On 9th March, Mohamed Mezghani, secretary general of Union Internationale des Transports Publics, cancelled the organisation’s 2026 Summit in Dubai, scheduled for April 21–23. Unlike other regional events that have been postponed, the summit, expecting 8,000 attendees, will not take place. During Skift Meetings’ LinkedIn Live on 31st March he described the decision as “heartbreaking.”
Skift Meetings summarises the key findings of JWC’s annual Global Performance Review of the worldwide trade show and exhibition sector, including the consultancy’s first country-level ranking. China and US lead the way, but perhaps surprisingly, France appears at number three ahead of Germany.
As US-Iran strikes escalate, business events across the Middle East are facing postponements, rerouted delegations, and operational disruption. The fallout is reverberating far beyond the region. President Donald Trump has indicated that the Iran strikes could continue for four to five weeks, signaling ongoing impacts for the business events sector. From Skift Meetings…
Following the killing of a major cartel leader on February 22, the US Embassy and Consulates in Mexico issued a shelter-in-place order for Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita, and Riviera Nayarit, triggering security concerns and widespread travel disruptions. The advisory has since been lifted, but repercussions are being felt across the events industry. From Skift Meetings…
Industry leaders warn that new screening requirements for travelers to the US from countries in the Visa Waiver Program could mean higher costs, lost business, and meetings moving to other countries. Event planners remain hopeful that changes applying to business travelers will either be dialed back or get caught up in red tape. From Skift…
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approach the final stretch, they are not just inspiring a world of aspiring athletes; they are also a key driver of revenue and a factor lifting projections for European event agencies. Executives at four major European event agencies told Skift Meetings they’re planning for a strong year ahead…
Skift Meetings’ Executive Editor Andrea Doyle argues that as global associations expand into fast-growing destinations, inclusion and human rights are becoming as critical as infrastructure and airlift. ICCA’s choice of Kigali for its 2027 Congress spotlights Rwanda’s rising meetings profile but raises concerns about LGBTQ safety and stigma, prompting calls for proactive inclusion planning.
Medical meeting planners need to shift their strategies to meet the preferences of younger attendees, according to new joint research of 251 healthcare professionals (HCPs) across the U.S. and Western Europe by Emota and the International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association (IPCAA). From Skift Meetings…
From Skift Meetings: ICE-related shootings and protests in Minnesota have triggered hotel closures, event cancellations, and attendance declines, forcing planners to weigh safety, attendee sentiment, and economic impact when deciding whether to proceed. The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent on January 24 has intensified unrest in Minneapolis…
In December 2024, Skift Meetings published its annual Skift Meetings Megatrends 2025 report, outlining the forces expected to shape business events in the year ahead. One year later, the results are mixed. Several trends materialized decisively. Others showed early promise but stalled amid operational, financial, or regulatory realities. Here’s how each prediction played out…
A cooling labor market is compounding a long-simmering problem. Event professionals are being asked to do more with fewer resources, less institutional support, and, often, less pay. Simultaneously, seasoned professionals are exiting the industry at an accelerating pace. In many cases, they are replaced by less experienced workers, or not replaced at all.
Skift’s latest report highlights persistent uncertainty, talent gaps, condensed timeframes and rising costs, along with the impact of AI, political polarisation and the increasing prevalence of “micro events”. Lots of strategic issues are covered in this thought-provoking report, with clear insights on how to deal with the forces defining the year ahead.
From Skift Meetings: A flurry of late-year dealmaking shows growing confidence in the events sector, even as geopolitical and economic uncertainty lingers. Investors see a fragmented industry ripe for consolidation. The events industry rarely sees a day like this. Five major deals were announced in a 24-hour window – activity that signals renewed confidence across…
A new analytical framework and report breaks down exhibition organizer income into five segments. Former UFI CEO Kai Hattendorf has developed the “5 S Model for Organiser Sales Segmentation,” as a way to address the long‑standing challenge of standardising how the industry measures and ranks the revenue streams of trade show companies and event organisers.
From Skift Meetings: The poor jobs reports of the past three months reflect what planners are seeing in the meetings industry — fewer jobs with more applicants. There’s growing number of green #OpenToWork circles on LinkedIn and posts from job hunters about their struggles trying to find work in the meetings industry…
From Skift Meetings: The sharp decline in global attendance at a recent international medical congress is more than a one-off, it’s a red flag. As political rhetoric escalates, the US is becoming a less viable destination for truly international meetings. Attendance at the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis Congress in Washington, DC this June…
From Skift Meetings: Budgets are tighter, audiences are more diverse, and the old event playbook is cracking under pressure. Skift Meetings Forum tackles the real-world shifts redefining how event pros plan, prove value, and make destination decisions. There’s no shortage of “trends” floating around in eventland – some recycled, some wishful thinking, and some straight…
From Skift Meetings: Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg says meetings are a bigger expense than IT when you add the cost of attendees’ time and salaries. So why is no one at the top in charge? Few corporations view meetings as a critical business function and there’s no one at the executive level who actually owns…
A comprehensive analysis of the travel industry, the report includes more than 300 charts and insights covering nearly every facet of the industry. Despite the rising geopolitical and trade tensions, there has been sustained growth in global travel demand, but the online travel distribution landscape is fragmenting as financial institutions launch their own booking platforms…
From Skift Meetings: In a city where hotel taxes are among the highest in the nation, Chicago’s tourism leaders say a 1.5% surcharge is the only way to stay in the game. Kristen Reynolds, just two months into her role as president and CEO of Choose Chicago, is focused on what she calls a critical…
A comprehensive overview with extensive data on event management platforms, Apps and specialist tech suppliers, together with informed commentary and practical advice from technical experts and industry thought leaders about how to select and apply technology to meet strategic and operational objectives. From Skift Meetings…
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