Scams used to be easy to spot. You didn’t even have to look for them; your spam filter quietly swept away all those messages urging you to claim your prize money before you had a chance to click.
That’s no longer the case. Today’s coverage of a fake life sciences conference shows how sophisticated scams have become — and how easily they slip past the filter. The scheme, which baited targets with the prestige of a speaking invitation, an impressive list of legitimate corporate sponsors and a real luxury hotel, is another reminder that cybercriminals are keeping a close eye on the meetings industry. Head below for the full story, along with a look at a new association for senior-level meeting professionals and a Canadian trade show floor without a single U.S. exhibitor. — David McMillin
NEW REPORT ON THE GLOBAL MEETING LANDSCAPE
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.
FEATURED STORIES
U.S. Ski Resorts Disappear From Canadian Trade Show, but It’s Not All About Politics
by Andrea Doyle
SPIN Aims to Reclaim Its Place in the Meetings Industry
by Barbara Scofidio
Cybercriminals Invented an Entire Conference — and Used a Real Hotel to Sell the Lie
by Andrea Doyle
Convene Hospitality Group + Skift Meetings
As alcohol consumption declines, meeting professionals are adjusting with more zero-proof options and more experiential activations that shift booze to the background.
SKIFT PICK: TRANSLATING TRAVEL TRENDS FOR MEETINGS
Your Attendees Booked the Block. That Doesn’t Mean They’ll Stay in It.
New research from Skift and McKinsey & Company shows that 41% of U.S. travelers keep checking prices after they book, and 29% keep looking at other options in case something better comes along. They follow through, too: 51% say they’ve switched hotels after seeing a better option on social media. Flexible cancellation policies make switching easy.
The lesson for meeting planners: If the hotel drops its public rate, or a cheaper option turns up three blocks away, some attendees will cancel and rebook outside the block. The attrition hit lands on you. First things first: Check your contract for a lowest-rate clause that matches your group rate to any lower public rate the hotel offers. Then give people reasons to stay put, like perks tied to the block that a lower rate elsewhere won’t include. There’s an upside, too. Attendees keep planning between registration and arrival, so that’s a good time to offer the add-on dinner, the pre-tour or the extra night. If you don’t fill that time, another app will.
A rundown of when the most important programs are happening around the world next year.
