b'INSIDERS INSIGHTOutlook for 2022Experts share their thoughts onWhats the outlook for your the state of the industry andbusiness and the industry in 2022?where its headed in the new year JAMES FILTZ, CPCE, CMP, NACEs 2022 National President BY SARA PEREZ WEBBER and director of meetings and special events at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans (nace.net)For social events such as weddings, birthday parties, etc., I think it going to be B y all accounts, 2022 is the year of thethe best year in recorded history for the industry. So many events have been put comeback for the catering and eventsoff not just once but twice that the pent-up demand to celebrate, industry. Yet after a tumultuous 2020connect and gather is unprecedented.Corporate events are following a more gradual curve,and 2021, stumbling blocks remainsuch as thebut the industry has spoken, and the message has been ongoing labor shortage. To get a sense of whereclear to those of us listeninghybrid events may never go we are and where were going, CFE asked sixaway to accommodate virtual participation, but given the choice, in-person experiences are always more desirable. industry executives to share what theyre seeingIts not about the general sessions or the breakouts. Its in the marketplace and where they predict werenot even about the educational sessions or celebration headed in the new year. dinners. Its about everything in-betweenthe spontaneous, ephemeral moments that happen serendipitously and are never recreated.20 CATERING, FOODSERVICE & EVENTS cfe-news.com'