MEEC Trends 2026
Meetings as strategic investments, not just logistics, with a focus on outcomes, culture-building, and measurable Return on Experience (ROX).
What are Strategic, Purpose‑Driven Meetings?
This organization provides online solutions for events and surveys as well as a software platform that disrupts the traditional processes for the event planners who organize events and the venues that host them, creating more value for the entire events and meetings ecosystem.
What is Cvent?
The primary goals of these organizations are to create awareness of their destinations, feed the local economy by booking meetings and group business, and ensure that their destination remains competitive.
What are DMOs (CVBs)?
The largest revenue stream for a hotel venue.
What are lodging/sleeping rooms?
This key player usually works for or is contracted by an association to manage and implement the event/show.
What is the exhibition/show manager?
Meetings that include multi-sensory, interactive, and story-driven formats with the intent of deepening learning and connection for attendees.
What is Immersive & Experiential Event Design?
The primary goal of this professional association is to provide its members, chapters and the global meeting and event community with innovative and relevant education, networking opportunities and business exchanges, and to act as a prominent voice for the promotion and growth of the industry.
What is Meeting Professionals International (MPI)?
These are small associations or groups of people attending specific social, military, educational, religious, or fraternal meetings. The attendees tend to pay their own expenses and are very price sensitive.
What are SMERFs?
This all-inclusive pricing strategy adopted by many conference centers is a price per attendee which includes rooming, food & beverage, refreshment breaks, meeting space, and audiovisual services.
What is a Complete Meeting Package (CMP)?
This key player is responsible for logistics of the expo space and services offered.
What is the convention manager?
Designing events for sensory, mobility, and cognitive diversity by providing quiet rooms, flexible seating, communication accessibility, and inclusive food & beverage offerings.
What is Accessibility, Inclusivity & Neurodiversity?
This federation is widely recognized as the global voice for professional standards, ethics, and best practices in the events field. It leads major initiatives like the Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) and oversees the credential of the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP).
What is Events Industry Council (EIC)?
This "type" of meeting is generally a gathering of common purpose whether for professional, educational, etc. Generally, the attendees pay for their own registration and amenities for the meeting as well as membership dues.
What is an Association?
This type of venue is usually owned by the local municipality.
What is a convention center?
This key player is responsible for providing products & services that are key to the success of the show, such as floor plan & design, signage, booths, freight handling & shipping, installation, maintenance, and contract labor.
What is the general services contractor?
The design of events that include carbon tracking, waste reduction, and sustainable sourcing by providing localized menus and ethical supplier partnerships.
What is Sustainability & Social Impact?
This organization is about serving destination marketing professionals first and foremost. Together with our members and partners, it represents a powerful forward-thinking, collaborative association, exchanging bold ideas, connecting innovative people, and elevating tourism to its highest potential.
What is Destination International (DI)?
These "types" of meetings are subject to many rules which include per-diem rates and accommodation restrictions. There is usually a short turnaround time for planned for these types of gatherings, they require a disproportionately large amount of meeting space relevant to hotel rooms and can require high security.
What is Government?
This type of venue is designed for the comfort of the meeting attendee and usually focused on learning and teaching.
What is a conference center?
An outside company (not the official show contractor) that provides services such as booth installation and dismantling, design, audiovisual, floral, furniture, photography, or technical labor. These companies require access to the exhibit hall and must comply with show management rules.
What is an Exhibitor Appointed Contractor (EAC)?
Reshaping planner roles and required skills for sourcing, budgeting, forecasting, and personalization through the use of chatbots, automation, and predictive analytics.
What is AI & Technology-Enhanced Event Planning?
Claiming to be the world's largest community for Business Event Strategists, this organization provides multi-level education, networking, and market intelligence for the global events industry. Also known for its annual "EduCon".
What is a PCMA?
These "types" of meetings have a variety of needs that can be satisfied by scheduling a gathering. Examples are Board Meetings, Stockholder Meetings, Training Meetings, and Incentive Trips. In general, this type of meeting has required attendance and the meeting attendees do not pay for their own registration or amenities.
What is Corporate?
The single most important thing a planner can provide a venue to ensure the effective and cost-efficient execution of a meeting.
What is understanding the physical and financial structure of the venue?
This type of show is designed for specific niche industries, includes custom built exhibition booths, and the primary purpose is networking opportunities for industry professionals and members only.
What is a trade show?