November 29, 2017 View in browser
Accessibility is vital to a successful event, but isn't treated by many as a top concern.

There are a variety of technologies, ranging from beacons to conference apps, that can make attending an event easier for a disabled person. But until the meeting planning process integrates accessibility concerns from the start, experts say it will remain a challenge to produce truly accessible events. Check out our story below.

This week we also have the latest on WeWork buying popular meetings platform Meetup, and several takes on the future of messaging technology and branding in a digital age.
Last Chance to Advise on the Future of Meetings
To better ramp up our coverage of the meetings and events sector in 2018, Skift launched a survey to discover how meetings planners are adapting their businesses as attendee expectations evolve — And we need your valuable input! Take our survey before it closes this week and enter for a chance to win cupcakes for you and your team.
Take Survey
THE FUTURE OF MEETINGS ACCESSIBILITY
Meetings and Events Technology Alone Can’t Solve Accessibility Challenges
People with disabilities are often overlooked by event spaces and meeting planners. A new wave of innovation and technology can help make meetings and events more accessible, but lasting change needs to start with a focus on increasing accessibility during the planning process.
MEETINGS AND EVENT INNOVATION
WeWork Will Buy Meetup
Flush with cash from investors, WeWork has undertaken a major spending spree. Of their acquisitions so far, buying the popular Meetup platform makes the most sense and dovetails nicely with how the consumer of today wants to attend events.

Las Vegas Gambles It Can Attract Millennials With Instagram-Worthy Moments
Can the Vegas casinos attract millennials with zip lines and bunk beds? Some of them, sure. But the casinos may have to open their marketing toolboxes anew if they think retooling slot machines will attract this sought-after target market in droves.
TECHNOLOGY AND TRENDS
Nobody's Sure What They're Doing With Messaging Apps
Everyone agrees that messaging is the future of marketing and sales. But for now, professionals are still divided on the best way to deploy chat capability.
Millennials Are Over, Gen-Z Forever
How are brands dealing with digital natives as they enter the workforce? The trick is to get interactive and stand for something besides shilling for your product or experience. Oh, and being active on Snapchat or Instagram helps too.

Tech Goes From Assistant to Companion
Could 2018 be the year that virtual assistants driven by chat and voice become genuinely useful? TrendWatching sure thinks so, but there is reason to be skeptical about technology replacing service from a real person.
Skift Business Travel Editor Andrew Sheivachman [as@skift.com] curates the Skift Meetings Innovation Report. Skift emails the newsletter every Wednesday.
Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Linked In Send via Email

For Gmail users: If you are using the tabbed inbox, Skift emails may be pushed to the 'Promotions' tab. To get updates from Skift direct to your primary inbox, drag and drop this email to that tab.

You received this email because you are subscribed to Meetings Innovation Report from Skift.

If you'd like to unsubscribe from this email, click here

If you'd like to receive fewer emails, click here

If someone shared this email with you and you would like to subscribe, visit our newsletters page on Skift