Skift Meetings Podcast

In this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, we take a closer look at the Skift Meetings Forum, a one-of-a-kind event that brought together senior meeting planners, thought leaders, and industry experts in the heart of New York. From Seth Godin’s thought-provoking keynote to groundbreaking discussions on diversity, peer-to-peer learning, and the unique venue experience at the Glass House, this episode covers all the key takeaways and lessons shaping the events industry's future.

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The highly anticipated Skift Meetings Forum is an event tailored for senior meeting planners that promises a full day of thought-provoking and industry-shaping discussions. Hosted in the inspiring Glasshouse in New York City, this forum is more than just a conference—it’s a space for candid, high-level conversations about the most pressing topics in the meetings industry.

From diversity and inclusion to captivating the next generations and geopolitics, the forum’s carefully curated sessions bring together industry heavyweights like Seth Godin and leading CEOs to offer new perspectives and spark change.

Join us as we unpack the insights, preparation, and unique approach that make this forum an unmissable event for senior planners.

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Planners need to rethink every aspect of their events—marketing, hotel and destination choices, room setups, F&B, wellness, gifting and more—with their younger attendees in mind—a candid conversation with one of the top names in event design.

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Skift Meetings editors discuss the potential implications the U.S. presidential election and the many other elections happening worldwide in 2024 could have on the meetings industry. There's plenty to consider based on previous administrations' policies on some of the most contentious topics on the political agenda. 

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Brian Quinn, Skift’s vice president of Editorial Events, shares his insights on how the Skift Global Forum brings together industry leaders for thought-provoking conversations, all within a carefully curated, single-stage experience designed to push the boundaries of travel and inspire the future.

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Subscribe to @Skift Meetings to discover the future of meetings.

Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief Miguel Neves interviews Shawna McKinley, Principal at Clear Current Consulting, discussing the impact of climate change on events and how the industry must adapt to increasing extreme weather disruptions. Ethical responsibility, institutional change, and regulatory influence are factors at play as the event industry seeks to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

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Subscribe to @Skift Meetings to discover the future of meetings.

Two experts, Carrie Davenport and Jaki Baskow, share their tips for planning holiday parties on this episode of the Skift Meetings Podcast, including:

These tips ensure a festive, interactive, and memorable holiday gathering.

There’s been a growing backlash against DEI programs in recent years. But for meetings and events, diversity, equity, and inclusion is still important. 

For planners, the goal is to expose attendees to a wide range of viewpoints, and for everyone to feel connected – regardless of the political environment. 

“We've made DEI this big scary thing,” said Dr. Brandi Baldwin, an organizational and leadership psychologist and CEO of Millennial Ventures. “You don’t do DEI. Just be someone who honors differences. Be someone who is willing to show up as your authentic self and allow others to show up as their authentic self, even if they vote for a different political party than you do. That's where I think the opportunity lies,” she said on the Skift Meetings podcast.

Some organizations are doing it better than others. “Some companies will say we're all about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it's really a misrepresentation,” said Bea Boccalandro, who advises corporate boards and executives on social purpose issues. “And then there are other corporations that are less public about their DEI efforts but “are just full throttle ahead,” she said on the podcast.

The urgency of DEI programs ebb and flow. After the murder of George Floyd, there was a rallying cry about the importance of these initiatives. Recently, there have been some headwinds, they said.

Decades of research show diverse companies are more engaged leading to financial success. As a result, most are committed to a culture that supports DEI.

For many, meetings and events are a place to start. By including speakers and attendees from different backgrounds a variety of thought will be offered. 

 “We've made DEI this big scary thing,” said Baldwin. “You don’t do DEI. Just be someone who honors differences. Be someone who is willing to show up as your authentic self and allow others to show up as their authentic self, even if they vote for a different political party than you do. That's where I think the opportunity lies,” she said.

Boccalandro cites a Pew Research Center survey in which 56% of those surveyed said that focusing on increasing DEI at work is a good thing.

She admits that “DEI washing” does happen in corporate America. “Some companies will say we're all about diversity, equity, and inclusion, and it's really a misrepresentation,” said Boccalandro. And then there are other corporations that are less public about their DEI efforts but “are just full throttle ahead,” she said.

What’s in a Name?

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the world’s largest human resources organization, created an uproar when it announced it was dropping the word equity from its inclusion, equity, and diversity focus. Its new acronym is now I&D which stands for inclusion and diversity.

Boccalandro says it’s important not to get hung up on the terms but “the initiative and efforts behind them.”

Keep it Simple

Baldwin stresses that DEI doesn’t have to be overly complicated. “We've made DEI this big scary thing. You don’t do DEI. Just be someone who honors differences. Be someone who is willing to show up as your authentic self and allow others to show up as their authentic self, even if they vote for a different political party than you do. That's where I think the opportunity lies,” she said.

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Shawn Cheng, founder and lead strategist of Curious Bear Management, believes the jury is still out on whether AI has peaked in usefulness for meetings-related tasks.

"It's too early to tell," Cheng said. "We're really just in some way taking a break."

Cheng is an experienced events industry professional who has worked with many emerging technologies. He experiments with AI tools like ChatGPT and advocates for improving the relationship between event planners and tech providers.

Cheng's skepticism towards AI's current capabilities stems from his work with the "#EventprofsBreakShit" initiative, which he has been involved with for the past four years. The project aims to create a transparent testing environment for event technology, allowing planners to provide honest feedback to vendors.

Cheng was initially impressed by the accuracy and speed of AI-generated content, which led many, including him, to quickly adopt and implement the technology.

However, the more Cheng has used AI, the more limitations he has encountered. This prompted Cheng and others in the industry to reevaluate their use of AI. Cheng sees this as a necessary transition to understand the technology's capabilities and limitations.

He has become more cautious in his approach over the past year.

Cheng noted that AI-generated content can lack substance and a unique voice, especially in the creative industry. He also pointed to emerging challenges about copyright and intellectual property.

Despite concerns, Cheng believes there are promising applications in the meetings industry. He sees the technology's current state as transitional, with users reevaluating its capabilities and limitations. Cheng believes this pause is a healthy step in its evolution.

Cheng envisions a future where AI experts work with organizations to help implement the technology effectively. These experts – on staff or external – should have a deeper understanding of the technology, its capabilities, and its limitations.

The AI expert would help the organization, including event planners, understand how to leverage the technology. This can take the shape of creating compelling content or graphics for specific platforms or use cases.

Cheng suggests that organizations would be better equipped to address concerns about privacy, copyright, and other emerging AI-related issues with an AI expert guiding the implementation.

Explore the business of events on our website, www.skiftmeetings.com and follow us on social media.

Gerrit Jessen, Director for Germany of the Event Design Collective, shared his experience as part of a pro bono mission in Uganda, where he applied his hotel management expertise to improve the operational standards of a small hotel. Despite unforeseeable challenges and dealing with manual processes, Jessen focused on making the best of his time there to leave a lasting impact.

Jessen is an experienced hotelier and event designer. He attributes much of his career success to active involvement in industry associations like MPI. He stressed the importance of investing time in volunteer roles to build networks and gain recognition. This involvement enhances personal growth and opens doors for business opportunities.

Recently, Jessen took his volunteering to a new level by participating in a pro bono mission in Uganda through the Senior Expert Service (SES). This organization matches experts with projects worldwide that can benefit from their skills. SES selected Jessen for a mission to the Satellite One Hotel in Nebbi, a remote town in the West Nile region near the Sudanese border.

Upon arrival, Jessen faced several challenges. The hotel’s operations were reminiscent of the late ’70s and early ‘80s, with most processes conducted manually due to unreliable electricity and limited IT infrastructure. For instance, essential tasks like stock management and guest check-ins were done on paper, and the hotel’s few computers were not networked.

Jessen’s approach was pragmatic. Understanding the limitations, he focused on foundational improvements that could be sustained after his departure. One of his primary objectives was to enhance hygiene standards. The simple introduction of a stainless steel table in the kitchen – which was built rather than bought – was the key to separating clean and dirty dishes and significantly improved operational hygiene.

Additionally, Jessen tackled inventory management, a crucial aspect of hotel operations. He implemented an Excel-based system to help the storekeeper track stock levels more accurately and introduced the concept of minimum and maximum stock levels to prevent shortages. These changes aimed to ensure that the hotel could maintain consistent service levels without the frequent interruptions previously caused by stock rupture.

Another significant aspect of Jessen’s mission was educating the hotel’s staff on cost analysis. He worked closely with the kitchen staff to calculate the food cost for each menu item, a previously non-existent practice. Jessen enabled the hotel to identify and promote high-margin dishes, thus improving profitability.

Jessen also addressed the communication gaps within the hotel’s management. He recommended changes to align the general manager's and key personnel's efforts. This included creating an organizational chart to clearly define roles and responsibilities and fostering better teamwork and accountability.

Nebbi's remote location added an extra layer of complexity. Jessen had to adapt to a significantly different pace and style of operation compared to the bustling environments found in Europe or the U.S. Despite the challenges, he found the experience rewarding. He emphasized the importance of not imposing solutions but rather adapting them to fit the local context and capabilities.

Reflecting on his mission, Jessen highlighted the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and leveraging one’s expertise to make a meaningful difference, even in unfamiliar and challenging environments. His experience in Uganda underscores the potential for experienced professionals to contribute significantly to developing and improving hospitality standards in less-developed regions.

Jessen remains listed with SES and is open to future opportunities to share his expertise and drive positive change globally.