The phone-free event isn't a gimmick anymore. It's becoming the engagement weapon planners didn't know they needed.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read online 📵 Phone-Free Events FTW! The phone-free event isn't a gimmick anymore. It's becoming the engagement weapon planners didn't know they needed.   Miguel Neves, Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief May 12th, 2026 IN THIS EDITION Private equity drives a mega merger in the world of exhibitions. The rise and rise of women’s conferences. Why some planners think phone-free events are the way to go. Plus, must-know event planning terms, conventions boost San Francisco Tourism, medical meetings update and the key industry statistics that matter. Read on below.     FEATURED STORIES Apollo to Merge Emerald and Questex in $1.5 Billion Deal By Andrea Doyle By combining Emerald and Questex, the private equity firm will create a company with more than 160 events across North America. The deal underscores growing confidence in live events, but Apollo will need to prove that bigger truly means better for exhibitors and attendees. GET THE STORY Women’s Conferences Just Keep Evolving By Barbara Scofidio Olympic athletes and former U.S. presidents on stage. Private invites to an AI discussion at Gloria Steinem's brownstone. Intimate opportunities to meet investors. These women's conferences keep raising the bar. GET THE STORY Disconnect to Connect: The Rise of Phone-Free Events By Andrea Doyle Scrolling, texting, checking email. Attendees may be physically present at events but are often mentally elsewhere. Some planners think phone-free events may be the only way to get their attention back. GET THE STORY         ICYMI: Where the Most Influential Names in Meetings Will Be Over the Next Five Years Visit Anaheim + Skift Meetings Between now and 2030, MPI, ConferenceDirect, and IPW are all hosting their most important programs in the same destination. Find out where it is – and why it’s gaining popularity. GET THE STORY         RECOGNITION The Skift IDEA Awards features five meetings and events categories: hotels, venues & convention centers, destination marketing organizations, event technology, and cruise lines. Submit your entry by July 1. SECURE YOUR ENTRY         Skift Meetings Toolkit Sponsored by Ottawa Tourism Great events are built on strategy, innovation, and the right resources. The Skift Meetings Toolkit is your go-to hub for best practices in managing meetings and events. EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT         Thanks for being a regular reader. We are switching to a new email platform. Why? This change will allow for better delivery, and more engaging newsletters. Please take a moment to add this new email address to your contacts to ensure you continue receiving your newsletters without interruption. During this transition, these emails might land in your promotions or spam folder. To ensure you don’t miss out, please move this newsletter to your primary inbox.       DEFINING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Skift 35 W 31st St. New York, New York 10001, United States Terms of Service

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Maastricht is pulling out all the stops to accommodate ESOC's 4,200 attendees  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Read online 🇪🇺 Small City, Big Event With an expanded convention center — but limited to 5,000 hotel rooms — Maastricht is pulling out all the stops to accommodate an international conference with 4,200 attendees.   Miguel Neves, Skift Meetings Editor-in-Chief May 7th, 2026 IN THIS EDITION How Spirit Airlines’ shutdown impacts already tight event budgets. The small Dutch city of Maastricht putting its newly expanded capacity to the test with the European Stroke Organisation Conference in town. How Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale are expanding their convention infrastructure to meet growing demand. Read on below.     FEATURED STORIES Spirit’s Shutdown Is One More Cost Squeeze on Events  By Andrea Doyle Airlines are replacing Spirit's routes, but not its ultra-low-cost fares. For planners already navigating rising costs, the timing couldn’t be worse. View Article Can a Small City Handle a Big Conference? Maastricht Puts Itself to the Test By Miguel Neves The European Stroke Organisation has hosted its last five conferences in Helsinki, Basel, Munich, Lyon and Milan. This week it’s gathering somewhere much smaller — and harder to reach. View Article These Three Florida Convention Hubs Just Keep Growing By Barbara Scofidio Orlando, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale keep developing their convention infrastructures to meet growing demand — and there’s no end in sight. View Article         How Did a Second-Tier City Emerge as a World Cup Host? Visit KC + Skift Meetings The 10-year journey involves a new airport terminal, immersive cultural experiences, and some love from the likes of Taylor Swift and Paul Rudd. View Article         RECOGNITION Skift IDEA Awards’ final price increase is tomorrow, May 8. Save $50 on your entry before it goes to full price. Submit your entry to Skift IDEA Awards in five meetings and events categories: hotels, venues & convention centers, destination marketing organizations, event technology, and cruise lines. Lock in the lowest price today, then complete your entry by July 1. SECURE YOUR ENTRY         🧰 Skift Meetings Toolkit Your go-to hub for best practices in managing meetings and events. Sponsored by Ottawa Tourism EXPLORE THE TOOLKIT         Thanks for being a regular reader. We are switching to a new email platform. Why? This change will allow for better delivery, and more engaging newsletters. Please take a moment to add this new email address to your contacts to ensure you continue receiving your newsletters without interruption. During this transition, these emails might land in your promotions or spam folder. To ensure you don’t miss out, please move this newsletter to your primary inbox.       DEFINING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL. Update your email preferences or unsubscribe here © 2026 Skift 35 W 31st St. New York, New York 10001, United States Terms of Service