It’s been a week of opposites at Skift Meetings Forum and Skift Global Forum in New York City. A discussion about mega events pivoted to micro experiences. A session about global uncertainty shifted to definitive answers about what to do to navigate the future. And every conversation about the AI machine eventually moved to the only thing that matters: the people.
This issue gives you the adjustments you should make for all those humans involved in your program: how to help your team avoid burning out, what Gen Z will do to change conferences (it’s more than you might think), and why you need to carve out an extra 15 minutes in your next agenda. Head below to catch up on what you missed, and join Andrea Doyle, Barbara Scofidio and me for a webinar on Wednesday, September 30 to unpack all the insights from this week. — David McMillin
PS. Oh, yeah, our editorial team spent some time in the same room as Prince Harry.
WEBINAR
Join the Skift Meetings editorial team for a full debrief of all the action at Skift Meetings Forum. We’ll unpack what we learned on stage and what we heard in the conversations throughout the day.
Sponsored by Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Experience Kissimmee.
FREE REPORT
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This report was produced in partnership with MPI and is sponsored by Caesars Entertainment and Convene.
WORTH YOUR TIME
Five things worth your time today.
Learn about why some attendees are planning to boycott an upcoming healthcare conference.
Reevaluate your program to reduce choice and raise your appeal for Gen Z attendees.
Dive into the key takeaways from the Skift Meetings Forum.
Read the letter from U.S. association leaders to prospective Canadian attendees on why they shouldn’t scratch us off the list.
Take a look at eight new and improved gaming resorts that are working to attract more group business.
SKIFT PICK: TRANSLATING TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MEETINGS
Prince Harry Wants to See Your Sustainability Budget
What does Britain’s most famous son have to do with airlines and hotels? He launched Travalyst, an initiative that aims to create a more sustainable travel industry. This week, he came to Skift Global Forum with an ask for business leaders: put the health of destinations on the same level of importance as profit margins and the other numbers they report on. Travel and tourism is responsible for roughly 7.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. His challenge to executives: look at the budget you’re spending on AI this year, and then compare it to how much you’re investing in making sure the places you rely on can survive climate change.
Here's why this is more than a nice sentiment for meetings: destination health isn't an ESG talking point when you're the one picking the host city. Heat, wildfire, and drought aren't hypothetical anymore — they're the reason an event gets disrupted. When yo’'re vetting a destination, ask how the local tourism board is managing the climate catastrophe. Don't just look at their sustainability marketing messaging. Find out what the leaders are doing to protect the place in the bigger picture, and ask how your group can play a role in that work.
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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