Andrea Doyle

Senior Editor at Skift Meetings

Senior Editor, Skift Meetings

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Articles

Women Leaders in Meetings: Pat Schaumann

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

When the U.S. passed the Open Payments Law in 2010, the meetings industry had yet to fully grasp the extent to which it would impact the planning of medical events. Pat Schaumann, president and CEO of Schaumann Consulting Group, not only understood the implications, but she created a playbook. Schaumann, whose career spans over 30 years in the hospitality and meetings industry, has a simple approach to leadership. “Leave things better than I found them,” she said.
Tariffs, Fees, and Rising Costs: How Planners Are Coping

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

In the current economic environment, business event planners are facing significant cost pressures. “A 38% cumulative increase across nearly every category of event execution, including F&B, AV, staffing, room blocks, and production from 2019 to today is a reality,” said Nicola Kastner, CEO of Event Leaders Exchange.
Medical Meetings Caught in the Crosshairs of Trump 2.0

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

Meeting professionals have been navigating a landscape where access, funding, and conference attendance are no longer guaranteed, said Pat Schaumann, president of Schaumann Consulting Group. Schaumann is also the director of Meeting Professional International’s Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program. In 2025, the U.S. was expected to host over 1.5 million medical meetings, with support from 1,800 pharmaceutical companies and 3,600 medical device companies, Schaumann said.
How Tariffs May Redraw the Global Stage

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

The Trump administration’s tariff policies are sending ripples through global trade, and in the process, they are impacting the global trade show business, said Kai Hattendorf, CEO of HTF Business Events Expertise, and the former CEO of UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry. “If permanent, this isn’t just an economic shake-up, it’s a geographic one,” said Hattendorf.
Political Pressures Shift U.S.-Canada Conference Strategy

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

Some associations are moving events from the U.S. to Canada, where favorable exchange rates, easier visa processes, and lower costs make it an appealing alternative. As the U.S. dollar weakens under new tariffs, Canadian hotels and venues now offer added value. A hotel room priced at $300 CAD translates to about $211 USD. A major draw for budget-conscious organizations, said Heather Dow, a senior manager at Ontario-based Events & Management Plus, an association and conference management firm.
Canadian Associations Reconsider U.S. Meeting Participation Amid Uncertainty

2 weeks ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

From reconsidering long-standing travel plans to canceling major conference appearances, Canadian associations are reassessing their engagement with American events. That was the takeaway from an inquiry posted on March 27 in an online forum that includes 120 Canadian national specialty medical society leaders. “Is your association still planning to hold or attend meetings in the U.S.?
The Trump 2.0 Effect on Meetings

2 weeks ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

When President Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term on January 20, 2025, few expected the effects on the meetings and events industry to be so swift and so sweeping. Planners are scrambling to adjust as conferences are canceled or scaled back and sponsors reevaluate commitments. Federal meetings were among the first to disappear. Government agencies responded to new austerity measures and layoffs led by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Unite to Launch Informa International

1 month ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

Skift Take A major shake-up in the global meetings and exhibitions industry is underway as Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa launch Informa International. Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa Group announced Thursday that they would combine their events operations in the Middle East to create a new entity called Informa International with over $700 million in annual revenues.
Al Hutchinson Stepping Down as CEO of Visit Baltimore

2 months ago | meetings.skift.com | Andrea Doyle

“Under his leadership, we've seen Baltimore transform into a destination that not only attracts significant leisure visitation but also draws marquee conventions and events that drive critical economic impact for the city,” said Board Chair Charles “Chuck” Tildon, who is leading a committee to find Hutchinson’s successor. Hutchinson has agreed to remain a consultant to assist with the transition until a replacement is found. Hutchinson joined Visit Baltimore as president and CEO in November 2016.
Al Hutchinson Stepping Down as CEO of Visit Baltimore

2 months ago | flipboard.com | Andrea Doyle

22 hours agoHundreds in Annapolis take part in #50501 protestsHundreds of people gathered Wednesday in Annapolis to protest President Donald Trump's actions as part of a national protest movement. The idea that started on Reddit clearly had legs as a crowd in Annapolis squeezed into the permitted bike-rack area between the State House and the state treasury building.