The American melting pot consists of many ingredients. It’s what gives our nation depth, character and diversity. With so many different kinds of people, how do association meeting planners manage diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within their meetings and events environments?

Meetings technology is an ever-evolving menu of apps and platforms, systems and options designed for a faster, better, safer experience for all involved — from planners and attendees to speakers, entertainers and association executives. Rapid evolvement begs the question: Do we forget old tech and go with something new, or stick with the tried-and-true?

In the association world, ensuring an event or meeting is successful is paramount to the organization’s bottom line. In fact, focusing on event return on investment (ROI) is critical for association planners because events are often an association’s biggest marketing tactic — helping to engage members, grow their membership, increase renewals and so much more.

As the chill of winter settles over most of the U.S., one state can be counted on to be enjoying milder months and outdoor environments at their peak: Arizona.

When it comes to the ideal location for an association meeting or event, Florida reigns supreme, thanks to its beautiful weather, easy accessibility and awe-inspiring venues.

If you’re involved in DEI work, you are all too familiar with othering. For far too long, certain groups have been — however unintentionally — excluded from the dominant culture at work. When one is not part of the “in group,” they miss out on opportunities — and the company misses out on their gifts and perspectives. Othering is destructive for everyone.

We have pulled together nine trends directly shared from event planners to ensure your hotel is best positioned to capture the event demand this coming year.