Right now, an account director at a DMO is waiting for your call. But there’s a decent chance you’re skipping that step entirely, typing your meeting specs into ChatGPT and asking: Where should we go next? That’s a problem for destinations, because they may be getting crossed off your list before they ever know you were looking. It’s a problem for planners, too: A destination you don’t know doesn’t have the chance to present a valuable set of financial incentives that can make the case for landing your next program.
Andrea Doyle reports on how DMOs are auditing what AI says about them and rewriting their content for machines as well as people. But Destinations International’s Gretchen Hall points out that AI still doesn’t understand citywide compression or peak seasonality, which is where a human who knows the calendar earns their keep. Head below for the full story, plus a CSR idea for your next program and more insights into what’s next after the Informa-Clarion deal. — David McMillin
FEATURED STORIES
After Informa-Clarion, Who Buys Next?
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Visit Austin + Skift Meetings
What does a program with 75 venues look like? Get a look at how SXSW has embraced the challenge of designing a decentralized experience during the $1.6 billion convention center renovation in Austin.
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WORTH YOUR TIME
Five things worth your time today.
Know the six key lessons from Skift Meetings Forum to navigate the next year of meetings and events.
See why an empty chair might be a great addition to your next program.
Learn how SITE and IRF are working to introduce college students to the value of the industry.
Avoid the dangers of burnout by knowing how to spot the signs one of your team members might be near a breaking point.
Break up with the ballroom and use one of these tools to find a more creative venue.
SKIFT PICK: TRANSLATING TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MEETINGS
Airlines Want Premium Passengers. Will They Price Out Your Average Attendee?
British Airways is pulling 52 seats off each of its A380s, and the back of the plane takes the hit. Economy loses 88 seats (about 30%), premium economy grows by more than half, and premium seats go from roughly 35% of the cabin to 48%. It's not just a long-haul story, either. United is rolling out three fare tiers in its domestic first and business cabins, and Alaska is cutting main cabin seats to make room for business class and premium economy.
That's great news if you can afford to sit up front. Most of your attendees can't. Fewer economy seats means the cheap fares may not be so cheap anymore, and they'll sell out faster. It’s happening just as companies hunt for line items to cut. For a corporate meeting, that means a tougher fight for the travel budget. For an association event, it's worse. When attendees need a boss to sign off (or are paying their own way), a pricier flight can turn "see you there" into "I'll just watch the recording." So start treating airfare like part of the registration fee: factor it into how you price and pitch the event, and open registration earlier so people can book before all the economy seats are gone.
Great events are built on strategy, innovation, and the right resources. The Skift Meetings Toolkit is your go-to hub for best practices in managing meetings and events.
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