This issue puts the world of special events in your hands—quite literally.
Here, we bring you the ninth edition of our "25 Top DMCs" list, with profiles of the biggest players in destination management worldwide.
The companies profiled here operate in different markets, but they come to consensus on the big trends facing their businesses and, by extension, the entire event industry today.
The good news, they agree, is that business is improving and companies are beginning to reward their top performers once again. The bad news is, sad to say, the same old story: tight budgets and tight turnarounds.
In the face of challenges, these big players are responding with a mix of high tech, hard work and endless creativity. Turn to page 15 for the whole story.
Our cover story continues a tradition we started just three years ago, but it's already grown into a feature that readers ask me about often. Again, we look at a crop rising young event professionals—all under age 40—who are shaping the future of our industry.
A lot of us veterans often bemoan the skills that we believe the newbies in business lack. They can't pick up the phone to make a call, we say. They multitask tirelessly but cannot concentrate on one thing. They run shallow but not deep.
But if you harbored any of these notions before, you will come to an entirely different conclusion after reading our "25 Young Event Pros to Watch" feature, which starts on page 24.
Our rising stars bring a new sensibility to special events—and we need it.
For example, Matt Flachsenhaar, line producer with New York-based Broadstreet, is praised by his boss for his command of social media to extend client events. Matt doesn't see technology superseding events--instead, it will enhance them. "Like live music, special events will be around forever," Matt says, "but the way people consume them may change."
He's right. No matter how long you have been producing successful events, you cannot assume that your well-oiled policies and procedures will go on satisfying an audience that is changing. By tapping into the talents and—perhaps more important—the world view of next generation, you can keep your work exciting and relevant.
You're never too old to think young.
