate Events   Skift Meetings Forum       Learn, Connect, and Get Inspired Skift Meetings Forum returns on September 15, built for senior planners navigating higher expectations, tighter budgets, and an industry that is constantly evolving. Join us for a full day of learning and connections and gain strategic takeaways, peer-tested frameworks, and new ways to prove your impact. RESERVE YOUR SEAT Industry Calendar | July 2025 • ICCA Global Association Forum in Granada, Spain | July 7–9 • Destinations International Annual Convention in Chicago, IL | July 9–11 • NACE Experience in Milwaukee, WI | July 27–29 Calendar of Industry Events   Skift Meetings Toolkit       The Skift Meetings Toolkit is your go-to hub for best practices in managing meetings and events. Start from scratch or sharpen your skills with hundreds of information-packed articles about meeting planning. All the tools you need in your everyday job, in one place, organized by category Open Toolkit Defining the future of events. Skift. 35 W 31st St., New York, NY, 10001, USA Follow Us: LinkedIn   |  X   |  Facebook   |  Instagram   |  YouTube You received this because you are subscribed to Newsletter | Skift Meetings Stand-Up from Skift. For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.