Editor’s Note: This article continues the Events Industry Council’s ongoing Futures Landscape Series, exploring the macro forces shaping the global business events industry, as identified in the EIC Futures Landscape Study 2025. […]
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Expanding Who Gets to Be in the Room Read Post »
When thinking about the mobility landscape as it pertains to business events, you are faced with an astonishing web of separate but connected industries such as air transport and ground
Understanding the Evolving Mobility Landscape for Business Events Read Post »
Marcus Eng, CMP Fellow, DES, is the Senior Director of Meeting Operations at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), a trade association representing more than 1,500 public and private sector organizations involved in public transit in the U.S. and Canada. As part of APTA’s meetings team, Marcus helps produce more than 15 major face-to-face meetings throughout the country, including APTA’s annual meeting and expo, which attracts more than 10,000 attendees.
Mobility has always been foundational to the business events industry. The ability for people to cross borders, share knowledge, and build relationships in person is core to the sector’s value
Editor’s Note: This article continues the Events Industry Council’s ongoing Futures Landscape Series, exploring the macro forces shaping the global business events industry, as identified in the EIC Futures Landscape
Navigating a More Complex World: Mobility and the Future of Business Events Read Post »
As event professionals, we’re navigating an increasingly unpredictable world — political and economic turbulence, climate driven disruptions, heightened social expectations, and accelerating regulatory pressure. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices
Why ESG Adoption Matters for Our Industry Read Post »
The ESG acronym has moved well beyond buzzword status in our industry. I believe it is important — as much as possible — to keep the words of environment, social
Advancing Events Through the Environmental, Social and Governance Framework. Read Post »
Gwendal Castellan manages Tourism Vancouver’s sustainable destination development program. At Destination Vancouver he uses the wholistic approach to building a tourism industry that is centred in the purpose of transforming communities and visitors through the power of travel. Gwendal is also the 2026 Chair of the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee.
If there’s one acronym dominating conversations in our industry right now, it’s ESG—Environmental, Social, and Governance. What started as a sustainability conversation has evolved into a holistic framework that touches every aspect of event planning. It’s no longer about checking a box; it’s about creating experiences that reflect values, deliver measurable impact, and foster lasting change.
ESG: The Next Chapter in Event Design Read Post »
Meredith Flannagan, CMP Fellow, CMM, is an accomplished meetings and events leader with more than 20 years of experience delivering high-impact corporate and experiential events across global organisations. She currently serves as Director of Meetings & Events at Gensler and is an active member of EIC’s Sustainability and Social Impact Committee, where she helps advance inclusive and sustainable event practices worldwide.
Editor’s Note: This article continues the Events Industry Council’s ongoing Futures Landscape Series, exploring the macro forces shaping the global business events industry, as identified in EIC’s 2025 Futures Landscape Study.
ESG in Focus: Why Purpose, Performance and Accountability Now Go Hand in Hand Read Post »
In 2022, ConferenceDirect committed, through the SME Climate Hub, to reducing our carbon footprint by 30% by 2030. As one of the larger companies in the meetings industry, we recognized
Evolving the Business Model: How Sustainability Is Reshaping the Meetings Industry Read Post »
With more than 35 years of leadership experience in the hospitality industry, Larry Hanson serves as Chief Marketing & Sustainability Officer at ConferenceDirect. In this multifaceted role, he oversees marketing strategy, recruiting, sustainability initiatives, and conference management operations.
Throughout his career, Larry has led teams, managed complex budgets, and inspired creativity across diverse projects. Passionate about sustainability both personally and professionally, he champions responsible practices that drive long-term impact both for ConferenceDirect and their customers. A lifelong learner, Larry thrives in the ever-evolving world of hospitality and events and looks forward to collaborating with industry peers to shape a more sustainable future.
Events are carrying more weight than ever. Costs are up, travel is harder to justify, and audiences expect a higher return on their investment of time and money. Event professionals
New Event Models to Meet This Moment Read Post »
Beth Surmont is an event strategist who works with associations to reimagine their events. With experience in both corporate and non-profit events, and as the Head of Strategy & Design for 360 Live Media, Beth is a leading designer of the next era of events.
During the past five years we have experienced a seismic shift in the evolution of business events driven by new business models and urgent calls for sustainability, access and inclusiveness
Virginie De Visscher, Executive Director of Business Events at Destination Canada, has a tenacious determination to foster a regenerative meetings industry that benefits people, planet and place.
An innovative thinker with a highly collaborative approach, Virginie has extensive experience in business development, international operations and humanitarian aid – from leading international trade missions to managing coffee and cocoa operations in East Africa.
Editor’s Note: This article continues the Events Industry Council’s ongoing content series exploring the macro forces shaping the global business events industry, as identified in EIC’s 2025 Futures Landscape Study. Each month, we
Accessibility has always been central to our industry’s purpose: bringing people together across physical, digital, and cultural barriers. But the next frontier asks us to go deeper. As our world
From Access to Capacity: Why Neuroinclusion Is the Next Frontier in Event Design Read Post »
Yush Sztalkoper, CMP, is the founder of NeuroSpark+, helping the events industry design for human sustainability through neuroinclusion and systems transformation. With almost two decades designing global corporate events at UBS, JPMorgan, and Gartner, she now pioneers neuroinclusion frameworks for the AI era—using the events industry as a laboratory for capacity-first approaches that reshape how we create human connection at scale.
Yush created The Human OS™, Root Reflection™ diagnostic, SHIFT Pathway™, and NeuroDesign™ methodology—a complete system that scales from individuals to entire industries, moving all from surviving to thriving.
As part of our Futures Landscape Series focus on Accessibility and Inclusion, Beth Surmont, CMP Fellow sat down with Samantha “Sam” Evans, ICE-CCP, CAE, MBA, Certification Director at IAAP (International
Accessibility Starts with the Design, Not the Request Read Post »
Beth Surmont is an event strategist who works with associations to reimagine their events. With experience in both corporate and non-profit events, and as the Head of Strategy & Design for 360 Live Media, Beth is a leading designer of the next era of events.
Artificial intelligence may be reshaping the way we plan, produce and personalise events—but one of its most powerful capabilities lies in its ability to make business events more accessible, inclusive and
Partner Insights: Creating More Accessible and Inclusive Events with AI Read Post »
We’ve all heard it before: “This event wasn’t fully accessible.” But do we truly understand what accessibility means? For many, accessibility first brings to mind physical features—ramps, elevators, or restrooms
Rethinking Accessibility at Events Read Post »
Elena Fis holds a Sustainable Event Professional Certificate and has been a member of the EIC Sustainability and Social Impact Committee since 2024. She is also collaborating with IAPCO and became a member of IAPCO EDI and sustainability committee consulting on various initiatives and supporting Meetings and events industry in this area.
Elena been part of the Kenes Group for more than a decade. In 2023 she was promoted to Kenes Sustainability Officer and in November 2024 was named a global Sustainability Manager in the company. She had taken on a bigger task at hand: to develop Kenes Group’s internal and external sustainability policies, develop sustainability strategies for Kenes clients and PCO’s original events, support Kenes association clients, implement the processes and practices that will include gender equality, responsible consumption and production, quality education and good health and well-being.
Editor’s Note: This article continues the Events Industry Council’s ongoing content series exploring the macro forces shaping the global business events industry, as identified in EIC’s 2025 Futures Landscape Study. Each month,
The Future of Accessibility and Inclusion: Designing Events for Every Human Experience Read Post »
The exhibition and events industry is making visible strides toward a more sustainable future — and it’s doing so together. What began as a joint effort by the Exhibition Services
From Build to Breakdown: Sustainability in Exhibitions Read Post »
The exhibition and events industry is making visible strides toward a more sustainable future — and it’s doing so together. What began as a joint effort by the Exhibition Services
From Build to Breakdown: Sustainability in Exhibitions Read Post »
Editor’s Note: This month we begin an ongoing content series highlighting the factors shaping the global business events industry, as identified by EIC’s 2025 Futures Landscape Study. Each month we
By Amy Calvert, EIC President and CEO As we reflect on the 40th Anniversary of the Hall of Leaders recognition, an inspiring Global Awards ceremony and the extraordinary energy of
EIC Introduces Futures Landscape Series Read Post »
Our industry is one of precision, performance, and passion. We orchestrate meaningful encountersand bring people together across borders, sectors, and ideologies. Yet too often, in the pursuit of excellence, we
The Human Agenda: Reclaiming Wellbeing in Business Events Read Post »
Eduardo Chaillo is a natural connector of meeting and tourism professionals globally. Currently President of his own consultancy company: Global Meetings & Tourism Specialists, he is now also Global General Manager for Maritz Latin America.
