When Skift Meetings monitored the signs of serious strain in the meetings industry job market in the summer of 2025, our team was surprised to hear horror stories of experienced professionals applying to nearly 400 (!) jobs with no luck. Nearly one year later, finding work feels even more elusive. Skift Meetings’ Barbara Scofidio takes a closer look at what matters to hiring managers now, which AI-generated language to eliminate from your resume and why more companies are shifting to part-time contract models.
As meeting planners look for career opportunities that will pay them what they’re worth, companies are spending an eye-popping amount of cash to do something other than hire humans. Cvent announced plans to invest $1 billion in AI product development over the next few years. Head ⬇️ for all the news you need this week.
Last Call: Corporate Planner Survey
Skift Meetings needs your expertise to gauge the pulse of the state of corporate meetings in 2026. Share your perspectives on the challenges and opportunities on your desk right now.
This survey closes tomorrow, Friday, July 17.
*Please note this survey is for in-house planners only.
FEATURED STORIES
A Closer Look at Cvent’s $1 Billion AI Investment
by Andrea Doyle
Every event tech vendor is chasing AI headlines this year. Cvent’s investment is a bet that in a machine-driven world, live events will be even more essential.
5 Top Events Industry Job Market Trends
by Barbara Scofidio
The job market is the worst it's been in decades — but recruiters say specialized planners who can prove ROI are still landing new positions.
Know Before You Go Letters: What to Include
by Barbara Scofidio
Most Know Before You Go letters are written from scratch every cycle. This is the checklist worth stealing.
Why Board Meetings and Executive Retreats Are Heading to Smaller Host Cities
Louisville Tourism + Skift Meetings
Learn how one destination is winning over planners with a mix of affordability, one-of-a-kind access, and innovative energy that fuels more impactful VIP programs.
EVENTS
Dan Macsai turned TIME's live events into one of its fastest-growing operations, from Davos to Dubai, and rose as it grew.
He joins senior planners at Skift Meetings Forum on September 22 at the North Javits Center. If you want the events you run to earn you a bigger role, learn how he did it.
SKIFT PICK: TRANSLATING TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MEETINGS
Why AI Isn’t Going to Solve the Hotel Labor Shortage
The hotel employees who are most essential to a successful meeting —the dishwashers, food prep workers and banquet attendants — are the least likely to be replaced by AI, according to a new analysis from Skift. That’s good news for the frontline employees who want a sense of job security, but the reality it is that a lot of them aren’t worried about keeping their jobs: They’re the closest to retirement age.
For meeting planners who have already been struggling with the hospitality industry’s talent shortage, it’s a reminder that AI isn’t going to wave a magic wand to make the attendee experience better. Sure, there are robots in development — consider the Automate Show at McCormick Place in Chicago last month that featured robots serving coffee — but will attendees still feel the magic of a face-to-face experience if they spend a decent chunk of their time standing next to a faceless humanoid?
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 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
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.
