With the past few years plagued with the overcast of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2023 felt like a return to normalcy for many in the industry. While 2023 was not without its challenges, with more in-person events happening for the first time in years, it was certainly a time to celebrate being together after so much time apart.
Throughout all of it, Meetings Today covered the most exciting updates in the biggest destinations, reported important news stories that had major implications for the industry, and even hosted some events of our own.
Check out our most popular articles of 2023 and learn what captivated our audience of meeting and event planners most.
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1. 4 Songs About Planning Meetings and Events That Will Leave You in Stitches
We all need a good laugh once in a while, and these songs about planning meetings and events will do just that. Recorded at Meetings Today LIVE! South in Nashville, Tennessee, attendees worked with some of the most talented singers/songwriters in a city full of singer-songwriters to create fun parody songs about working in the events industry. The songwriters were all partners with a company called Creativets, who our editor Tyler Davidson had the opportunity to get an in-depth interview with.
2. The 2023 Meetings Trendsetters Blazing Trails in the Events Industry
A staple in our annual retrospective, our Trendsetters article once again registered near the top of the charts of our site. Every year, Meetings Today selects a number of influential people we believe are charting a new path and setting trends within the meetings and events industry. So many amazing people are featured on the 2023 list, all doing exciting things within the industry. Trendsetters is one of our favorite projects to work on each year, so we are very excited to be able to highlight these amazing individuals once again.
3. How to Host a Private Event at the Incredible Sphere in Las Vegas
The entire world was filled with awe as the mind-boggling Sphere opened in Las Vegas this fall. Memes and news articles about the Sphere dominated the news cycle for days on end, and no one was more excited than event planners looking for a new venue in Las Vegas. Meetings Today actually got the opportunity to visit and tour the Sphere at this year’s IMEX America convention and experience its signature attraction: the Postcard to Earth experience.
4. 8 Tech Tips for Creating an Immersive Corporate Event
With so many advancements in event technology in just the past few years, it can be difficult to keep up to date on the latest innovations. Luckily, our friends at Production Resource Group were able to provide us with eight valuable tips to help execute an immersive, elevated and, most of all, memorable corporate event.
5. Fun Pickleball Tournament Ideas for All Skill Levels
Pickleball exploded onto the scene in 2023, growing massively in popularity in the past year. For those who may just be starting out, or for the true pickleball pros, we compiled everything you need to know about the craze sweeping the nation, including some fun ideas for incorporating pickleball into your next meeting or event. Or if you prefer a timeless favorite, check out our article on fun golf games to spice up group and tournament programs.
6. Meetings Today LIVE! Makes a Splash in Punta Cana
Our most recent Meetings Today LIVE! Event, in the Dominican Republic’s Punta Cana, was an absolute showstopper. From amazing food and entertainment to networking opportunities, attendees love our live events, and you loved reading about this one. Want to see what all of the buzz is about and attend one of our live events in 2024? Click here to reserve your spot before it’s too late!
7. How to Slim Down Your Meetings and Events Food and Beverage Spend
With rising costs being a major concern for meeting and event planners right now, strategies for saving money during an event are more useful than ever. One of the biggest expenses for an event is food and beverage, so we compiled some tips from Robyn Mietkiewicz, strategic partner at INNOV8 Meetings + Events, to help you avoid overspending in 2024. And if you want more in-depth tips, check out our free, on-demand CMP-accredited webinar course with Robyn, where she gives even more cost-saving strategies.
8. Tap These Unique Las Vegas Meeting and Event Venues for Smaller Groups
Las Vegas is one of the most popular destinations in the world for meetings and events, with hundreds of conventions and conferences being held there each year, including the biggest meetings and events industry conference of the year, IMEX America. But while most people associate Vegas with high-profile (and expensive) glamor, there are plenty of unique and affordable venues if you are looking to bring a smaller group to the Entertainment Capital of the World.
9. Las Vegas Hospitality Workers Overwhelmingly Authorize Strike
Controversy struck Vegas this year when the Culinary and Bartenders union representing hospitality workers in the city authorized a strike in the weeks leading up to IMEX America. Meetings Today followed this story closely and provided live updates about how the strike could impact meetings and events in Vegas. The strike has since been resolved, but labor disputes in the hospitality industry are not going away anytime soon.
10. Western Canada’s MICE Destinations Are Pillars of Success
Coming in at number 10 is an article written by our amazing senior contributor, Jeff Heilman—who's been contributing for some 20 years!—all about some of the best destinations our neighbors to the north have to offer. Meetings Today has been fortunate enough to explore the Land of the Maple Leaf, with our own Taylor Smith getting the opportunity to visit Toronto back in June. Canada’s popularity is growing, so it’s no wonder many people are curious about what it can offer meetings and events.
Read this next: The Most-Read Meetings Today Stories of 2022
