Extraordinary Events President Andrea Michaels has taken a leading role in shaping the special events industry as we know it, but in a segment defined by the stories it imparts to attendees, she has a few of her own to share.

Chief Content Director Tyler Davidson details his story and video about Marriott's CRN's bold 48-Hour Film Challenge, shot in Vancouver and event technology expert Jim Spellos' take on a free In Case of Emergency app that could save your life. Get your week’s news in early with The Wednesday Wrap!

The Personal Stories Project, co-founded by Charles Chan Massey, promotes activism, advocacy and support for the LGBT community and its allies. This is accomplished through sharing the personal, and often heart-wrenching, stories about the journey of coming out and other aspects of life across the LGBT and ally communities.

The Las Vegas City Council voted 4-1 in favor of allowing marijuana lounges in the city. The vote will allow people to consume marijuana products on-site at so-called “social use venues.”

To broaden our horizons, Meetings Today posted on The Meetings Community, or MeCo, cyber community asking for international meeting planning advice. Following are some response highlights.

Meeting and event planners working with a facility’s convention services team can help ensure their program is a success by providing some very basic, but essential, information. Maxine Compean, associate event manager for the dual-branded the DOUGLAS, Autograph Collection and the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, offered the following six tips to keep meeting and event planners and the convention services team on the same page.

Tyler Davidson talks with Michael Owen, a 30-year meetings and events industry veteran who has also worked in the entertainment industry for half a century, about why planners need to secure music licensing through performing rights organizations such as BMI or ASCAP—or risk paying hefty fines for playing music at events.