Mission

The aim of the 2026 CEO Roundtable at Vail is to provide horizon planning for INMA’s community of news media companies. This will be an interactive retreat in a relaxed and confidential setting to identify likely growth paths in the year ahead.

As background, news media companies are experiencing tremendous challenges in transitioning their business models in the context of one of the best economies in the past century. What parts of the news business are most exposed to recessionary winds? As recessions tend to accelerate trends already in the market, what scenarios exist for business performance post-recession — from reader revenue to advertising to operations? What are the strategic “north stars” to which media companies should aim?

Chatham House rules

The Roundtable will operate under “Chatham House rules” whereby participants may use the information generated yet otherwise not publicly reveal discussions about the Vail event. That includes sharing information on social media.

Concept

The CEO Roundtable is not a conference, but a conversation. Faculty members will share their stories or their assignments, and this will serve as a conversation-starter. Our aim is to provide INMA corporate members with a scenario-based road map to take back home and share.

We promise that the CEO Roundtable will be informal: Smart casual is the attire ... with no suits, no ties, no jackets.

The Roundtable will be limited to 50 participants. For nearly three decades, The Roundtable has proven that intimacy breeds interaction. When you depart Vail, you will do so empowered by knowledge, unbridled enthusiasm, and a peer group without peers.