These 20 Meetings Today Trendsetters, hand-selected by our editors, continue to drive our industry forward. They all demonstrate dedication to the concept that when we meet, we ignite the possibility of effecting change on a global scale.

Offer more engaging and immersive meetings experiences with six tips from the PCMA Foundation and Steelcase Event Experiences. Their robust report includes attendee feedback captured via live interviews at PCMA Convening Leaders 2019.

Summer is a wonderful time to add refreshing, relaxing and whimsical touches to events inspired by the season. Lululemon’s Deb Gee shares some of her favorite tips to design creative and engaging summer-themed events.

Conferences provide wonderful opportunities for networking and learning. They can also be overwhelming and stressful. Mindfulness speaker, trainer and author Lee Papa shares her insights on mindful self-care before, during and after a conference to get the most out of the event and maintain your sanity in the process.

These seven outstanding rooftop bars for private events will add levity to any occasion with open-air environments, dramatic city skyline views and high-end food and drink.

SMERF segment meeting planners representing social, military, education, religious and fraternal organizations share their greatest event planning tips and challenges. Organizations include Full Gospel Baptist, the Military Reunion Network, Any Reason to Plan and Duke University.

IMEX America 2018 in Las Vegas certainly encouraged attendees to get a move on. Two successful programs—one new and one tried and true—had participants ever-conscious of wellness and the importance of movement. 

Aromatherapy is a powerful tool to engage attendees, whether utilizing essential oils to create a relaxing ambience for participants, gifting them with essential oils or crafting opportunities for them to learn about their benefits.

Meetings, like the world around them, are changing at warp speed, and keeping up on the latest trends is imperative for planners wishing to cater to the evolving desires of attendees. We checked in with IACC CEO Mark Cooper to get his take on the most interesting conference industry trends shaping 2019 and beyond.

Marriott’s Convention & Resort Network (CRN) ventured decidedly out of the box with its recent 48-Hour Film Challenge, which pitted four teams of independent filmmakers against each other to produce short films on an extremely tight deadline. The competition also showed off the flexibility of the meeting space at Vancouver, British Columbia’s the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection hotel and the convention facilities it shares with the attached JW Marriott Parq Vancouver.