Midwest Meetings

06/09/2026

A record-setting group of 226 business and professional events industry leaders and advocates traveled to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as part of the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s annual Legislative Action Day.

Legislative Action Day focused on three issues critical to the future of trade shows, conferences and events: trade and tariffs, future workforce development and the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) — all central to the industry’s ability to continue serving as a growth engine for entrepreneurs, small businesses and communities nationwide.

Legislative Action Day focused on three issues from the Exhibitions & Conferences Alliance’s 2026 public policy agenda critical to the future of business and professional events.

06/05/2026

Stop juggling vendors and timelines, and start a partnership with Jayhawk Hospitality that streamlines your workload.

Learn more about Jayhawk Hospitality here:

Stop juggling vendors and timelines, and start a partnership with Jayhawk Hospitality that streamlines your workload.

06/02/2026

This new survey of event professionals shows what’s driving attendance, engagement and trust.

Nearly half of planners rank attendee-to-attendee connection as the top driver of event success, yet few program enough time for it. Face-to-face networking tops the trust hierarchy, reinforcing why experience design choices matter more than ever.

This new survey of event professionals shows what’s driving attendance, engagement and trust.

05/27/2026

Have you noticed an impact or difference in your international meetings?

The findings from the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey, led by the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers, indicate a significant increase in industry disruption compared with 2025, with 73.84% of respondents saying global conflicts have impacted their ability to plan or host international meetings, up from 53.92% in 2025. This increase shows that global instability is now a central factor in conference planning, destination selection, risk management and participation.

Global conflict, policy change and socio-political instability are having an escalating and measurable impact on the international meetings and conferences industry, according to findings from the 2026 Global Socio-Political Impact Survey.

05/19/2026

Companies are more convinced than ever that in-person meetings and events drive real business results, but a new survey from Global DMC Partners (GDP), a large network of destination management companies and specialized event service providers, reveals a significant gap between that conviction and the ability to prove it, one the industry will need to close in order to sustain momentum.

Companies are more convinced than ever that in-person meetings and events drive real business results, but a new survey from Global DMC Partners (GDP) reveals a significant gap between that conviction and the ability to prove it.

05/12/2026

The U.S. Travel Association recently released its report on the group travel segment, U.S. Group Travel Report: Strength Beneath the Surface, revealing a resilient and evolving group travel sector poised for renewed growth despite a challenging 2025.

The U.S. Travel Association recently released its report on the group travel segment, U.S. Group Travel Report: Strength Beneath the Surface.

05/05/2026

In a complex global political and economic climate, the World Travel Agents Associations Alliance (WTAAA) announces that it is calling on airlines to adopt a more transparent and collaborative approach to airline-imposed surcharges, an issue that vexes meeting and event planners as well.

The WTAAA is calling on airlines to adopt a more transparent and collaborative approach to airline-imposed surcharges, an issue that vexes meeting and event planners as well. 

04/28/2026

Missouri, a premier Midwest meetings destination, is home to fan favorites like the Kansas City Chiefs and, soon, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026. Kansas City is the only Midwest city selected to host this world-class event.

The excitement surrounding the tournament is already palpable and it underscores what planners have long known: This is a city built to welcome large crowds, big ideas and unforgettable events.

Kansas City will soon be the only Midwest city selected to host the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 2026.

04/21/2026

The MICHELIN Guide recently introduced its latest expansion into the Great Lakes region of the U.S. with the announcement of the MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes edition.

This multi-city guide will cover the six cities of Cleveland, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Pittsburgh.

The MICHELIN Guide is expanding into the Great Lakes region of the U.S. with the MICHELIN Guide American Great Lakes edition.

04/15/2026

Centrally located and refreshingly accessible, South Dakota combines affordability with a growing collection of venues that make it appealing for meetings.