These 20 Meetings Trendsetters have stepped up to lead the business events industry in a positive direction from a variety of roles via accomplishments in a wide range of disciplines. Congratulations to the Meetings Trendsetters class of 2025!

We sat down with one of the foremost associations thought leaders, former Association Chat editor-in-chief KiKi L’Italien, to discuss what she believes are the issues that are most impacting the association segment. 

Expert event marketer Laurie Sharp found herself trotting through the Loire Valley in France in June, riding from castle to castle on horseback with seven women she’d never met. Here’s what the experience taught her about designing epic luxury experiences that start with the uncomfortable. 

Destination management organization (DMO) veteran Al Hutchinson left his role leading Visit Baltimore at the end of June to form a consultancy serving the DMO segment, AVH Enterprise.

When conversations prioritize titles over thoughts, they prevent authentic connection (and often scare Gen Z away). Here are four tips from Sepideh Eivazi, founder of Dawn of the Earth and director of global accounts at Elevated Meeting Solutions, to intentionally start conversations that invite Gen Z to take a seat at the table.

The bipartisan Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workplace Act allows for the expansion of 529 education savings plans to cover the costs of post-secondary workforce training and credentialling programs.