Vince Alonzo
Show Down in Austin: Can Convention Centers and Culture Coexist?
When Austin, Texas swung the wrecking ball at its downtown convention center this spring, it wasn’t just demolishing a building — it was igniting a debate that cities everywhere should pay attention to.
CrowdComms Makes Its U.S. Play—with a Lesson in Event-Tech Minimalism
CrowdComms, the event-tech firm behind apps, registration kiosks, and hybrid platforms, has officially entered the U.S. market with a new Georgia-based HQ and a cross-country launch tour.
Catskills Meetings: Bagels, Borscht & Breakouts
Long before beachfront mega-resorts and bucket-list travel, summer in the Northeast meant “going up to the mountains.” The ethnic enclaves in that area helped create American leisure.
Dress Codes That Work: A Practical Playbook for Planners
If you plan meetings, you already manage a hundred tiny levers that shape attendee experience—room sets, AV, flow, wayfinding, F&B. Dress codes are one more lever. Done well, they enhance professionalism, comfort, and culture; done poorly, they confuse, exclude, or clash with global expectations.
Feed the World: Why Cuisine Is the Secret Sauce of Great Meetings
When international attendees gather, cuisine becomes more than catering—global menus build bonds, spark stories, and turn mealtimes into networking gold In 2023, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), North America hosted about 1,873 international association meetings, roughly 19% of the global total. The U.S. alone led the world with 690 international meetings, […]
Amazon Aims to Ground In-Flight Dead Zones
Dropped connections in transit can derail coordination and frustrate attendees traveling to an event. Amazon’s Project Kuiper, now preparing for commercial service, could finally change that equation.
Southwest’s Seating Shake-Up: No Room for Surprises
Southwest Airlines has long maintained a “Customer of Size” policy, but beginning January 27, 2026, the rules get sharper. PSouthwest Airlines has long maintained a “Customer of Size” policy, but beginning January 27, 2026, the rules get sharper. The airline will move from open seating to assigned seating, and with that comes stricter requirements: passengers who encroach on a neighboring seat must purchase an additional seat in advance. The airline defines the armrest as the boundary line.
The Drive-In Revival
Across the country, creative owners have modernized their fields of flickering screens into flexible venues for more than just movies. For meeting and event planners, the rebirth of the drive-in is more than a cultural curiosity — it’s a ready-made blueprint for unconventional gatherings.
Canada’s Incentive Edge
With the exchange rate stretching a U.S. planner’s budget by some 30 percent, choosing America’s northern neighbor for incentive travel programs offers a smart solution for those tasked with delivering ever more dazzling experiences on ever tighter budgets.
24 Years After 9/11: A Walk Through the Day That Changed Everything
It’s hard to believe that 25 years have passed since 9/11 — a day that changed the nation and the world. On this milestone anniversary, I find myself remembering not only the enormous impact and tragedy of that day, but also the people — friends, colleagues, strangers — whose lives were forever changed.
