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The News Desk

Planner Intelligence

Open calls and the business of the stage, checked against organizer pages as they publish.

The Intelligence Desk

Sourced industry readings · Every figure carries its source, period, and scope · Desk updated October 2026
60%
of meeting professionals expect favorable business conditions over the next year, and 61% expect live attendance to grow. 73% say purposeful event design will be very important or essential to business outcomes over the next two years.
Source: MPI Meetings Outlook, Q3 2026 (MPI with IMEX) · Survey of meeting professionals · Global · mpi.org/meetingsoutlook
+7.8%
growth in average association meeting space year over year (to 12,835 sq ft), with association volume slightly down but meetings running larger. Technology-sector meetings grew 10.1%.
Source: Knowland by Cendyn, MICE Market Snapshot, June 2025 · United States · knowland.com
54%
of planners already use AI tools in venue sourcing, and 69% expect to increase that use. 90% describe themselves as optimistic about the industry's state.
Source: Cvent 2025 Planner Sourcing Report, Europe edition · UK & Europe planners · Reported 2025

How the desk works: readings are published with their source, reporting period, and geographic scope, and are labeled with the date the desk last reviewed them. Historical readings are never presented as live. The context for the MPI arc matters: Q2 2025 was the least-positive reading in that survey's history (31% favorable); the Q3 2026 recovery to 60% is the story, and it is a survey of expectations, not a count of events.

Open Call · Distance Learning

USDLA 2027 opens its call for proposals

The United States Distance Learning Association is accepting session proposals for its 2027 conference, with concurrent sessions and virtual presentations both in scope.

Open Call · Human Resources

SHRM Washington State sets an October 23 deadline

Washington's SHRM state conference closes speaker submissions on October 23, with breakout honorariums in the published terms.

Open Call · Education

Thrive! 2027 takes workshop proposals through November 30

North Carolinians for Home Education is reviewing workshop proposals for the 2027 Thrive! conference in Winston-Salem, with selections announced in late January.

The Business

Associations are programming earlier for 2027

Annual-meeting call windows keep moving up the calendar. Speakers who wait for a deadline announcement are arriving after the agenda is half built.