IBTM just released it's report on the Meeting and Events industry trends for 2018 and it is optimistic, which is great news for the industry.   The report also details corporate meetings by sector which provides some interesting information.   You can read the full report here

In a recent article published by Skift Research, the Hotel Industry is seeing trends which not only impact the hotel industry but also the meeting industry:  Corporate, Association and Leisure travel.  It's a great article filled with a lot of data but great reading for anyone looking to find out the directions hotels are headed and what they will be investing in (technology) for their guests.   You can read the entire article here.  

Every meeting professional is always looking for ways to enhance the attendee experience, this article talks about the trends for 2018 you should definitely consider:   Technology (RFID and AI) and creating experiences for your attendees (unique venue or upgraded experiences).   You can read the entire article here.   

Have you thought about taking a 'day trip' but didn't know what to do or where to find the information?   Most cities around the State of Wisconsin have itineraries that provide you a hi-lights version of what you can see and do within a day.   You can even consider staying overnight and tackling two days of tours and fun.   Here are a few links to Convention and Visitor Bureaus that have some wonderful itineraries for exploring their city. Whether it's arts, museums, food, brewery tours or shopping, etc, these itineraries are loaded with great ideas.   Click on the link below for the city you would like more information about:  
Appleton/Fox Cities
Green Bay
Madison
Milwaukee

Enjoy and hope to see you touring Wisconsin!  

A report just released has estimated the cost to expand Milwaukee's Convention Center to cost $225 million.  Financing is a hot topic when it comes to expansion of any Convention Center but we have to find a way if Milwaukee is going to be competitive in the convention market.   Read the entire article here   

At some point, we've all attended a conference with a spouse or a guest and had several options of activities to choose from while they were in meetings.   A city tour just won't cut the mustard anymore, being able to experience something unique in a city is what will win people over.   Destination Management Companies are being creative and coming up with unique experiences in their cities to give the spouse programs a fun and one-of-a-kind unique experience.   Check out this recent article in Bizbash that hi-lights a few cities that are offering unique experiences.    

Destination Management Connection has been creating unique, customized spouse programs and tours for any group coming to Milwaukee or Southeastern Wisconsin.   You have a chance to make your own hand blown glass decorative piece, create and name a beer (what better way to do this, than in Milwaukee - Beer City), learn how to make an old-fashioned or have a chance to see the vaults in Harley-Davidson's museum/archives.  It's all about creating a memorable experience for someone, let me know how I can help create that memorable experience for your next group or outing.  

A recent report released by American Express Meetings & Events suggests that rising hotel room rates and airfare increases will pose some budget issues for groups in 2018. 

One of the items that stood out from the report is that attendees are looking for unique meeting venue spaces, something a local DMC can assist with in a city.  Attendees continue to ask for a unique experience or to see some portion of the destination while they are traveling.   How many times do you travel and rarely get a chance to look around the city, it's usually not often.   
Also listed in the report was keeping the meeting location close to an airport or train station, which allows more flexibility for attendees in/out of a destination and also more engaging meeting apps for attendees.   You can read the full report here.  

The November issue of Convene magazine unveiled the Meetings Industry Forecast for 2018 and Beyond.  It's well worth reading whether you are a hotelier looking at RevPar trends, a meeting professional evaluating new technology for your meetings or a business traveler analyzing airfare and overall travel costs, there is new information for all industries when it comes to business meetings, travel, technology, lodging, etc.   

One of the top trends Dr. Singh mentions for meeting professionals:  Look for high tech/high touch companies that can deliver this in a world where companies are getting rid of staff, look for companies that are spending time training staff to have a more emotional and empathetic connection with the guest or increasing the human-interaction quotient in hospitality.     You can find the entire article here.