Barbara Scofidio

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19 New Southern U.S. Meeting Venues

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

According to the latest United States Construction Pipeline Trend Report from Lodging Econometrics, the three fastest-developing cities for hotel development are in the South: Dallas with 204 projects (23,669 rooms), Atlanta with 168 projects (19,431 rooms), and Nashville with 130 (17,029 rooms) The types of venues being built and undergoing renovations run the gamut from convention centers (Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL and the Savannah Convention Center in...
Head to the Midwest: 5 New and Newly Renovated Facilities for Groups

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

The Midwest has always been a popular spot for meetings industry gatherings, with Meeting Professionals International’s 2025 WEC coming to St. Louis this June. Chicago is a main chapter hub for every industry association, and Minneapolis is home to the headquarters of several of the major incentive houses. Hotel investment in the region is booming, particularly in major cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, as well as secondary and tertiary markets like Omaha and Des Moines.
Five Key Hotels and Venues Opening in the Northeast

1 week ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

The long-awaited reopening of the Waldorf Astoria has again been delayed to the fall, with planners eager to get a peek at the Art Deco Park Avenue landmark, the flagship of Hilton’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand. Already highly sought-after is Convene’s new location in Hudson Yards, which is set to reopen in September, with views of the city’s iconic skyline from the 24th floor.
Six New Canadian Hotels Reflect the Country’s Evolving Hospitality Landscape

2 weeks ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

Canada’s hotel sector is entering a new era of growth, marked by eco-conscious builds, luxury upgrades, and culturally rich conversions. These six properties show how developers are meeting both traveler expectations and event planner demand in 2025. 2025 is shaping up to be a strong year for new Canadian hotel activity, which will reach its highest level since 2019, according to CBRE’s Canadian Hotel Industry Outlook. This year will see twice the number of new rooms — 6,500 — than last year.
Ready for Groups: 9 New Hotels in Mexico and Latin America

2 weeks ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

The Latin America hotel construction pipeline is full of new options for meeting and incentive groups. Business is booming in the region of the world: At the close of Q1 2025, the total hotel construction pipeline in Latin America saw an 18% increase in projects and an 11% increase in rooms year-over-year. Of those, Mexico had the largest number — 254 projects and 39,163 rooms.
Africa Hotel Market Reaches New Heights: 12 New Entrants

2 weeks ago | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio |Miguel Neves

Hotel development in Africa has reached a new level. In the works are 577 hotel projects, totaling about 105,000 rooms. That marks a 13.3% increase from last year, according to a report from W Hospitality Group, a Nigeria-based advisory firm. That's a record, according to the consultancy.
Events Industry Rallies to Have Its Own NAICS Code

Jan 14, 2025 | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio

According to the Exhibition and Events Workforce Development Federation (EE-WDF), the events industry generates more than $1 trillion annually and supports 5.9 million jobs in hospitality, tourism, technology, and other related fields. Yet, the events industry is not named in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) – and a group of event planners is trying to change that. NAICS codes are updated every five years, and the deadline is fast approaching.
New Passport & Real ID Rules for 2025

Dec 27, 2024 | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio

The meetings industry is scrambling to prepare for several significant passport and visa changes taking place in 2025. New international and domestic ID regulations, aimed at enhancing security and streamlining border control processes, will impact planners and attendees alike. Communication is key: Planners organizing both domestic and international meetings need to be proactive about informing attendees of these changes early on, to avoid last-minute issues.
‘Tis The Season - Convene Turns Meeting Venue Into a Christmas Market

Dec 23, 2024 | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio

Hospitality company Convene, which offers meeting and event venues in the U.S. and UK, transformed one of its London locations into a turnkey Christmas experience. It was so successful, that plans are in motion for a 2025 return. The inaugural Convene Christmas Market was nearly sold out. It drew over 610 guests per event from December 9-20, 2024. Designed for groups of 500 to 1,000, the market blends entertainment, experiential design, and curated food and beverage.
How to Build a Smart Event Data Strategy to Maximize ROI?

Dec 23, 2024 | meetings.skift.com | Barbara Scofidio

Have you ever planned an event and felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of guesswork involved? Will the right people show up? Are your sessions hitting the mark? Is the budget really worth it? The good news is that the guesswork ends when data takes center stage. A solid event data strategy empowers you to deliver events that captivate attendees, meet business goals, and maximize ROI, from pre-event planning to post-event analysis.