Learn how to ask Echo and Alexa integrated devices for the latest meeting and event planner news, so that your hands and eyes can focus on other tasks.

Benchmark released its "Top 10 Meeting Trends for 2019.” The annual list is compiled from guest observation and feedback from the company’s portfolio of 80 hotels, resorts and conference centers.

While many of the logistical challenges of the meeting- and event-planning world change very little year-over-year, some key results from our Meetings Today Trends Survey point to a major shift in some of the more personal issues of meeting planners.

A number of issues impacted the meetings industry in 2018, from strikes and other labor actions in various destinations across the U.S. to major hotel chains cutting their traditional commission level for independent planners. Meetings Today polls its readers every year on how their jobs and programs fared, how they expect their budgets  will shape up, the sites they typically use for their programs and other questions that help shine a light on the state of the profession. 361 meeting planners answered the call. Following are some highlights.

The trends revealed in the future of business events study by Marriott and PCMA, as presented at Convening Leaders 2019, touched on the following areas: emotional intelligence, orchestrated serendipity, multimodal design, bigger than oneself and sense of place.

Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas is joining the list of properties offering free self- and valet parking fees for overnight hotel guests as of January 1, 2019. The parking fee was previously $10 per night, however, the hotel is simultaneously raising the daily resort fee by $4 per night, going from $35 to $39. Day visitors at the Cosmopolitan without will still be charged hourly parking fees.

Meeting planners in the Meetings Today Market Trends Survey respond as to whether their budget and attendance will increase or decrease in 2019.

Meeting planners in the Meetings Today Market Trends Survey respond as to what worries them about the meetings industry.

Meeting planners in the Meetings Today Market Trends Survey respond as to who they think 2019 will unfold in the meetings industry.

Meeting planners in the Meetings Today Market Trends Survey respond as to what trends they're seeing.