Vince Alonzo
Incentive Travel Gets a Reboot: How AI, Risk, and Values Are Changing the Game
The 2025 Incentive Travel Index (ITI) debuted at IMEX America, drawing on the insights of 2,700 professionals across 85 countries, the report confirms what many in the business already feel: incentive travel isn’t disappearing—but it’s evolving under pressure.
Lost in Translation? Not Anymore. How AI Is Rewriting the Language of Live Events
At most events, what you say matters. But how you’re heard—and by whom—can define the experience. That’s the premise driving Encore’s new suite of AI-powered transcription and translation services, unveiled through its partnership with Wordly.
Full Throttle Hospitality: F1 Arcade Shifts Las Vegas Corporate Events Into High Gear
Las Vegas doesn’t do ordinary—and the newest entrant on the city’s event scene is proving it. This October, F1 Arcade Las Vegas opens inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, offering planners and incentive organizers a new kind of horsepower: a 21,000-square-foot experiential venue that merges competitive gaming, fine dining, and Formula 1 glamour in one high-octane package.
From Slots to Show Floors: New York’s High-Stakes Play for the Events Industry
Queens, historically overshadowed by Manhattan and Brooklyn, could suddenly become an entertainment anchor. A convention hosted in Queens could offer attendees 24/7 energy: nightlife, concerts, integrated resorts, high-end retail, and immersive dining—all steps from exhibit halls.
At IMEX America, Destinations International Redefines the Future of DMOs
At IMEX America in Las Vegas this week, Destinations International (DI) delivered a wake-up call to the global meetings industry: destination organizations are no longer just the logistical backdrop to events—they’re becoming co-architects of experience and community impact.
Grounded by Gridlock: The U.S. Shutdown’s Ripple Effect on Air Travel and Events
When flights slow, meetings stop moving. And right now, the U.S. government shutdown is quietly threatening the most essential logistics layer in the event industry: the ability to get people where they need to be.
Winter 2025/26 Forecast Throws a Frosty Gauntlet at U.S. Meeting Planners
From NYC to the Rockies: Why winter volatility is the new terrain every planner must map If your backup plan for winter events is still “just buy more heaters,” you may want to rethink your playbook. Meteorologists are warning that the 2025–26 winter season could swing from mild to menacing, with parts of the country […]
Keep It Small: The Best Advice I Ever Got Still Works at IMEX America
Big shows like IMEX America are proof of just how much the events industry thrives on human connection, but also how easy it is to drown in the noise. Keeping things small doesn’t make your goals smaller; it makes them doable. So the next time you’re standing on a trade show floor, trying to figure out what to do first, remember my brother’s advice: find the ball first, then swing.
The $2,000 Difference: How Incentive Leaders Stay in the Fast Lane
According to the Incentive Research Foundation’s (IRF) 2025 Top Performer Study: Automotive & Manufacturing Industries, companies that consistently hit revenue and retention benchmarks share one thing in common: they invest in rewards and recognition that go far beyond cash.
The Ultimate Cruise Checklist for Attendees
Cruises aren’t like land-based programs — the Wi-Fi is slower, the dress codes stricter, and “all aboard” really means all aboard. A clear, no-nonsense checklist keeps everyone from drifting off course.
