Meetings Today had a busy 2025 getting out on the road to explore destinations with meetings in mind.
Aside from traveling to cover the major meetings industry events, such as MPI WEC, PCMA Convening Leaders, ASAE’s Annual and, of course, IMEX America, Meetings Today editors and contributors relished the following opportunities to discover the unique aspects of the destinations that make our industry run.
Hope to see you out on the road in 2026!
[See Our On the Scene Coverage From 2024]
Tyler Davidson, Vice President & Chief Content Director
Traveling to the Future Via the DMC Network Exchange in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Dubai and Abu Dhabi were the futuristic stars of the 2025 DMC Network Exchange, which showcased the two prime UAE destinations while bringing together DMC members and hosted meeting-planner buyers.
Istanbul Straddles Two Continents—and Time Itself
Istanbul is a city that reveals itself on its own terms for travelers who invest the time and energy to unpeel its many layers. A pre-MPI EMEC fam tour helped Tyler Davidson discover its myriad lures.
New Orleans Is Using the Super Bowl as a Springboard to Meetings Success
The Super Bowl LIX host city New Orleans is a destination tailor-made for the spotlight, adding its signature brand of revelry, culture and cuisine to an undertaking that has become the quintessential U.S. cultural statement to the world. Tyler headed to the Big Easy to see how the city is gearing up for one of the biggest sporting events on the globe and how its preparations impact meetings and conventions.
Taylor Smith, Content Manager, Destinations
Experiential Education Powers MPI Southern California Chapter's Annual [WE]Con Event
Taylor traveled to San Diego to participate in the annual gathering of one of MPI’s most active chapters. Among the many speakers she met, she was especially bowled over by LinkedIn expert Richard Bliss, who now writes our LinkedInsights column. That’s the power of in-person meetings!
Sites and Bites That Fill Meetings With the Spirit of St. Louis
In the lead-up to MPI WEC, Taylor explored all “The Gateway City” has to offer. From meeting venues—highlighted by the recently refreshed America’s Center Convention Complex—and hotels to culture and the Cardinals, “The Lou” delivered.
Hospitality and Heart Make Los Cabos, Mexico, a Tried-and-True Incentive Destination
Taylor immersed herself in the colorful destination of Los Cabos in the leadup to Meetings Today Live! Corporate/Incentive, discovering the facilities and culture that makes Los Cabos a popular choice for incentive travel programs.
Madeleine Willis, Content Developer, Departments & Social Media
Indianapolis Champions Continuous Meeting Space
Maddie got the opportunity to attend her first press trip in October after joining the publication in September, traveling to Indianapolis for the topping-out ceremony of the 38-story Signia by Hilton Indianapolis. She also took site tours of the JW Marriott, the InterContinental, Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium, the Indiana Convention Center and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
Jeff Heilman, Senior Contributor
Woodloch Resort Gives Groups and Guests the Gift of Time
Spanning 1,200-plus acres in the northeastern Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania, perennial group favorite Woodloch Resort is at heart an immortalizing love story. Prepare for your heart strings to be pulled!
How Atlantic City Continues to Strengthen Its Group Appeal
From the iconic Boardwalk to seeing The Who at Boardwalk Hall, our Atlantic City expert immersed himself in this storied East Coast gaming and entertainment mecca.
On the Scene at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas
Our resident Vegas aficionado stayed at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, where he discovered that at every touchpoint, the former upstart has matured into a welcoming and relaxing environment where business is a pleasure.
Preview Las Vegas: The Region Revs Its Economic Engines
Las Vegas is gunning its engines via a massive amount of new development and thrilling major sports events, but also with an eye on sustainability and economic expansion. Jeff traveled to Vegas to get the skinny on what’s new in this perennial meeting and convention favorite.
Las Vegas Forecast: Diversification Continues to Draw Bigger Visitor Spend
On his trip to cover the Vegas Chamber's annual Preview Las Vegas, Jeff found that hospitality industry job growth remained a challenge, but also that the destination is excelling in diversifying its visitor base via welcoming epic sporting events and tapping into the bigger spend those customers bring to the Entertainment Capital of the World.
Jennifer Juergens, Contributing Content Developer, Florida and Caribbean
Behind the Scenes With Disney Creative Studio
Travel with Jennifer to learn more about the newly unveiled Disney Creative Studio, designed to support Disney's meetings sector and provide resources for meeting professionals to organize conventions, events and incentive programs.
Bradenton Provides a Fresh Florida Experience for Groups
The future is ripe with possibility for meetings and conventions in the Bradenton Area, arguably one of southwest Florida’s best-kept secrets. And once business wraps up, you’re just a hop, skip and a sandy jump away from the powdery beaches of Anna Maria Island via the Gulf Islands Ferry.
Gary Singh, Freelance Writer
How the Northern Lakes of Italy Were Designed for Meetings and Incentives
Meetings Today contributing writer Gary Singh spent a week near three of the Northern Lakes of Italy—Como, Garda and Maggiore—to survey the region’s meetings and incentives offerings for Incentives Today.
Music City Deep-Dive: Nashville Beyond the Beats and Barbecue
From football to recycled guitar strings, from pancakes to potato gnocchi, Nashville is not just for country music fans. On a recent fam, Gary discovered so much more.
Explore the Unexpected Side of the Reno Meetings Scene
Gary traveled to Reno, Nevada, with Caesars Entertainment, where the cultural side of the destination shattered his preconceived notions.
Why Vancouver, British Columbia, Is Such a Unique Incentive Travel Destination
Discover how Vancouver, British Columbia, blends past, present and future for an incentive experience like no other, from seaplane flights to the amazing cultural tableau of one of the most diverse cities in the world.
Grand Rapids, Michigan, Is a Meetings Destination That Prizes the Arts
Gary got a chance to experience Grand Rapids, Michigan’s ArtPrize, the largest public art competition in the U.S., as well as key meeting facilities. See how Grand Rapids can help paint your program.
