The Conference That Wouldn't Stay Canceled

What happens when a conference gets canceled just two weeks before the opening session is scheduled to kick off? For people who were planning to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration in Anaheim, California, the answer was to build another program in its place.

On one hand, the decision to cancel was a sad reminder of the challenges that organizers can face when attempting to tackle a big issue like championing women leaders in the male-dominated tech world. On the other hand, the instant push to find another way to bring attendees together underscored the meaningful role that meetings play in attendees’ lives. Head below to read the story, along with 10 CSR ideas worth stealing, a look at convention centers that are raising the bar for sustainability and the AI paradox looming over the industry. — David McMillin

P.S. Destination consideration sets are shifting fast, driven by geopolitics, evolving entry policies and major infrastructure bets around the world. Our new report maps where your peers are looking next. Download it here.

What do your peers’ budgets look like now? How are they navigating continued geopolitical pressures? And what are they doing to define ROI to leadership? Get the answers in a new Skift Meetings research report.

This report was sponsored by Destination Toronto and Ottawa Tourism.

Melbourne Convention Bureau + Skift Meetings

For Women Deliver 2026, Melbourne built a cross-government steering group that fast-tracked visas, drew 30+ world leaders and helped unlock $190 million for gender equality.

Signed With a Royal Sonesta for 2027? Reread Your Contract.

Sonesta started laying off corporate staff last Friday, according to reporting from Skift’s Sean O’Neill. The cuts follow the recent departure of the company’s chief brand officer. Less than two weeks earlier, South Dakota hotel investor TKO offered $2 billion in cash for the hotel portfolio of Service Properties Trust, which owns 34% of Sonesta. That portfolio includes much of the brand’s upscale inventory with properties such as Royal Sonesta Chicago Riverfront, Royal Sonesta New Orleans and Royal Sonesta Kaua’i. For now, the trust’s board is only reviewing the offer.

You don’t have to follow REIT drama to see why this matters. But if you have a 2027 or 2028 program at one of these hotels, the property you signed with might not be the one you show up to. If the offer becomes a real deal, your hotel could have a new owner, a new operator, a new flag and almost certainly a new sales team. So pull the contract now and check the change-of-ownership and assignment language. Do your rate, concessions and F&B minimums carry over to a successor? Can you walk if the hotel is debranded? There are plenty of potential worries, but there is also a possible upside: if a Marriott or Hilton flag goes up, your attendees could end up earning points they care about.

Think you know Gen Z? Think again. Make sure you’re building an engagement strategy that avoids following any of these misconceptions.