WHAT WE’RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY
It Takes More Than the 'Oprah Effect' to Sell Out a Conference With 6 Months to Go
Ada Maria Allende: Leading With Empathy
When a Headliner Becomes a Liability: Lessons From Kanye West and the Cancellation of London's Wireless Festival
Visit Baltimore’s New CEO Shares Convention Strategy
ICYMI: Is This the Next Caribbean Hotspot for Small Conferences?
DON’T MISS THESE STORIES
It Takes More Than the 'Oprah Effect' to Sell Out a Conference With 6 Months to Go
by Miguel Neves
Most conferences are ramping up marketing efforts six months before doors open. Nordic Business Forum 2026 was already sold out by then — and the strategy started before the previous edition had even ended.
Ada Maria Allende: Lead With Empathy
by Barbara Scofidio
Strong leaders create space for others to contribute and ask good questions, but still must be able to make the tough decisions, says this Skift Meetings Woman Leader in Meetings.
When a Headliner Becomes a Liability: Lessons From Kanye West and Wireless Festival’s Cancellation
by Andrea Doyle
A single headline act can sell an event, or sink it. Wireless Festival’s cancellation underscores the risk of tying success to one polarizing figure.
Visit Baltimore’s New CEO Shares Convention Strategy
by Andrea Doyle
Baltimore risks losing major meetings to cities with newer convention infrastructure. New Visit Baltimore CEO Kireem Swinton is making modernization of the city’s convention center a top priority, alongside short-term incentives to keep business flowing.
RESOURCES
The Skift Meetings Toolkit is your go-to hub for best practices in managing meetings and events.
Pure Grenada + Skift
Delta’s new daily service from Atlanta and a 150-room InterContinental opening later this year are putting this under-the-radar Caribbean destination on more planners’ consideration lists.
RECOGNITION
You can win Skift IDEA Awards in five meetings and events categories: hotels, venues & convention centers, destination marketing organizations, event technology, and cruise lines.
Lock in the lowest price today, then submit your entry by July 1.
EVENTS | SEPTEMBER 22 (NEW YORK)
Skift Meetings' flagship event will bring together event leaders for a deep-dive on how the business of events is reinventing itself. This game-changing gathering gives event professionals the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly shifting business and geopolitical landscape.
