Although this column will be published in September 2026, I am writing it in April, right after getting home from APEC 2026, held in San Antonio in March 2026. By all measures, APEC 2026 was an outstanding success. Even with all of the turmoil in the world’s political and economic situation, the paid attendance was at record levels.
The overall atmosphere was very upbeat, optimistic, and enthusiastic. The sessions were full, the hallway discussions lively. The event went very smoothly, and any very minor glitches were corrected quickly. Improvements in the registration procedures meant most people waited less than a minute in line to register. The food in the Exposition Hall was excellent and plentiful. Everyone that I talked with said the conference was a great experience.
During the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, there were many pundits who predicted that the day of inperson conferences was over. It was felt that the expense of the conference, the time, and the travel were just unnecessary. Everything could be done through web meetings. I think the success of APEC and other conferences has proven those pundits totally wrong. People get so much more out of in-person, face-toface discussions that the time and expense to attend a conference like APEC is a rewarding investment.
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