Expert Opinion
Design by intention for impact that matters
A month into 2026 and Julia Green, head of corporate events at Center Parcs Corporate Events in the UK, highlights five MICE trends setting the pace and worth getting ahead of this year Bigger is no longer better. In 2026, success isn’t being measured by how many people you pack into a room, but how engaged they actually are. With budgets tightening and expectations rising, organisers can’t just r...
Keeping up with changing tastes
Gary Waugh, head chef at Hilton Glasgow explores what event organisers should consider when choosing a venue, ensuring its F&D offering meets evolving expectations while maintaining quality, profitability and creative flair. Food and drink (F&D) has always been central to human connection – and in the meetings and events world, they’re now a statement of brand, culture and values. Today’s ...
Austin’s bold vision: A convention centre reimagined for the future
Tom Noonan, president & CEO of Visit Austin, and Trisha Tatro, director of Austin Convention Center, speak to CMW’s Iain Stirling about the city’s ambitious expansion plans and what makes the Texas capital a compelling destination for business events Austin, Texas, is undergoing a transformation that few convention destinations can match. With a complete rebuild of its convention c...
San Francisco’s resurgence: A conversation with Anna Marie Presutti
San Francisco has faced its share of challenges in recent years, but the city is experiencing a significant renaissance that’s transforming its reputation on the global stage. With a new mayor driving unprecedented improvements in safety and urban vitality, a packed calendar featuring the Super Bowl and FIFA World Cup, and a booming convention sector delivering over 700,000 group room nights...
Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary and the future of meetings in the nation’s capital
As Washington DC prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, Elliott Ferguson, CEO of Destination DC, sat down with CMW’s Iain Stirling at PCMA Convening Leaders in Philadelphia to discuss how DC is leveraging the anniversary to attract meetings and conventions, addressing political perceptions, and showcasing the capital’s evolution as a world-class destination. ...
Philadelphia’s convention “World Cup” has arrived
Gregg Caren, CEO of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, speaks with CMW’s Iain Stirling about bringing PCMA Convening Leaders back to the city for the first time since 2006, why he calls it Philadelphia’s “World Cup” for the meetings industry, and how the city plans to leverage its 250th anniversary celebrations and FIFA World Cup matches to drive convention busine...
Building resilience: succession planning and workforce development at Calgary TELUS Convention Centre
As the meetings and events industry faces rapid technological change and shifting workforce expectations, succession planning has become a critical priority. Kurby Court, president & CEO of Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, discusses how the organisation is building resilience through strategic talent development, cross-functional training, and a commitment to preserving human connection in an ...
there.app: The Swiss army knife of event operations?
Theo Reilly interviews Seth Kenvin about his creation, there.app – the event platform that wants to upgrade from disorganised group chats. I was recently at IBTM World. Arriving in Barcelona was a familiar scene – standing like a tourist with phone in hand, scrolling through plans and schedules. The hotel reservation was on an email, dinner plans were in a WhatsApp chat, meeting times were in a Ca...
How to reshape events in the 2026 landscape, according to Cvent
Cvent has released its ‘Top event trends for 2026’ report, which offers a wealth of fresh insights on what is shaping our great meeting and events industry and signposts the areas that are ripe with opportunity. The new report draws on extensive industry research and Cvent’s own data to offer clear insight and perspectives as event professionals look to chart a smart course across today’s uncertai...
Blazing a trail: A year in the PCMA hotseat
Neil Brownlee reflects on his year as PCMA’s first non-North American chair. When Neil Brownlee, VisitScotland’s head of Business Events, became the first non-North American Chair of PCMA, he took on an ambitious agenda tied to PCMA’s 2030 vision. It included launching a refreshed brand identity, deepening the integration of PCMA’s acquisitions, including CEMA and EMA UK, elevating Convene for Cli...
Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area – grand business ambitions
The business events sector in the Greater Bay Area continues to move ahead at pace and both Hong Kong and Macao are bullish about what 2026 holds, CMW’s Simon George finds out: The Greater Bay Area initiative, a joint campaign by Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macao Government Tourism Office and the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province to promote business and tourism shows no signs of...
TOGETHER at 88 Wood Street: Redefining calm in the city
In a market dominated by scale and spectacle, new venue brand TOGETHER is taking a different path – one built on calm precision, seamless delivery, and genuine human connection. Founded by Elliott Sparsis and Declan Cassidy, the brand’s debut venue at 88 Wood Street reflects their shared belief that the events industry works best when it puts people first. CMW speaks with the pair about what...