Urban districts are heating up in a multitude of places around the country. We asked meeting planners for input on what cities they think are up-and-coming and why the locations are trending nowadays.

For years my Instagram feed was filled with vertigo-inducing posts from my friend Tara Hyer-Tira taking flight off the precipice of a staggeringly towering cliff during a high-dive competition. Fast forward to the present, and my former co-worker (yoga teachers, not divers—I’m terrified of heights!) now posts photos of herself in full makeup and regalia for the Cirque du Soleil show O, the water-themed Vegas extravaganza, also popular with groups.

There is still much confusion in the meetings industry following the May 25, 2018, implementation of the Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Bruce Smith, managing director of London-based Tenax Analytics, helped explain some of the intricacies of the EU and UK regulation and risks for planners and suppliers during his MPI WEC 2018 presentation: “How to Thrive in the New Era of Data Privacy: A Forensic Insight to the GDPR.”

One of the hot topics at MPI’s WEC 2018 is sex trafficking, as it relates to the travel industry. Michelle Guelbart, director of private sector engagement for ECPAT-USA, detailed some of the signs and ways to help during her presentation “ECPAT: The Meeting and Event Industry’s Role in Combatting Sex Trafficking,” which took place on Monday, June 4, 2018. ECPAT-USA is a nonprofit organization that exists to end human trafficking.

Indy knows how to woo its first-time guests. Fresh off the plane for a quick pre MPI WEC 2018 fam, I set off for an evening of art, food and creative cocktails. Our first stop was the Conrad Indianapolis.

Cvent released its annual lists of “Top Meeting Hotels” for meetings and events worldwide in 2018. The top venues were sorted geographically and rankings are based on each hotel’s group business performance on the Cvent Supplier Network.

Global business and futuristic skyscrapers may be the hallmarks of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but the region also places a heavy emphasis on the arts, including centuries-old traditions like calligraphy and poetry.

To curse or not to curse? While the use of profanity by corporate speakers at meetings and events is not totally taboo, there is debate whether dropping an F-bomb during a presentation is appropriate.

Las Vegas' 2018 Global Meetings Industry Day event celebrated the impact the meetings and events industry has on the city's economy.

Reflective of the end-game excitement of this year’s Super Bowl LII was the preparation and execution of the big game’s hosts: Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Bloomington and surrounds. The 10-day fete highlighted some of the region’s most intriguing off-site venues, scenery, breweries, restaurants and more.