What One Thing? A Meeting Planner's Guide to the Top of the Events World
Smart Meetings’ What One Thing podcast is your shortcut to the top of the events world. We interview savvy meeting planners, speakers and industry experts about the decisions that made all the difference in their lives and careers so you can take the fast track to your dreams.
What One Thing? A Meeting Planner's Guide to the Top of the Events World
Balancing Uncertainty, Innovation and Humanity: Lessons from IMEX America’s Visionaries
Live from IMEX America, Smart Meetings’ What One Thing? podcast features candid conversations with three powerhouse leaders shaping the future of events.
Mike Dominguez, president and CEO of Associated Luxury Hotels International, offers clear-eyed optimism about the meetings industry and urges planners to stay nimble, disciplined with their time and realistic about global change.
Tracy Judge, founder and CEO of Soundings, shares how she transformed disruption into opportunity, helping freelancers and companies reskill through the rise of AI.
Jessie States, vice president of MPI Consulting, explores how education evolves, emphasizing curiosity, context and empowerment as key drivers of growth.
Together, they reveal what it takes to lead with adaptability, reimagine learning and create meaningful connections in a rapidly shifting world.
Segment 1: Mike Dominguez
JT Long Welcome back to What One Thing. We’re here live at IMEX America with Mike Dominguez, president and CEO of ALHI. We’ve been talking about how uncertainty is shaping the events world. How do you define the impact right now?
Mike Dominquez The impacts are diverse. The word I keep hearing is “bifurcated” or “fragmented.” Nothing is all in one bucket. Some sectors are thriving, others struggling. Airlines are a good example. Some are posting record years, some aren’t. It’s a mix.
We’re also dealing with political headwinds. Policy changes happen with new administrations, and this one’s moving fast. There’s uncertainty, but it’s not all bad. I’ve said this year feels “partly cloudy.” There are clouds, but there’s also sunshine, and that’s something to be hopeful about.
The back half of the year is strong across the board. Fourth quarter looks solid. Everyone’s eyeing 2026 as a record-breaking year. That gives me optimism. Government business will stay unpredictable, but that’s life. One of my favorite quotes is, “Deal with the world the way it is, not the way you want it to be.” Leaders need to adapt fast and stay nimble. Everyone says the word, but few truly live it.
My big concern is sovereign debt. In the U.S., debt is $38 trillion. Interest payments alone are around $1 trillion. We’re borrowing $1 trillion just to pay that interest. Globally, interest on sovereign debt is about $3 trillion. That’s unsustainable long-term.
Last year, forty countries—representing about sixty percent of global GDP—held elections. Europe has new leaders across the board. We’re basically seeing a global reset. People want change, and that brings instability. As planners, we just need to know the rules. Once we do, we can adapt.
The most valuable resource isn’t money—it’s time. Time poverty is real. Leaders say their teams are their greatest asset, but does the calendar reflect that? Are you spending time with people or just sitting in meetings and emails all day? We have to be intentional. Choose wisely.
For me, I listen to CNBC on my commute—no calls, no emails. It gets my head in the game. Same thing on the way home. I don’t take work calls after I leave. I want to arrive home already in that mindset. That separation helps.
With AI, we need rules of engagement. Don’t just jump in with unprotected tools. Ask what problem you’re solving. Our CFO used ChatGPT to build a 100-tab Excel reconciliation in fifteen minutes—it used to take days. That’s the value: shifting from building to thinking. AI can help us fight time poverty.
Vegas saw a softer summer, but that’s typical. Luxury properties like Wynn and Bellagio performed well, while the value segment pulled back. CBRE data shows Google searches by brand were down nine percent in early spring, which explains the summer dip. Now they’re up seven percent year-over-year, so the rebound is coming.
Globally, it’s mixed. Canada’s in recession. Germany’s been there for months. Italy and Spain are growing. Argentina’s travel numbers are rising. The economy always drives behavior.
The 2026 World Cup will bring over 4.5 million visitors to the U.S. Families will likely skip long trips in 2025 to save for it. It’ll be massive. Combine that with the Olympics, and the U.S. will be on the world stage. Even if Brand USA funding doesn’t return, that exposure offsets it.
JL What’s the one thing that helps you see the big picture clearly?
MD Curiosity. I read across sources, follow data points, and let them connect. I also sleep well—really well. That clarity when you wake up is powerful. I make time for silence—music, nature, no scrolling.
I also have thirty-minute check-ins twice a year with all 140 employees, just to talk. Not about work, about life. That curiosity helps me lead better.
On tariffs, the headline numbers—30 or 40 percent—don’t tell the real story. The effective tariff rate is closer to 10 or 12 percent. The dollar’s also devalued by about 10 percent, which offsets some costs. Back in the spring, I told everyone: breathe. We’ll be fine.
JL Thank you, Mike. Always insightful.
Segment 2: Tracy Judge
JL We’re joined now by Tracy Judge, founder and CEO of Soundings. Tracy, were you always an entrepreneur at heart?
Tracy Judge I think so. I have younger sisters, so I was always organizing things. My CliftonStrengths tell the story—Individualization, Command, Futuristic, Ideation, and Strategic. People always said I’d be an entrepreneur.
Soundings is built on Individualization—matching freelancers’ strengths and personalities with the right work and clients.
We launched before Covid, and when events stopped, freelancers had nowhere to go. We built community with webinars, and it grew. Then came layoffs, so more talent joined. We partnered with companies like Cvent to reskill planners for virtual. That became Soundings Thrive, our talent community.
Now with AI, we’re in another reskilling moment. Our new white paper shows most leaders aren’t planning layoffs—they’re investing in reskilling. The change is that when people leave, companies aren’t backfilling those roles. That’s the real shift.
The advantage that remains constant is soft skills—relationship-building, adaptability, empathy. Those won’t go away. Our industry skews toward Executing and Relationship strengths, less toward Strategic Thinking. But AI requires that mindset: curiosity, comfort with ambiguity, willingness to fail forward.
The biggest barrier to adoption isn’t money—it’s understanding. You don’t train people on AI, you train them how to think about it. What it is, what it isn’t, where it fits. Give them examples, then let them experiment.
When people come to me for mentorship, I always say: bring context. Know what you’re trying to do. The best way to build confidence is to see early wins.
For individuals, the key is self-investment. Don’t wait for your company. Know your values and strengths, do the inner work. The pace of change will challenge your old habits. For companies, invest in people and redefine roles. Build maps for who can thrive next.
JL What’s your one thing that made all the difference?
TJ Resilience. Don’t fear failure. You’ll make mistakes—learn, rest if you need to, then get back up and keep going.
Segment 3: Jessie States
JL We’re here with Jessie States, vice president of consulting for MPI. Jessie, were you always the one leading the group, even as a kid?
Jessie States Actually, I’m an introvert. I started in journalism, writing and editing research papers. But I noticed we weren’t getting engagement. So I turned thousands of pages of data into education—webinars, live sessions, discussions. Adults learn differently from kids. They want to know what’s in it for them and how to use it.
The best sessions mix new learning, peer discussion, and immediate application. It’s about context and connection.
Formats are evolving—it’s not either/or. Big keynotes, small campfires, collaborative workshops. Build across the event, give people choices, and let them control their experience. Engagement is like a dimmer switch—you can listen quietly or dive deep.
JL Any hints for MPI’s next WEC?
JS San Antonio. It’ll be vibrant—Fiesta culture, history, culinary focus. Expect that same layered learning design: peer groups and big moments combined.
JL There’s so much AI buzz on the floor this year.
JS Definitely—right between Asia and Technology! For the record, I’m the sparkliest introvert here. I’ve got glittery earrings and alien socks.
JL What’s your one thing that made all the difference?
JS Positivity—and healthy yes-energy. I try to see everything through a positive lens. Say yes when you can, within healthy boundaries. When things get tough, remember: it’s all learning that leads to the next step.
JL Thank you, Jessie.