The sixth annual Skift Global Forum promises to be an incredible learning and networking opportunity for you. Why not invite all your colleagues too? The larger your group, the more you'll save with our exclusive Skift Global Forum group rates.

Proving return on investment in the meetings and events space is not for the faint-hearted. It's a difficult challenge, providing metrics for a host of areas from net revenue to attendee satisfaction. Yet planners are under growing pressure to meet the challenge.

Skift data show gun violence hasn't led to mass trip cancellations in the United States for international travelers, but shootings have definitely caused many to pause and consider whether the U.S. is a safe destination to visit. The country is much safer than many others, but the White House hasn't helped get that message out there.

Project-based business trips are more costly than other types of business travel in the U.S., but account for only a small percentage of the overall trips taken each year. This may rise, though, as the manufacturing and construction sectors continue to grow.

The private equity giant buys its way into the event technology sector. There are plenty of synergies between PSAV and its various hospitality holdings. It'll almost certainly be a huge money-maker for Blackstone.

Everyone likes some extra cash, but meeting attendees tend to remember physical gifts in a different way.