Checking In

January 1, 1997

Tyler Davidson

Perhaps there is a faint glimmer of hope for the meetings industry in specific, and the economy in general?

Okay, I don’t want to jinx it, but many in the chattering classes are saying that at least the rate of economic deterioration is slowing. Nothing to hold a parade about, but we’ll take any good news these days.

Still, a cloud hangs over the industry, especially when it comes to government and public perceptions about meetings as boondoggles.

Having recently attended the annual conference of the International Association of Conference Centers, though, many believe the learning-focused, purpose-built environment they have always promoted may finally come to the attention of the many meeting planners who are taking the conservative approach.

Our June 24 educational webinar, “Conference Centers: Down to Business,” presented by one of my favorite people in the industry, Joan Eisenstodt, will examine why the conference centers may be worth taking a look at in the current environment.

Check out www.meetingstoday.com/webinars to learn more.

About the author

Tyler Davidson is the vice president and chief content director for Meetings Today, which publishes the meetings industry trade magazine Meetings Today as well as MeetingsToday.com, various newsletters, webinars, the in-person Meetings Today LIVE! Hosted-buyer events and other meetings and events industry B2B channels.

Tyler has covered the travel trade for nearly 35 years. In his role with Meetings Today, which recently won the prestigious FOLIO: Eddies Award for best magazine issue, Tyler leads the editorial team on its mission to provide the most in-depth meetings content in the industry. Previously, he worked as the Asia, Canada, Pacific Northwest and Western U.S. editor at Travel Weekly magazine and TravelAge West. Before joining the dual editorial staff producing destination sections for Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, Tyler was the Africa, Israel, Middle East, Switzerland and Pacific Northwest editor at TravelAge West. He also undertook general news and feature assignments while working at the magazines.

Besides reporting on the travel trade, Tyler has covered the real estate industry, held various editorial positions at the San Francisco-based national satire magazine The Nose, wrote freelance technology industry pieces and covered the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders for a bilingual newspaper in San Francisco. He has a B.A. in Journalism from San Francisco State University, where he worked in various editorial capacities on its award-winning student magazine, Prism.

Contact: tyler.davidson@meetingstoday.com