Hospitality Partner-Only Session

This session offers hospitality partners a look at how others are navigating 2026’s challenges and opportunities and the chance to hear a meeting professional’s perspective on what’s ahead.

Meetings Professional Exchange

This session is an opportunity for meetings professionals to network and discuss timely topics, best practices and challenges among peers.

Compassionate Agility: Balancing Care and Efficiency in Leadership

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Andrea Hollingsworth, Global Compassion Expert, Award-Winning Author, Founder and CEO, Hollingsworth Consulting

How can leaders maintain a high level of caring and connection while dexterously guiding people through difficult, new, complex, unpopular or otherwise stress-inducing circumstances? Dr. Andrea shares stories, science and practical tools for practicing compassionate agility, defined as “the ability to prioritize empathic connection and support, while deftly and boldly navigating challenge and change.” This session will leave attendees with practical wisdom, inspiring examples and actionable strategies for leading through change and navigating the modern workplace.

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AI Unlocked: Advanced Prompting for the Events of Tomorrow

Area of Interest: Technology Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Meeting or Event Design

Level up your AI skills in this interactive workshop designed for meetings professionals and hospitality partners who are ready to go beyond the basics including AI agents. You’ll discover advanced techniques for writing prompts that deliver smarter, more strategic results from AI tools. Through engaging exercises and real-world applications, you’ll learn how to best utilize AI in planning, problem-solving and innovation across every stage of the event experience.

Human First Communications: The Planner’s Competitive Edge in an AI-Driven World

Area of Interest: Strategic Thinking and Impact
CMP-IS Domain H: Stakeholder Management

Speaker: Tim Hines, Founder, Marketing Starter Group

Automation and AI are reshaping how events are marketed, executed and measured. However, while technology can accelerate processes, it cannot replace the power of human connection, the factor that turns a meeting into a communication by putting relationships back at the center. From client touchpoints to supplier negotiations to attendee engagement, you’ll learn how to use human-first communication strategies to strengthen trust, build loyalty and create events that drive measurable business outcomes.

Trends Driving the Future of Events and Hospitality

Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Meeting or Event Design

Join industry leaders for an engaging fireside chat exploring what’s next in events and hospitality. Together, we’ll unpack the emerging trends, technologies and shifting attendee expectations shaping the industry’s future. From evolving meeting formats to innovations in service, design and guest experience, this conversation will offer fresh insights and practical takeaways to help you stay ahead of the curve.

Roundtable on Turning Trends Into Action

Area of Interest: Meeting Planning Trends and Solutions
CMP-IS Domain H: Meeting or Event Design

Continue the conversation from the Trends Driving the Future of Events and Hospitality session in this interactive roundtable. Event professionals will come together to discuss key takeaways, share perspectives and explore how emerging trends, technologies and shifting attendee expectations can be applied to real-world planning and experiences.