Inside Skift Meetings Forum: How a Bold Idea Became the Industry's Most Candid Stage

Skift

2 days ago

Now heading into its third year, Skift Meetings Forum has earned a reputation as the place in the meetings industry for unfiltered conversations, handpicked audiences, and a level of candor rarely seen in public sessions.
Skift Meetings Forum enters its third year on September 15, 2025, at City Winery in New York City.
As Editor-in-Chief Miguel Neves tells it, the idea began with a simple question: What if the meetings industry had its own Skift Global Forum?
'From attending multiple industry events over the last 15 years, I felt the Skift format could really work in the meetings industry,' says Neves. 'We wanted something with editorial depth, big-name leaders, and conversations that challenge, not just cheerlead.'
From a Tight Room in 2023 to a Full-Day Experience in 2024
The inaugural Skift Meetings Forum in 2023 was a half-day, high-intensity program held in a breakout room at Javits North. It featured CEOs from giants like Maritz alongside startup disruptors and early discussions on AI in events.
It also came with growing pains.
'We had no history, so initially getting speakers and audiences on board was a challenge,' Neves admits. 'But once they were in the room, they saw what we were building, and we have been growing ever since.'
For 2024, Skift Meetings Forum expanded to a full day at The Glasshouse, giving space for richer interaction and longer panels. Seth Godin opened with a masterclass in event marketing. Geopolitics, next-gen attendees, and award-winning case studies took center stage.
Feedback from 2023 drove the changes.
'People wanted better hospitality, longer sessions, and more time to connect,' Neves explains. 'We gave them all three, plus new moments for planners to share and learn from each other.'
What Makes Skift Meetings Forum Different
While many business events aim for scale, Skift Meetings Forum thrives on precision.
The audience is curated: senior planners with decision-making power over destinations, venues, and procurement.
Every conversation is editorially led, often in intimate interview formats that allow for tough but fair questions.
'No other event in our space goes into this level of detail with leaders on stage,' says Neves. 'We prepare extensively, but we also build trust so speakers are willing to open up.'
The result? A room full of people who can actually influence the industry and the conversations they talk about long after they leave.
2025 Edition: Bigger Impact, Same Intimacy
Skift Meetings Forum 2025 will once again keep its sold-out streak in sight, but with fresh twists:
Date: September 15, 2025
September 15, 2025 Venue: City Winery, New York City
City Winery, New York City New Feature: Keynote Listeners Industry leaders who come and listen to the experts on stage and in the audience, and then help us distill key takeaways. They also take the most interesting elements and share them with their communities so that they make a real impact on the industry.
The focus is on richer peer-to-peer interaction, planner-led sessions, and strategies attendees can implement the moment they're back at their desks.
'We're doubling down on having real event experts on stage,' Neves says. 'We want to see our candid conversations show up in strategy decks. We're going to get there with more practical takeaways and more space for planners to shape the dialogue.'
Looking Ahead
Neves sees the Skift Meetings Forum growing in influence while staying selective.
'We know speakers want to be here, and attendees are ready to commit early because they know the value,' he says. 'The candid conversations will always be the heart of it.'
Three years in, Skift Meetings Forum already feels like an industry institution, yet it still carries the energy of something new. For leaders in the meetings industry, it's not just another date on the calendar. It's the room where the real talk happens.
Only a handful of seats remain for Skift Meetings Forum 2025. History suggests those will go fast.