The Washington State Court of Appeals blocked a so-called “panic button” law for hotels in Seattle on Monday, December 24, 2018. According to the unanimous ruling, Seattle Initiative Measure 124 violated the “single subject condition,” which stops disparate rules being combined into a single law.

From plant-based and hyper-local to gut-friendly and booze-free, culinary wellness is here to stay, and it’s having a huge impact on attendee expectations at events. In the coming year, planners should prepare for healthy, innovative food and drink to be exceedingly popular at gatherings, according to Christine Couvelier, global culinary trendologist, chef, educator and speaker.

The Meetings Today editors skimmed through the analytics, grabbed the top 20 videos and then watched each one to pick our personal favorite Meetings in a Minute (MIAM) planner tips we showcased in 2018.

With its impressive array of film studios, performing arts centers, theaters, museums and distinctive architecture, Los Angeles plays a starring role on the world stage of art and culture. For planners seeking group-friendly venues with an artistic or entertainment-oriented vibe, the city can deliver on these as well or better than any other destination, according to Darren Green, senior VP of sales for the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board.

Although heat mapping visual representations have been around for a century or more in various forms, the digital revolution and data analytics have made this tool extremely useful and utilized in the last decade. A frequent use of heat maps in the events industry is to track attendee behavior.

Even the best laid plans for a meeting or event can be thrown asunder in the blink of an eye, or the pop of a circuit, if the on-site internet or power source suddenly goes bust. The December 27, 2018 report that internet and phone service from CenturyLink suddenly went out throughout much of its system undoubtedly caught many unawares. What should meeting and event planners do on-site if the internet goes out?

Rick McNary, vice president of private and public partnerships with The Outreach Program, suggests that event planners borrow a strategy from IKEA and create “agency” for attendees at their meetings and events. One option is using CSR activities to inspire action.

Rachel Riggs with Tourism Vancouver presents eight simple ideas to incorporate CSR into your meetings, including the use of therapy animals, special guests and clothing drives.