Vince Alonzo

Industry Planner Resources

Southwest Airlines Overhauls Customer Experience

In a landmark shift for the airline industry, Southwest Airlines Co. (SWA) today announced a series of transformative initiatives aimed at elevating the customer experience, boosting financial performance, and driving shareholder value. The Dallas-based carrier, known for its open-seating policy, will introduce assigned seats and premium seating options in 2025, as well as launch redeye flights starting in February 2025.

Industry Planner Resources

Delta’s Response to Global Tech Outage Under Fire

U.S. Department of Transportation opens probe into the airline’s handling of flight cancellations A software glitch earlier this month plunged the world into technological chaos, impacting flights, financial firms, news outlets, hospitals, businesses, and government agencies. In the aftermath, Delta Air Lines (DL) finds itself under scrutiny as the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) launches […]

Technology

GlobalMeet Surpasses 3 Million Certifications

In a testament to the booming demand for online professional development, GlobalMeet, a leading virtual event technology provider, today announced that its Continuing Professional Education (CPE) platform has surpassed 3 million certifications.

Incentives

SITE Snapshot Report: Incentive Travel Trends and Challenges

A new snapshot report from the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), sponsored by Hilton, offers a glimpse into the priorities and concerns of corporate incentive planners in 2024. Drawing on responses from nearly 100 global organizers, the report reveals key insights into decision-making, destination selection, and challenges facing the industry.

Event Design

Freeman Report Explores Top 4 Event Design Elements

A new report from Freeman, a global leader in events, offers a data-driven roadmap for crafting successful B2B events by focusing on four key drivers: experience, learning, networking, and commerce.

Destinations

Back to School

In a surprising twist, college campuses are emerging as sought-after destinations for corporate and association meetings and events. This growing trend is reshaping the landscape of event planning, offering businesses unique and cost-effective alternatives to traditional venues.

Best Practices

Mastering the Post-Event Checklist

After the buzz of a conference subsides, the real work for meeting managers begins. A well-executed post-event wrap-up is crucial for evaluating success, improving future events, and maintaining attendee engagement.

Experts

All Our Eggs In One Basket

The recent global software glitch that disrupted businesses and service around the world highlights several critical concerns about our increasing reliance on technology, especially in the travel sector.

Industry Planner Resources

Maritz Acquires Convention Data Services

St. Louis-based Maritz, a prominent player in the meetings and events management sector, has solidified its position with the acquisition of Convention Data Services (CDS) from Freeman. The deal, finalized on July 1st, brings together two industry veterans with a shared dedication to the evolving events landscape.

Event Design

Freeman Report Reveals Exhibitor Priorities

A new report from Freeman, the global events powerhouse, offers a deep dive into the minds of exhibitors, providing event organizers with invaluable insights to create more impactful and successful events. While brand awareness and sales remain important, lead generation is the undisputed champion for exhibitors.