Meetings Today Podcast

On this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sits down with Carolina Viazcan, vice president of sales for Visit Greater Palm Springs, and Laruen Bruggemans, director of sustainability and community engagement, to learn how the destination is both creating new developments while balancing its commitment to environmental and social sustainability.

This podcast was produced in partnership with Visit Greater Palm Springs.

With $10 billion in infrastructure investment and new dining, retail and entertainment districts such as OCVIBE, Anaheim, California, has embarked on what it has dubbed the "Golden Decade."

Meetings Today caught up with Ronnie Collins, senior vice president of sales for Visit Anaheim, to learn the details, and also about mega events coming to the destination, a major property renovation project and a meetings incentive program named Meetings Momentum.

Phoenix has earned the moniker "Championship Valley" because of its extensive experience in hosting big sporting events like the Super Bowl and basketball championships. Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer, Visit Phoenix and Eric George, special events administrator, City of Phoenix, discuss what goes into the execution of large-scale sporting events and world-class conventions in Phoenix ahead of more major events coming to town.*Created in partnership with Visit Phoenix

Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center DOSM Russ Mitchell talks about the brand's massive new $1.3 billion property near San Diego, which will be the largest hotel on the West Coast.

Located in Chula Vista, California, and set for a May 15, 2025 opening, the property will offer a whopping 1,600 rooms and more than 477,000 square feet of meeting space that includes the 47,000-square-foot California Ballroom, the largest in the Golden State.

The threat by the Trump Administration to levy significant tariffs against three of the biggest trading partners of the U.S. became reality March 4, 2025, and the impact on the meeting and events industry is still unfolding.

Meetings Today’s Tyler Davidson engaged Voices in Advocacy’s Roger Rickard, the leading expert on political advocacy in the meetings industry and beyond, to gauge how the 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, and now 20% on China—and reciprocal actions by those nations—may touch the industry.

Will meeting and event costs skyrocket? Will international attendance plummet? Will organizations from those countries take a pass on bringing their events to the U.S.?

At the time of recording the impact was far from clear, but Rickard outlines some very real scenarios as well as provides resources for how those in the meetings and events industry can reach out to their political representatives to make sure their voices are heard.

Former Freeman Company CEO Bob Priest-Heck has helmed one the largest events industry companies in the world, collecting a vast reservoir of knowledge on the profession.
Now, in tandem with Freeman Board Chair Carrie Freeman Parsons, he's put that knowledge down on paper in their new book Inside Live Events.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Priest-Heck to discuss why the book is such a valuable resource for meeting and event planners, as well as key industry trends and the importance of sharing our knowledge with the next generation of meeting professionals.

Michael Krouse, president and CEO of the Greater Ontario, California CVB, aka GOCAL, and regional vice president convention centers for ASM Global, shares details on a massive expansion project that will double the size of the Ontario Convention Center (including a parking garage that can double as an event venue!) as well as a new entertainment district, Empire Sports Complex and baseball stadium, and an expansion of Ontario International Airport and a downtown improvement project.

In this episode of the Meetings Today podcast, Senior Content Director Danielle LeBreck speaks with Lisa Bethea, director of destination services for Visit Frisco, about how planners can host memorable events in rapidly growing Frisco. Learn how to tap the Destination Services team at Visit Frisco, what new developments are on the horizon and more.

Tyler Davidson checked in with David Peckinpaugh, president and CEO or global MICE giant Maritz, at PCMA's Convening Leaders event in Houston, Texas to discover findings from two major, recent Maritz surveys and what they reveal about the incentive market.

Tyler Davidson sat down with Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, and Mark Tester, executive director of the Orange County Convention Center, to discover what’s new and coming down the pike in what is perennially the most popular meetings and conventions destination in North America.

Eric Zimmerman was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter for his innovative work at TripZero, which helps meeting planners host sustainable events at no extra cost.

In this Trendsetter Tuesday episode, Zimmerman shares his personal sustainability journey and offers practical tips for greening your next event.

Mandi Graziano, vice president, global accounts at HPN Global, wears many hats—a sales coach, podcast host, author, professional speaker and now, a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn about how Graziano stays motivated and inspired.

Cape Cod is a destination that has been home to or frequented by some of the most influential people in U.S. culture, from literary lions like Kurt Vonnegut to American icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and playwright Tennessee Williams. 

Former Meetings Today editor Maria Lenhart, who has also written and edited for some of the other top meetings industry trade publications in a career measured in decades, has co-authored Secret Cape Cod and the Islands: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure.

Former colleague Tyler Davidson tapped into the making of this delightful new travel tome born during the pandemic, as well as Maria's observations from her many years covering travel and meetings, and how a group of senior ladies meeting in the Cape to play cards was treated to a private performance by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, among many other decidedly quirky tales and travel tips.

Traci DePuy talks about her journey in the event marketing space, from her start as a PR representative to the Chief Marketing Officer for one of the largest associations of event professionals.

Monique Ruff-Bell is the Chief Program & Strategy Officer for TED, where she oversees TED’s flagship global events and conferences, TEDx programs and initiatives, global partnership sales and key marketing verticals. But before she was helping to run one of the most well-known conferences in the world, she was just a humble intern who decided to commit herself to the industry after meeting rapper LL Cool J.

Learn more about Monique's journey in the industry!

A 20-year food and beverage operations veteran, Thomas Whelan, director of events – Northeast for Access DMC, has helped launch off-premise and on-premise catering companies and curated experiences for millions of people at corporate events and social gatherings.

Whelan, a Meetings Today Trendsetter that was formerly the assistant GM for Levy Convention Centers at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and also an outspoken advocate for inclusion in the meetings and events industry, is a font of meetings and conventions F&B knowledge.

Whelan also sits on the board of directors for the SEARCH Foundation, is a former board member of the LGBT Meeting Professionals Association and former president of the Massachusetts Live Events Coalition.

Learn the latest engaging catering and cuisine trends as well as the importance of joining industry associations and foundations.

In this Meetings Today podcast, digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sits down with Roger Rickard, founder and president of Voices in Advocacy to learn about how some of the key issues in the 2024 presidential election could impact the meetings industry. Rickard also talks about the effectiveness of destination boycotts, how groups can advocate for themselves in legislative policy and why there is always hope for the industry no matter who wins the White House.

On this spooky edition of a Meetings Today podcast, Meetings Today's own Taylor Smith and Logan Pratt read and react to some of the worst meetings horror stories submitted by Meetings Today readers. From firetrucks to bathrooms to palm trees, don't miss out on these hilarious horror stories this Halloween!

On this episode of the Trendsetter Tuesday podcast, Taylor Smith sat down with Amani Roberts, Chief Musical Curator at The Amani Experience to learn more about how Roberts uses tools like music to help those in the meetings industry unleash their creative minds. 

AI represents a massive sea-change in the business world and beyond, and the business events segment is quickly adapting its benefits to workflows.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Amy Kramer, market and product innovation leader for Maritz, to see how the global MICE giant has integrated AI into its workflow, and also tips on how meeting professionals can implement this remarkable new technology to streamline workflows and gather information.

In this Trendsetter Tuesday podcast, Meetings Today digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sat down with Bill Reed, Chief Event Strategy Offer for the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and one of this year's Meetings Trendsetters.

Reed talks about his journey in the meetings industry to this point, why he is always asking questions and innovating and why he is never complacent with the status quo.

Native Los Angeleno Javier Cano wears many hats, from overseeing 10 hotels in Greater Los Angeles, including LA LIVE’s JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton, to being chair of the Los Angeles Tourism Marketing District and on the executive committee of the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board as well as the California Hotel & Lodging Association.

In addition, he’s on the board of directors of the California Travel Association, Hotel Association of Los Angeles and Central City Association, among others. Cano has also been recognized among the 500 most influential people in L.A., GM of the Year for Marriott and GM of the Year for Los Angeles. We also named him a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson somehow got worked into Javier's busy schedule for a podcast interview.

Discover the unique perspectives, encyclopedic knowledge and inspirational advice this 45-year Marriott veteran brings to meetings and hospitality, and by all means share it with someone who may be considering a career in this dynamic industry!

From an association booking window that is slowly expanding to dealing with rising costs and the resilience of sustainability, the meetings industry is settling in following the post-pandemic period.
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson got some time with Steve O'Malley, COO of business events solutions for global meetings giant Maritz, during IMEX America 2024 to explore the latest trends impacting the meetings industry.
See what this trends expert has to share about where we're at as an industry, and what the next five years may bring.

Orlando was just recognized as the top meeting destination in North America by Cvent--an accolade it has won nine times! While winning Cvent's top destination slot is nothing new for what is arguably the most popular meetings destination in North America, there's certainly plenty going on in this Central Florida powerhouse.
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando, on the exhibit floor of IMEX America to get the skinny on major new happenings, from top-flight resorts such as Evermore Orlando Resort to the splashy new Live! at The Pointe Orlando event venue, four new Michelin-starred restaurants that speak to its hot dining scene, theme park special event venue additions and how the destination is gearing up to play a big role assisting Floridians as Hurricane Milton churns its way toward the west coast of the state.

A massive disruption in incentive travel programs has occurred in the last five years, with the global pandemic upending the very definition of top performer rewards and an influx of young people entering the workforce turning traditional programs on their ear.
Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Casey Epley, product director, incentives and engagement for Maritz, arguably the inventor of the modern incentive program, to see how the life cycle, inclusions and platforms for incentives has changed and how you can stay ahead of the curve.

In this Meetings Today podcast, senior contributor Jeff Heilman speaks with Destination DC President and CEO Elliott Ferguson at IMEX America 2024 in Las Vegas about the impact of Election 2024 on meetings and events, Destination DC’s new Connected Campus program for planners, sustainability and more.

Jill Blood, vice president and deputy general council for global meetings giant Maritz, is on the forefront of legal issues that are impacting the meetings and events industry.

Meetings Today Vice President & Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson sat down with Blood at IMEX America 2024 to discover what legal issues are keeping planners and the organizations they work for up at night.

From data privacy and AI workstreams to increasing costs colliding with shorter meeting time frames, it seems it's never been this complicated for those in the meetings industry. Find out what needs to be on your radar.

Taylor Smith sat down this morning with Hyatt’s Senior Vice President of Events Steve Enselein live on the IMEX America 2024 trade show floor to talk all the latest and greatest news in the Hyatt world that meeting planners should be aware of, including enhancements to Together by Hyatt and how planners can incorporate more sustainability and wellness into their Hyatt events. Tune in now! 

Visit Phoenix is spiking the ball in the end zone via the launching of its Phoenix Sports and Events Commission, hoping to build on its success hosting marquee sports events such as Super Bowls and Final Fours.

We tapped Lorne Edwards, chief sales officer, and Jane Vukovich, director of destination services, to discover how this new division will also focus on cultural, music and other big events.

Plus, Jane Vukovich shares how the DMO can provide soup-to-nuts service to meeting planners bringing any type of event to the Valley of the Sun.

To celebrate our 2024 Meetings Trendsetters, Meetings Today launched "Trendsetter Tuesday," a podcast series of interviews with the 20 Trendsetters recognized in our July/August issue.

Heather Spangler, associate professor and event management certificate coordinator at the University of Iowa, educates and inspires students to become the industry's newest professionals, guaranteeing she helps set the industry up for a successful future.

In 2015, Spangler founded the University of Iowa’s Event Management Certificate, which draws 250 of the university’s best and brightest students each year. She is dedicated to providing a hands-on program focused on real-world skills and connections.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn more about the creation of the Event Management Certificate program and how Spangler makes it her mission to shape tomorrow's talent.

On this episode of Fast Forward, host Logan Pratt sits down with Anca Platon Trifan, the CEO of Tree-Fan Events and Fit Mindful Mavens who is also one of the foremost experts on artificial intelligence and AV technology in the industry. Learn how AI is currently being used in the industry, how it will be used and what its limitations are in this jam-packed podcast episode.

Our weekly Trendsetter Tuesday podcast series checks in with Rachel Andrews, senior director of global meetings and events for meetings and events industry technology giant Cvent.

After signing on with Cvent in 2011, Andrews built its event program from the ground up. Fourteen years later, she leads a team of 30 managing some 1,200 events every year. She also has catapulted Cvent’s annual user conference, Cvent CONNECT, into a globally recognized industry event.

Andrews is also the co-host of Cvent’s Great Events podcast and is an MPI International Board of Directors member, sought-after speaker and respected mentor and leader.

Debbie Garcia is the CEO of Virsitour, an online directory for meeting and event planners that allows them to experience virtual site tours of hotel and event venues from around the world. She is also a certified meeting planner and serves as the vice president of finance for MPI’s Tennessee chapter. 

As part of our weekly Trendsetter Tuesday podcast series, Meetings Today digital content coordinator Logan Pratt sat down with Garcia to learn why she still believes in the value of virtual site tours and how she got to be where she is in the industry today. 

Independent planner Chase Brunson is the foremost advocate for transgendered people in the meetings and events industry, frequently speaking for top industry associations such as MPI and PCMA.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Brunson to discover his journey and learn key tips for his planner colleagues to implement in their programs to ensure their events are welcoming to all attendees.

From the sprawling new Omni PGA Frisco Resort to major professional sporting facilities and a growing downtown, Frisco, Texas, is making moves in the meetings and events world.

Christina Decker, director of sales and services for Visit Frisco, explains the phenomenal growth of this Metroplex town and how the many additions and upcoming venues will dramatically increase its meetings and events clout.

To celebrate our 2024 Meetings Trendsetters, Meetings Today launched "Trendsetter Tuesday," a podcast series of interviews with the 20 Trendsetters recognized in our July/August issue.

Dr. Brandi Baldwin, CEO of Millennial Ventures, has made a massive effort to help companies and industry professionals thrive in their work environments.

Dr. Baldwin was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for her efforts to develop cutting edge strategies that foster equitable and thriving company cultures.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to hear her story and learn more about what it means to make a difference.

To celebrate our 2024 Meetings Trendsetters, Meetings Today launched "Trendsetter Tuesday," a podcast series of interviews with the 20 Trendsetters recognized in our July/August issue.

Dami Kim is a wellness warrior who's been practicing how to effectively care for her physical, emotional and mental well-being for 26 years. Now, as director of Body & Brain Wellness, she is helping some of the most stressed professionals in the world do the same.

Kim was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for her desire to educate the industry through innovative and transformative practices fueled by her passion for helping others.

Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with this Trendsetter to see how she turned her own life around and found her passion for helping others do the same.

Jim Spellos, president of Meeting U., has always been in the top echelon of meetings industry technology educators and speakers. AI such as ChatGPT has further fueled his fascination of transformative tech.

Spellos was named a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter by Meetings Today for his arguably unrivaled understanding of AI as it relates to the meetings industry.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson sat down with him to get his take on AI and what may lie beyond.

In this Meetings Today podcast for "The Z," Taylor Smith has a vulnerable conversation with Christy Renee Stehle, an award-winning hospitality professional, leadership trainer and professional speaker, about how to increase your magnetic presence to cultivate connections that make people remember you.

On this episode of Fast Forward, host Logan Pratt interviews David T. Stevens, one of the foremost wellness and fitness experts in the meetings and events industry on what the future of wellness looks like in the industry and how planners should be implementing wellness into their event agendas and how they can stay ahead of wellness trends.

To celebrate our 2024 Meetings Trendsetters, Meetings Today is introducing "Trendsetter Tuesday," a podcast series of interviews with the 20 Trendsetters recognized in our July/August issue.

In this episode, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down for a conversation with Kristine Iverson, founder and president of CROW Practice, to learn about how she started her own live events wellness company, discovered the leadership techniques that work for her and what it means to her to be a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

To celebrate our 2024 Meetings Trendsetters, Meetings Today is introducing "Trendsetter Tuesday," a podcast series of interviews with the 20 Trendsetters recognized in our July/August issue.

For our first episode, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down for a conversation with Alicia Jenelle, director of experience design at The Jenelle Group, to learn more about her story in meetings and events as well as what it means to her to be a 2024 Meetings Trendsetter.

Omni Hotels & Resorts Chief Sales Officer Dan Surette talks about how the Dallas-based brand offers a change of pace from other major hotel companies, from its unique ownership model and meetings and events offerings to the new Select Guest Program and dedication to employee growth and retention.

Surette also delves into recent and upcoming openings as well as what the hotel sales veteran sees as macro trends impacting an industry getting its stride following the dark days of the pandemic.

A year after taking the reins of Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp (NCVC), 27-year NCVC vet Deana Ivey shares her in-depth Music City expertise and what’s new in the destination.

With a new NFL stadium and dreams of hosting a Super Bowl, in addition to phenomenal hotel and event venue growth in the last few years, Music City is hotter than a plate of Nashville Hot Chicken.

Discover what the NCVC has been up to since the retirement of former bureau chief and industry icon Butch Spyridon retired, as well as what it's like to live in the "Capital of Country Music," where you just may bump shopping carts with a low-key celebrity when out on a grocery run.

And now for something completely different...

Association meetings thought-leader KiKi L'Italien, editor-in-chief of Association Chat and VP of marketing and community engagement at Big Red M, has put together what promises to be quite the party bus experience to shuttle ASAE Annual Meeting & Expo attendees from suburban D.C. to the convention in Cleveland, with conviviality and general merriment sure to ensue.

Discover how this outside-of-the-box networking road trip came together, and whether any DMOs or association-business craving properties along the way are marketing-savvy enough to provide the 2024 Association Chat Road Trip a reason for a pit stop.

L'Talien is joined by association consultancy vet Michael Butera, president and CEO of Association ActiVision, to discuss the current state of the segment, including a significant change to this year's ASAE Annual and some of the major challenges and opportunities ahead.

Are you on the bus?

On this episode of Fast Forward, host Logan Pratt interviews Stephen Cutchins, one of the foremost experts on accessibility in the meetings and events industry on what the future of accessibility looks like in the industry and how planners can better incorporate accessibility in their events.

Stephen Cutchins joined Cvent in 2022 as senior manager of accessibility and has spent over 15 years helping clients achieve accessibility-related goals. In prior work leading accessibility programs, he worked closely with People with Disabilities, including those who were Blind, Deaf, or had physical disabilities. Stephen has a passion as well as firsthand experience understanding how People with Disabilities use the web. As Cvent’s Senior Manager of Accessibility, Stephen works to ensure that our products are both usable and enjoyable by attendees who have disabilities.

Meetings industry veteran Gary Hernbroth, chief motivating officer for Training for Winners and popular business events industry speaker, has co-authored Twist the Familiar, a book detailing the stories of high-achievers and how their journey can create authentic pathways to success.

Meetings Today's Tyler Davidson engaged Hernbroth about his new book as well as macro trends that are shaping both the business word and meetings industry as we adjust to work and meetings life after the pandemic.

In this episode of the Meetings Today Podcast, Senior Content Director Danielle LeBreck speaks with Arlette Garibay, director of sales for Greater Ontario, California (GOCAL) about the destination's rapidly growing amenities for meetings and events.

Sponsored by Greater Ontario, California (GOCAL)

On this episode of Fast Forward, host Logan Pratt interviews Dahlia El Gazzar, one of the leading voices in event and marketing technology to find out how planners can and should be utilizing new technologies to better market their events.

As MPI's 2024 World Education Congress continues in Louisville, Kentucky, Meetings Today's Taylor Smith sat down with Jessie States, vice president of MPI Academy, to discuss all things education, from planning sessions for this year's conference to what's on the horizon for MPI Academy.

Curious about what your skill set should include in the future? Tune in now to learn more.