Who wants the same-old, same-old in their meetings? From presentations and breakouts to teambuilding and networking events, attendees are shaking their fists at the heavens and wailing the plaintive cry “quit boring the hell out of me with your cookie-cutter meeting components!”

Gather a room full of planners and a great many will single out the recent commission cuts by Marriott, Hilton and IHG as the issue that keeps them up at night, as was showcased in our interviews at Meetings Today LIVE! MidAmerica in St. Louis.

In St. Louis, red rules. Of course, they love their St. Louis Blues hockey team, but it’s the MLB Cardinals that rule The Roost. Called by many “the best fans in baseball,” the good citizens of St. Louis know how to cheer on their teams, and also how to provide a great setting for meetings and events that serve up a good, honest portion of Midwest quality and tradition. Participants of Meetings Today LIVE! MidAmerica discovered several exciting venues and group options on the second day of the event’s May 20-23, 2018, program.

Meetings Today LIVE! MidAmerica hit a lofty high note on its opening night, with a welcome reception perched 20 floors above downtown St. Louis in the historic Crystal Ballroom of the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel.

Major meetings industry associations have joined forces to fight sexual harassment.

Westgate Resorts is boosting third-party commission rates to 12 percent, based on location and times of meetings.

Voices in Advocacy inks deal with RAP Index to use advocacy technology to streamline policymaker outreach and influence.

For Ryan Clark, executive chef at Tucson’s Casino Del Sol, playing a central role in fostering a burgeoning cuisine scene in the Southern Arizona city is a driving force that carries through to his work at the large casino-resort that employs him.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) joined Marriott International and Hilton Worldwide in cutting third-party planner commissions to 7 percent, from the traditional 10 percent, at properties in the U.S. and Canada.

Visit Anaheim launched a major marketing campaign to show off the its fun new group offerings that appeal beyond Disneyland.