Course
Eastern Time
What's Shaping Live Experiences in 2026
Events are changing faster than the playbooks used to plan them. What attendees expect from connection, content, personalization and production has shifted. New research from Encore and Boldpush of nearly 500 event professionals maps where the industry stands across these core dimensions and more, with a goal to give event leaders a data-grounded view of what's working, what isn't and where the biggest gaps remain.
Join Meetings Today and Amanda Armstrong, SVP Industry Relations for Encore, for this free one-hour exploration into the most-recent data pointing to meetings and events trends, and how you can be prepared to capitalize on them.
Takeaways:
- Learn the latest industry data, including new research from Encore and Boldpush, to help guide your in-person event decisions
- How new audience demographics are impacting meetings and events content and production
- The latest AV trends and features
- What gaps you need to fill in order to remain competitive and ahead of the curve
Amanda Armstrong
SVP Industry Relations
Encore
Amanda Armstrong was named in the top five Women of Influence by Meetings Net Magazine and one of the 50 Most Influential Meeting Professionals by Meeting Professionals International. She is the Senior Vice President of Industry Relations, where she champions Encore’s strategic partnerships, deepens industry involvement, and leads initiatives that elevate customer engagement through events and brand advocacy. Armstrong supports the exceptional team members of Industry Relations and is responsible for advancing Encore’s presence and impact across the global events industry through thought leadership, strategic collaboration, and the development of the company’s brand ambassador program.
Staying active in the industry is a top priority. She currently serves on the Event Industry Council’s APEX Critical Response Task Force and the Event Leaders 100 think tank. Armstrong served as the 2018 Chair of the International Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was an advisory board member for Hyatt Hotels, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, and Elite Meetings.
Prior to joining Encore, Armstrong led the global meetings and travel team at Enterprise Holdings, Inc, the parent company for Enterprise rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo for 14 years. She led all procurement, planning and execution of the companies’ meetings globally and led the transient travel program.
She graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, received her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2007, Corporate Travel Expert (CTE) certification in 2011, and became a Certified Event Designer (CED) in 2015.
Outside the office, she heads off into nature to ski, hike, camp, or surf. She enjoys traveling and sailing with her husband, Jon, who loves to plan travel and culinary adventures.
If you ask her where she cut her teeth in our industry, it was at the tech table calling the show on comms with audio visual professionals who make it all happen.