IN THIS EDITION
Hawaii Convention Center funding only covers repairs, not refurbishment.
Conference attendance justification has never been harder, layoffs are to blame.
Julie Coker is leaving NYC Tourism + Conventions to join Visit California.
Plus, the key incentive stats that matter, how Europe’s heatwave is impacting events, tips on writing a strong meeting justification letter, and JW Marriott’s first all-inclusive resort.
One more thing: Join us in celebrating our new partnership with MPI.
AWARDS
Submit your entry by July 1.
The Skift IDEA Awards features five meetings and events categories: hotels, venues & convention centers, destination marketing organizations, event technology, and cruise lines.
FEATURED STORIES
Hawaii Convention Center Funding Falls Short
by Andrea Doyle
As convention centers nationwide reinvent themselves, Hawaii risks reopening with a facility that's repaired but not fully ready to compete.
Employees Struggle to Justify Attending Conferences as Colleagues are Being Laid Off
by Barbara Scofidio
Attending the same conference every year used to be a given. Now employees have to fight for it.
Julie Coker Is Leaving NYC Tourism + Conventions as City Funding Push Continues
by Andrea Doyle
Julie Coker lobbied publicly for $11.9 million in additional city funding, then announced she's leaving for Visit California. Whether New York answers that ask, or doesn’t, is now a question the next CEO inherits.
Visit Anaheim + Skift Meetings
Planners used to only associate Anaheim with Disneyland. Not anymore. Learn how a wave of chef-driven dining, upscale late-night venues, and flexible private spaces is reshaping what the city means for meetings.
FREE REPORT
Our latest report uncovers how AI is transforming the event experience and provides crucial insights for anyone looking to invest in event tech today.
What’s inside:
A vision of a reimagined the ideal AI-powered event experience.
A plain-language explainer on LLMs, agentic AI, and MCP.
130+ AI-native event tech tools mapped across event phases.
Questions to ask and red flags to look out for buying event tech.
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
As Europe Swelters, Event Organizers Face a New Reality: Heat Emergency Planning
by Andrea Doyle
Europe's heatwave is forcing organizers to cancel events and rethink attendee safety in real-time. The question is no longer whether extreme heat will disrupt the events calendar; it's whether the industry has built the protocols to respond when it does.
Barbara Scofidio
For VIP groups, luxury all-inclusive resorts are emerging that are on par with many top-tier properties in their destination.
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.
