Stats
The New Geography of Meetings
According to the 2026 AMEX GBT Global Meetings & Events Forecast, optimism has returned across every major region, but it’s being tempered by cost pressures, rising expectations, and a growing reliance on technology.
AMEX GBT’s 2026 Forecast: The Future of Meetings Is Surprisingly Transformative
The new AMEX GBT forecast isn’t subtle—AI is in, budgets are strained, and attendees want an experience that hits harder than the keynote Reading Time: 6 Minutes After years of volatility, the meetings and events industry is finally entering a period that feels—dare we say it—stable. And according to the new AMEX GBT Global Meetings […]
USTA Travel Price Index Shows Travel Costs Rising—Again
Planning budgets just got trickier. According to the U.S. Travel Association’s (USTA) latest Travel Price Index (TPI), the cost of getting people to and from your event ticked up in August — and not by a little.
Tourism Trends Reshape Events
The global tourism industry is experiencing significant shifts in 2025, presenting both challenges and opportunities for meeting and event planners. Understanding these trends is crucial for crafting successful events that resonate with today's travelers.
Balloon Payments
The recently released Global DMC Partners (GDP) Meetings & Events Pulse Survey, finds that budgets have tightened in 2025. Downward trending budgets and rising costs is one of the key challenges facing the industry this year.
Meetings Boom: Get Ready for a Packed 2025!
Two recent industry reports, "2025 State of the Meetings Industry" by Cendyn and ConferenceDirect and "Meetings Industry Trends: Q4 and Year-End 2024 Results" by Knowland, shed light on key trends and predictions for the year ahead.
The $26 Billion Distraction Drain
Inattentive attendees in meetings are costing British Business £20 billion ($26 billion US) according to new research from London’s QEII Centre.
Hilton Annual Trends Report Predicts 2025 to Be the “Year of the Travel Maximizer”
The 2025 Trends Report uncovers what has been simmering for years – the intersection of work and play; of relaxation and adventure; of being alone but together. Travelers don't just want to choose their own adventure – they want to maximize every moment of their time away.
Americas Buck Global Trend as Hotel Construction Slows
The global hotel development pipeline is showing signs of cooling, with most regions experiencing a decline in new projects compared to last year, according to data from CoStar, a leading real estate data provider. The Americas, however, stands out as the lone bright spot, with construction activity increasing across all stages of development.
U.S. Hotels Cut Growth Outlook as Inflation Squeezes Budgets
The U.S. hotel industry is facing a less rosy outlook as hotel operators are facing a squeeze on both sides. Rising labor costs are putting pressure on profit margins, while inflation is dampening demand.
