contents

July 2013 Volume 27, Issue 7

COVER STORY 38

‘You get to hear from our executives and our innovators, and you realize how many smart people work at this company. It’s beyond what you would imagine, so that’s inspiring.’

51

69 57

Cover illustration by Chi Birmingham

PCMA.ORG How They Meet, Inc.

A real-estate investment trust, a luxury hotel brand, a financial-services firm, a software giant, and an online shoe retailer are among this year’s 100 Best Companies to Work For. It turns out their meetings are pretty great, too. Here are five reasons why. Hunter R. Slaton

Features CMP SERIES

It’s Complicated The rapidly expanding and sometimes exhausting number of dietary requests made by attendees isn’t likely to slow down any time soon. What do convention chefs and culinary staff say is the most important ingredient for dealing safely — and gracefully — with them? Communication. Barbara Palmer

Show Cases From a carefully designed maze of an expo hall, to a super- sized sustainability program, to a data-driven approach to exhibitor prospecting — the art and science of exhibitions are on full display at five different shows. Sarah Beauchamp and Katie Kervin

BOOKINGS

Jonah Berger Why do we talk about, imitate, and share some things but not others? In Contagious: Why Things Catch On, Wharton professor Jonah Berger explores the science behind social transmission, including how it is that — even in our hyper- sharable social-media environment — 80 percent of word of mouth still takes place face-to-face. Michelle Russell

JULY 2013 PCMA CONVENE 1