Plus: better sponsorship ideas and tips for a successful silent auction.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

November 03, 2026   |   Read online 14 Venues, One-Day Load-In: The First U.S. B20 Summit Plus: better sponsorship ideas and tips for a successful silent auction.   David McMillin, Skift Meetings Head of Content November 3rd, 2026 We’ve spent a lot of time writing about troubling international attendance trends for U.S. meetings this year, but today’s top story tells a different one. More than 3,500 attendees from more than 100 countries are heading to Washington, D.C. for the B20 Summit. The B20 is the private-sector equivalent of the G20, and this is the first time the summit will be held in the U.S. The win for the U.S. is only half of it. The bigger lesson is in how the summit will feel for attendees. The B20 has historically followed the same playbook as any major convention, with everything under one roof. In D.C., organizers are spreading out across 14 venues at The Wharf to create a neighborhood-style experience, and they’re pulling it off with just a one-day load-in. Head below to read how. Plus, we’ve got a look at new approaches to event sponsorships and tips for running a successful silent auction. — David McMillin       NEW REPORT ON THE GLOBAL MEETING LANDSCAPE How are your peers thinking about risk in the destination selection process? What’s next for entry policies and fees? Which regions are making the biggest infrastructure bets for the future? Find out in a new report from Skift Meetings designed to help you get a sense of the future of the global meetings landscape. This report was sponsored by Destination Toronto and Ottawa Tourism. GET THE REPORT             FEATURED STORIES Why the Most Effective Event Sponsors Aren’t Worried About Having Their Logos On the Wall By Barbara Scofidio Sponsors are trading signage and swag for co-created moments that add to the event experience — and it’s paying off in recognition and repeat business. GET THE STORY 10 Silent Auction Tips Every Planner Should Know By Barbara Scofidio Silent auctions might look like a low-stakes sideshow to the main event, but decisions like item count and opening bids determine whether they raise real money. GET THE STORY 14 Venues, 3,500 Delegates, One Day to Load In: Inside the B20 Summit By Andrea Doyle Turning an entire neighborhood into a conference campus offers an alternative to the traditional convention center model, but at what operational cost? The B20 Summit will test whether the flexibility of a decentralized event outweighs the logistical challenges. GET THE STORY             Why a Destination’s Biggest Draws Are Also Your Best Planning Tools Visit Anaheim + Skift Meetings Big attractions aren’t just about selling bleisure to your attendees. They also typically mean better infrastructure and safety systems, along with more direct flights. LEARN MORE             SKIFT PICK: TRANSLATING TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MEETINGS Take a Look at the Pricing Story in Las Vegas Big conventions love Las Vegas. And in MGM Resorts’ latest earnings call, the love seemed even bigger: The company, which controls 40% of the rooms on the Strip, booked more than 500,000 group and convention room nights last quarter, beating its internal targets. Behind all those attendees, however, there are some trends that could spell trouble — even for the house. CEO Bill Hornbuckle said airfares to Vegas were “about 45%” higher this summer than last, pointing to the disappearance of Spirit Airlines’ low fares and how that changed the way other carriers price the market. High gas prices haven’t helped visitors who drive in, either. To keep rooms full, MGM has been cutting prices. Room rates were flat in July, then fell by mid-single digits in August and high-single digits in September. If you’re counting on Vegas as a destination that will motivate more attendees to register, it’s worth putting yourself in their shoes. For a lot of them, the flight is now the biggest number in their trip budget. You can’t fix airfare, but you can make the rest of the trip cheaper. Hotels that are giving away rate to fill rooms should be ready to come to the bargaining table. Ask for wiggle room on resort fees and Wi-Fi, and then, pass those savings straight to attendees. And look again at any travel stipend or speaker package you set a year ago, because it’s probably short.             The Skift Meetings Toolkit All the tools you need for successful meetings and events, all gathered in one place. LEARN MORE             Thanks for being a regular reader. We are switching to a new email platform. Why? This change will allow for better delivery, and more engaging newsletters. Please take a moment to add this new email address to your contacts to ensure you continue receiving your newsletters without interruption. During this transition, these emails might land in your promotions or spam folder. To ensure you don’t miss out, please move this newsletter to your primary inbox.         DEFINING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Skift 35 W 31st St. New York, New York 10001, United States

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