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Industry News for January 31, 2025Industry News for January 31, 2025
Special Events industry news
Special Events
January 31, 2025
3 Min Read
Venue News
The Art of Living Retreat Center announces new initiatives for 2025 including a curated roster of visiting experts, a corporate offsite meeting experience and the reintroduction of Panchakarma. Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, near Boone North Carolina, the center is excited to begin 2025 with countless opportunities for growth, connectivity and new beginnings for its visitors and its community. This year, the Art of Living Retreat Center offers guests the following new programming:
2025 guest experts, including Cheryl Strayed, Elliott Connie, and more
Panchakarma, a retreat that focuses on a traditional Ayurvedic approach to cleansing
Corporate offsite meetings
Products on the Market
New York City Tourism + Conventions, the official destination marketing organization and convention and visitors bureau for the five boroughs of New York City, announced its launch of the first-ever meetings and conventions planning artificial intelligence chat platform created for business event professionals. In partnership with GuideGeek—Matador Network’s award-winning artificial intelligence travel genius—Ellis provides expert guidance and resources for meeting planners in 45 languages, available at nyctourism.com/meetings and via WhatsApp. This launch comes as members of NYC Tourism + Conventions attend PCMA Convening Leaders, PCMA’s flagship educational and networking event, along with thousands of business event professionals from around the world.
Hot off the Press
Eventbrite has released their Trends for Event Organizers in 2025 report, which includes insights such as:
Consumers are interested in personal growth and wild escapism events.
Organizers should leverage more cultural & timely moments for event themes.
Smaller, intimate gatherings that build real community are on the rise.
Tech is changing how people find and attend live events.
In reaction to the devastating situation that Los Angeles has been experiencing with the wildfires, the Get Together Foundation in cooperation with Rock Cellar Productions is making a difference. A fire relief concert took place on Tuesday, January 28 at The Canyon in Agoura Hills, CA. LA-based musicians united for the “SHOW OF HELPING HANDS” — an evening of live music and more in support of this worthy cause. Hosted by LA’s own Rita Wilde, the line-up included: Micky Dolenz, Laurence Juber (Wings) & AIRFOIL, members of The Lovin’ Spoonful, and more.
Mundo Imperial Entertainment & Hospitality announced the return of the Acapulco Beach Soccer Cup in December 2025, hosted at its state-of-the-art Arena GNP Seguros. Following the tournament's immense success in April 2023 and December 2024, Mundo Imperial is thrilled to continue its partnership with Beach Soccer Worldwide, which has also confirmed an extension of the competition through 2026 and 2027.
First Nature, a Portland-based tour company, is offering bespoke, luxury experiences with expert guides. They collaborate with partners around the region to showcase the beauty that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. They have a variety of tours for corporate groups including a Forest-to-Table Foraging Retreat, a Day of Wellness & Regeneration, a Wine Country Culinary Collective cooking class, and a Forest Forage & Stargaze Retreat. For their Truffle Hunting tours, running from January through March, teams will head out on an immersive adventure led by an expert truffle hunter and their truffle dog. The excursion includes:
Interactive truffle hunting: Begin with a dive and dig course, learning all about truffle foraging.
Truffle education: Participants will then learn about the uses of truffles and how to prepare them in an expert-led demonstration.
Gourmet picnic lunch: Finish the day with a delicious spread of food, paired with regional wines.
Awards & Accolades
Events consultant and creator Julius Solaris released a "12 Events for Events professionals" guide that includes three events by Special Events’ parent company Informa, including Catersource + The Special Event. We are honored to be included!
Special Events Magazine was recently selected by FeedSpot as one of the Top 20 Event Planning Magazines on the web. We are honored to be included!
