Total U.S. government conference spending for fiscal year 2017 decreased 15.7% after three consecutive years of growth, according to an analysis by STR’s Market Insights team. Total conference spend in 2017 was $140 million after the government spent $166 million in 2016. Previous yearly totals were $121 million in 2015, $120 million in 2014, $100 million in 2013 and $276 million in 2012.

Travel costs are expected to rise in 2019, with hotel prices rising 3.7% and flight prices increasing 2.6%, according to the Global Travel Forecast, published by Carlson Wagonlit Travel and Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) with the support of the Carlson Family Foundation. This fifth annual report, which was released on July 24, 2018, cites a growing global economy and rising oil prices as the drive behind this predicted rise.

The age-old concern of how to keep the whole family entertained and happy on vacation also rings true for bringing kids and spouses along to a conference. It’s the solution that is ever-changing. We checked in with four industry experts who have first-hand experience with groups that welcome kids and spouses for their strategies to ensure successful family-friendly meetings based on today’s trends.

Marriott International unveiled a new vision for Sheraton Hotels and Resorts. The brand announced its new look will transform the lobby and public areas into gathering places for locals and guests.

In December 2018, the newest Gaylord Hotels property and latest member to Marriott’s Convention & Resort Network is set to open its doors. Just after leaving the Denver International Airport you can’t miss the massive structure standing alone in the distance that will soon debut as the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. Less than 20 miles from downtown Denver, the resort offers easy access to and from the airport, downtown Denver and the outdoor playground that are the Rocky Mountains.

Floating 5,200 feet above ground in a basket with 15 other people is not how I usually spend Saturday mornings. As we pulled up to the open field in Temecula, California, before 6 a.m. and I watched a large red balloon to inflate to the equivalent of an 11-story building, I wasn’t sure why I had committed to this excursion. Once the initial anxiety wore off, I was able to enjoy the calm ride and serene views of the vineyards below and surrounding mountains.

Las Vegas police are conducting a criminal investigation into the mishandling of funds by Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), according to reporting published by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

A major Chicago-based medical association is moving its $40 million convention out of San Francisco due to safety concerns for attendees. The city’s—and in particular the Moscone Convention Center’s SoMa neighborhood’s—open drug use and homelessness issues are being blamed for the decision.

The former Trump International Hotel & Tower Panama in Panama City will be managed by Marriott International as a JW Marriott. Ithaca Capitol took control of the property from the Trump Organization in March 2018 following a fight that included court cases in the U.S. and Panama and Trump Organization lawyers asking president of Panama to intervene in the dispute.

Teneo Hospitality Group identified the top concerns and trends within the meetings industry so far in 2018, according to its recent poll of planners in the U.S. The results presented by Teneo identify budgets, quality control, cost and reliability of audiovisual and technical services, security of content and the challenges of meeting increasingly complex dietary demands as the most prominent concerns of planners.