Event marketers should expect a "hockey stick" curve in registrations. Cvent saw nearly a thousand people register in the last six weeks for one event. This reflects a modern behavior where attendees commit mentally but delay the actual registration process until much closer to the date, so it's not necessarily a sign of a failing campaign.

Mini-retirements are not a luxury but a form of 'geographic arbitrage.' By relocating to a lower-cost area, one can replace domestic expenses and live a more luxurious lifestyle for significantly less money, effectively saving money while traveling the world.

Frame every negotiation around four core business drivers. Offer discounts not as concessions, but as payments for the customer giving you something valuable: more volume, faster cash payments, a longer contract commitment, or a predictable closing date. This shifts the conversation from haggling to a structured, collaborative process.

Instead of offering a fake, expiring discount to create urgency, frame it as a payment for predictability. Tell the prospect you will pay them a discount in exchange for mutually aligning on a specific close date, which helps you forecast accurately. This turns a sales tactic into a valuable business exchange.

Contrary to the belief that late-night shopping is for small, impulsive buys, data reveals it's when consumers purchase big-ticket items like airfare and appliances. This "vampire shopping" trend suggests a period of focused, uninterrupted decision-making for busy consumers, creating a key sales window.

If a customer asks to push a signed deal past an agreed-upon deadline, don't say yes or no. Saying "I don't know if we can hold the price" creates productive uncertainty. This forces them to weigh the risk of losing their discount against the inconvenience of finding a way to sign on time, often leading them to solve the problem themselves.

Move beyond generic discounts by framing offers around the customer's immediate, often unspoken, intent. For example, a "last minute hero finder" speaks directly to the urgency of holiday shopping, while a "donation impact calculator" targets the specific motivations of year-end charitable giving, making the offer more compelling.

Airlines are increasingly devaluing elite status by offering last-minute cash upgrades to non-status members via mobile check-in. This practice allows them to monetize empty premium seats, often leaving their most loyal, high-status flyers stuck at the top of the upgrade list in economy.

Some airline loyalty programs release award inventory 360 days in advance, while others only get access 330 days out. By earning points in a program with the longer 360-day window, you can book the most desirable seats on partner airlines a full month before the general market even sees them.