Author
Rich Luna

Hotel Industry Experienced Record Growth in First Quarter

The hotel industry ended the first quarter with a record-growth period, group business is holding steady, and with top 25 markets performing well, the industry overall is healthy. The second half of 2026 is favorable with the World Cup and the 250th birthday of the U.S. still to come. ALHI’s…

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Advocacy Top Priority on Global Meetings Industry Day

Amy Calvert has a call to action for meeting and event professionals on the eve of this year’s Global Meetings Industry Day. Calvert, President and CEO of the Events Industry Council, is spearheading the annual event, taking place on May 6, in which meeting and event industry professionals gather…

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Industry Facts, How to Participate

Editor’s Note: This story, originally published in April 2024, has been updated for #GMID2026. On May 6, the meeting and event industry will unite for Global Meetings Industry Day 2026, an international day of advocacy and education designed to spotlight the importance and economic impact of…

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GMID Unites Meeting Industry for Day of Advocacy

Editor’s Note: This story, originally published in April 2022, has been updated for #GMID2026. When a group of meeting professionals in Edmonton, Canada, came up with the idea to have a day devoted to the professional, little did they know their gathering would be the genesis of what is now known…

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Recognizing Hospitality Industry Professionals on #GMID2026

Editor’s note: For the third consecutive Global Meetings Industry Day, ALHI thanks the industry professionals for their tireless contributions to providing memorable moments for meeting attendees and hotel and resort guests. They demonstrate daily the power of face to face and are a testament to…

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Positive Numbers Point to Steady Economic Perspective

GDP forecasts, projected tax refunds, falling rents resulting in disposable income are among the factors that point to a steady economic perspective for 2026. There could still be headwinds, such as assessing the impact of storms early in the year that led to thousands of flight cancellations, and…

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Managing Hotel Compression During FIFA World Cup

While the 2026 FIFA World Cup is creating compression at hotels in cities where matches are being played, that doesn’t mean that meeting planners won’t be able to find space. Yes, some destinations like Austin and Dallas already had limitations due to convention center renovations, but there still…

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F&B Pricing Trends to Watch in 2026

Editor's note: While overall F&B pricing is still up from 2019, coffee and orange juice costs have stabilized as beef prices are increasing. Meeting planners are encouraged to explore menu design to manage budgets in this installment of “Connecting the Dots,” a monthly series with Michael Dominguez…

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